Author: Becky & David Bishop – Page 2
Wow!
Time flies with the holidays quickly approaching! Not to mention, I’m still getting the hang of this blogging stuff—I never knew it was such hard work! You missed all of October (my fault, obviously!), so I don’t want you to miss out on November. So let’s recap!
Here at Puppy Manners, we’ve been pretty busy. While we just started the second week of our newest Group Training classes, our sweet girl, “Zoom”, just started her 13th week of rehabilitation from hip surgery. Only three more weeks to go! No one would ever know that she has an artificial hip. We’ve nicknamed her “Bionic Girl” and we believe it makes her the coolest dog ever. She’s feeling so good these days, we have to be especially careful to not let her run or jump, which she is very eager to do. At the end of this month, “Zoom” will get her final X-rays and we’ll finally receive the “all clear” for her to run, jump, play, and do what she loves—zoooooooooming around!
We received a huge response from our post about “Dusty”, who is still here and making progress. Of course, it is all on her time, not ours. But we are pleased to inform you that she is warming up to all of us. When she’s with our other boarding dogs, she now approaches the fence and offers a lick. She no longer runs for the hills when we approach and our youngest employee, Jamie, took her home for the weekend, where she did very well. She needs more in-house time with people, so we plan on bringing her in the house to hang with us as well. We also received her DNA blood test results which revealed that she is 52% Doberman, 12% Malamute, and 12%… Pekenese! Yeah, that last one seems crazy, but we won’t argue with science! No wonder she’s our odd little duck!
The “Howlidays” are quickly approaching and we are busy getting ready! It’s like a bed and breakfast for dogs, as we are “a buzz” with prepping the barn for our furry guests. This is the busiest time of year for us but it’s also the most fun. We love seeing our guests running through the “Dream Field” and then coming into to warm their toes by the heaters. If we could serve them hot chocolate, we would! It really is a magical season.
We recently had a foster dog named “Dodger” come to us but he lucked out and already found a new home! He’s an older dog so we were so excited when a really nice family with five acres came along to adopt him. They have horses, cows, pigs, and a St. Bernard buddy to romp along the fields. We are always SO happy when the perfect family comes along for a sweet and well-deserved dog.
Meanwhile, we have another foster dog, “Shadow”, who is looking for a home! She is a field-bred black Labrador. She went to drug sniffing school but she dropped out. Seems that “Shadow” likes to look for things rather than sniff them out! She will make a great companion to someone active and on-the-go. She is going through rigorous puppy training here and will be a wonderful family dog, especially if that family enjoys activities like going to the park, camping, or bike rides together.
Well that’s all I have time to update you with today. I promise to do better in the coming weeks. There are some things I’ve been wanting to blog about, like Therapy Testing, some more basic obedience tips, as well as a special feature on our youngest and most animated dog, “Harry Plotter.” Stay tuned for those posts, coming up fast!
And because blog posts are always better with a photo—Here’s a great one of former foster dog “Dodger”, which was taken by our new pet photography friend, Cyndi T., who came to visit us all the way from Tennessee! And be sure to check out the blog post she wrote about our “kids”! Isn’t “Dodger” a sweetheart??
Feature / Our Foster Pup, “Dusty”
Not everyone is aware that occasionally, Dave and I will be foster parents to a dog. So today, I wanted to recognize the time and energy the entire Puppy Manners staff puts into these puppies in need, because it’s definitely not all me and Dave. When we take on a foster dog, we are fully committed to creating balance and of course, good manners. But I have to remind myself that not every pup is the same and in our current foster pup’s case, I am reminded constantly…
“Dusty” came to us from Homeward Pets in Woodinville, WA, a wonderful shelter that does amazing things for homeless dogs and cats. We love networking with their organization and I always feel it’s a privilege when they trust us to foster one of their dogs. But I have to say, puppies that come here to Crystal Creek Ranch have it pretty good! There are lots of fields to run and play and tons of interaction, both with loving handlers and other friendly pups! But “Dusty” is very different… Allow me to explain:
First, I want to tell you about her name. In my years as a dog trainer, I’ve come to recognize how often the names we give our dogs are like tiny self-fulling prophecies. We meet “Barker,” and he… barks. Later, we’re introduced to “Chewy” and he… chews. And eventually, we find ourselves encountering a cuddly “Cujo” and he… terrorizes the village. I’m kidding! But you see my point! So when “Dusty” came to us, I wanted to give her a name she could grow into… That’s when I found the name “Dustin,” which can be for a male or female. It means “brave, warrior, confident,” which is everything “Dusty” isn’t!
