When Loki was a pup, I can only remember a couple of days where she woke me up during the night because she had to do her business. She was supposed to be two months old when I got her, but I'm starting to think that maybe she was a little older than that. Because she quickly became my 6am alarm clock.And after a few months I could actually get her to let me have another hour or two of sleep on the weekends (she'd wake me up around 6am, but after I told her to go back to sleep, she would lie back down, or I'd just let her outside in the back yard.)

Freya has a routine now, too. She's my 3am alarm clock. At which time I put on some warm clothes, take her out of her crate, carry her outside, and let her do her business. Loki accompanies us, of course. Ten to fifteen minutes later I pick her up, carry her up the deck and back inside the house, let her eat and drink a little, and then put her back in the crate. At which point she wakes me up every so often until it's 6am and I let the dogs romp in the back yard again.

Freya's still a very young puppy in so many ways. It'll probably take a couple of months for her to get to the point where she's as mature as Loki was when I got her, and I can remove her "handle with extra care" sign :)

Is it a dog or is it a white rat?

Freya playing outside with Loki

Freya after her first bath .. in the kitchen sink!

Dual dog snoozefest

Puppy sleeping positions

Freya asleep on the padded bench at the vet's office after her examination. Weight: 9 pounds, 4.5 ounces. [Selecting the picture will show a slightly larger and more detailed version.]

Is there any doubt that a dog, even as a puppy, is man's best friend?

One of the greatest inventions ever. A happy, safely occupied puppy helps her master stay stress-free.

Freya really gets into the food bowl as she chows down.

Loki and Freya check each other out.

Say hello to Freya. She's a white German Shepherd, born January 13th, 2006; that makes her seven weeks and three days old as of today (which is almost over, since it's almost 11 p.m.)

She's very, very mellow. Which is good, since Loki has enough energy for two dogs. But she does know how to wag her tail like the puppy she is! She slept most of the way as I drove home, so I do believe that she will not have any problems riding in the car as she grows older.

So why is she part of the family now, you ask? Well, Loki has been vociferously complaining to me each time I come home lately. Apparently she is no longer content to be by herself when I'm at work. I can't really blame her; I wouldn't be happy either if I had to be alone eight to nine hours a day (though I do let her out at lunch time, since currently my work is close to home). With Freya around, Loki should be a whole lot less lonely during those hours. And they can romp in the back yard together. And they'll both go walking with me each day, too, of course. Well, they will when Freya gets big enough. Which shouldn't take that long.

Tomorrow I'll make an appointment with the vet, so Freya can meet her and get checked out. She's already been checked out by a vet last week, but that wasn't the vet she'll be seeing from now on. Loki will get an appointment for later this month also, since it's time for her yearly shots and another set of Sentinel tabs.

Okay, I'll post another picture of Loki and Freya, but then I'm turning in for the night. I might not get to sleep the whole night through with a new puppy in the house. Guess I'll find out.