Last Thursday afternoon, we discovered that our new puppy would be arriving on Friday! So Steve took the day off, and we spent the morning preparing a place for Max and buying needed supplies. We picked him up at the airport cargo area about 2:30 p.m., and brought him home in a snowstorm. He was quite traumatized by his day - he'd already been to the vet the day before, then a car ride, two airplane rides, and then another car ride with strangers. He didn't want to come out of his box!
We just enjoyed him for a little while, then took him to our vet at 4:45. Our new vet had come highly recommended by about a dozen Facebook friends, a good way to get a recommendation! They were very gentle with Max, and even took him out of the room to give him a blood test so that he wouldn't associate "bad" with us.
The rest of the evening was spent trying to get acquainted. Still very quiet so a lot of petting and reassuring. Another trauma - taking him outside to go potty. Lots of snow on the ground, we ended up clearing a grassy area so that he wouldn't have his belly dragging in the snow. He still won't go anywhere on the leash except when he's sniffing out a favorite bathroom area now, but at least it's in grass.
Saturday, Max was still pretty quiet. He (even now) still won't leave the living room area. We're not sure why, but he definitely feels most secure there. Won't follow us out of the room, for example. He has become curious about everything that is in the living room, though. And perplexed at all the other doggies in the room at night - his reflection in the picture window and several glass-fronted cabinets.
Sunday and yesterday, Max perked up quite a bit. More puppy like behavior. He enjoys his small tennis balls, his chew/tug toys, and yesterday his mini-kong (place to hide treats.) We are mostly successful in getting him outside and have only had to clean up a few messes overall.
It's been interesting so far!
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