So I promised you a post on my new addition. Meet Zoey. The name “Zoe” is of Greek origin and means “life.”
Zoey was born on October 6 and is entering her ninth week of life today.
We met for the first time eight days ago. She was the first pup I picked up…I was just drawn to her. I held her in my arms, looked her in the eyes and knew she was the one. She let me hold her belly up like a baby and locked eyes with me. I held all of her litter mates but none of them matched up to our connection. There was one person who got to pick ahead of me so I had to leave her there praying they wouldn’t pick her.
I got a text a few hours later letting me know she was mine. It was an amazing and emotional moment. I know this sounds crazy but as much as I was excited to welcome Zoey, I was really sad that Sullie was going to lose her only child status.
I did a lot of reading about introducing a new pup to your older dog and everything I read predicted that Sullie would ignore the pup for anywhere from 3 days to 3 months. I was over the moon happy when Sullie embraced her from the first moment.
I’m seriously almost in tears typing this. They have been inseparable and Sullie is being the best big sister ever. I am so proud of her.
The two of them are in one of two modes. Playing or sleeping. Zoey follows Sullie around everywhere and Sullie does her fair share of taunting, playing, correcting and loving. It’s so sweet. Sullie is so patient with the puppy but good about putting her in her place when needed…which I am so grateful for and praise her for doing. It’s like having a built in babysitter. Having a puppy is much easier this time around!
I’m now the happy mom of two golden girls and couldn’t be more thrilled. I have been wanting a puppy for the last year for several reasons…
– Sullie is eight and a half and still super active. I want her to stay active and I think a puppy will help keep her that way because she’s naturally so good natured and social.
– I have read so many things that say it’s good to get a puppy when you have an older dog. The older dog helps to train the puppy and the puppy falls into the pack/alpha order. The puppy also often takes on characteristics of the older dog.
– I share Sullie with my ex and I’m not going to lie…It’s really lonely when she’s not with me. We both love her so much that we can’t imagine living without her and I value our friendship so much that I would never want to change that shared aspect of it.
– Annnnddd my non-official facebook reason that “all my friends are having babies and I’m just over here having puppies” that my grandmother brought up again tonight! 🙂
I’ve received a lot of questions about how I can fit a puppy into my life…well…I have a pretty ideal schedule for it. I get up early to train or teach (right when she’s starting to cry to go out), I come home after my early clients/classes and work from home most of the day. I am able to take Zoey to the gym with me most mornings and she’s out of her crate and hanging out with me for 99% of the day while I work from home. She has a pretty sweet puppy life.
WARNING! I’ll be posting tons of puppy stuff over the next few months. Please let me know if you have any specific questions or topics you’d like for me to cover. I seriously LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my girls and couldn’t be happier right now! 🙂
Zoey is melting my heart and I adore how cute Sullie and her are together! What a winning combination, you are VERY lucky! (I wish I could have ONE dog, but my work and lifestyle wouldn’t allow it – also because of the small fact that I live in NYC where it’s SO HARD to have any animals…) Enjoy and I’ll live vicariously through all your gorgeous, happy pictures! 🙂
Congrats! Golden puppies are the best. I lost my Golden in my divorce and it breaks my heart. I’d love to get another one someday when I have the time to take care of a new puppy. Post lots of pics!
congrats on the new addition! she is so cute!
That is so awesome. You must have been overwhelmed with joy when they said she was yours. Looks like the two were meant to be together. They are so cute together. Congrats!!
congrats mama!! zoey and sullie together just melts my heart. they are made to love you! i’ve been coveting all the pics too – keep them coming. they are super lucky to have you as their mom!
Congratulations! Those are two lucky girls! My mother has two goldens (girls) and they are adorable together. Enjoy!!!
I can feel the love. It makes me teary! So happy for you.
I’m dying, she’s so cute! I’m wonderful her transition has been so smooth, and I”m wishing all three of you many happy years ahead!
never knew you shared sullie. glad you have zoey all to yourself – enjoy puppy mama!
my heart is melting!!! Those two….
So, I have an older shelter dog. She’s super sweet, but very particular about dogs she likes. I’ve been thinking about getting another, but I don’t know if she would be upset. Ultimately, she’s my number one and I want her to be happy
Oh forget all those folks on FB posting pictures of their kids. You create and define your family any way you choose! My two “girls” are rescue pups and I wouldn’t have it any other way. To me, kids are overrated. Dogs love you unconditionally 🙂
Awesome! I have 3 dogs (no kids) and it is a blast having a pack. My lab mutt is also 8, while the other two are about 2-3 (all are rescues) years old, and the energy is great for my senior dog. I think it’s great you share “custody” of Sullie.
Congrats on the new addition to your family!
She is adorable. I love how Sullie has taken to her! When my little Cindy died over 11 years ago (toy poodle) I swear I stopped looking at dogs, I am still not over it I think lol… I used to be such a dog lover, my son only wants a dog and I keep saying no. But, omg, Sullie and Zoey are way too cute.
Can you share the breeder info? We are looking to get a golden and Zoe is beautiful!!!
