Spontaneously, surprisingly, and happily (hopefully)... We got a new puppy!
We are in puppy love! We picked him up at eight weeks old and he is excited, playful, and rambunctious. He is a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd mix (also called Border-Aussie, or Australian Collie). A dog with boundless energy, vivacious, and intelligent. One article I read called his breed "the Ferrari of dogs"... "Quiet, playful, positive, friendly, people-loving, what more do you need?"
We are in puppy love! We picked him up at eight weeks old and he is excited, playful, and rambunctious. He is a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd mix (also called Border-Aussie, or Australian Collie). A dog with boundless energy, vivacious, and intelligent. One article I read called his breed "the Ferrari of dogs"... "Quiet, playful, positive, friendly, people-loving, what more do you need?"
Could he be the dog I never knew I always wanted? Maybe. It's too soon to tell. He is really a cute puppy though, and his markings are handsome. He has white socks and a white tip to his tail. I love his floppy puppy ears. And his fur is super soft! He is always excited to see us and always ready to play.
So the Poulton family is now a dog loving family? Yes, apparently. My kids are all dog lovers, every time we take a walk, they get so excited when they see and get to pet someone's dog. Dog-sitting is always a hit with the kids as well, but every time I have been grateful to send the dog back to their rightful home. I guess I surprised myself this time.
The backstory..
I decided I wanted a running dog. I must have first gotten the idea in my head when I ran the Mantua (UT) Dam race this summer. As a home town race it was laid back, many people ran pushing strollers, and many ran with their dog. I was super impressed with the way the dogs would follow right in step with their owner and when I would pass by they paid me no mind, neither did they stop to smell the bushes they passed by or did anything except stay in perfect step. Then I came home to Virginia and I am running these crazy hours marathon training. I told Devin I would feel so much safer if I was running with a dog. Yes, I run with Mace, but I think having a dog with me would keep potential predators away. So I began looking into dogs, maybe just fostering a dog for a few months... but I am picky when it comes to dogs and couldn't find the right one. So much for that idea.
Randomly, Devin checked Craigslist and found this Border Collie/Australian Shepherd. Devin grew up with Border Collies and has the highest opinion of them. I really like the look of the Australian Shepherds. He showed me the picture of this cute pup after he e-mailed on it, "But too bad," he said, "It's already gone."
The next day Devin received a call... We could have the pup if we still wanted it. It didn't go through with the previous buyer and she thought Devin sounded nice, she really wanted this puppy to go to a good home. So that night, without saying anything to the kids, we loaded up in the car and drove to Manassas. It was back country, a pretty area, but kind of hippie, a place I expected to see cabins.
We told Bridger that inside we had a surprise for him. When he saw the puppy he liked him instantly. "Would you like a puppy like that?"
"Yeah. He's so cute!"
"Okay, pick him up. We'll take him with us."
"Really?! We can keep him?!!"
It couldn't have worked out more perfectly. We didn't search forever, we weren't really even searching, but he popped up on Craigslist and Devin happened to see him. And exactly the breed we hoped for? No way! He was meant to be ours! That afternoon we decided we wanted him and that night we picked him up.
So the Poulton family is now a dog loving family? Yes, apparently. My kids are all dog lovers, every time we take a walk, they get so excited when they see and get to pet someone's dog. Dog-sitting is always a hit with the kids as well, but every time I have been grateful to send the dog back to their rightful home. I guess I surprised myself this time.
The backstory..
I decided I wanted a running dog. I must have first gotten the idea in my head when I ran the Mantua (UT) Dam race this summer. As a home town race it was laid back, many people ran pushing strollers, and many ran with their dog. I was super impressed with the way the dogs would follow right in step with their owner and when I would pass by they paid me no mind, neither did they stop to smell the bushes they passed by or did anything except stay in perfect step. Then I came home to Virginia and I am running these crazy hours marathon training. I told Devin I would feel so much safer if I was running with a dog. Yes, I run with Mace, but I think having a dog with me would keep potential predators away. So I began looking into dogs, maybe just fostering a dog for a few months... but I am picky when it comes to dogs and couldn't find the right one. So much for that idea.
