Lippy Stuff

Dear Bosco,

You are now 11-weeks old. I wish I could add the word 'months' onto the end of that 11 because I am oh-so-tired and you are oh-so-full of energy. You are just a bit more than either of us bargained for. Don't get me wrong...you're adorable as all get out, but you can also be as ornery as a tired toddler hopped up on sugar.

We've started referring to you as our baby barracuda. Can you guess why?



You really like to chomp on things with those teeth. We try to keep them occupied with toys and bones, but you quickly lose interest and turn your attention to more interesting things to destroy like couches and rugs.

When you're not busy chewing on things we are doing our best to teach you important dog things like sit and down and how to walk on a leash. You're almost too smart for your own good and picking up on things faster than we can teach you. Yesterday you went for your first walk around the neighborhood and you seemed to have a pretty good time, except for when those big trucks would roar by or those scary dogs barked at you. You've already learned which one is your house, and it's really cute how excited you get when you realize we're close to home.

Clearly you are becoming more comfortable with us as your "pack" because you are starting to let loose more of your attitude. Information we read on your breed indicated you might be a strong willed dog and that we would need to be experienced dog owners and confident leaders. I think they should have used stronger adjectives to describe your potential personality. At this young age you are already trying to assert your dominance in our pack and we are having to learn a whole new definition of "firm" with you.

This doesn't mean you aren't a good dog. You are a wonderful dog...you're just stubborn as hell. But you're also sweet and cuddly and love to give puppy kisses in the morning. I love your puppy kisses. You're also really cute when you come bounding across the yard at me, your ears flopping every which way and your too-big-for-you legs going in every direction. When you run you look like your back end is out of alignment.

Neither one of us has ever had a puppy this young, so please forgive us if we aren't doing this right. We're trying our best to be patient with you and understand your little puppy brain can only do so much. And even though sometimes we wonder what the heck we got ourselves into, we really love you and have lots of hopes for your future doggy life.

Love,
Your pack leaders