The Dalmatian Diaries Blog

Well, things are getting easier here. The pups are playing pretty well together. Widget is best with Browser outside, first thing in the morning (and I mean like 5am). She gets rougher as she gets more tired, so naps are important for both of them. I also like to separate them at various times of the day. Widget really responds positively to this. And it lets Browser catch up on his napping, or bond with one of us.

Rain is most likely part of our agenda today, so I'm going to have the dogs outside as much as possible before it starts.

Bedtime was a snap last night. Both pups were exhausted from a full day of playing so they pretty much went right to sleep. Didn't hear a peep until after 2am when Browser needed to go out. We did have one more outside break around 4:30, but then they slept until 6am!

Browsers is developing and adapting nicely. He's very alert now and responds well to his name when called. He is still a round little fatty, but you can already see physical changes in him. He's becoming more coordinated and can manage the steps like a pro. In fact, I think he has fun going up and down the indoor steps because if he disappears at all, that is the most likely place to find him. His "personal time" with us is also helping. Even though he still wants to be wherever Widget is, he now asks for attention from us.

Both dogs absolutely love the outdoors. I hope we have a nice mild winter here for their (and our) sake.

Will get some pictures today. Brent wants to get video of them too. Don't want to miss too much of their puppyhood!

50% chance of rain tomorrow. Most people would say, "oh well", I say "oh, HELL!"

I hope the predictions are wrong, I'm not looking forward to being indoors with these two ALL day anytime soon. Even if they are just being good and playing it's total chaos. Just wait until Browser is full grown - they'll be moving furniture with their play sessions!

No new pictures yet. All the shots I have been getting just look like a spotted blur of puppy playtime. I'll get some solo shots of Browser soon though, I think he'll be growing fast over the next two weeks. He'll be getting his teenage legs soon. That's good too - these stubby puppy legs frustrate him!

I think Widget is finally getting the hang of playing with Browser. She clearly has some jealousy - both with us and toys - but when she gets too rough with him and I say "ENOUGH" she backs off and eases up on him (most of the time!). I think she started thinking of Browser as a toy, and not as a playmate. He definitely holds his own though! And he just LOVES her to pieces. I personally don't see the attraction of a dog twice my size that has really strong jaws and wants to take away everything I have... but hey, to each their own!

The nighttime potty breaks are still a challenge. Letting out two Dalmatian puppies in the middle of the night and trying to keep them from playing is a lot of fun. At least the post-potty break crying seems to be decreasing. Although last night I had to feed poor little Browser at 3am - he was so hungry he wouldn't go back to sleep. That tiny puppy eats like a horse! Of course, that meant also feeding Widget. And then more outside time. And then the post-potty break crying. I think it would be more frustrating if they weren't so darn adorable.

Browser is also learning to have his crate door shut. He whimpers for a few minutes but usually is so exhausted he goes to sleep. I think Widget can be a bigger crybaby.

I still haven't really gotten to know Browser. He's napping right now so Widget is in my office with me. I'll swap dogs in a little bit so he can have some time with Momma (and Widget can rest up for the afternoon play session).

I hope our nice weather holds for, oh, the next two years or so. I don't know what we'll do to wear them out the first bad weather day that comes along!

Today is Widget's four-month birthday. It's amazing how fast she's grown up. I still have to remind myself she's a baby, even though it's seeming more and more natural to treat her like an adult. She's become quite reliable, she rarely destroys anything (other than sticks and acorns), and is about 98% housebroken.

I can still pick her up, but I wouldn't want to carry her very far! I will weigh both pups this weekend to see where they are at. I bet both are down in weight with all the playing (although food consumption has gone up!)

EDIT: Widget weighs 30.2 lbs and Browser weighs 16.8 lbs (oink oink!) as of today.

Browser is napping in his crate and Widget is zonked out on my chair - so I had no excuse (other than having a million other things to do) but to upload some photos.

First, I do have pics to upload but haven't had a lot of computer time since the new arrival (go figure!)

Yesterday was spent playing outside. Widget did pretty well with Browser, she did get a little rough with him a few times but he held his own (telling her off when she got too nippy).

Last night the pups were both awful after the 3am outing. Browser howled until 4am and Widget did a mixture of barking and crying. Finally at 4am I figured for them to cry so long must mean they needed another outside break (and yes, they did). When we came back in I shut Browser in his crate. I think his walking around whining was upsetting Widget (who is shut in her crate typically). This time the crying only lasted about 10 minutes. Browser is too young to be shut in too long, but I knew we'd be up at 5am again.

When 5am came around I let the pups out and I swear Browser was a new dog. He was SO excited to see Widget and couldn't wait to play. He also looked me in the eyes for the first time. I think he even grew overnight. And even Widget was different this morning. She instigated a game of chase - and they did that for a good 20 minutes (keep in mind, it's 5AM - dark, and cold!) They've been playing pretty nice now this morning. More chase, tug-of-war with the toys, and just really being more comfortable with each other. Browser seems to have learned how to use his legs a little more and is really able to run now (he's still got short, fat little puppy legs).

I think today will be a little more chaotic with the pups, but only because they are going to be more active and comfortable with each other.

Also, today Browser is 2 months old - and Widget will be 4 months old tomorrow

Well, the crying wasn't as bad as I thought it would be last night. Widget was actually the worse of the two. They did go to sleep after about 30 minutes.

But, we let them out at 3:30am - and then they took turns. Browser is a howler it seems. He did get tired of that after a few minutes but then he decided to sleep on the floor in front of Widget's crate... which set off Widget's LOUD barking. Her barking lasted a good 30 minutes (and at that hour of the night it seemed like forever). Finally she too quieted down.

Then, right on schedule she wanted to get up at 5am. I think Browser would have gladly slept in. Bummer.

After a brief reintroduction this morning, and a few trips (separately) outside, the two are playing. Browser likes to share his toys, but Widget isn't sure about that yet (she thinks maybe she should hold on to the toys for the time being).

All I can say is I am SO thrilled that they seem to be getting a long so well. Browser hasn't let out a single yelp yet so Widget must not be playing too hard. I do want to spend some time soon with just Browser. I hardly know the little guy yet!

They've been playing hard for about 20 minutes now and seem to be slowing down a little. Would be great if they could wear themselves out and actually nap (so momma can do a little work!!)

Well, he made it! Browser is here.

The introductions went WAY better than I had thought they would. Widget only took a few seconds to decide the new puppy was something fun. Browser wasn't so sure at first so he sat in Daddy's lap while Widget inspected him.

They ran and played and tumbled quite a bit. After a couple of hours Widget clearly was getting overtired and got a little "bossy" with him so we decided "puppy naps" were in order. Both pups are sleeping now, Widget in my office and Browser in Brent's. I think it's going to be a boys vs. girls thing here. Browser clearly loves Brent.

The pictures aren't great. Was hard to take the photos with them moving so much. And yes, there aren't any clear shots of Browser - but I may edit this post if I can get a few more pics tonight. We're going to let the dogs play one more time this evening before bed.

Life is going to be interesting.