Looking for those Milk Machines

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I have been letting Rooney & Stuart together for very short play periods, after disinfecting Stuart's butt and keeping strict supervision = no butt sniffing.  Stuart goes totally crazy and keeps running between Rooney's legs and nipping under there IMO looking for the milk machine nipples.  Could Stuart think that Rooney is him mom?  Or just a mom and is trying to feed.  Rooney keeps turning his butt to Stuart and then tries to sit down on him, I've seen Rooney do this to other dogs at the puppy park so I think he's trying to tell Stuart that he is in charge.  Will Stuart stop this behavior?  I'm thinking I should just let them work it out, would that be correct.  In a way the fact that I've had to keep them apart (most of the time) has been a good thing.  Stuart gets too excited around Rooney and this is giving Rooney time to slowly adjust.  Any help or advice from our multiple dog owners would be welcomed.

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm so glad that they're getting to play together....it must be so cute to watch them.  I'm guessing it is possible that Stuart is thinking that Rooney might be a "milk machine".  My guys didn't do this, but I've seen videos of puppies trying to nurse from other dogs...I even remember one where a pup was trying to nurse from a cat.  Rooney is being so polite offering his butt first.  That's a sign of a dog who really understands "doggie etiquette".  Does Rooney have a "place" he can go to when he's sick of Stuart?  That was really important for Guinness when we brought Murphy home (even now).  They "hang out" and play together all the time, but every now and then Guinness just wants to be alone and not deal with Murph's antics.  I think letting them set their own boundaries at this age is the way to go.  Thanks for keeping us updated....I so love hearing your stories about the "brothers".

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Stuart isn't allowed with Rooney except for very short periods of time (5 minutes).  Then back behind bars for Stuart so I don't think Rooney is over whelmed by Stuart but Stuart goes really crazy around Rooney thinking he is getting some milk.  I'm feeding the heck out of the little guy so why he feels he needs the milk is beyond me.  LOL.  Piggy

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Got it...I was thinking they were now together for longer periods.  When can you bring the follow-up stool sample in for Stuart?  It was be so awesome to know he's clear of the nasty giardia?  I was just thinking...maybe Stuart never went through a "natural" weaning process with his mom, and that's why the poor little guy is confused.  In any event, I wouldn't worry about it.  He'll soon figure out that Rooney has "no milk" for him.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Stuart is going to see our vet on Wednesday.  We are hoping for good news that the giardia is gone as that will be the 8th day of the meds and we caught is really early - he never even had runny poops - just soft ones.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  I've taken the rug out of my kitchen table area that is open to the l.r. and all of the kitchen.  He now has a large area (his crate is in here too) to play in and he is closer to the rest of us, it is all tile so this helps with the potty training.  He hasn't gone potty in the house once since we got here on Friday but all that says is that I'm doing good taking him out often - lol.  He does go potty every time we go outdoors and I'm training him to Rooney's command of "get busy".

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think that's amazing that he hasn't had any accidents since Friday!  You must be doing a great job.  It's also really good that you had the tiled area to keep him in....easy to disinfect and be sure all traces of giardia are gone.  That's been an issue with my guys...a lot of our condo is carpeted.  I'm going to have it all steam cleaned once I hear that Murph's giardia is gone, but that's not as effective as disinfecting a tile floor.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Vern did not do any of that with Fudge, so I don't know about the milk machine...LOL! At first, Vern was so scared (no surprise) of Fudge, peed all over the floor and made these god awful wailing sounds. I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life. We took them both in the car for a ride and by that night Vern and Fudge slept with us in bed and the next day, Vern was catapulting off the couch onto Fudge. There is some subtle thing Fudge does that lets Vern know when she has had enough. It mostly occurs on our bed. Yes, I think they should work it out. I know my DD's dogs spent some time in the beginning (she has two males) trying to hump each other. They probably still do it :) When they are together, I would definitely supervise the play, but I would, for the most part, let them work it out. I also am a firm believer in rest periods for both dogs.

 

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

I think that as soon as you get the all clear on Stuarts poops, you should increase the play times and see how it goes. I think Rooney will let him know when to knock it off, that's how puppies learn. But also, give The Roonster breaks from the wild and crazy puppy. My older pup started peeing in the house ,pooping too,to let me know she wasn't happy with the new addition. But all and all they work it out. I've always thought Rooney was the cutest doodle on the site,but Stuart is adorable.......he will be even more adorable when he gets thru the first few months of puppy madness.

[Connie & Bocelli]

Jane, they look so freakin cute together.  I'm sure you can't wait until the 'bars' come down and they can sniff each other's butts all day!