Wow!! What a night.. After Mom was off work, Mom and Dad drove out to where our new older brother had come in to town. Mom told me later that the pup was a little nervous at first, but he immediately went into Dad’s arms and gave Dad a sweet kiss. He walked on his leash to the car and had his tail up and wagging! In the car, he sat next to Dad while Dad was driving. Mom said the pup acted like he had been Dad’s driving partner forever. The pup wasn’t nervous and he sat between the seats watching the world of his new home pass by. Mom is pretty sure that this new pup is a “man’s dog”!
When they got home, Dad was carrying a big black package when he first came through the door.. Lincoln saw something in Dad’s arms move, then I saw it too. But what was it.. I seemed to recognize something, but wasn’t quite sure what it was..
Dad had us all go out into the backyard and then he put this big black bundle on the ground! A DOG! A bigger dog than me.. But he seemed like a nice dog. I was the first one to check him out. I followed him around and I was smelling him. He smelled like something I knew, what was that smell? Oh my Goodness!! That is the smell of my Foster Mom and my Foster Home!! I would know that smell anywhere! This big black bundle was my Foster Brother!! I had never met him. But I know he is one of the special rescues from JourneyHome Rescue and he is my sweet new brother! How could this be!
My brothers were the next to meet our new brother. Oh yeah – my new brother’s name is Bugi – Wesley “Bugatti” Klein – Bugi, pronounced “Boo-gi” for short. I think his name fits him perfectly. Lincoln was really playful and his tail was in the air. Lincoln was pretty excited and went from Mom to Dad, and then back to the new pup.. Bugi is a black color with a little silver mixed in, kind of like Porsche, maybe Lincoln thought Bugi was related to his big sister. They were very close and Bugi is about the same age as Porsche was. Tesla wasn’t so sure he wanted to meet the new pup. At first he didn’t want to come outside, Mom had to carry him out and then he only wanted to go back in. But Mom closed the puppy door, so Tesla would know he needed to stay outside for a little while with all of us. Tesla was indifferent to Bugi while we were outside and kept his distance. But when we came in the house, Tesla made sure Bugi understood that he may be bigger, but Tesla is still the “Man” (male pup) of the house. Dad is and always will be the Man of the house. I know Tesla will come around. He did the same thing with me and I am just a little puppy girl. But now we are good puppy siblings.
Introducing a new pup can be challenging. But Mom and Dad did really well. They seemed to do this naturally. But Mom also has experience introducing pups to each other, Porsche to Beemer, then Lincoln to Porsche, then Tesla to those two, then me to those three. Today it was our turn to meet our new brother.
Mom and Dad had left our puppy blankets in the back of the car, so Bugi would smell them and he would also have our smell on him when he came into the house to meet us. Mom and Dad introduced us carefully to one another and they did this outside where we were less likely to be “territorial” than we might have been inside the house. They let us wander in the backyard and we were able to follow each other around and smell one another – this is how we get to know each other. No pressure and we took all the time we wanted. Bugi searched around the backyard smelling all the bushes and “marking” them. But it was funny, because Lincoln followed after him doing the same thing! Silly boys!
When we came in the house, Mom and Dad let Bugi roam around and become familiar with his surroundings. This is a new place and I remember the first day I arrived about five months ago. So many new sights and smells to take in and all at one time. I remember feeling overwhelmed and I am certain Bugi was feeling the same thing. I told him not to be worried, he would okay and Mom and Dad would take good care of him.
Bugi’s eyesight is failing, but he seems to see his way around the house pretty well. But, I already told him that I would help him find his way. All on his own, Bugi found the water bowl and the food bowl (both good signs)! He has good appetite and he ate his first Honest Kitchen dinner right up. He also took his medicine, he gets a pill twice a day for his heart failure. Mom put his pill in a yummy “pill pocket” – peanut butter flavor! I like these too and sometimes I get these for a special treat, even without a pill!
Dad took the time to be with each of us and we all got treats sitting on his lap. Dad gave the first one to Tesla, then Lincoln, then me, then Bugi. Mom explained it was important to be sure that all us pups didn’t feel like they were being replaced by this sweet new pup. Bugi came up and sat with Dad. He laid down and fell sound asleep. Dad let me up in the chair too. I laid down close to Bugi and we both slept.. I am sure Bugi knows already how much he will be loved.
Tales of Shelby the ShihTzu 