When she came to us, she was called “Izzy,” an extremely shy and fearful puppy. Even now, after five weeks of living with us and constant socializing, if you met this uniquely beautiful dog, you’d assume we’ve made no progress at all! Believe me, we’ve made huge strides, but she’s still a bowl of quivering jelly! When people approach, she leans away and if someone reaches out to pet her, she freezes in place and waits for the petting to be over. Funny enough, she doesn’t have a mean or aggressive bone in her body, with the most amazing blue eyes we’ve ever seen! But those beautiful eyes are a blessing and a curse. Mezmerizing to look at, but staring into them is the one thing that makes “Dusty” most uncomfortable. If we humanize the situation and imagine ourselves as extremely shy, we realize how going out in public to be met with constant stares simply because we have “cool looking eyes” can be extremely intimidating!
What we know about “Dusty’s” history is that she is sadly under-socialized. I don’t believe she was abused but I think neglect is within the spectrum, as her social interactions never involved people, resulting in fear of anything or anyone to which she was never exposed. She is what my friend Sarah Wilson calls a “deficit dog.” While she may be genetically shy, most of her issues derive from never being subjected to certain environmental influences like people, cars, or even different types of floors! Slowly, she is learning to trust and we are learning patience. When it comes to “Dusty,” we are currently running on “dog time.” Even after a month of hand-feeding her every meal, she still resists social contact. But we’re pressing on, believing we will become more relavant to her and she will warm up to our touch. And she is improving, no matter how long it seems to take. We strive for better, not perfect. If you’re wondering where we have seen improvement, I’ll tell you.
In the beginning, “Dusty” would never want to leave her crate. She loved going in, like it was her own personal condo. But the “outside world” where two-legged weirdos roam and gave her unwanted attention was too much to bare. So she would remain inside as long as she could… With a bladder of steal, it seemed! On that first day, we waited for hours for her to come out, convinced she would HAVE to pee at some point! But she held her ground… Finally, I reached into her safe haven, scooped her into my arms and carried her out to the grass. Even there, she refused to move. Days went on and we knew that “Dusty” had a decision to make. Then we noticed something… “Dusty” behaved socially and interacted most when grouped with some of our doggie guests. It wasn’t long before my Barn Manager, Karen, came running into my office like she won the lottery, “‘Dusty’ came out of her crate! All on her own! And she let me put her leash on and take her to the play yard!” It was HUGE news. And in that small act, we realized what “Dusty” wanted—to be and play with other dogs.
Most recently, “Dusty” has been coming to some of our Group Training Classes. Typically accompanied by our newest Puppy Wrangler, Jamie, or my daughter, Carly. When she comes to class, I prep the rest of the students by telling them to not stare or coddle her. The worst thing you can say to a shy or scared puppy is “Aww… Poor puppy…” because this only reinforces that behavior. It’s difficult for people to understand but if you want to win over a dog like this, it is going to be on his or her terms. Like saying “If you set something free and it comes back to you, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was.” We are trying to set “Dusty” free to be who she is and not the dog she became due to her previous circumstances.
“Dusty” finds strength in the company of other dogs, so we’ve capitalized on this by surrounding her with our own balanced pack. When “Dusty” couldn’t walk on a leash, we hitched her to “Zoom” and suddenly, there was no “drag” in that pup’s step. Now, she walks perfectly on a leash with or without the company of another dog. And she might just be the only dog at Puppy Manners encouraged to pull ahead, as we want this dog to gain as much confidence as possible! Additionally, we’ve started keeping “Dusty” in our home, surrounded with our three furry kids, “Moose,” “Zoom,” and “Harry.” When she took her first steps into our living room, we noticed something right away. Each one of our dogs ignored her… It seemed “Dusty’s” energy spoke volumes to them and they returned with a resounding wave of silence. None of our dogs tried to greet her or say “hello” in their usually dog-way. It was interesting for us to observe, as our mature, balanced dogs seemed to know what an unbalanced dog needs. And for “Dusty”, that meant distance.
