Introduction Day

After a 4 hour trip down to Galva, IL, we successfully introduced Dakota to her new baby sister, Cheyenne. They seemed okay with each other and although they were separated in the car, they still seemed to be okay. We got home and it all changed. Dakota and Cheyenne hit it off! Dakota wont let Cheyenne even take a nap - every time she does, Dakota starts to whine and nudges Cheyenne until she wakes up. Poor Cheyenne can't even close her eyes for a couple of minutes. Normally Labrador Retrievers are very loving but I have never seen two dogs hit it off better. They are sharing toys, running around after each other, and Dakota even whines and protects (lays next to) Cheyenne's crate when she is in there. That is the only way the poor pup has had a chance to get a couple of minutes to herself.

Both loving and affectionate, this pups are so much alike in personality that it is scary. They both lay the same way, use their paws when playing, and tug in the same manner. Right now, she is playing tug-of-war with my husband and as aggressive as Dakota is - using all her weight. (laugh) As I typed that, Dakota took the end from my husband and there stood an 81 lbs pup against a 9 lbs lab baby. You would think that the lighter would be no problem to win but the bigger (Dakota) plays just rough enough and when Cheyenne stops playing, Dakota will bring her the tug toy once again. It is love - a very well made match. Now if we could only get her housebroken!

Last night of peace

Tonight is the last night of peace in this house for quite some time. The silence will be surely missed when we introduce our new chocolate Labrador retriever puppy, Cheyenne, into our world tomorrow. We have already been blessed with one chocolate lab puppy, Dakota, who came into our lives when she was only 8 weeks old. Now she is 10 months and anxiously awaits her new 8-week old baby sister.

Both girls are from the same sire and dame so they will be the same beautiful deep chocolate brown with a stocky English Show Labrador Retriever conformation. Of course, as Dakota is now 81 lbs. At 10 months old, it may not be easy to keep these two under control once they are both fully grown. Only time will tell. Now is the time to make sure they are both introduced correctly and ensure that Dakota still knows she is our baby. With no human children in our home, we have come to see her as our "baby" but do maintain the pack order. It will be interesting to see how well we maintain the pack order in our home and make sure that we continue to run our house and not our two chocolate babies.