Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to be taught extra about me and my two crossbreed canine, Lava and Hela.
In June final yr, Hela joined our household, coming all the best way from Greece. She is a pleasant, mild, and energetic canine, whereas Lava is a nightmare, to place it plainly. Don’t get me incorrect, Lava loves different canine! She loves enjoying with them, getting chased, and dragging them round by their harness. Yes, she is a bully. A candy one, however nonetheless. However, having a jolly good time with the canine park crowd is one factor, however it’s one thing else solely when a kind of canine comes residence with you. And by no means leaves once more.
How Lava and Hela First Met
A couple of days earlier than Hela arrived, I made some preparations, equivalent to getting her a crate and discovering a pleasant quiet spot the place she may relaxation, in addition to her personal set of blankets, bowls, and toys. But this was all simple. The downside was how Lava would take to a brand new canine coming into her residence, invading her privateness, stealing my consideration, and finally utilizing her toys and different equipment as in the event that they had been her personal. Lava doesn’t share. Well, truly there are solely two canine, whom she has recognized since they had been all puppies, and she or he would allow them to have her toys, with a little bit of grunting.
So, for his or her first introduction, we went for a stroll so they might meet and work together on impartial territory. And it was superb. Hela was thrilled as she may run free within the canine park, and Lava was chasing her round. It was nice to look at! Then, each drained and happy, we went residence collectively for the primary time.
It Wasn’t All Roses and Sunshine
And every little thing was excellent for the primary hour. I used to be with them within the backyard, they had been nonetheless playful, and Hela was exploring fortunately. Then she bought to the home door and Lava felt this was an excessive amount of and snapped. Nothing occurred, fortunately. I’ve discovered that with Lava, it’s usually extra noise than anything. But it was scary and worrying.
That was the sign for a time-out. Hela was already crate-trained and fortunately went to sleep on her new mattress, utterly forgetting the earlier minor incident. Lava settled on the couch. For the subsequent few weeks and months, as Hela was slowly stress-free and feeling extra assured, Lava was nonetheless at instances fairly grumpy and clearly displeased with this new growth.
Having the Same Hobbies Helps
Slowly, all of us tuned into our new lifestyle. It was fascinating to look at their dynamic, with Hela behaving as a youthful sister who all the time wished to play and be round Lava, not eager to miss out on something, whereas Lava was clearly aggravated together with her presence. Hela discovered that grunting and occasional growls are simply how Lava communicates and don’t essentially imply something vicious. And then they appeared to have discovered comparable pursuits, or actually, Hela began copying Lava’s conduct, like every youthful little one would their older sibling.
And so they became diggers. Every stroll we now go on, Lava and Hela are all the time digging and looking for one thing. And it usually appears amusingly synchronized. Both with heads low on the bottom, or every in their very own gap, and bums within the air. And within the final 6 months, one other breakthrough! They will now even share a gap and dig one subsequent to one another! And after such a tough day’s work, they may also have a drink from the identical bowl, which for Lava is a serious success.
An Ever-Evolving Bond
If somebody had instructed me a yr in the past that the 2 of them would get on so effectively, I might have sighed and mentioned, I hope so. But I noticed Lava accepted her as an undesirable roommate, however their relationship has since modified in so some ways. Hela is the less complicated one, within the sense that she is all the time completely happy and grateful, and follows Lava round like a pet. And Lava has discovered to take pleasure in it and search Hela’s firm. Lava is the thinker; she always looks worried and deeply troubled. She does remind me of myself loads. Maybe canine do tackle their house owners’ traits in any case. But that’s one other story.