We’re continuing with this process of learning “Dusty” and allowing her to teach us what rare dogs can. In her case, it can be summarized as “two steps forward, one step back,” but I’m happy to report we’re always moving forward. Recently, someone asked me “What kind of home should ‘Dusty’ have? Who could deal with this type of dog?” And to be honest, I’m not sure what kind of home will work for her but I believe her home with us, even if only temporary, has been a win-win for all. There is a family for “Dusty”, I just know it. For now, it’s about what “Dusty” needs and that means me, Dave, our wonderful dogs, and our fantastically patient staff. Of course, we’ll keep you posted on “Dusty’s” progress while we continue to encourage her to live up to her name: brave, warrior, confident. Of course, we might settle for “normal” at this point but we’re optimistic regardless…
*Photos provided by Carly Chaney.
Training Tip / Door Manners
Why, hello there, Blog Readers! Zoom here!
Many of you know me from your Puppy Manners class and others know me from Reading with Rover! Of course, everyone knows that I’m the hardest working dog at the ranch yet! Recently, I had hip replacement surgery and I’ve had some more “down” time than usual. When I went to the blog to see what’s new, I was shocked when I didn’t find my own Feature! So I’ve hijacked the blog and I’m gonna share a BIG Training Tip with you today!
Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of pups (young and old) jumping on their moms and dads and even worse, jumping on the friends of their moms and dads! I’ll be honest and say I used to be that pup just a few years ago! But after lots of hard work and practice, I totally know what I’m supposed to do! So how can you teach your puppies to be like me?
First off—Don’t let your puppy be a “door greeter” for now. Did you know that even Wal-Mart greeters go to greeter school for two weeks before they can greet any customers? Greeting is an art form and you have to practice to get good! Being a proper greeter takes time, maturity, patience, and most of all, consistency. The doorway is a “happy zone” in a family’s house as people come in with high pitched voices and we dogs think it’s ALL about us and how much you adore and love us! We don’t really “get it” when people hug, laugh, and get happy when inviting guests to come in. Seriously, we just think you’re happy to see US, the DOGS! So give us a little break… When the door bell rings or someone knocks, quietly and calmly take your puppy to their designated rug, crate, or gated area until all the guests are inside the house and excitement levels have gone down a notch. When everyone is seated, feel free to let your puppy back into the room but keep the leash on and let your guests greet in a more controlled area of the house. Things will be SO much easier for your puppy if you simply avoid, for now, letting them be a door greeter. But believe me, it’s not forever! It’s just until your puppy improves with practice!
Also consider tethering your puppy, allowing your guests to go to him/her on their own terms. Let your guests tell your puppy to “sit” or “down” and AFTER the puppy has complied, your guests should reward with the treat and proper pets! If the puppy jumps, guests simply need to walk away and the tether will keep your puppy in control. This helps your guests to be better trainers (instead of the “anti-trainer” they usually are!) and it sets your puppy up for success! “Will work for food!” is never more true to your puppy until something like this!
Trust me when I say that there is HOPE for your puppy! I used to be a terrible jumper and I loved nipping at hands. I pulled at sleeves and clothing and all my bad habits went away when I stopped being First at the door! Before Mom would answer the door, she would grab my leash and place me on my rug, give me a bone to chew on and then she’d tether me before any guests came in. As I got older and more mature, I was given more privilege and was even allowed to greet people when they first came through the door! Privilege is like getting your driver’s license! It’s not a right, its a privilege you earn and your puppy has to earn their way to front door.
As you all know, I’m a great dog (and humble, too)! You may not think that I see your adoring stares in class, the envy in your puppy’s eyes, the compliments… But you have to know that I’ve come a long way. My mom and dad always tell people about how I was the last pick of the litter and as much as it pains me to hear, I really was the last one to go. Boy, did I get lucky and I’m forever grateful to those families that turned me down because I really was meant to be a Bishop.
