The comedian Jim Gaffigan does this bit where he talks about having 5 kids. He describes it as, “Imagine you’re drowning, and someone hands you a baby.”
I compare that to what it’s like adding a third dog to your home pack.
When we told people we were getting a puppy, most of them responded something like this:
US: “We’re getting a puppy!”
THEM: “Don’t you already have two dogs?”
US: “Yes!”
THEM: “You’re insane.”
It is quite possible they were correct.
Meet Lucy!
First, look at that face. How do you say no to that face?
Lucy is a rescue. She was brought to a shelter with her siblings when they were 1 day old – read that again, ONE DAY OLD – and were left there. The shelter bottle fed them until they were old enough to go to a foster home. Lucy was fostered with her 4 brothers for a few months before she was transported up north directly into our hearts.
Lucy is our first female doggy. She was only 6 pounds when we got here at 4 months old, but she’s thriving and growing big and strong and was 10 pounds at 5 months old. (Seems Lucy and I gain weight at the same rate.)
We were confident that Lucy’s two big brothers – Rocco and Bruno – would be good role models when it came to showing Lucy the ropes on how to behave like a good dog. That hasn’t exactly happened yet. Bruno likes to play with Lucy, mostly putting her entire head in his mouth and chewing on her leg like a chicken drumstick. Rocco can’t stand her, and constantly growls and tries to escape. Lucy is nothing if not persistent in geting Rocco to like her. She’s a stubborn one!
The first two months with a puppy
Three things are happening in the early days with a puppy:
- You are (hopefully) house training the puppy. I’m talking fully house training, none of this “wee wee pad” stuff. That’s like training the puppy two times: once to go on the pads and once to stop going on the pads and going outside.
- You are finding teeth everywhere. Puppy teeth just fall out – while they’re playing, when they start eating and also just when evert and hell they feel like it.
- You are learning your puppy’s personality and cues. Lucy’s personality is – and I quote Ava Max – “Sweet But Psycho!”
But look at that face! It should be illegal to be this cute.
We were so very lucky that when we brought Lucy home, she slept through the night. She was just about 4 months old – so not a teeny tiny puppy – but still, having her sleep for a full 8 hours was magical. And she’s done it ever since.
Have our lives been turned upside down? Yes.
Do we forget all about that when she snuggles up under our chins and breaths that deep sign of comfort before falling asleep on us? Also yes.
People have been very vocal about how crazy we are having three dogs.
So I thought I’d answer some FAQs here for everyone.
Q: Is it hard potty training a puppy while you are working from home?
A: Working from home makes it easier than if I were at an office, but it’s still very difficult.
Q: Do your three dogs all snuggle together and sleep curled up with each other like those dogs on Instagram?
A. Not even close.
Q: Do your dogs all get along?
A. Also, no. The big one plays with her and the smaller one can’t stand her.
Q: Where do your dogs sleep at night?
A. Lucy sleeps in a crate next to our bed. The other two dogs go to sleep with Little Mister, but migrate to our bed in the middle of the night.
Q: Will you get yet another dog?
A. NOPE. We’re happy with our little triumvirate.
Life of kk 