Around the beginning of 2007 I decided I’d like a second dog as company for Dexter. I also figured that I had learnt a huge amount about dogs over these last 3 years or so, was still learning, was really interested in dog psychology and behaviour and I was ready for a new challenge.
I researched various breeds with the help of Paul Connolly of Wolfspeak over a period of a few months as again, I was determined to get a breed that was conducive to my lifestyle. I wanted a different breed this time, not that I was at all unhappy with my Schnauzer, but I guess I fancied a bigger dog and a dog I could perhaps take on more dog activities with.
After much discussion and research online and talking to various breeders, owners and breed organisations, I decided upon a Northern Inuit.
There were various reasons for this choice. Firstly, it was a much bigger dog and would make me feel safer when walking alone, even though they were known to be non-aggressive dogs and probably wouldn’t hurt a fly. This was a good thing in my book, as I didn’t want a dog that I was likely to have dominance issues or aggression problems with. They were also classed as ‘wolf lookalike’ dogs and came in various colours with varying markings and were stunning looking dogs.
I had discovered that they were generally very friendly dogs too, good with kids and other animals, so Dexter and the cats would be safe and that the German Shepherd element in the breed gave them trainability, which was welcome. The only issue they seemed to have was that they could suffer from separation anxiety but I was sure I could overcome that with the knowledge I had and with Paul’s assistance.
I found a good breeder, saw some gorgeous puppies, chose mine and waited for him to be old enough to take home. The waiting time was spent preparing for his arrival by organising the dog space in the house and buying him things he would need such as a good complete puppy food, collar and leash, bed and organising his Pet Insurance.
I also chose a name for him, Conan, which is Gaelic for ‘Little Wolf’ which I thought suited him down to the ground. Little did I know at that point that the words ‘Conan the Destroyer’ and ‘Conan the Barbarian’ would probably be more appropriate, at least for a while!
I collected him from the breeder on a sunny Saturday afternoon when he was just 8 weeks old and took him home to meet Dexter.
It was a little tense at first as Dexter isn’t too good with puppies. I think he sees puppies as being rude and ‘in his face’ so he tends to put them in their place until they learn some manners. Conan was never going to be too fast at learning these manners… Dexter was a little put out too, as I was ‘his human’ and I don’t think he thought he should be sharing me with anyone else.
That evening, when things were a little more harmonious, I spent some time playing with Conan to begin my bonding process with him. He was sitting on the floor beside me and, without warning, hurled himself at me with the force akin to a small cannonball. He was no small puppy and, at only 8 weeks old, was actually a similar size to the fully grown Dexter, so it did hurt a little! Remembering my past experiences with Dexter and determined to establish myself as Pack Leader from the word go, I put him right back on the floor again. It made no difference. He hurled himself at me again, so I did exactly the same, putting him back on the floor in his original position. No, again he threw himself at me, and again, and again! Eventually, he tired himself out, as well as me, but I felt that I had been the victor!
I went to bed, a little bemused and totally exhausted, as well as totally unaware of the ‘interesting’ times that were ahead of me over the next few months.
6 Weeks Old...Not In His New Home Yet
Exhausted After Spending A Few Hours Being A Cannonball
