When you read this you may think we are crazy, and maybe we are! Like many kids, ours have asked for a dog from time to time, but for Jason the passion for a dog has never wavered. Every dog we meet is a new friend for him. He knows how to talk to them, pet them safely and and to ask permission to approach. Everyone would ask if we had a dog or were going to get one- the answer always no.
Well, my heart warmed to the idea a week or so ago when I saw a banner announcing Super Adoption in Irvine. This is an opportunity to see hundreds of pets and potentially take one home. my heart started beating faster and I couldn't get the thought of getting a dog for our family out of our head.
Poor Dan. He likes dogs a lot, but didn't want to share his space with one. I know they are a lot of work (mostly on my part), but the benefits to me outweigh the negatives. We asked our landlord if we could have a pet and he wasn't sure if it would be okay. There was a lot of back and forth on Dan's part, but eventually our landlord agreed (with a small increase in our monthly rent) and Dan said he was open to looking.
I have been on many sights seeing what was available out there at shelters or rescue centers and I saw some that were potentials and then yesterday I spontaneously took the boys to the Irvine Animal Care Center. I thought we could at least fill out an application for future purposes and we could see what was available. Up to this point, the boys don't know that we are even considering getting a dog.
We walked into the center and right at the front was this sweet little Cocker Spaniel (named Flopsy). She warmed all three of our hearts. We went into the office to see if we could visit the dogs. After filling out an application, we met with a counselor who took us around to see the dogs. All the dogs I had seen online that interested me were not there anymore. But there was "Flopsy" and we asked to see her.
Well, the rest is history! The boys and I fell in love and she fell in love with us. She had just arrived earlier in the day and is 7 months old. She curled up in our laps and was really sweet and tolerant of the boys touching her. At the center all family members have to meet the pet before she can be adopted so we put a 24 hour hold on her (with a deposit) so we could come back today and visit her. We found out today from our counselor that another family came right after us and wanted the dog as well, but she was ours (praise the Lord).
We came back today to see our little girl and we were not disappointed. I asked Dan if he liked her and he did. Of course he also said the decision had already been made by me and that his vote was only a formality.
We are getting ourselves a new dog and we are naming her
Chloe! She is being spayed on Monday and we will bring her home on Tuesday. I am positive this won't be the last blog about our dog.
Jason and some of his "girl" friends!
My late bird sweeties!!
My kindergarten "Dance Crew"
Now, you might think we are weird for keeping our baby in the pen, but we are starting small and making sure she is fully potty trained (and that we are dog trained) before we let her wander the house.
Thankfully she sleeps all night long and has no accidents. I wake up a little after 6am and take her out to the potty. She likes to have a good, long walk before breakfast. I feed her when we get back home and get ready myself. I take her out once more and then she stays in her pen while I am at work. I am grateful that my job is part time and I can come home at lunch and feed her and walk her again. She then hangs outside in her pen on the concrete while I clean her bedding area.
She has dinner, then we go on another long walk and then one more potty walk right before bed. Needless to say, I am walking A LOT!! I was telling Dan last night, "the good and bad side of having a dog is that you always have to walk them- unlike a treadmill that you can put off until tomorrow (or the next day...), a dog can't wait."
The boys and I fell in love with Chloe one week ago when we saw her and spent time with her at the animal shelter, but Dan now loves our new pup too!! How can you not, she is so docile, with a sweet disposition and is so CUTE!!!
I had plans to have her sit on the floor of the car, but she HAD to be with people- she sat between the boys in the back seat and chilled until we got home. I had spent the last few days getting our home ready for our pup. We even went so far to take a part our dining room table and store it so we could have a puppy pen for the dog.
I have been reading lots about the care of dogs and helping them be balanced members of the family (thank you Cesar Milan- Dog Whisperer). We started with the crate, but decided to just do the exercise pen. She looks so confined in that little crate!
I have to say, the dog today is quite different then the one we initially met on Friday. She had just arrived to the center and was quite timid and shy. Yesterday when Dan met her she was definitely warming up and today she was HOT.
She was hyper and probably anxious and acted her age- a 7 month old puppy. We ran around the park with her (she definitely needs training on walking correctly on her leash), cuddled on the grass and we even brushed her hair. Right now her hair is quite long and sheds a bunch, but that is to be expected with Cocker Spaniels. After her initial puppy grooming in 2 weeks where she will get familiar with the groomers, we will have her trimmed up good so her hair won't be too long. Honestly, I think she is just perfect the way she is.
Oh, another thing, she wanted to chew on her leash and the bag I brought with me. Another sign of puppy-ness that we hadn't seen before. I have my work cut out for me, but I am excited and prepared (as much as I can be) for the months ahead. I am thankful that I have the summer to train her before heading back to work in September.
Here we go. . . . . .
I am taking this puppy business very seriously. I made a list of what she would need (from internet and Cesar Milan book) and have visited two different pet stores to see which one I liked best. There is a very local one (not part of a chain) that I hear is great and has the best food. I will go there next when I need food for my baby.
When you read this you may think we are crazy, and maybe we are! Like many kids, ours have asked for a dog from time to time, but for Jason the passion for a dog has never wavered. Every dog we meet is a new friend for him. He knows how to talk to them, pet them safely and and to ask permission to approach. Everyone would ask if we had a dog or were going to get one- the answer always no.
We walked into the center and right at the front was this sweet little Cocker Spaniel (named Flopsy). She warmed all three of our hearts. We went into the office to see if we could visit the dogs. After filling out an application, we met with a counselor who took us around to see the dogs. All the dogs I had seen online that interested me were not there anymore. But there was "Flopsy" and we asked to see her.
Well, the rest is history! The boys and I fell in love and she fell in love with us. She had just arrived earlier in the day and is 7 months old. She curled up in our laps and was really sweet and tolerant of the boys touching her. At the center all family members have to meet the pet before she can be adopted so we put a 24 hour hold on her (with a deposit) so we could come back today and visit her. We found out today from our counselor that another family came right after us and wanted the dog as well, but she was ours (praise the Lord).
My boys have been water safe for quite some time, but they look like they are drowning to some. For 6 weeks they have been taking swim lessons with our friend Jen Wilson. She has done such a great job with both boys (who do their lessons together). Nathan is really becoming a good swimmer and has his form down. Jason has learned big arms and side breathing.
Jason- little fish!
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Nathan- Big Fish!!