Remember, you don’t always get the dog you want, but you always get the dog you need. The challenges you face with your puppy are just opportunities to learn about yourself and grow as individuals! Embrace it, learn from it, and move forward!
Enjoy this clip from our recent Star-Barks 101 class where Mom talks about proper door manners and shows how your guests can use their body language to stop dogs from jumping on them or other unwanted behavior.
Puppy Manners Blog – Door Greeting from Becky&Dave Bishop on Vimeo.
Have a great weekend! And stay tuned for more tips like these in the future! Email questions and Training Tip suggestions to info@puppymanners.com!
*Photos provided by Carly Chaney.
Feature / Reading with Rover Radio Spot
First of all, we just want to say how thankful we are to everyone who has supported us during this time following “Bloo’s” passing. The cards in the mail have blessed us immensely and the compassion our friends and clients have showered us with have meant more to us than you’ll ever know… Truly, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Thank you for loving us and loving Bloo—it makes me realize what an impact he had on his community in the short time he was here and what a one-of-a-kind dog he truly was.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
But we’re an optimistic family and we can only feel down for so long before we start itching for that hopeful outlook, the glass-half-full mentality, and the pursuit of the next great thing.
So we wanted to shed some insight into what we have coming up here on the blog and we’d like to hear more feedback from our readers about what you are dying to know! We have a feature quickly approaching that addresses “jumping/door greeting manners” and we’re really excited to share this information with you. But what else would you like to know? What areas do you struggle with your dog? Also, tell us what works for you! We can’t tell you how often we learn new things from what our clients have tried themselves! For example…
TRAINING TIP: Frozen stringcheese! If you have a ravenous dog, freeze your string cheese instead of using soft! It forces them to really work at the treat, slows down their ability to chew, and makes the cheese itself last ten times longer! How’s that for practicality?
So if you have questions or if you’ve discovered great techniques that work, please share them with us! And perhaps they, too, will make their way onto the blog!
In the meanwhile, we’d like to share another bit of exciting news! Becky and “Harry” had the opportunity to be guests on the Sundusky Radio Seattle station last week, sharing information on our favorite children’s literacy program, Reading with Rover with Gary Shipe. We also have some photos from the interview!* Check ‘em out! Even “Harry” got in on the interview action!
The interview airs this Sunday, August 15th, at the following times: KKNW 1150AM at 5:00am, KIKI 880AM at 5:30am, KWJZ 98.9FM at 6:00am, and KQMV 92.5FM at 6:30am.
So all you early morning commuters, tune in! And let us know what you think!
*Pictures provided by Carly Chaney.
Feature / “Bloo” 2006 – July 25, 2010
It’s not easy owning a dog or being their guardian. I mean, when it comes down to it—the dogs own us.
But one of hardest realities of owning a dog is knowing we will almost always outlive them. They start out as puppies, but they are on a fast track to adulthood. But we’re lucky, because we get to watch them become senior dogs, spending their whole lives with us before they have to leave.
And as much as I would have loved to watch our dog “Bloo” get old and gray, it was not meant to be…
On Saturday, July 24th, Bloo had several grand mal seizures. We were aware they could happen but we hoped medication could prevent them. But the meds didn’t work. Seizures are increasingly more difficult to prevent the more a dog has them. They were so painful to witness, and very scary for Bloo. I know Bloo is home now, in heaven, where all his rover-friends await and I’m sure those angels are dancing with joy for the newest, most wonderful rover to join them. We will miss everything about him. He was quirky, with so much personality. Dave often says “this dog truly speaks to me.” He would actually look at me and Dave and do this little chatter, as if mimicking us. He made us laugh every day. He wore his feelings on his furry sleeves and he would let you know if he was upset. He longed for routine, wishing every day could be the same. Everyday, he would “wait” by the door and no matter how hard he tried to go out calmly, he leaped and bounded out the front door, his feet never touching the steps of the deck. I used to call it the “Bloo flew” as he seemed to fly off the deck. Often times, Bloo was so excited to go to Reading with Rover, he would jump into the wrong car and wouldn’t get out! We had to drag him out. And he would almost look embarrassed, as if to say, “Wow, that was dumb of me!” But he was far from dumb. He just couldn’t wait to spread joy!
