Meeting Darwin for the first time.
Well, we hope she feels like she is a winner! After spending her first week at Tara's house with Darwin so she could remain a surprise for Christmas morning, she may be very disappointed we are the permanenet people and they were only temporary! I told Tara that if she got a head start on training Sydney, that I will toilet train her baby for her! Fair trade I say.
From the moment I saw Sydney on the rescue pup web site, she just felt like our dog. She was described as a big lump of a pup...perfect for us because I didn't feel like our family would suit a petite dog. After several conversations to try to prove our suitability, I picked her up on the 19th Dec when I travelled down to Tara's baby shower in Canberra. Fortunately, Sydney was being fostered in a home only 15 mins from Tara and Greg's house. Tara and Greg came along as I was so nervous. I am glad they did or they may not have released her into my care. I really had no idea what to do with a dog. I had always refused another dog since Dougall went AWOL, feeling we didn't deserve or have the time for another one.
Tara and Greg did so well with her for the lead up to her coming to us. The boys had been begging me for a dog, but had no clue I had relented and were both shocked and surprised when we brought her out Christmas morning. We are still learning the ropes, but I have become an avid watcher of the 'Dog whisperer' and am cramming several good books on dog training. She is so good for me, but still thinks she is the boss of the kids, so we have to stamp that out. I am really enjoying her and feel that she is causing me to relax what Andrew considers as O.C.D. in me, as I am touching something that knowingly has germs on it without rushing to the tap to wash my hads every 3 mins. I have even let her in the house on occassion!!! I call Tara every day now with dog questions and ask her advice and give updates. It is so bizaar how much I love her already and I have never been a dog person!! She is hard work, I am not getting anything much else done, but I highly recommend it.
6 comments:
I'm in love with her too, Liesa! She's going to be one huge dog when she's fully grown but I much prefer a bigger dog. I wouldn't dare give you any tips on training - I leave all that up to Dave - but Henry has been pretty well behaved so far anyway. Just don't leave any brand new shoes out anywhere!
Lies,
Great new posts. I'm glad you are enjoying Sydney! Mark tried to convince me to get a dog for Christmas but I didn't give in. Perhaps when my youngest is 10 instead of 2! Although that would be in 7 1/2 years and McKinlay wouldn't benefit....so I may have to give in a little sooner. Hmmmm
Jordan's girlfriend is very cute..I think if he's still single at 36 or 24 like my brothers you would be happy then for him to have a girlfriend. My parents would be. :)
She's absolutely gorgeous. However, I enjoy other people's dogs in the way that many prefer other people's kids - at someone else's house and being looked after most of the time by someone else! Having said that, we are quite looking forward to Karen's family going on holiday so that we can borrow Henry for a while.
I love her. I'm so jealous. I would love a dog but we don't have a fenced-in yard, so I have to wait for that.
Good luck with the whole girlfriend think--yikes!
I think it is great how much you are enjoying Sydney. It sounds like the right time for you to have a dog too. Let me know the best dog training books that you read - we're taking the plunge this summer!
Liesa, Sydney looks like a perfect fit for your family, but you've made me nervous about getting our dog this summer. I've been promising the kids we will get one in July, but I really hope I'm not taking on too much.
It's nice to see a picture of Erin. I enjoyed the posts about Bailey and Mitchell, too. Now we need some news about Josh!
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