Introducing... Oliver!

For those that don't already know, yesterday we brought home a new shepherd cross puppy, Oliver. He's about 8 weeks old and extremely cute, even at 3am ;)

We picked him up just the other side of Cornwall... he and his litter mates were advertised online, not Kijiji, this time, but Equistation. I spoke to his mom's owner on the phone the other day and she described the 3 available pups, what they looked like and what their temperaments were like. After hearing the descriptions, I asked her to hold Oliver (he didn't have a name at the time, Shawn named him on the way home) for me until we could get down there (about 2 hours away, one way) to see him and hopefully pick him up.

We went down yesterday afternoon around 4pm and met Oliver, his mom and his litter mates. The owner had done a great job describing them, I easily recognized them based on her descriptions! Oliver was by far the best pup of the 3 left, friendly, didn't mind being picked up or rolled over, all the normal things. One of his litter mates was very mouthy, excessively mouthy even for a pup and we were well chewed on by him while visiting.

His owner was a bit concerned as somehow between the time I talked to her and the time we got there, he had developed a mild limp. She wasn't sure I would want him or that she should let him go with us. I assured her we'd keep an eye on it and follow up if needed... he needs to see the vet this week anyhow, for deworming and vaccinations. Eventually, when he's old enough, we'll get him neutered, of course.

We had an ok first night... he slept from 10:30pm to 3am and then woke up and cried, so I took the whole pack outside and he had to pee. Then back in the crate and he slept til around 5am and cried and I took just him out and he had to pee and poop.... then back in the crate until around 630am when he woke up and cried and I poked Shawn awake to take them all outside and he had to pee and poop again. Then back in the crate until about 830am when Pixie was awake and tired of being in her crate. (Sorry about the explicit bathroom reports, but as with all babies, bodily functions become ever so important!)

Oliver was very hungry this morning and was coveting the big dogs' food... when their food was ready, Shawn fed them, then we put Oliver in his crate with his puppy kibble and a bowl of water... then he could eat without being bothered and without anyone trying to steal his food. He ate quickly and was done his small bowl about the same time the big dogs finished theirs!

Oliver also came out to the goats with us this morning... I didn't want to leave him in the house in his crate to scream and cry while Jess was still sleeping. Its a long walk out there for him and he has to stop and rest a couple times. He wasn't really thrilled about the goats and Bert especially was not thrilled about Oliver. We didn't let him in with the goats, of course, they would've killed him, I'm sure, but we left him just outside the fence. At one point, Oliver was growling at the goats, I told him not to.

Buddy is taking to him pretty well... he's not entirely sure about him and doesn't like that he moves so fast and Oliver DID get heck this morning for running right into the side of Buddy... but he didn't hurt him, just scared him. Buddy was not impressed last night when we came back in from one of the trips outside and Buddy was tired and laid flat out on his side and Oliver came whizzing over and rammed into his tummy with his front feet looking to nurse from him. Buddy gave him heck and then walked around the room for a few minutes grumbling "do *I* look like a nursing mother?" but he got over it.

Pixie on the other hand is really quite nervous around him. She hasn't hardly interacted at all. During one of the overnight outings she did walk up to him, poked him with her nose, he fell over and she ran away scared. Other than that, she makes quite a point to ignore him. I think once he grows a bit and is able to play a bit, she will find him more fun... but for now, he just freaks her out a bit!

Anyhow, I think that's all for now... Jess has put up some of her pics on Facebook for anyone that's interested.
-- L

Jessica has been busily taking pics and I've taken a few as well, we'll try to get them posted ASAP!