After a few weeks of discussion and contemplation, we drove down to Mollala and got this adorable little friend for our family. Her name is Dakota - meaning companion, and we got her to hopefully be a friend to Abbie (the 85lb lab). She is a mini Australian Shepherd. She will get to be about 20-25lbs full grown, and right now is probably 6-7lbs. She is a little fluff ball, and is the biggest scaredy cat I've ever seen.
She has her spurts of energy and play time, but is still a puppy at only 8 wks, so she is tired out soon. She has provided a great play mate and disctraction for Abbie, who at times I don't think she really knows what to think of her. 
Having just been weened from her mama, she has tried to feed on Abbie a couple of times, but that quickly ended as Abbie stood to the ground, letting her fall to the floor hard. She learned her lesson, and Abbie I don't blame you one bit. :)
She has a couple different spots she likes to lay besides her own kennel. One is with Abbie in her kennel, or right outside the front to be right by her. Another is under our table, so she can get away from everyone or anything that might "scare" her. She also uses that as her attack plan against Abbie. Abbie has learned really quick how to difuse that issue, she just gets under with her, and the comotion begins.
Tug of war is quite funny between the two, because Abbie can hold one end of the toy or rope and Kota just hangs on and pulls. Abbie, standing in one spot and looking at us like "what is this little runt doing". She has been pretty good with her so far, with only a few spurts between the two, or Abbie plummeling her to the ground over the soccer ball.
Time outs have been given, of which they both get into their respective kennels, I sit in front of them on a chair with a book, and they have to sit inside - door open for a few minutes. 
Dakota in her first time out. 
The kids adore her and have been playing hard with Abbie to keep her connected and not forgotten. We don't want to replace Abbie, but giver her a friend, and hopefully some one to run her engergy off with.Kolbie decided to lay on the floor with the dogs. Usually Abbie is her pillow and Kota just licks and bits at her face. She thought it was so funny, until Kota got a hold of her hair under the table the other day and just began to pull. That ended poorly, but I think Kolbie learned.
Kota is learning quickly on how to ring the bell to go outside, but still not 100% potty trained. However, when she does go pee inside, it is usually always on a pee mat, so she is saving the carpet and hardwoods for us. How nice of her. This is her sitting waiting for a treat after going potty outside. She gets confused though some times and just rings the bell to go out, and then comes right back in to sit and wait for a treat.
Dakota welcome to the McKelvey family, and we hope you stick around for a long time. Oh, yah, mom and dad, she does that same whiny happy cry, and butt wiggle when you pet her and say hi, just like Downey.
Kota is learning quickly on how to ring the bell to go outside, but still not 100% potty trained. However, when she does go pee inside, it is usually always on a pee mat, so she is saving the carpet and hardwoods for us. How nice of her. This is her sitting waiting for a treat after going potty outside. She gets confused though some times and just rings the bell to go out, and then comes right back in to sit and wait for a treat. 
Dakota welcome to the McKelvey family, and we hope you stick around for a long time. Oh, yah, mom and dad, she does that same whiny happy cry, and butt wiggle when you pet her and say hi, just like Downey.
