As you all know, our goodest girl, Nuka passed away in May 2022 from large masses in her lungs. Her death was unexpected; however, due to her age, we knew we only had a limited time with her. After her passing over the rainbow bridge, Beckham became depressed, anxious, and extremely sad. He has never been the only dog in the household, so the loss hit him especially hard; hence, we started to look for our new family member to help him through the mourning process.
Welcome Our New Family Member, Chai!
Chai was born January 21, 2022 in Connecticut at The Flying Buffalo’s Alaskan Malamute Ranch. In June 2022, my husband took my boys on a “boy’s trip” to meet the breeder, Lisa and her family in Indiana (midway between Connecticut and Arizona).
Lisa advised that Chai is a nervous little girl, but she warms up to her people fairly quickly. She would need some training and patience, but she would be a sweet dog for her forever family. We were ready to take on that challenge! All of our pets have been a little nervous or had some behaviors to work through, so we knew Chai would fit in just fine.
First Moments
The moment my boys laid eyes on Chai, it was love at first sight! Joshua, my oldest, took to her right away and made sure she felt safe with him. Caleb and Micah were a little more active and noisy; however, Chai warmed up to them by the end of the trip.
All the kids and Chai had a blast traveling back to Arizona. They were able to visit family in Colorado, camp in beautiful Utah, and also check out the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. (I was a bit jealous because they got to have all the fun while I was home working!)
Chai did well on the trip home. She loved checking out the new places (even if she was a little scared at times), getting to know her human brothers, and even accepting loves from my husband.
I could not wait to meet her!
Our New Family Member is Home! 
The family arrived home on a Wednesday, while I was at the office. Do you know how hard it is to work when you are anticipating the arrival of your new puppy? My production that day was probably not what it should have been.
Once the work day was done, I happily sped home to meet this beautiful, little red girl.
Finally!
I walked in the door, ignored my husband and kids, and immediately went to my oldest’s room where he was hanging out with Chai. Okay, I really didn’t ignore the family… I said hi, and then ran up the stairs. Chai was just as stunning in person as she was in the photos. Her fur was a beautiful red and white with little crimped tufts around her ears. Her eyes were an amazing amber color, and her tongue was always hanging out of the side of her mouth!
She was a little nervous meeting me; however, she gained a little confidence with Joshua by her side. I was just as smitten with her as my kids.
Meeting the Rest of the Fur Family
We introduced Chai to Beckham slowly, knowing that Beckham just lost his best friend, and that Chai is in a brand new environment. We didn’t want any territorial tendencies to come out on Beckham’s part, and hoped that Chai’s transition to Beckham’s little sister would be smooth.
Beckham was super intrigued. Who was/is this little red girl in his house? Does she get to stay? Will she be a good fit in the family? Poor Chai had to deal with Beckham’s overly excited/nervous meet and greet..but don’t worry! We took it slow and they are now inseparable.
The cats, on the other hand, were not amused by this new puppy in the house. Hunter would not have anything to do with Chai unless he had a tactical advantage. He would sit on the table or counter, reach down when Chai walked by, and give her a good swat. Obviously, Hunter was the boss and Chai better believe it!
Jazz, my special little Torbie, wasn’t sure what to think of this new member of the family. She basically followed Hunter’s lead, and stayed above Chai’s eye-level, so she could learn more about this new floof. Is Chai a friend or foe?
Six Months in with Our New Family Member
We are now going into January 2023, Chai’s 1st birthday, and she is thriving! She definitely has puppy energy and loves to tear couches apart if she is bored; however, she is the most cuddly, sweet, and smart little girl.
Fun Times with the Human Brothers
The boys have so much fun with Chai. They love to help train her on her good behaviors, teach her how to say “hi”, “hello”, and even “I love you”. They work with her on her giving high fives and hugs, and run around the house playing chase. Chai especially loves to run with Micah, my youngest. They run up and down the stairs chasing each other from room to room…and past Mr. Grumpy Old Man, Beckham.
On walks, even on the harness, Chai loves to pull. You can tell she is definitely an Alaskan Malamute, because she looks as if she were pulling heavy cargo down the walkway…and she is FAST! There have been times when I have almost lost my balance because she has to run faster than Beckham…or Micah…or Caleb.
Chai is also the biggest snuggle bug. She loves to sit next to her family members and make them hold her paw while she is getting scritches. She also gives hugs when her family returns from an outing or if she is excited to see the boys.
She is still a little skittish around people that are not her family; however, she is doing so much better than when she first came home. She sneaks sniffs of people that she doesn’t know to get more familiar with them and then will slowly warm up as long as the person is willing to work on her terms. So far, everyone has been extremely accepting of her requests!
Shenanigans with the Fur Siblings
Chai and Beckham are hilarious together. It has taken Beckham a little time to understand that he can play with Chai, and it has been great to watch how he has broken out of his “fun police” shell. Chai goads him into play and within minutes, both are play-bowing, barking, and wagging their tails…and then running crazy through the yard.
They are both food motivated, so Chai has taught Beckham a few things on how to say “hi” or how to high-five for treats. Who knew old dogs could learn new tricks?
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Hunter and Chai have become great friends and now even play together. Chai understands that Hunter has claws and Hunter understands Chai has teeth and a great right hook. They chase each other through the house and on occasion, Hunter will surprise attack Chai…and the boxing match is on! Chai is extremely gentle with him, so it is neat to watch how their relationship has evolved.
Chai knows that Jazz is not a normal cat. She is extremely gentle and loving with her and doesn’t chase or box with her like she does Hunter. There are occasions when Chai will nudge Jazz, and Jazz will swat and hiss at her, but Chai just lets her do her thing. They will walk together through the house, but it is like Chai is trying to take care of Jazz and make sure nobody else gives her trouble.
Conclusion
So, with a full heart, I am glad to say that Chai, our new family member, is thriving! She is such a blessing, and I can’t believe we are so fortunate to have her as part of our family.
She fits in with my kids, my pets, my husband…and even me! She loves us unconditionally, and the feeling is mutual. I can’t wait to see what the future brings with our silly little girl, Chai.
You can check out some of hers and the fur babies’ shenanigans on TikTok “@4furrystooges“, on Instagram at “brikel4“, and on Facebook Reels under “Kelly Bernier-Smith“.
Check them out and let me know what you think!