Calling Dr. Pepper?

This is Pepper, Pepper Baby, Dr. Pepper, Pucker, Pick a Pepper... just a few names he was called this weekend as we got to know him.  My mom has a great sense of humor about it all.  Pepper is his rightful name.  He's 8 weeks old and a miniature poodle.

He was quite shy at first.  To be expected.  He'd only been in my parent's home about 4 days when a horde of family descended upon him.  My dad said last week when I called about "Father's Day" plans, "You all aren't coming up to see me are you?"  Of course we were and oh by the way to see your new pup too.

My brother and my daughter really put on a full court press to getting Pepper to come out of his shell.  My brother buttered a piece of bread got on the floor and shared it with him.  Found out Pepper loves butter.  He also went and patted on some of my dad's cologne thinking if he smelled like my dad Pepper would feel more comfortable.  Amazingly he did.  My daughter went and dotted on a little bit of Grandpa's cologne too.  Pepper had not been eating his kibble since he got there.  My daughter took a tiniest bit of butter and put on his kibble and he ate a meal's worth.

Here is Winston and Pepper together.  Our 2 new additions to the family.  Winston is slightly bigger than Pepper, but the 2 were great buds.  They loved to play with each other.  As with most children play would start out fun then they would try to one up each other.  When things would get rough and they'd have to be separated.  Pepper had 3 brothers, so he's use to rough play.  Winston is 20 weeks old and with maturity he had a few tricks up his sleeve.  It was so hilarious to watch them play we felt like we should have been charged admission.

Everyone looks so stoic in this picture.  If it were black and white it would look very similar to one of those late 1800's photos.  The mission of this photo was to get Pepper and Little Star in a photo together.  The humans just needed to hold still until we could get both dogs looking in the same direction.  I find it amazing that little bit of fluff will be as big as Little Star by years end.

We kept Little Star and Pepper a part most of the weekend as Mom thought Pepper was too small to be rolled by a bigger bossy dog.  I totally understood.  It could happen.  Little Star really gets a long with other dogs unless they dart, snap or try to assert their dominance on her.  Then she has no problem telling them what for.  We're going to wait until Pepper is big enough to get a "what for."