Mickey is doing very well and is settling in.  He recovered well from the surgery on his teeth and neutering.

What a loveable guy, it's such a pleasure to come home from work and see him waiting with little Mick.  It's so funny how he 'circles' until he sees I have my boots off or I bend down to pet the two of them.

He now goes down two stairs at the back of our house and up the three in the front.  He loves Dentastix and small biscuits and already knows where the 'treat' cupboard is.

He found his 'voice' and has learned how to use it to signal us, even to the point when little Mick is out back on his own, when he comes to the door and does his small 'let me in the house' bark, Mickey II then barks until either John or I come to let the little one in.  He also lets me know when I am upstairs or downstairs and he wants to come up or down.

He walks so well on leash.  It is a pleasure to walk with him.  He is doing well even on the street where there is quite a bit of traffic, he is adapting very well to the cars being beside the sidewalk.

We are so very happy with our newest family member.  We hope that everyone is doing well and send our regards to all of you.

Update March '09 ... 

Mickey has reached another milestone in that at first he would not take a biscuit, etc. from my hand, as of last week he is now taking it (very gently) from my hand.  He loves outdoors and now that the snow is slowly disappearing he spends more and more time out in the yard and really does not mind if he is on his own or our neighbour's dog (Belle, a Golden Retriever) or our little Mick is with him. 

This week he has started picking up one of the toys, shaped like a big dog done, and carries it around in his mouth.  Yes, he likes to make it squeak too, but not too much.

We are now walking a bit further each day and he seems to be adjusting well to the longer walks.  He walks so well on the leash that it still surprises me.  Although he pulls back if someone comes too close to him, but when they pet him he does not pull away.

He will have his first long road trip with us Easter weekend when we go to Oshawa and Cambridge to visit family.  We are not concerned about him meeting the families as all of them love animals and have or had them, themselves.  In fact he will probably love all the affection once he gets over an initial meeting.

Update April '09 ...

We had a wonderful Easter weekend.  The two Mickey's travelled very well.  Mickey II had been getting car sick however we got medication from the Vet and it did the trick.  The two of them slept sharing the back seat.

On our first stop we stayed at a Comfort Inn.  Mickey II did his pacing, even though his blanket and 'toy' were there; however, when we turned the lights off for the night he settled down and slept well.

On the second stop at relatives in Oshawa, although a bit shy at first, he checked the house and yard out and after a few hours settled right in.  Whenever someone new came, he would go to the room where we were staying and go to his blanket; after a short time he would come out and gradually let everyone pet him, after that he settled right in.

The next stage was travelling from Oshawa to Cambridge to visit my family.  He wandered a bit on the first day but by the second day was right at home.  He went to everyone quite quickly and seemed to enjoy all of the attention.  He even got a new toy and alternated between that one, it's a large mallard duck that is extremely soft and yes it squeaks, and the soft fuzzy dog that he carries around at home.

We went for walks with my sister and the two Mickey's enjoyed them.  Little Mick always took the lead but Mickey II did not mind at all, he just liked getting out into the sunny weather.

The return trip home, although long, was great.  We stopped in Belleville to visit my sister-in-law and some of her family was there.  The dogs loved every minute as they were spoiled.

Mickey II loves the outdoors and spends lots of time in the backyard.  He is responding quite well to the command "house" that we use for the dogs to come in, however, the stairs in the house are still a challenge.  He has been able to get up to the fourth one now but seems to get stuck on figuring out how to go on; we know this will come with time.  He has no problem with the outside front and back steps at all and in fact almost bounces in the air as he comes up and down.  I guess long legs do come in handy!

Mickey II 'escaped' one day out the front door and my husband spent an hour running around the block trying to 'capture' him.  Eventually the two of them got 'together', needless to say John is more careful now when he opens the door.

We are enjoying Mickey II.  It is a treat now to come home and see the two Mickey's at the front door waiting for me, the wag of the tails and the cheerful greeting make every day full of sunshine and joy.

 

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