McKutie copes: When the former puppy princess is upstaged by her pretty puppy daughter
By Gina Spadafori
June 20, 2009
So I’m teaching the puppy a couple of silly little things, just for fun.
Low five, high five (right paw), low five, high five (left paw) and gimme 10 (both paws). The puppy is getting a lot of attention these days, because time passes too quickly. You just don’t get a second chance to raise a puppy right.
All well and good, but in the middle of working with Faith, her mother McKenzie (a/k/a McKutie) smacks the back door hard with her paws, wedges her nose into the small opening from the door rebounding against the jamb, flings it wide open and bursts onto the patio.
Then she sits, next to her daughter, and waves her right paw high in the air, then her left, and then looks at me smugly.Yes, she knows these tricks well, and she does them well, too. Show-off!
Feeling a little neglected, McKutie?
In just a few months McKenzie has gone from McKutie to McMommy, from the center of her universe to the center of the universe for six squirming black sausages. She wasn’t a wonderful mother at first: I had to cradle her against my own belly on the bed and tell her she was a good, good girl so she’d relax enough for the long nursing sessions her tiny babies needed. But she got the hang of it soon enough, and even if she wasn’t always the most attentive of mothers, she raised a fine family.
Now, though, she wants to be McKutie again. not McMommy. She stopped tolerating any of Faith’s attempts at nursing two weeks ago, and the milk bar is drying up nicely. She seems to consider Faith more of a little sister than a daughter, and the two of them play long, animated games of bitey-face and tug-of-war.
But when I’m working with just the puppy? McKenzie’s long nose will soon be right there, demanding her share of attention and time. Which means I’ve had to expand my training sessions to include McKenzie … and Woody … and Drew … and then take 12-year-old Heather for a walk so she isn’t feeling neglected, either.
Even the cats and the parrot seem slighted these days. Last night I was talking to a friend on the phone realizing it was getting hard to breathe with 20-plus pounds of cats on my chest. I nudged Clara down next to me, but Ilario wasn’t budging. I bet Pam could hear the purring through the phone, he was that close to my face.
And if Eddie the parrot asks, “What are you DOING?” one more time, I’m going to throw a blanket over his cage. (The chickens seem to be handling everything without any change, but then, since they’re not house pets, they’re removed from much of the intrigue.)
McKenzie remains the most worked up about losing her spot as the baby to her baby, her attitude probably coming from the strain of the whole mommy experience — and the re-adjusting hormones — as anything else.
One little puppy and a whole lot of adjustments. I figure we’ll all get by.
Images: McKenzie, top, practices her, “What am I, chopped liver?” look. She has bald spots in some places, lumpy bits in others and the milk bar is slowly receding. I think she’s utterly cool with the decision that one litter is more than enough, even though, all said and done, she does love having her little daughter around.
Below: McKenzie, 10 weeks, and her daughter Faith, 10 weeks.
Then she sits, next to her daughter, and waves her right paw high in the air, then her left, and then looks at me smugly.Yes, she knows these tricks well, and she does them well, too. Show-off!
Feeling a little neglected, McKutie?
Too cute and too funny!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 20, 2009 @ 8:16 am
LOL Try rewarding mom for being still and watching while you work the pup. If you want a bigger challenge, in group situations reward the quiet, attentive animal. As each one begins to fall in step they get rewarded—soon you’ll have animals that are participating and happy about it.
If she is too bossy you can redirect into a stationary behavior…
A good test for your training skills and something that will keep you occupied so you forget to miss all the previous pup action.
Comment by Ark Lady — June 20, 2009 @ 8:19 am
Excellent idea! I’m hoping some day do re-do this picture with FOUR retrievers.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 20, 2009 @ 8:56 am
Our city finally legalized chickens and rabbits and I’ve been raising four chicks for eight weeks now. The dog is very put out. She’s finally settled into the “job” of keeping the neighbor’s outdoor cats out of the yard and away from the birds. She still thinks our chickens are ridiculous and are taking far too much attention away from herself. When I’m feeding and watering she nudges me in the calves with toy after toy, trying to get my attention.
Beautiful puppy pictures! Thanks for giving me a bad case of “puppy fever”.
Comment by C.L.H. — June 20, 2009 @ 9:44 am
I consider myself a “chicken-pusher.” The hens are beautiful, fun, entertaining, quiet and productive. Everyone should have a couple!
Hmmmmm … *I* should be so useful as they are!
I scrambled a dozen gorgeous fresh eggs for us all this morning — me, dogs, cats and even the parrot had some. Yum! I will reward the ladies later with their favorite treat: Raw corn on the cob.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 20, 2009 @ 10:01 am
I have to admit that the dog has reason to be put out. I use “chicken TV” to realx after a long day at work. The dog just doesn’t see the whole point of it. I think they’re beautiful and definitely fun to watch. They eat slugs and thatch and fertilize my lawn.
They’ve been the high point of my summer, so far, and I can’t wait until they start laying.
Comment by C.L.H — June 20, 2009 @ 10:32 am
McKutie still has the most adorable expression.
She is just too sweet.
Comment by Marcy — June 20, 2009 @ 10:48 am
Chickens are, as it turns out, a gateway drug.
Let me tell you about the turkeys …
Comment by H. Houlahan — June 20, 2009 @ 11:13 am
McKutie still has the most adorable expression.
She is just too sweet.
Comment by Marcy — June 20, 2009
I simply cannot disagree. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 20, 2009 @ 11:13 am
I was once putting Rosie through some rapid-fire obedience and tricks, for shits n grins, for about five minutes.
Couldn’t figure out why my family was smirking.
Moe was right behind me, perfectly mirroring everything Rosie was doing, only faster and better
Comment by H. Houlahan — June 20, 2009 @ 11:19 am
When we got Harper, I had to promise Twyla that she could still be “the baby.” And Dog forbid that I try to train Harper alone; no, everyone had to get in on the act. On the other hand, Bella did learn to twirl because of that…
Comment by Kim Thornton — June 20, 2009 @ 8:42 pm
I love the picture of McLiver.
Comment by Nancy Freedman-Smith CPDT — June 20, 2009 @ 9:15 pm
Isn’t so much fun? What would we do without them??
I have to tell you, Kasey got to try out agility equipment for the first time yesterday and he just lit up. Didn’t know he was supposed to be nervous about any of it. Tunnel? No problem. Swaying bridge, whatever.
I was so proud of everything he did, as you are of Faith’s accomplishments. It’s the best feeling, isn’t it?
We still love you McKutie!!
Comment by Original Lori — June 22, 2009 @ 9:08 am