Juju introduction post

Not sure why it has taken me so long to write this post, but it is past time to formally introduce Juju to our friends and family.  If you follow us on Facebook, Instagram or any of the other social media platforms, then you know all about Juju.  But this post will possibly fill in some of the gaps and is another chance for me to share adorable pics of our new pup.

I know Tim thinks I'm a little horse crazy, and dog crazy, oh and chicken crazy and... well, maybe we shouldn't dig into the many ways that Tim thinks I'm a little crazy.  But basically since the minute Jinx came home we haven't stopped looking for another Aussie.  Possibly another bigger Aussie to be more of a farm dog.  Jinx is a great little farm dog, but she is pretty little.  There is only so much a toy sized Aussie can do, no matter how big their heart, in the way of herding the horses.  Jinx has literally been the perfect family dog.  Every dog is different, but Jinx, in many ways, doesn't fit the stereotypical Aussie profile.  She's quite content to sleep all day and she never really played with toys.  Get her outside and she loves to run and chase and play, but inside she is a model citizen.  She only ever really chewed on one thing and wrecked it (and boy did she look guilty and sorry when I found her with it) and she was quick to potty train despite minimal effort by the girls to do it correctly.  She loves to cuddle and virtually never makes a sound. In fact, the one time she barked inside it was a cause for alarm by the whole family because we were all so shocked.  She doesn't typically whine (unless Sophie locks her out of her room) and she is in general a quiet, content, perfect little pup.  So what does everyone do when they have a good first child?  Have a second one of course!

Libby watched puppy pages and friends' litters for months. She was actively searching the adoption pages and rescues.  She was bound and determined to get her own puppy, one she could take with her when she moves out.  But it had to live with us first so I had final say and I'm very picky.  I know just what kinds of breeds I personally like.  I know which breeds match our family's lifestyle and needs.  I know just what kind of dog I can stand and I know which I can't which is a much larger list.  I know which are allowed by insurance companies after learning the hard way that Rotts, Pits and Dobies aren't.  Finally, just the kind of puppies we are looking for popped up in my news feed.  We didn't need a breed show quality dog.  We didn't need a "fancy" puppy.  We just wanted a sweetheart farm dog to keep Jinx company and be a much loved family pet.  And there were 6 to choose from.  When we got to the breeder's place we fully intended to fall in love with and get the black tri female. And Libby did.   But there was this one puppy that sat back from the rest of the commotion and watched.  AND she was my all time favorite color - blue merle.  Once I picked her up and she snuggled into me it was all over.  Libby was going to have to wait to get her dream puppy because I had found mine.  I had to have that puppy and now all I had to do was beg Tim.  Lucky for me, he's an easy mark.

We brought Juju home and I was super nervous about her meeting Jinx.  Jinx can be kind of nervous around other dogs.  But it was truly love at first sight.  Jinx absolutely LOVES Juju and is pretty sure that we brought her home just for her.  When they aren't playing and wrestling and fighting with each other, one is sleeping on the other.  Libby tells the story of how Juju was having a nightmare and whining in her sleep.  Jinx got up from her spot on the couch to go lay down on Juju and reassure her.  Just this morning I was giving Juju her dewormer and you would have thought I was killing her.  Jinx stopped eating her breakfast to come over and whine and reassure her friend that she was okay.  (And give me a death stare).  They sleep together and play together and are the very best of friends.

However, Jinx and Juju couldn't be more opposite in so many ways.
1.  Juju is most content sleeping ON you, under you,  next to you.  Jinx likes to cuddle but when it is truly sleep time she will get up to go stretch out away from everyone.

2.  Jinx loves her treats and bones and gobbles them down right away.  Juju "buries" everything.  The other day she was so mad at us.  First she tried to bury her bone in the couch cushions so we took it out and told her to just eat it.  Then she went to my bedroom and tried to bury it under the blanket on the love seat.  So we took it out and told her just to eat it.  Next she was trying to bury it under Libby's blanket, then the blanket in her doggie bed, then behind the trunk and lastly she buried it between the quilts hanging on the quilt rack.  We stopped trying to get her to just enjoy her treat at that point.

3.  As I said before, Jinx is QUIET.  Like when she does bark, about once a month, it is a cause for the entire family to take notice and be alarmed.  She only whines, rarely and usually because she can't be right next to Sophie.  Juju is a talker.  She whines, barks, yips, yelps, growls and groans.  Yes, groans when they are wrestling.  She isn't overly loud or obnoxious, just a talker.

4.  Jinx could have her dish of food out 24/7 and would eat a little here or there when she was hungry.  Juju will eat whatever is in the dish until it is gone.  There is a reason Sophie has dubbed her "Chubs".

5. Jinx is timid.  She loves our family, but is leery of strangers.  Juju doesn't know the meaning of the word timid.  She's fearless.

6.  Jinx was never one to play with toys.  She had a couple she would chew on and shake, but for the most part she wasn't in love with the whole squeaky toy idea.  Juju has made great use of every single one of Jinx's forgotten and bypassed toys.  She loves a good game of fetch and she loves to squeak her toys.  A lot.

I'm sure there are more ways that will come to mind, but the real truth is that they are both wicked smart and both the sweetest dogs on the planet.  We couldn't ask for two more perfect additions to our family. Yes, we are back to potty training and puppy patrol.  But we are also back to puppy breath, puppy kisses and puppy snuggles.  It doesn't get any better.  Juju came to us as Jinx's little buddy and she's fast passing her.  Our little Chubs is growing up so fast!