Reesie & Snickers are BEST FRIENDS.....NOT!!!

[kjc]

Anytime Sapphire looked stressed or sad, I would pick her up and hold her in my lap... then, looking in her eyes, I told her how much I loved her, and that she would always be special to me.

Now I know how this sounds, but somehow she began to understand (after about the 3rd time), I know she doesn't understand the language except for maybe a word here and there, but maybe she picked up on my body language, and I did make a point to single her out, which she noticed.

They were all around my chair, and I reached down and picked her up... I could see the look on her face, like 'You picked me! Yay!'. After a few days, I could see her changing, more confident, more like how she was before the 4th dog was added.

Now, whenever she insists on some attention, I give it to her... because to me she is very special... and will always be.

Then I go through and pick up each one and we have a personal little moment together... so funny.. like they wait their turn...

Oh and if he has a favorite thing he likes to do, take time to do it with him... wait I mean Sapphire loves to get on my bed and have a tummy rub (at least one), Finny likes up on the bed to go 'cracker dog' or zoomies, Peek just likes to be held and talked to, and Tink likes to be held, belly rub and talked to, she also loves to play with toys, so we do a fetch session.

So set him on your lap, and tell him your're sorry you hurt his feelings... you only wanted him to have a playmate and friend, and that you still love him just as much, if not more than before. And give him a kiss on his cheek.

Did you notice that? You don't split your love between the two, it's like your heart gets bigger and you make more love for the baby..

[viviansnickers]

Originally Posted by kjc

Anytime Sapphire looked stressed or sad, I would pick her up and hold her in my lap... then, looking in her eyes, I told her how much I loved her, and that she would always be special to me.

Now I know how this sounds, but somehow she began to understand (after about the 3rd time), I know she doesn't understand the language except for maybe a word here and there, but maybe she picked up on my body language, and I did make a point to single her out, which she noticed.

They were all around my chair, and I reached down and picked her up... I could see the look on her face, like 'You picked me! Yay!'. After a few days, I could see her changing, more confident, more like how she was before the 4th dog was added.

Now, whenever she insists on some attention, I give it to her... because to me she is very special... and will always be.

Then I go through and pick up each one and we have a personal little moment together... so funny.. like they wait their turn...

Oh and if he has a favorite thing he likes to do, take time to do it with him... wait I mean Sapphire loves to get on my bed and have a tummy rub (at least one), Finny likes up on the bed to go 'cracker dog' or zoomies, Peek just likes to be held and talked to, and Tink likes to be held, belly rub and talked to, she also loves to play with toys, so we do a fetch session.

So set him on your lap, and tell him your're sorry you hurt his feelings... you only wanted him to have a playmate and friend, and that you still love him just as much, if not more than before. And give him a kiss on his cheek.

Did you notice that? You don't split your love between the two, it's like your heart gets bigger and you make more love for the baby..

Thank you....it's something I already do about 5 times per day. I get tears in my eyes thinking he might be mad at me....but he always snuggles with me when I want to. It's just oh so very hard!!!

When Reesie is done with his shots....I'm going to take them to a small dog play group...until then, I hope Snick comes around and if not, hopefully yhr play group will help. I can walk them together there as well as it's indoors. My babe last night said, we shoulda waited till Spring so we could walk them and do things outside on neutral turf.....but then I thought we would've missed out on getting Reesie...as he is too good to be true!!

XOXO-
Viv

[Britster]

I'm sorry Viv! Your worries are exactly why I'm worried about adding a second w/ Jackson... because he absolutely loves other dogs and lives them with them 2-3x a week when we stay at my dads house, etc, and I like to think he'd want a sibling, but I'm so scared of him giving me the 'cold shoulder' or not being happy, LOL!! But like everyone else said... give it time!

