Whether you meet the puppy before you take it home or not, it 's hard to know what you get home (I imagine, in all cases). For me who had not met Boyo before I went to pick him up, It really was an adventure. An adventure that has just begun. ♥
First playdate with the Leonberger mix Mozart, 4 months.
Now we have soon spent two whole days together here at home, and I thought I'd tell you a bit about my first impression of Boyo. I know you really shouldn't, but I have nothing else to compare it to, so I will compare him to Ella – and more different dogs you have to look for.
Where Ella happened completely in that she was separated from her mother and siblings, I feel that Boyo thought it was a little more difficult. It's been two days now, so he is starting to adapt very well – but still.
Ella had one psyche of steel, and as an adult was quite a sharp dog. She had focus and a will to move forward – both mentally and physically. I experience Boyo as significantly softer and more cautious in his temperament, but others who have had time to meet him think he is curious and forward-thinking. I have a little trouble seeing it, because I only have Ella as a reference, and compared to her he is soft and gentle. Not to mention squeaky. 😀
Another difference is the need to be activated. Ella had a very strong need to be activated, just. Her will to move forward needed to be met one way or another, otherwise she was just shy to hang out with (such as i; high-energy and high-intensity on everything and everyone).
Boyo has not at all that need in the same way. He is very happy to lie in his little dog bed and chew on a rope knot or the rubber ring I bought for itchy teeth. He doesn't need me to entertain him, although he thought it was fun to look for some candy on the lawn, and when we started playing “follow math” as some kind of basis for obedience and leash training.
As I wrote if many times before; Ella took up an awful lot of space just by existing. She was incredibly present and demanding both physically, psychic and mental space. This is something that I don't feel exists with Boyo. It might sound crazy, because everyone takes up space, but because his energy doesn't feel like Ella's, you/I also experience him as very different.
Another difference is how they function at rest. Ella had a hard time relaxing if I moved a millimeter. That meant absurd amounts of sitting still for me. Boyo finds it much easier to continue sleeping even if I stand and walk. I try to be calm and quiet, so that he can actually sleep on – but it's nice as a change. With Ella, as soon as I even thought about getting up, it was like that, she stood there, bloody happy, and wondered if she could participate in whatever I would come up with. 😀
My total, after two days (plus the trip home) first impression of Boyo is that he is calm and composed, he has no great need for me to activate him all the time, he is easy going, appears puppyishly submissive when meeting other dogs, quiet but curious, extremely happy, huggable and loving, and if I'm lucky, he'll be a real bed dog. He has slept with me in bed, and last night he crawled under the covers, right down to the foot end – and there he stayed until I had fallen asleep. In addition, he is very fond of lying in his dog bed and chewing on toys or sleeping. ♥
All this is like completely new to me. I am used to a dog that is very extreme, and now I've got hold of what so far is the exact opposite. It will be incredibly interesting to see what kind of dog Boyo becomes when he grows up.