Sadly, it was at 3:00am yesterday morning, that Bloo went on his final journey to heaven. But as I grieve for his loss, I am encouraged by a friend who just emailed me the following:
“When we have to witness our pets going through so much agony in their final minutes, just know that it’s only a tiny fraction of what they experience throughout their lives with us.”
This puts Bloo’s life in perspective, and it does make me feel better. Even in his last moment, Bloo aimed to please. He looked at me as if to say “It’s ok, Mom… I’m tired and I want to go.”
He loved us a lot. Especially Dave.
A little bit about Bloo, aka “Bloobie”, aka “Crazy Bee”.
Bloo came into our life in the most unusual way. Four years ago, I was looking for a puppy to train for service to a family who had a boy with autism and seizure disorder. Meanwhile, I had another client with two young children and two black lab puppies. As you can imagine, the strain of two puppies and two little boys proved too difficult. They realized they’d do much better with just one puppy, so they offered to give up one of them, knowing I could find a good home. Immediately, I was drawn to the calmer of the two puppies (Bloo) because of his disposition, but it was for that same reason the family preferred to keep him over his brother. Bloo was gentle, an old soul, and he was comfortable, with these amber eyes that just melted my heart. Unfortunately, the family wanted to give me his unruly, high strung yet lovable brother “Lucky” and I really couldn’t blame them. Knowing Bloo had strong potential as the service dog I had been seeking, I explained to the family what I thought he could do in his life, especially as a helper to this little boy.
The family had to make a decision. My client let me know that his wife was pretty adamant about keeping Bloo. While I was certain they would keep Bloo and give me Lucky, I couldn’t help saying a little prayer that they would make the sacrifice, and bring me Bloo. Well, to my surprise, my prayer was answered and Bloo, my little miracle puppy, arrived the next morning. The owner looked at me and said, “My wife and I talked until two in the morning and we think if Bloo can be a service dog, who are we to stop him from achieving a higher calling?”
Amazing family. Amazing dog.
Bloo trained with us for nine months until he was ready to go for his first visit to his new home and to fulfill his duty as a service dog. It was just a weekend visit. Unfortunately, at the end of day two with his adopted family, Bloo had a seizure.
It’s my belief that the event was stress induced, as Bloo, while thoroughly trained, had never spent a night away from our home since he came to live with us. Immediately, we knew that having the seizure made Bloo incapable of being a service dog. When Bloo came back to us, I was determined to re-home him. However, Bloo was determined to stay…
We attempted to send Bloo with a friend for a day, but his stress level was so high, she returned him to us before nightfall. At that point, we were concerned another seizure would take place and we realized that Bloo had adopted us and we had no choice in the matter.
After becoming “our” dog, Bloo went three years without having a single seizure. He became a beloved Reading with Rover dog for Rose Hill Elementary School and he helped so many children. We genuinely believed that he was seizure free until a few months ago when they started happening without warning…
Bloo LOVED kids and I’m not ashamed to say he was the best bed buddy a couple could ask for! I can’t tell you how much we’ll miss that big furry divide that watched over me and Dave until we fell asleep and then, he would hop off the bed and sleep right next to me on the floor. But he was more so Dave’s dog than mine. He loved all of us but he and Dave had a deeply special bond that makes it a lot harder on Dave in this time of grief.
Personally, I’ll miss the way he liked to lift his leg on our “don’t pee here” sign on our front lawn. That was comical and I just couldn’t get upset with him. After all, he was a “listening” dog, and couldn’t read the sign. He was also a “lay at your feet for as long as you want” dog and a “get in the truck and go” dog. He was tenderhearted, a “kid had a bad day so I’ll cheer them up” dog. He was our family dog and he was a fantastic Reading with Rover dog. I do believe the work he did here was his higher calling and we are grateful for the few years we had with him. Not every dog can say “I made a difference,” especially when dogs are here so briefly. He certainly made a difference for us.
