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.