PUCK!
No, he's not named after the disc-like object used in hockey. He is named after the mischevious fairy in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
When my beloved Queensland Heeler, Cherry, passed away in December, I was absolutely devastated. The Husband already had 2 dogs: 5 1/2 year old Axel (yes, I'm spelling it correctly, it's short for Battle Axe), a German Shorthair, and 13 year old Sammy, a terrier mix, so he wasn't too keen on the idea of getting a puppy. I'd told him that was fine, I was more than willing to get a shelter dog, and I wanted a BIG one. I'd have loved a Rottweiler or Mastiff.
Unfortunately, our homeowner's insurance wouldn't allow me to get a Rottie, and The Hubby was more than a little opposed to getting a dog that would be or was bigger than Axel. I had considered stopping at the shelter more than a few times, but never made it to any of them.
About 2 weeks ago, The Hubby came home with a small slip of paper with a name and phone number on it with "Lab Puppies" written next to the name. At his insistance, I called the man who lived in Tehachapi to ask about the puppies. Since the puppies' momma was papered, but the daddy was not, the puppies were much cheaper than I expected, and I eagerly dragged The Hubby up the mountains to Tehachapi (a rather beautiful 40 minute drive from our house) to pick out my new baby 2 weeks ago Saturday.
There were 3 male puppies left (The Hubby didn't want to get a female because Axel hasn't been neutered), and one of them was especially precocious and came right up to me, tail wagging. The biggest of the three (and also the handsomest), was too timid and cowered every time The Husband got near him. I gleefully scooped the less handsome, but more friendly, puppy, and loaded him into my car.
The drive down the mountain consisted of The Hubby and I arguing about what to name him. I was adamant. I wanted to name him Bingley (after Jane Austen's character Mr. Bingley of Pride and Prejudice). The Hubby went through every lame name I could think of (and a few Babylon 5 and Star Trek related names), which eventually deteriorated into him making lame jokes about what we could name him (I gave him a break since he'd worked 12 hours the night before and hadn't slept yet). I told The Hubby that, if I couldn't name him after a character from one of Austen's novels, the puppy's name had to at least be literary. That's how we agreed on Puck. Because, after my beloved Jane, Shakespeare is my next largest literary obsession.
As I type this, my rapidly growing puppy (he was 10 weeks old on Wednesday) is lying across my shoulders on the back of the couch, occasionally licking my ear. He's very attached to his mama.
The Munchkin is terrified of Puck and will not go near him unless he's asleep. I'm hoping she'll grow out of it once we break him of his mouthy ways.
Axel was also not thrilled about meeting his new "brother." He's gotten better over the past 2 weeks, and, though he rarely plays with Puck, will at least let Puck wander around the yard unmolested.
Raising a lab puppy is a whole new experience for me. I've always had cattle dogs, specifically Queenslands, and sporting dogs are completely different. For one, Puck is not nearly as intelligent as the dogs I've been used to training...which means I have to focus on controlling my frustration. However, he also can't figure out how to pretend like he's listening, only to manage a way aroud the command I've given him. I think I will definitely be getting him into some obedience classes as soon as he's gotten all of his shots.
I'm not looking forward to the extremely long puppy stage that I know most labs experience, and I'm hoping he'll pick up "fetch" from Axel (since that's the main joy of Axel's life). On the other hand, I'm really glad I don't have to worry about any agression issues (which were a constant concern with my Queenies), and he absolutely adores children, which is fantastic. In fact, tomorrow, I'm leaving him with my sisters while my mom and I go on our annual day trip to Ventura. I am completely confident that they'll be able to wear him out enough that I won't have to spend the evening running him out before I put him in his crate for bed time. He's also taken to crate training like no other dog I've owned. He hardly whines when he's in his crate (unless he needs to be let out to potty), and he hasn't once gone to the bathroom in his crate.
I'm very excited about raising my new baby (although I'd forgotten how much work a brand new puppy is), and I think we're going to have 2 very good family dogs by the time Puck's gotten older. We're already discussing our next dog (since Sammy's health is getting bad and we don't think she'll live much longer), and I think I'm going to let The Hubby take responsibility for raising that one. :)
Puck and Axel in our back yard...which is in desperate need of grass, I know.
