Announcing a new Novel family member!

[mrsgrubby]

Novel, how is the new baby doing? How did the introductions to the rest of the gang go? How is topper doing with all this, and Laney?

[Novel]

Topper loves her, but he loves everything. Alley is not real sure, and so follows her around constantly, looming over her. Laney, well, she's my pain in the buttocks!! She hates the puppy to even come near her, and growls and runs away every time she does.
Now that Jazz is more comfortable here she runs and romps all over. She ignores Laney and for the most part Laney is coming to ignore her. As the other two accept her more, I know Laney will follow suit, and I fully expected this behavior. Time and patience... Also, I'm looking forward to spring. I'm going to work Laney towards her JH and CD. Hopefully that one on one time will help her through this difficult time.

[mrsgrubby]

I have forgotten, how did you end up with Laney? Was she a rescue?

I am so glad that things are going well with little Jazz, and of course I love the name as I call my Jasmine, Jas all the time.

I'll tell ya, my introduction to the weim blood was so positive that I see one in my future some day.

Anyway, i am glad she is doing good, and I can't wait to keep hearing about her, and her new to come sister!!

[Novel]

No, Laney is our blue Weim purchased from a BYB. It has been a lesson, and one I will never repeat.
She has poor conformation, but lots of hunting drive. However she also has lots of issues with her temperament. She used to be dog aggressive, but we've worked on that to the point where she just doesn't care for other dogs. The foster dogs were great for her, but... the puppy is a different story. The fosters were adults.
We've found that Laney is unclear as to where she fits into our pack. She has been Alpha while it was just her and Alley as girls, but shes a tyrant and a poor leader, if that makes sense.
Although she respects me as Alpha over her, she will test me. It is a constant battle with her to not only exert dominance over her, but also have her be part of the family, as she loves to cuddle with me but quickly gets upset when her idea of her place in the pack is threatened or anything but clear cut.
When Izzy or Baby were here, they took over as Alpha, because I really don't think Laney wants to be Alpha, but she has no choice as Alley clearly is not. So, now with the puppy and no Izzy she's back to being Alpha and it kind of wigs her out. We tried to give her a few days without the puppy and after Izzy was not here to reposition herself, and she was doing fine, but then the puppy threw that all into chaos.
At first she would growl if the puppy came to close to her and bark and run away if the puppy persisted. She also expanded her personal space to about a 2' radius. Now with Topper accepting the puppy we're moving in the right direction. Alley has also come to see that the puppy will play with her, she just has to be more gentle than she is used to. She was ready to play right away, but, I had to stop her because she was too rough. Both Alley and Laney both had difficult puppyhoods. They are both BYB dogs and I amaze myself to think how much I have learned since then. Alley was only 5 weeks when she came to be with us, and has a hard time socializing, although we have worked on it and now that she is reaching adulthood, she has become almost normal. Laney, came home at the right time, 8 weeks, but was from a BYB who is bordering mill status, and she was the only one in her litter that wasn't scared to death of us, so we chose her.
Both girls were socialized lots and lots after they came to be here, but, it never can replace proper socialization at the right time. We've learned our lesson.

[mrsgrubby]

Thanks, another story as to why byb should not do what they do.

Because I am new to Weims I thought the grey weims were called blue weims, not the brown ones. What is Topper and Jazz called?

Poor Laney, how hard to be a misfit.

[Novel]

Topper and Jazz are both considered gray. Silver is almost indistinguishable and a tad lighter. Blue is a very distinct darker color, almost black but not quite, like the blue on a shotgun barrel.

Note Laney is Blue and Topper is Gray in this pic. Alley is fawn, but she's a whole 'nother story!!!



P.S. Blue is a disqualified color and unacceptable in the show ring. Laney because she is purebred and AKC registered can do everything else, but is DQ'd from the conformation ring.

[Jenny]

that is an adorable picture of the 3 of them!

[Shadowkins]

Gosh they sure are beautiful...their coats look just like velvet...nice.

[Novel]

I do love that short coat!
Since the fur is only about 1 half inch long, it can feel like a long velvet at time. Their diet really helps to bring out the shine.

[bigdoglover]

*sneeks in to take all of Novel's dogs, including Jazz* LOL

[Novel]

You're right, I violated a rule.... LOL!!!