Ahhh it makes me want another puppy!! We already have two and I think 3 would be a but much but I totally agree about the older dog needing a little one around. Our dog was still young but acted like a grandma dog (had constant hip issues, tore an ACL) so after her surgery was all healed we looked into getting another dog to keep our other one active and entertained and I can’t imagine life with just one dog. I miss the mornings of coming downstairs after they had been let out to go to the bathroom and would be snuggling together on their beds in the family room. The little one would just curl up right under the older one. They are inseparable! The only hard part will be when sully is with your x I’m sure zoey will miss her so much. With ours even when one is away for a little at the vets the other one just lays by the door waiting!
Ahhh what a sweetheart! Congrats on Ms. Zoey 🙂
Jen she is adorable! I’m a huge proponent of rescue dogs but I know that does not always work for everyone. Hopefully this pup will enjoy running with you as she gets older too.
How sweet! While the puppy pics are great, it’s really the big sister who is melting my heart. Sounds like you adopted two great choices!
congrats on the new pup, she is darling 🙂
They are so precious!! Please share info on crate training and sleeping through the night!
oh my goodness. I cannot handle the cuteness. Love!!! Congratulations. 🙂
Sweetest post ever. She is a doll and I just want to cuddle her too 😉
OMG….yes to posting pictures of puppies! All my friends are posting engagements, weddings, babies, and I just keep plastering photos of Miss Lucy! Love your new baby’s name…XOXO
ZOMG! I love those two! I don’t think they could be cuter if they tried. My husband and I are buying a house soon and one of the first things we are going to do after we move in is get a puppy. We both want a golden, but it’s hard for me to justify buying one from a breeder when I know there’s a demand for those puppies and not as much for a dog or puppy from a shelter. Did you look at any shelter or rescue options before deciding on the breeder? Not judging AT ALL, just really curious.
What a sweet, cute little puppy!! Congratulations 🙂 I can’t wait to learn more about her 🙂
Congrats on the puppy! She’s beautiful! I have a cat named Zoey. Great name!
This post made me smile from ear to ear! AND it makes me want to get a friend for my Ella! I would love to see her form a relationship like this with another pup! It would be so amazing to witness.
Bring on the puppy pictures! I think you’ve just convinced me I need a puppy, I also have a golden about the same age as Sullie! I just need to convince my husband that we can have a baby and a puppy at the same time.
OH my gosh, I love them both! I have such puppy fever, it’s ridiculous. I grew up with goldens and used to train/show them in high school. I want one so bad! Currently I’m working too much and my apartment doesn’t allow dogs, but someday (hopefully) soon! 🙂 I won’t mind the puppy pictures at all!
Ahhh!!! There is absolutely nothing cuter than a golden puppy! I have 2 already, and think that 3 would be too many….but I’m so jealous of your new addition! I can’t wait to see LOTS of puppy pics from you!
You are a much better person….I would never share custody of my cat 😉
Dying of cuteness/sweetness overload. I love the quote “Dogs aren’t our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” It’s so true!
She is precious! XOXO
Congratulations you make a beautiful family
Beyond adorable!! Congrats!!
Golden are the BEST!! There is also no such thing as too many puppy pictures, so I can’t wait for all the upcoming puppy posts 🙂
She is precious! I am a golden lover and have been wanting to get a sibling for my 3 year old golden for a while, so this post was really helpful! He is very similar to Sullie in personality and I think he would be the best big brother. I’m so excited for you three – and totally, completely jealous that you can bring your puppy to work every day!
Those are two lucky dogs to have you as their mom!
You made a great decision about the older dog/puppy combo! I got a puppy when my lab was 6 and it’s been great. My lab is now 12 and the “puppy” is 6 and they are inseparable. He really has kept her active, and to see how much he loves her as his big sister is adorable. Congrats on the new addition!
Congratulations!!! Such a beautiful post & story! My favorite picture is of the three of you with Zoey belly up on your lap! I’m hoping to get a golden of my own next summer and was thinking any posts you could do on bringing a puppy home, training, etc. would be awesome!
Gah! Soooo adorable! I lost my 10 year old yellow lab about 18 months ago. Not in a place right now to have a dog again so gahhhh, this post just warms my heart!
So happy for you! Our plan was to get a German Shepherd puppy with our adult GSD but the timing was terrible and we lost our 9 year old GSD unexpectedly before getting a pup. Needless to say, we moved forward with the pup and she has been such a joy but would have loved to have our adult dog help teach our pup the ropes. I read “The Art of Raising a Puppy” by the Monks of New Skeet and they talked about their dog Zoe — meaning life — so thought of that when reading your pup’s name. Beautiful dogs — both Sullie and Zoey!
My fiance and I are going to pick up our sweet golden puppy on December 19th and I CAN’T wait! I would love posts about training your little Zoey! Any advice and tips are welcome! My parents have a golden (8 years old) and he is historically not the friendliest towards other dogs(rare for a golden) so we are hoping that he gets along with our new puppy…but we are very nervous! is there anything better than a puppy?! so exciting!