Today I Thank God for...

Today I thank God for... THE KONG!

Thank God for whoever created the Kong! It has provided me with entertained puppies this afternoon and I am forever grateful!

Emma has a pink puppy strength and size kong and today I purchased a large, super tough kong for Jack. I also picked up some kong filling that comes in a can like whipped cream or cheese whiz. This stuff is much easier to use than trying to fill it with peanut butter.

I filled up both kongs and then handed the red one to Mr. Jack and the pink one to sweet Emma. They each licked their respective kongs for about a minute then had to see what the other dog had. So the switch happened. 

It's funny watching Jack chew on Emma's kong. His jaw is so strong that the little hole for the treats gets squeezed almost all the way shut. 

So happy for busy, happy puppies. Thank you Kong inventor! Today you are my hero! =)

Jack Day 3

Jack doesn't understand that he is not allowed to be on the couch. This is his reaction when I say, "Jack, down. Off the couch." (also, please ignore the mess in the background, we're in the middle of moving)

Jackson has been part of our family for three days today. He is settling in well. Emma is a little pouty. She is used to being the only princess in the family and hasn't taken too well to sharing everything just yet. Honestly, I have felt so guilty about it. I called my mom today and was crying a little bit to her about how I feel bad for Emma. But she reassured me that I haven't ruined her little puppy life. That it is good for her to have a brother and that this is natural behavior for dogs who have been only puppies. My mom works as an adoption specialist with Adopt-A-Golden in Atlanta and reminded me that there are foster parents who bring difficult dogs into their homes all the time and their dogs have to adjust and everything always turns out alright. She also reminded me that we had a similar situation with our family dogs when we brought home our second dog. Jack is completely unfazed. I'm just looking forward to Emma acting like her bouncy self again. My mom also said that she probably feels like her turf has been invaded and that us moving in a couple of days will probably help as well.

Jack's first time at the dog park!

Yesterday I took Jack to the dog park for the first time. I was a little surprised how he acted. He is so full of energy and has all this bouncy puppiness that I just assumed that as soon as I took off his collar and opened the gate to the park that he would just bound in with no hesitation. However, he was a little shy. He played well with the dogs and seemed to enjoy himself, but from time to time he would come over to me and lean against my legs. At one point two other dogs teamed up against Jack, not in an aggressive way, but I was so proud because Emma jumped right in there as if to defend her brother. It was adorable!

Jack with his new toy. It's supposed to be tough to chew... we'll see. 

Brushing Jack seems to be helping his shedding. We also had to get a new, larger water dish. This pup drinks more than any other dog I know... well, actually, I take that back. He drinks like my parent's golden retriever, Luke. Maybe it's that breed?

New vs. Old water dishes. 

Jack is definitely repaying Emma for all the grief she has given her uncle and aunt puppies when she was a puppy. But they're working all the kinks out. Look how cute the two of them are!

A little blurry... my phone's camera isn't the best

Can't wait for the time to fly by to where everyone knows their place in our family and Jack feels like we are his 'pack'. We love him!!!

Meet Jack "Barley"

Miguel and I have talked for a while about getting another dog. We want a friend for Emma to play with and honestly we just love dogs so much that adding another one to our family seemed like a natural step for us. We've been waiting for a new house before we went forward and looked for a new dog. Well, last week we closed on our house and Jack came into the picture. The timing of Jack was definitely a God thing. A friend from high school, Carly, mentioned on facebook about a co-worker of her mother who was looking for a new home for her sweet golden lab/ golden retriever mix puppy. Miguel and I had been talking for years about how we wanted a vizsla but for some reason this little mention of a golden lab needing a home tugged on my heart and I instantly wrote back on Carly's post that we were interested... then I asked Miguel. Ha. Luckily, he agreed and we got the ball rolling to adopt Jack. It just happened that Miguel and I were heading through Atlanta this weekend on a way to a wedding (I will post about the wedding next post... it was truly lovely). God's timing is perfect. =)

Jack's previous mommy adopted him from the pound two months ago. She named him Barley and gave him all her love. Jack/Barley has very obviously been well taken care of and very loved. However, with a full time job and being a mom to her own children, Jack's mom felt like she couldn't give him all the attention a bouncy, energetic, 7 month old puppy needs. Having Jack be a part of our family is such a great fit because I stay at home and Emma and Jack can entertain each other so much more effectively than I ever could alone.

After speaking with Barley/Jack's mom on the phone we agreed to meet this Sunday. Miguel and I drove straight from the wedding location in North Georgia to the Buckhead area to meet Jack. I had butterflies in my stomach the whole way there. We talked the whole drive about re-naming him and we decided we couldn't agree on anything until we met him and knew his personality. Boy, does he have a personality. It is all smiles and joy and bounciness! Barley is such a cute name for a dog but it reminds us of something in our lives that made us feel like a name change would be a good thing. We finally decided on Jack. He hasn't learned it yet and we sometimes slip up and still call him Barley. However, I think that Jack/Barley would most likely respond to anything and come to you with full wags and a smile with his longggg tongue hanging out.

Jack is soooo good in the car. SUCH a difference from how Emma travels in the car! Jack stuck his head out the window... then his feet.... then we rolled up the window! Ha! But after that he just laid down and went to sleep. What a relief!

When we got back to my in-laws house (they had puppysat for us for the night of the wedding) we brought Emma out to the front yard to introduce her to her little brother. They hit it off right from the start. After the customary butt sniff, there were quick play bows and then off they went. HUGE circles in the yard and bouncy, bouncy playing all over the place. The smiles and wags were enormous! It was such joy to see them so happy and see them get along so well. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect fit!

Sister and Brother meet for the first time!

Such happiness! Look at that face!

Both puppies played non stop all afternoon. And I mean literally non stop! Emma did take a brief break for about two minutes, but Jack really wasn't having any of it.

Emma trying to catch a break

When we finally packed up the car and got the dogs ready to leave they were pretty worn down on energy. Jack was such a good boy and settled right in, laying down and going to sleep. Emma started her normal nervous pant and stepped all over Jack. Neither Jack or Emma seemed to mind each other being in the others way. From time to time Jack would wake up and try to climb up in the front to say hello and give kisses. (Seriously, how can someone not love dogs!?!? From the moment they wake up they just want to smile and love on you!). Emma and Jack would also sometimes try to help Miguel drive and get on either side of his head. Adorable.

Emma stepping all over Jack during the car ride home

Jack and Emma (you can see her little nose to the right of the head rest) being back seat drivers

Look at that cute spotted tongue!

We just got home about an hour ago. Since then I've uploaded pictures to my computer and refilled the water dish three times, Emma is passed out sleeping, she finally had to tell Jack that she was tired and to stop playing with her - dogs work this out so well and Jack understood and went off to do his own thing... which is chewing apparently. lol. He has been very diligently working on a rawhide. Every time I look at him I can't help but smile. He is adorable and I am so happy that he is here and this is going to be his forever home!

Oh, I also have to share this: we noticed that Jack has been shedding a lot of his puppy fur. So we stopped and bought a brush. After the first brushing this is how much hair we have collected. And Miguel is still brushing him! Haha! Oh lord! Good thing he is too cute! I also am going to have to change the name of this blog.... Yay! Happiness!