Monday, November 1, 2010

Adding One More

I always knew there was someone missing in our family. 

We weren't planning on this.  The last thing I needed was another mouth to feed, more poop to clean up, and another one to scold.  But I just couldn't help myself.

We were planning on looking at getting a dog in spring or summer.  I looked into breeds.  I wanted a dog that was good with kids.  A laid back dog that was still very playful.  I wanted a big dog that would keep me company and watch over the house when Todd was on a hunting trip.  If possible I wanted a dog that wouldn't shed much.  I wanted a dog that was easy to train.  Perhaps one that didn't bark all day long.  I had a long list of wants.  I found all of those things in the Gooldendoodle breed and I also found a breeder that was perfect.  Her dogs were treated like family and were not kept in kennels just used for breeding.  They had the run of her five acre home.  They had ponds to swim in.  And WOW where they well behaved.  I knew I would be getting our dog from her eventually. 

The boys bugged me constantly about getting a dog and would make me pull up the breeder's website often just to look at the pictures of the beautiful dogs that we would eventually be getting.  When I went to the website this past week I saw that a 3 month old puppy had become available.  This puppy was sold a month ago but returned to the breeder when the owner decided she could not keep up with a puppy and her two young children.  The puppy was already potty trained, would sit and lie down on command, and was a very smart girl.  I just couldn't believe my good fortune.  When I told Todd about the dog he told me I should contact the breeder and find out more about her.  The breeder told me that there was already a long list of people interested in her.  I told her to add us to the list. 

Todd and I mulled it over for a long time.  Were we ready for a puppy?  Was Grace old enough to defend herself from a puppy?  Was this dog as great as she sounded?  Could we afford a puppy right now (this dog was not cheap)? 

The breeder told us that she had picked us out of the list of people and that if we wanted her we could have her.  We decided to take the leap and went to pick up our new puppy on Friday. 

This is Molly:

She is the best puppy I have ever met in my entire life.  We have hit the jackpot, ladies and gentleman.
She was an absolute angel for the hour and a half long car ride back to our house.  When we got home she and the boys tired themselves out in the backyard for a couple of hours until it got dark.
She is full of energy and life, and yet is able to calm down when playtime is over.
It was hard to get everyone to settle down for a picture.  The kids were SO THRILLED with their new puppy and Molly just wanted to run and run.  Joey held on to Grace and I tried to keep Molly by me for a quick pic.
After all that playing Molly was worn out.  When the boys went to bed Molly curled up on the floor and took a nap.  When it was time for bed we put Molly in her crate next to our bed and she slept right through the night.  She didn't whine or cry.  I was a little worried how she would adjust to our house as she had been juggled from place to place a bit, but she adjusted perfectly.

She even went trick or treating with us and waited patiently as the boys went up to the doors for their candy.
We had a huge group of kids trick or treating with us this year and she was so well behaved with all of them.  There was no jumping on them or chasing them.  She just walked along nicely and enjoyed herself.
Molly doesn't even seem like a puppy.  She has not had one accident in our house.  She goes to the patio doors and lets out a quiet little whine when she has to go potty.  She knows not to play bite when she is playing with the boys and she is extra gentle with Grace.  We have yet to really hear her bark.  The boys love being greeted by Molly when they come downstairs in the morning.  It just brightens their whole day.  She is a little doll.  Our whole family is in love. 
Welcome to the family, Molly!

32 comments:

Kelly said...

She. Is. Adorable! What a cutie and it sounds like she has the perfect personality.

Hilary said...

Oh she's just adorable. What a fine addition to your crew. Congrats! :)

Kristen said...

Congratulations!! She is so stinking cute and I am so thrilled to hear that the transition has been smooth. It is an adjustment, but boy does your heart grow!

Even though our dog Bella is 9 1/2 and way past the puppy stage there is something about having a "fur kid" in the house. I love sitting with her at night when the house is quiet. There is just something special about that unconditional love from a dog!

Burgh Baby said...