Randomly, Devin checked Craigslist and found this Border Collie/Australian Shepherd. Devin grew up with Border Collies and has the highest opinion of them. I really like the look of the Australian Shepherds. He showed me the picture of this cute pup after he e-mailed on it, "But too bad," he said, "It's already gone."
The next day Devin received a call... We could have the pup if we still wanted it. It didn't go through with the previous buyer and she thought Devin sounded nice, she really wanted this puppy to go to a good home. So that night, without saying anything to the kids, we loaded up in the car and drove to Manassas. It was back country, a pretty area, but kind of hippie, a place I expected to see cabins.
We told Bridger that inside we had a surprise for him. When he saw the puppy he liked him instantly. "Would you like a puppy like that?"
"Yeah. He's so cute!"
"Okay, pick him up. We'll take him with us."
"Really?! We can keep him?!!"
It couldn't have worked out more perfectly. We didn't search forever, we weren't really even searching, but he popped up on Craigslist and Devin happened to see him. And exactly the breed we hoped for? No way! He was meant to be ours! That afternoon we decided we wanted him and that night we picked him up.
Now we have had him just over a week. It took us four days before we named him. Devin told the kids to choose a name and they came up with some creative ones like "Aachoo!" (Bridger and Myra got the giggles when they thought of that name, fake sneezing all over the place, calling "come here Aachoo! Achoo!" They also liked Licorice and Brownie. Devin likes people names for dogs and what we finally decided on was Bruce (Brucester). Myra also liked the name Oliver so that turned into his middle name. Bruce Oliver Poulton... it sounds like a persons name... I guess that's what Devin likes, but don't get the wrong idea, we know he is a dog.
The kids love him. But he is a typical puppy and he likes to bite and chew. When he stands on his hind legs he is approximately the same height as Sawyer, and he sometimes gets his ears confused as a chew toy or gets jumpy and pushes Sawyer over. We are working on his manners. And potty training. In Virginia everyone has inside dogs, but we are going to try to be the exception or at least somewhere in the middle. Right now he sleeps in the basement in a crate, but he hangs out in our fenced backyard during the day. I don't mind if he is in our basement, but I am not a fan of dog hair/smell in my kitchen or bedroom.
I said earlier that I am picky when it comes to dogs. I am. I need a dog to serve our purpose and fit in with our family. But all he really needs is a cute face, and if he is obedient and minds his manners, poops outside in the corner, and will run with me, then that's the dog I want. Bruce is a good dog, and intelligent, I think he will learn!
I have liked having him around! He's helped me to relax more about everything that is on my to-do list, because sometimes I just drop everything so the kids and I can take him for a walk, or go outside and play. Really, I should have excused myself from my chores more often to play with my kids, but it also helps to get out of the house, away from what needs to be done. Relax from the bustle and pay attention to those living souls around me... Basically, since Bruce has been around I've gotten lazy... my house is not up for show and tell!
I might turn into your funny friend that loves to talk about her dog. My dog and my kids, because now I have two puppies... Sawyer and Bruce... I give them pretty much the same commands:
DOWN!
DON'T EAT THAT!
SIT!
(Sawyer loves to stand on the table and my counter tops. Tonight I found him marching on top of my kitchen table... He's going to break his head someday.)
(Sawyer loves to stand on the table and my counter tops. Tonight I found him marching on top of my kitchen table... He's going to break his head someday.)
NO BITE!
... I think Sawyer actually learned that one from Bruce. He's been biting me (his mom). He has some jealousy issues going on with the dog. If I'm holding Bruce, Sawyer wants up too. If I'm playing with Bruce on my lap, Sawyer pushes him off and sits on my lap instead. That's okay. Sawyer is smart too, he'll figure it out. And he really likes dogs.
FETCH!
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