I brought Jackson home at 9 weeks old and my moms dog was 3yrs old at the time. When I brought Jackson in for the first time, he came in, sniffed around a little, and then curled up into a ball on the couch. Carmen, my moms dog, completely ignored him. She acted like he wasn't even in the room! It was so funny, I actually expected her to maybe bark more at him, or start acting jealous, but she acted like NOTHING had changed and went about her ways. I'd say it was about 3 weeks before she got the hang of him, and then decided it was okay to play with him... they turned into BEST buds and unfortunately, Carmen was hit by a car when Jackson was around 9 months old. He was really depressed about it for a while but then he got over it after a few weeks, so it goes to show you how fast a dog can change its mind about things. I KNOW everything will work out and that in a month, you will be posting stories and pictures of the two of them just being best buds!

[viviansnickers]

I pray, pray, pray you are right Brit!!!!!! I know you are!!! I think another thing that has got me all anxious is that my husband has been MIA for about 3 weeks dealing with his MBA classes/finals/projects. Every night he has been gone until 10pm (he just walked in the door.) Tomorrow is the LAST NIGHT and then we will be together in this process. THANK GOODNESS...I think being alone doing all of it has been insanely overwhelming............

XOXO-
Viv

[lisaly]

You have such a huge heart and more than enough love to share with both of your boys. Snickers will realize that he will always have your love. I can hear how difficult this is for you to see him upset, and I would be just like you are. In time, Snickers will be so happy to have a brother. When we brought our third little girl home, we were so worried about our other two. Ashley adjusted right away when we got Kiwi, but she was only six months old at the time. A year later, their breeder asked us if we would take Gracie, since she was very small and she wanted to place her in a home where she knew she would be loved and taken care of. We most worried about how Kiwi would adjust, so we gave her even more love and attention than she had been getting. As a result, Kiwi turned into a mush and became the most loving little girl. I am so glad that they had each other. Snickers will love Reesie in time, and it will be so much nicer for him to have a brother. It sounds like moving them closer together might be working. With your love, Snickers will overcome any insecurities that he is having.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Awww, they will be best of buds soon! It doesn't take time but I am sure once Snickers realizes that mommy still loves him a whole bunches, he'll learn to accept Reeses.

[viviansnickers]

So things are looking on the up...and then again on the down. Snick is making progress, when I was walking around the house with Reesie on a leash yesterday, Reesie got so frustrated with it, he began yelling at me and just sat there on his big bum (LOL!!)--Snick came to see what was going on and since Reesie was relaxed, he came up to him, sniffed and even touched noses. But then after awhile when I let Reesie back out to play on his own, Snick was in his pen and Reesie jumped toward it and Snick snapped-no contact. So it's up and down.

I ended up putting their pens separate again and decided to swicth their blankets 1st and let them get used to the others scent and then put their pens next to each other---don't want to force it.

I CAN'T wait until Reesie's shots are done, then I can take them out to PetSmart and on their play dates.

Reesie slept through the night last night again, cuddled up to me...Snick does allow him to sleep with us as long as Snick is on the opposite side of the bed with DH.

I hope I am doing things right...I SO APPERECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK!!!! It means so much to me how much everyone wants to help.

Love-
Viv

[Furbaby Friend]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

So things are looking on the up...and then again on the down. Snick is making progress, when I was walking around the house with Reesie on a leash yesterday, Reesie got so frustrated with it, he began yelling at me and just sat there on his big bum (LOL!!)--Snick came to see what was going on and since Reesie was relaxed, he came up to him, sniffed and even touched noses. But then after awhile when I let Reesie back out to play on his own, Snick was in his pen and Reesie jumped toward it and Snick snapped-no contact. So it's up and down.

I ended up putting their pens separate again and decided to swicth their blankets 1st and let them get used to the others scent and then put their pens next to each other---don't want to force it.

I CAN'T wait until Reesie's shots are done, then I can take them out to PetSmart and on their play dates.

Reesie slept through the night last night again, cuddled up to me...Snick does allow him to sleep with us as long as Snick is on the opposite side of the bed with DH.

