I just adopted a new dog!
Last edited Fri Jan 25, 2013, 05:54 PM - Edit history (1)
I still have my sweet Bear, now he has a little sister, Honey! I adopted a second dog because my hours are expanding at work and I thought Bear might like a little canine company during the day. (The cats never want to play with him!)
She's about 2, they think, a shepherd mix, maybe she'll get to be about 55 pounds. She was found on the side of the road in New Mexico, nearly starved and nursing a passel of puppies. A friend of a friend fostered her and the puppies until the pups could be weaned and Honey could be fixed and adopted. Puppies were weened last week, Honey was fixed yesterday, and today I brought her home. 
So far (three hours) she's been a model dog: very polite, knows sit, no, drop it, how to use the dog door, and her name. Leaves the cats completely alone. Wants to follow Bear around the yard, hasn't explored the whole house yet (which is not very big, just a small shotgun of a place), happy enough to stay where Bear and I are. But not so comfy yet that she's joined us on the couch. I think she's going to be an awesome addition to our family,
Here's my question: I've never had a female dog who's had puppies before. Although the pups have been weened for a week, her nipples are still quite swollen. How long before they bounce back, if ever?
(By popular demand: photo below, in thread)
= new reply since forum marked as read
Picture below! 
but they are hanging rather low. My friend on fb thought they looked like a doggie six-pack! 
Congrats!
Internets were saying everything from six weeks to six years to never-ever-ever. Nice to read more reasonable estimates from DUers.
That's Bear chillin' on the couch, and Honey looking a bit bemused by the weird in little box in this new human's hand.
Bear looks so mellow and relaxed, and Honey looks so alert and intelligent.
Best wishes to all
Honey is pretty shy but has settled in nicely. Still hasn't made it up the couch to snuggle but is very happy curled up at my feet. I think we'll be very happy. Thanks for the best wishes!
but she does seem to think our socks are tasty chew toys. "Human foot sweat - yummmm!"
Aside from being slightly put-off by having less couch space to stretch out on, and a 10-minute pout-fest not being an only-dog any more on the first night, Bear's been very happy. They spent a good chunk of time yesterday chasing each other around the yard like maniacs. Exactly as it should be.
I would never have named Bear Bear because I think cross species names are kind of dumb. But he came with the name, he's a Katrina dog, and I just figured he'd been through so much he didn't need the hassle of learning a new name.
Honey's foster mom started calling her Honey because of her coloring but the name stuck (so to speak) because of her sweet (so to speak) nature.
Congratulations.
You are a great person.
You will find (in the end) that you did it for you too. Up until I moved to my apartment, I had two dogs from the 70's until 2008. And they ALWAYS provided me with as much company as they did for each other.
You done good.
has been underscored by my own selfish desire to surround myself with dogs. Really, have almost always had one dog, have always, always wanted two!
Bear will appreciate the company - this last year has been the first in six years that we haven't lived with other roommates with dogs, so I know he's missed the wrastling. Humans try but we can't wrastle like dogs, we get all hurty between the claws and the paws and that bums Bear out. Honey is still trying to figure out how to be a pet, but I keep seeing glimpses of what will be her playful dogish nature once she knows she's safely home at last.
Thanks for the huzzah! May you dream sweet puppy dreams tonight!