When we first brought CiCi home, it was clear she had a long road ahead. She had the heart and spirit, but not the structure or experience of being a house dog. Everything was new to her—stairs, beds, the sound of the dishwasher, even the concept of toys. She was cautious and curious, but also overwhelmed. That’s why, as much as I love dogs, I’ve made the decision not to bring another one into the home right now. CiCi still needs my full attention.
Chooch, my sweet and loyal companion, played a huge role in CiCi’s early progress. He was the calm anchor during those first chaotic days. While CiCi panicked at sudden noises or hesitated to enter rooms, Chooch simply went about his day—unbothered, patient, and confident. She watched him and learned. Where my words and training treats sometimes fell short, Chooch’s example filled in the gaps. I didn’t have to worry about him—he was fully trained, trusted with free access to the house, and had been through it all before.
CiCi is doing so much better now. She’s slowly understanding the rules of the house, learning where to go potty, how to be gentle, and how to ask for affection. She’s becoming more affectionate and playful, even letting her guard down in ways she never used to. But she’s still got a long way to go. She needs time, patience, and consistency. And that’s hard to provide when your attention is split between training two dogs at once.
Training two dogs—especially when one is still adjusting to basic house life—is no easy task. They feed off each other’s energy, habits (both good and bad), and moods. It can become overwhelming, and I don’t want to rush CiCi’s progress or confuse her by changing the dynamic too soon.
So for now, it’s just me and CiCi—and the memory of Chooch, who really helped her get started on the right paw. I owe it to both of them to give her the best chance to thrive. There will be time for another dog one day, but that day isn’t today.
