Women's Legacy Project

Our Lives Change The World

Canine Rescue Coalition

The New Puppy!

Creekside Commentary, Done Nesting

I’m starting this post on the way to Phoenix. Ever since last weekend we have been in conversation with the Mastiff Rescue people about adopting one of the puppies we met last weekend. Because we are good puppy parents and have had three Neos in our lives, as well as a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy, and have a mixed breed rescue right now, we were hoping that we would be in serious contention for gettting a puppy. And we were. We are signing the papers, paying the adoption fee, and picking up a little male Neapolitan Mastiff today. Our nest isn’t empty any longer.
We are discussing dog names. Names discussed include: Weaver, George, Frank, Gus, Shawn, Sid, Guy, Mr. Bill, Mr. Scott (Scotty), Mr. Bruce, Jack, Mr. Bones, seven of eight, number six, Dr. Who, Rudy, Mike, Ike, Fang, Beau, Gilbert, Phx, Joseph, Bert, Earl, Seeger, Roy, Boots, Bimbo, Jabba the Mutt, Chewy, Jones, Pecos, Crosby, Parker, Cash, Pancho, CIsco, Boris, Moose, Clayton, Quinton Hairentino, Teddy, Roosevelt, Falstaff, Charles, Thurston Howl III, H.B. (short for Honey Badger), and Clifford.
We wanted to miss the slow down of the Phoenix rush hour so we actually arrived in Phoenix a bit early and went to La Tolteca on 12th & Van Buren (1205 E. Van Buren) for some good inexpensive Mexican food and a couple little treats from their delish bakery. Hubby Fang had chicken mole and I had a carne asada burrito.

I couldn’t make my mind up at first as to whether I wanted an apple or a pineapple empanada… but I finally decided on apple. I love basic Sonoran home cooking.

But now for the real reason this post:

OUR NEW PUPPY!

We are calling this little guy George for the moment. The pic above is at the foster home where he has been learning that there can be enough food for everyone and that life doesn’t have to hurt. He is a tawny Neapolitan Mastiff who is between 9 and 10 weeks old. He is a rescue, we picked him up in Phoenix late this afternoon.

He seems to be settling in exceptionally well and follows Hubby Fang around everywhere, guards him, comes when called, and loves to go outside. The water bowl is totally cool. There are chew toys everywhere and no one tries to eat his food but him. This may be puppy Valhala.

Every boy needs a puppy. Every puppy needs a boy. They have bonded already!
The pic above shows the mastiff’s tendency to have an excellent use of paws. Not all dogs are able to back up but Neos can. He’s done this already too.
And the Neo Mastiffs inclination to guard their territory and people is evident even in puppies of this age as you can see in this posture already. This is one of the reasons that the breed needs intensive, consistent, and loving training to channel their natural inclinations into obeying the alphas in the pack, their humans, rather than making decisions on their own. Mastiffs make bad decisions when left to their own devices. They need guidnce.

The Hubby and I may not be getting much uninterrupted sleep over the next few weeks until house-breaking is complete.  We have a puppy!