You all met the Chihuahua – Jack Russell puppy, Mali, when she showed up on my doorstep.
I wondered if I would keep her…for like a whole two seconds. I mean, look at her. She is the same height as the grass. She is a pocket dog.
So far I have taken 583 photos of her.
She helped…
She helped a lot.
As you can imagine, she has tried chewing on everything: my camera, my shoes, bugs, mice, a jungle squirrel…
this yummy metal stake,
Mocha’s toys, Mocha’s bed.
So how are Mocha and Mali getting along?
Well, it was a little rough at first. Mocha doesn’t like other dogs in her personal space,
but Mali didn’t care.
She persisted in following Mocha everywhere. Mocha would try to get Mali to back off with her bark,
so Mali would bring her the favorite squirrel toy.
Then she would take it away.
Mali might be smarter than Mocha, but she still takes lessons from her.
Like this important lesson on how to be an old senile dog staring down the steps at nothing.
Now they are the best of friends. Mali is the first dog that Mocha has allowed in her pack without jealousy. Maybe it’s because Mali is so young, plus super smart and sweet. Or maybe Mocha is so old, she forgot she always wanted to be my only dog.
They always sleep together. Grandma dog naps and young puppy naps run on a similar schedule.
Mali always has to be touching Mocha,
even when it’s too hot to cuddle.
The cuteness is ridiculous around here.
I’m raising this puppy
I raised Mocha a loooooong time ago, so I’m reading the dog whisperer’s book: How to Raise the Perfect Puppy. I’m up to week 8 in the book and according to Cesar, I’ve done everything wrong so far. I bet there are many ways to do it right, though.
Erin, I have no idea how to raise a puppy. Luckily, I got a “teen” puppy from the pound and she’s already trained.
You’re right! Mali is SO SO SO adorable! And I love the story and photos you made here. It should be a book! Book!
That is very kind of Mocha to be so tolerant and giving. She deserves a good belly rub! :O)
aww thanks for the sweet comment! Training is a lot of work, I kinda wish she came trained like your dog 🙂
Great story and presentation! I think you just wrote a children’s book, complete with photos!
Very good! One tip on the chewing. I have found that if you get a citrus cent oil, I use orange and put it in a spray bottle and spray what you don’t want them to chew, they stay away. Well, I’m 2-2 doing this. So take the advice sparingly. It makes the house smell good and neither dog from the puppy stage have chewed or continued to chew where I sprayed the oil. And don’t dilute it either. So that’s my tip. But good luck and Mali is a great looking dog!
I wanted to grow up to be a children’s book writer and illustrator when I was a kid, so that makes me feel really good to read your comment 🙂
I’ll try the orange oil. I’ve been meaning to make some to clean with, too. Although, Mocha loves fruit so it might work for Mali but make Mocha hungry haha
I think Mocha knows she’s getting old – Mocha allowing Mali into the fold is her way of making sure you’re taken care of when she’s gone.
Well that is depressing. :'(
I love what Lily said and I agree. Those two are very sweet and what a blessing for you!
That is just too sad for me to think about. I’m going to focus on the sweetness instead.
Aww…sorry. Didn’t mean to depress you. I meant to be comforting and show what a great and loving dog Mocha is!
no worries. I know you meant well and that is sweet to think she is doing something for her pack. I just can’t help but get sad if I think about Mocha leaving. No way around it. That’s life.
Forget Cesar. Get the Puppy Manual at Unleashed Unlimited. They trained my dogs and are the best. http://unleashedunlimited.com/puppy-manual/
Your new dog looks great. Best to both of you.
Interesting. I’ll check that out. It’s important to get different perspectives. Cesar’s big thing is that I must give off calm assertive energy, but I’m not calm. I’m a mess of crazy creative inside. When I try really really really hard to be calm, his methods work. Maybe it doesn’t need to be that hard, though… 🙂
Beautiful pictures! Is a cute dog! 🙂
For me to think, it is too sad.I’m so afraid for dog.I like dog but he don’t like me.One day….
That is one seriously cute pair of dogs. Hope you’ve got some extra data cards for your camera!
Mali is so cute! I really love dogs and I have 5 dogs in our house. 3 are Labrador and 2 doberman.
Aww… this is such a cute post Erin…Mocha and Mali both look so good together and it seems Mali is really taking great lessons about life from Mocha. 🙂
Awwwwww. I can’t believe I haven’t visited your blog in probably over a year or two. And you have a new puppy!! Just around the time that I’m really wanting to get a puppy too! Now you’ve made me want one more. Hahaha.
so much work but I love dogs 🙂
I am really fond of dogs and I loved your post. The puppy is very cute. Keep posting this type of posts more.
I got my dog at 8 months and she is 11 now. She doesn’t accept other dogs cos she wants to be my only dog I think, as you said. Maybe I can get her a friend after all.
Stumbled across this lovely blog, thought I’d say hello and congrats on your inherited family. Dogs are great!
I love this, they look like a fun gang.
I love Chihuahuas very much, they are so little and funny.
I have a neighbor who has two of them and they are so hilarious that any time I meet them, they start playing with me and with my little girls.
Hi Erin!
I stumbled across your blog today and have been enjoying reading about your Costa Rican adventures (and have learned so much!). I will be studying abroad in San Jose beginning at the end of this May, and after doing some research I am a bit concerned about theft (and safety in general) as a naive gringa. I have read, of course, to not flaunt iPhones or expensive photography equipment. I am huge on taking pictures and am looking into buying an SLR film camera (like a pentax) to take pictures with, rather than my digital camera. Do you think this type of camera could be a target for theft? And do you have any other safety tips you’d like to offer up?
Thanks!
Hi Jenna, Thanks for the kind words 🙂
I don’t think a thief could tell the difference between a DSLR and SLR until after they grabbed it, and maybe even not then, but this is very unlikely to happen in the daytime unless you leave it sitting unattended or frequent dark deserted alleyways etc. My best practices for not getting robbed in Costa Rica:
– Don’t walk by yourself through San José after dark. In general, it’s best to take taxis after dark in San José. A small group might be a bit of a deterrent to thieves, but I’d take a taxi even with a small group if I was carrying anything I didn’t want to lose.
– Don’t hang out on the beach after dark unless it’s a bonfire with a ton of people.
– Home break-ins are quite common which is why you’ll see iron gates surrounding everything. Make sure you learn how to properly secure the door and gate where you are living. Don’t leave a laptop or camera sitting out in plain view (you don’t want to give anyone any reason to break in)
– Most theft here in Costa Rica is a crime of opportunity, so general awareness for where you are and what you are doing goes a long way to preventing theft. For example, don’t park the car where it could be broken in to out of view, don’t leave things sitting on a bus seat untethered, don’t leave things unattended on the beach while you swim unless there are a ton of people around, etc…
– Keep photocopies of your passport, credit cards, and IDs in your room in case you do get robbed. That way you can cancel the cards immediately and have photocopy proof of who you are.
I hope this helps. Don’t get too hung up on theft, enjoy your time in Costa Rica! 🙂