I hope I am doing things right...I SO APPERECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK!!!! It means so much to me how much everyone wants to help.

Love-
Viv

That's good news! They'll make slow progress! We're all here for you if you need us! You're such a caring mommy. I expect you to help me when my mum gets her pup and we have 2 in the house. It'll be a bit though!

[lexi43]

yea everybody's advice was right on the mark. You have to be patient it's like bringing a new baby into the family. The older child is going to feel insecure and jealous the only difference you might be able to explain things to a child. A fur baby is a little harder.

[Lil Sis]

so how are the boys doing?

[Ringo1]

As already mentioned, be sure to treat Snickers like the KING so he is reassured that he has not lost his status in your house. Do everything first for Snickers ~ greet him first; treat him first; feed him first; leash him up first . . you get the picture. This will help any jealousy issues. Try to pay MORE attention to Snickers than the new puppy.

I like the treat idea too - when everyone is close together and getting along - treat them so he will see the new puppy as the 'source of all good things'.

Walk them together to help them bond as soon as you are able.

[viviansnickers]

Hey everyone....everyday is a new day!!!!! Snick makes gains in different ways everyday, but Reesie is too hyper for Snick still. He still likes to get in his face even though Snick has corrected him many times. Today was a little scary, Snick snapped quite a few times but never made contact.

Sleeping time is good-Snick sleeps about 10 inches away from Reesie which is nice. Snick doesn't mind Reesie as long as he is calm, but thinks Reesie's in your face attitude is quite annoying!!


We keep their pens next to each other when we leave and that seems to be ok. I know things will get better once Reesie calms down a bit and hopefully that will happen before his neuter!!! LOL!!!!!

I've enrolled Reesie in puppy classes which start in 2 weeks. I am excited for it. There is also a free puppy socialization class every Tues night which I plan to take Reesie too so that will be good for him to get some of his energy out. We take Snick on his own special outings. And of do EVERYTHING for Snickers 1st. We are doing everything right....just waiting for things to click. We are in a pretty good routine....Reesie is a dream puppy.

XOXO-
Viv

[Furbaby Friend]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Hey everyone....everyday is a new day!!!!! Snick makes gains in different ways everyday, but Reesie is too hyper for Snick still. He still likes to get in his face even though Snick has corrected him many times. Today was a little scary, Snick snapped quite a few times but never made contact.

Sleeping time is good-Snick sleeps about 10 inches away from Reesie which is nice. Snick doesn't mind Reesie as long as he is calm, but thinks Reesie's in your face attitude is quite annoying!!


We keep their pens next to each other when we leave and that seems to be ok. I know things will get better once Reesie calms down a bit and hopefully that will happen before his neuter!!! LOL!!!!!

I've enrolled Reesie in puppy classes which start in 2 weeks. I am excited for it. There is also a free puppy socialization class every Tues night which I plan to take Reesie too so that will be good for him to get some of his energy out. We take Snick on his own special outings. And of do EVERYTHING for Snickers 1st. We are doing everything right....just waiting for things to click. We are in a pretty good routine....Reesie is a dream puppy.

XOXO-
Viv

Always great to hear good news!

[Maximo]

Vivian, I'm so happy to read all of the good news and to see all of your beautiful pictures. I think it is sweet that Snickers came to find out what Reesie was screaming about when he was tethered to you on the leash. The sleeping arrangements are a huge accomplishment!

These little ones really are like having children, so there will be many ups and downs. My boys remind me very much of my young nephews. When I scold Teddy, Max is so happy because he is usually the one being corrected, lol. Today Max had a flash of jealousy because he wanted mommy all to himself, but then he spent the rest of the afternoon playing with Teddy.

After a year together, my boys are still making progress. Just this week they started playing more together without human direction.

Hang in there and stay positive! Your boys will be grow to be inseparable.

[Perrella]

Good, I'm so glad to her the boys are moving forward. I do believe things are going good. You are doing a wonderful job, now, just step back and take a breath and relax.