Peace In The Valley

We’ve been slowly building up a good report between these two muppets after one of their idiot humans (me), introduced them by simply showing up to Winnie’s new home with Harlow and thinking that would do.

It most decidedly did not.

Winnie, having been the puppy of the house for two weeks at that time, was territorial and got right up in Harlow’s face. Meanwhile, Harlow was wondering what this punk was doing in her grandparents house where SHE was the top dog! The two “argued” and I knew we had work to do.

Once a week for three weeks, my parents and I met with our dogs at either end of a park in Stoneham, and walked parallel to each other, back and forth and very far apart. Slightly closer each week. The fourth time, Dad and I walked with the two of them side by side in Wakefield, followed by unleashed time on the deck. When they were first unleashed, Winnie lost her ever-loving MIND! Barking in Harlow’s face, both dogs down in play pose. They seemed to be doing OK, but the energy was super high and we knew it could shift at any minute. Dad and I consciously pet neither dog so as to not invoke a jealous reaction. Harlow was mildly overwhelmed, I think, and eventually moved herself so the patio table was between herself and Winnie. Harlow sat down and glanced back at me as if to say “Mom, she’s a LOT. I’m over here if you need me.”

The second time we did the neighborhood walk followed by a deck visit, the vibe was VERY different. It was interesting. Winnie met Harlow’s energy much quicker than before. (Well, she never met it before, but this time she did). No crazy barking in her face, not spinning in circles. She even dropped to the floor when Harlow stood over her. Harlow said with her body language that the plan was to coexist, and Winnie followed suite, ambling around the deck with an occasional friendly hello to each other.

With Christmas approaching, we knew we needed to get them “in shape” because we’d all be together in one house for the holiday. So yesterday, Dad and Winnie came to our house and the puppies romped in the yard. Boy did Winnie love having a new place to explore and stuff to jump up on and off of!

They got along great, though I could tell Harlow was a bit tired of the wired one after a while. (The second photo below is Harlow saying “so do you need to use the bathroom before you go?” ).

We’re optimistic for a peaceful Christmas!