I once heard someone say you don’t always get the dog you want, you get the dog you need. And we needed Bloo in our family. He filled our hearts and we deeply loved him. We’re missing him so much already. The house is just too quiet, the silence filling each room.
I don’t have the heart to sweep the floors today because the clumps of black fur that rest in the corners are the only thing that make me feel like he’s still here…
Bloo was special and possessed a special part of all our hearts. He was truly Dave’s best friend. We laugh and say Bloo started out a service dog, but Dave ended up being a service-person to Bloo. Bloo loved and needed Dave in his life to be happy.
Hug your dogs today and every day and thanks to all of you who have been asking about Bloo. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated in this time of mourning.
And thank you, Bloo, for truly “raising the woof.”
We’ll see you in Heaven. Promise.
Strawberry Festival / Reading with Rover
Last month, we were at the annual Strawberry Festival in Bellevue with our favorite children’s program, Reading with Rover. It was a really fun event and we enjoyed all the parents, kids, babies, and of course the dogs, that came out to support. If you were at the event, our favorite photographer, Carly Chaney, was there taking pictures of the kids with their favorite Reading with Rover dog! If you are interested in seeing and/or purchasing those photos, just enter the passcode rwr2010 at the following link:
http://carlybish.zenfolio.com/rwr_strawberry
Thanks again to everyone who came out! We’re looking forward to doing it again next year!
Feature // Windsor, 2000-2010
It’s a sad week at the ranch as we lost one of our favorite barn managers, Windsor.Our human barn manager, Karen, and Windsor were companions for over 10 years and he faithfully came to work with her at Puppy Manners everyday she worked. Anyone who met Windsor immediately commented on his unique look and his sweet disposition.
Windsor didn’t win the lottery when it came to health. He was born without teeth, which no one can explain, but this never inhibited his ability to eat. In his last years of life, Windsor also lost his sight. Eventually, he could barely see at all but he totally tried to fake like he could, which he quickly failed when he’d walk into a wall or the car door. But even though he couldn’t see, Windsor had a vast understanding of what was going on around him. From time to time, I would watch Windsor while he explored in one of our fields. Every now and then, I would see him stop and pause to sniff the air, but it was more than just a sniff. He would inhale the air around him, like he was appreciating it. And even though he lost his sight and had no teeth, Windsor only got better, even the way he “looked” at you. As if he could see into you, he knew you and could read the energy you brought into the room.
Like a marriage, we take our dogs into our lives for better or for worse and for sickness and in health. And thank goodness for Karen as I’m not sure Windsor would have had a great life or even a life at all. Ten years is never long enough, but we love our dogs and we know when they want to go, it’s not up to us.
We will miss you sweet doggie and we promise that we will take great care of Karen and your little sister “Hope”.
Until we all meet again, just take in the sweet scent of Heaven in those glorious fields.
We miss you.
Best of 425Magazine!
We’ve had a great week here at Puppy Manners! Summer has finally arrived in Seattle and we could not be happier! We broke out the kiddie pools (for our playin’ pups!) and Dave’s favorite cooking appliance—the barbecue! We had a fun holiday weekend with our family and even got to celebrate the Fourth with our friend, Anniemarie Kaighin, aka “My Puppy Nanny.” To top things off, we received our copy of 425Magazine in the mail this week only to discover we were named “Best Dog Trainer” in their “Best of 425″ issue! Even more surprising is how we were the runner up for “Best Doggie Day Care” since that’s a service we don’t advertise because of our limited space!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all our friends and clients who voted! We are thrilled to have been spotlighted, especially on this side of Seattle! We don’t take this recognition lightly and will continue to strive to be the #1 Dog Trainers in this area code and beyond!
In other news, we’ve got some exciting blog posts coming your way, including some of the following:
- Training tip! Jumping! Is there a little too much pep in your pup’s step? How to recognize the behavior, stop it, and prevent it altogether!
- Feature! Our dog “Bloo!” and his incredible story that would make him one of “our” dogs.
