Celebrating Dog Mom Day

Gambol. Gambol-girl (if you are her human brother Charlie). Gambolini. Gamboliscious. Schmoopy. Sweet pea (if you are her uncle Matt). Moo Cow (if you are her favorite settle down school person Charlie).

This girl mended my broken heart and made me a dog mom for life. Long story short (and you may know it already) - I wanted a human baby but after about three years of trying my husband announced we were getting a dog. And boy did we get the best dog.

Gambol was perfect right out of the box. She is smart and empathetic and obedient. She loves a good game of tug-of-war with her human but will happily gambol around the yard with Puck on the other end of the rope. She is the alpha and does not hesitate to tattle on her bratty brothers any time (every time) they are doing something they shouldn't.

Puck (Shakespeare, not hockey). Puckalini. Pucki-poo. 

Puck is the ball-chasing-est dog out there. And man is he fast! In his prime he could lap the lawn in about a minute. He's slowing down a bit in his older years (he's going to be 8 in July) but he can still give Chewie a run for his money, literally.

He will play fetch for as long as someone is throwing the ball for him. He would be an excellent goalie (I can't throw the ball far enough - even with the Chuckit - so we often play soccer). But he is also content to throw the ball for himself; give him a pile of leaves or some snow and he'll push the ball between his legs and go get it, over, and over, and over....

And then we come to Chewbacca. Chewie. Sir Chews-a-lot, Defender of the Realm. 

Life was pretty good with two dogs. Gambol and Puck (a year apart in age) were both mellowing out and we had a pretty good routine. So we decided to ruin it by bringing this bundle of chocolate energy into the pack. And I'm so glad we did!

Chewie (how we - Sam - chose Chewbacca for the name is too long to tell in an email but I'll happily tell you in person so please don't hesitate to ask!) is the goofiest, snuggliest, most loveable creature I have ever known. Man I love this guy!

He has the worst breath. He is usually into something he shouldn't be into. He is constantly licking something: your hand, your face, your leg, Puck's face. His zoomies are terrifying (Gambol puts herself flat against a wall or tree). I'm not sure where his hatred of robins comes from but he is determined to banish each and every one from the property.

He is the weighted blanket that helps me sleep (usually not very well) at night. He is the alarm clock that knows exactly what time it is and what should be going into his mouth at that precise moment. He is my favorite chocolate.