Update - New Pack Member

Being a bit burned out on politics, and my bummer of a foot keeping me away from the range I'll give you an update on the new pack member. Yesterday there was a fight about Ginger getting too close to Ambers food dish. That's the second time that's happened. No great damage done to either animal.

As it turns out the woman at the animal shelter was probably wrong about Gingers age. The vet estimates her to be no more than 2 years old. She's very nervous most of the time in her new surroundings but affectionate. And getting scolded, or threatened whenever she gets close to to what Amber considers hers alone doesn't help. She only weighs 30 pounds (Amber 52 pounds) so it was suggested we feed her puppy food. The vet says she needs to add 10-15 pounds.

This morning the Boss gave Ginger a stuffed animal dog toy. Since then she rarely leaves her crate. I let her out to pee and coaxed her out with a piece of bologna, but she appears to be content or maybe obsessed with keeping the toy in the crate with her. When Amber was outside I took the toy upstairs and placed it in the family room. Ginger followed me up, then took it right back to the crate. I wonder if she's guarding it from big bully Amber.

Ginger's only been here 3 days and Amber has lived here for years as the only dog. So far Amber is winning the dominant war and I suspect that will continue. I also think we'll have growling and the occasional scuffle for a while until they work out the boundaries. So for now, Ginger is guarding her toy in the crate. The door is left open all day and she has the run of the house when we're home and awake.

I wanted to get a picture of her standing, but she wouldn't leave her toy and the crate. Maybe another time.

The Boss likes Siberian huskies that are not typical. Amber is cream and light brown with light brown eyes and slightly shorter than normal. Ginger is slightly taller then normal and colored red-brown and white with the typical blue eyes, but she also has a tail that's curled over her back like the Malamute.