- Reading with Rover at the Strawberry Festival! Did you attend the Strawberry Festival in Bellevue last month? We were there with our favorite children’s literacy program Reading with Rover, 425Magazine‘s runner up for “Best After School Program”! If you had your picture taken with a RWR dog, the gallery will be posted here on the blog on July 15th! Don’t miss it!
Thanks for tuning in! And thank you, 425 residents, for voting us #1!
Feature / Our Dog: Moose
Since the blog is still NEW for us, we’ve decided it would be wise to give introductions to everyone on the Puppy Manners team! Of course, we really feel like we should begin by introducing the VIDs first!
Who else would we be referring to but…
OUR VERY IMPORTANT DOGS!
By telling their stories, we bare our hearts and share our passion with all of you. Through them, you’ll get to know who we are and what we’re all about! So let’s begin!
We’ll start with our eldest… Moose.
Also known as “Sugarball.”
Also known as “Pie.”
You might have guessed by now, but hopefully with a face like that, you’ve gathered that this guy is “Sweet… as… pie…”
Moose was completely serendipitous. It was nine years ago when we went to Sunny Daze to look at a litter of Labrador puppies with our pastor’s wife, Stacey, and her two kids. They were looking for their first dog and had their heart set on a Golden Retriever puppy. However, we knew about the existing litter and encouraged the family to check them out, in case they found one they could fall in love with. Alas, ’twas our then, 15-year-old daughter, who fell in love…
Yes. It’s true. Our daughter, Carly, went with me (Becky) on our trip to see these puppies. I don’t know why I didn’t think ahead of time, Wait. What if she wants to take one home? We already had two adult dogs and adding a puppy to the mix didn’t exactly sound easier!
Dave gave me one last warning before we left the house, “Don’t come home with a puppy, Beck!”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. We won’t, Dave.”
But it was too late. Destiny was calling… Fate beckoned… The story already written. It was over the moment we heard little squeaks and grunts coming from inside the tiny barn where we found a herd of sweet chocolate lumps rolling around, their pink potbellies full and their stubby noses drawn curious at our presence. Even I was a goner after that!
I continued urging Stacey, “Do you like them? Do you think you could love having one of these guys?”
Deep down, I thought if I could convince her to go home with one of these adorable puppies, then I wouldn’t have to do the deed! Save me, Stacey! I begged secretly. Please save me from the cuteness!
I looked down and found Carly, sitting in the sawdust with what looked like a brown butterball sitting quietly in her lap. He was so sweet… So quiet… So…
…fat.
Puppy = 1. Me = 0.
On the drive home, Carly tried thinking of names while I tried inventing positive reasons for getting a third dog.
“‘Magic won’t be around forever to keep ‘Boomer’ company… And we should always have at least two dogs…”
“Yeah! Plus! He’s kinda the cutest dog ever,” Carly chimed in.
“Yeah, that’s definitely up there with the top good reasons…”
When we got home, Carly and I weren’t sure what we would tell Dave. At that point, all we could say was, “But he’s so cuuuuuuuuuuuute!!!” It was, quite literally, our best defense. So we ran with it.
It was late when we walked through the front door and Dave had already gone to bed for the night. Carly clutched our newest addition in her arms while I softly approached the bedroom door…
“Don’t be mad…” I said.
“Uh oh,” Dave said.
Carly walked into the room and plopped our sweet “sugarball” onto the bed. His tail wagged furiously as he waddled up to Dave and immediately gave millions of sweet puppy kisses.
“Oh my goodness, look at this guy…” Dave smiled.
YES!!!
He was in! And thus, our new puppy was in! And ultimately, he would end up being so much more than just “our dog.” Moose is so much “bigger” and so much more than a dog. He’s the heart and soul of Puppy Manners and my weak spot! One look from that sweet, mushy face, and I melt every time. It’s hard to believe he’ll be 10 in just a few short months because of that soft, puppy expression he never lost…
Moose will always be our “baby boy” and you’ll learn quickly that I can’t talk long about him without tearing up. When you come to visit us at Crystal Creek Farms, just ask to meet him and you’ll be a goner too! But don’t think you’ll get to take him home with you, though…
That story was already written. 
Pictures provided by Carly Chaney.
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