Congratulations! She is absolutely gorgeous!

painted maypole said...

don't tell anyone in my family, but I just, for really the first time ever, had the thought "maybe a dog would be good for our family. The May Queen could actually have a playmate."

breathe a word of this to anyone and we'll have a dog within a day. that's what happened with the second cat.

Sophia said...

She is a gorgeous puppy!

imbeingheldhostage said...

She's a PUPPY? Molly is lovely, now you are complete :-)

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

I do NOT need to read puppy posts right now. My family is pushing and pushing hard for a canine...

sitting on the mood swing at the playground said...

She's so cute!

Musings of a Homeschooling Mom said...

She's beautiful!

Cassie said...

Ohh she is so pretty! Congrats to the whole family.

Mom24 said...

She is adorable!!! Congrats. I know you'll be very happy with her, you all will be.

david mcmahon said...

You're so right, Kat - you really have hit the jackpot.

It's only right that she be `Molly-coddled'!

Brittany said...

AWWW! :) What a beautiful new addition!!! Congrats ! :)

Scrappy said...

She is beautiful! I love that breed.
Congrats on the new addition. :)

Hattie said...

Wow you had me there for a second. I thought you were going to say that you're pregnant! Ha! She's adorable. Congrats on the fur baby!!!

Debbie in CA : ) said...

She's simply adorable! She looks like a stuffed animal. SO cute! I'm just so happy for your family. Picture perfect -- though I can't wait for all the delightfully humorous posts to come when the "newness" wears off, the pretty pinl bow falls off, and the REAL life begins. Puppy love and your wonderful sense of humor will carry you through and entertain all of us at the same time. ; )

Jeni said...

Welcome to the wonderful world of being a "family with a dog!" They really are a great addition and your kids, I think are all at just the right ages to fall totally in love with Molly -as will you and Todd too. This old house of mine has seen a whole lot of animals come -and sadly go too -and right now, we just have a dog (Sammy -a thoroughbred mutt) and a Tomcat -Fluffnuts -to bring lots of fun as well as much love to the old place. She's a beautiful dog -and yes, that breed is one of the best for ALL the things you listed that you wanted in a dog. Hope the sailing continues smoothly for you but it sure sounds like you're off to a terrific start.

Jill said...

I live in the land of the "doodle" ... and let me tell you how HAPPY everyone here is with theirs. They are GREAT dogs.

My inlaws have a Labradoodle - and holy heck those things truly don't shed.

My neighbor just got the most adorable Goldendoodle - and ohmystinkinheck - she is the cutest thing EVER.

Fabulous temperment. You're going to be SO happy with her. Mazel Tov - may she bring you nothing but joy!

Anonymous said...

Congrats and good luck!

Jessa said...

We have a schnoodle (schnauzer/poodle mix) and they are totally sweet as well. The goldendoodle was my other choice for a dog.

Jaysi said...

Congratulations on your new addition :)

dawn klinge said...

Oh! Yay! Molly is adorable! How lucky for you, that she was already house trained! I'm very happy for you and your family. If she's got poodle in her, she's got to be a great (and smart) dog! ;)

Kimberly Wright said...

She is really adorable! She looks like a great addition to your crew!

Unknown said...

Wow, sounds like you definitely found a fabulous dog for your family. And she's gorgeous!

My brother and his family have the same type of dog and they just love him.

Congrats on your new, adorable family member!! :D

Lisa said...

Oh....what a sweet, sweet puppy Kat! You can just see her good temperment in the pictures. Congrats on the addition to the family!

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

So cute...and that's a lot coming from a "non-dog" person.

So glad she's working out so well for you.

Karen Deborah said...

Wow isn't this great? Kat I am THRILLED for you!!! Have as in Have? as in free? Shoot fire! She is perfect she has just the right amount of poodle in her and she is gorgeous and from what you say, your breeder is super. Why don't you add your breeder to your side bar? She is raising some very great dogs. She'll bark and when she does look out. Are you ready for a big dog? Because your going to get one! I'm so excited I wish I could grab Roman and come over to play. That puppy will be great with baby no worries.

Kat said...

Karen- Oh no! Not free. Far from it. But she is proving to be worth the money. ;) She is a great combo! She is s Goldendoodle crossed with a Poodle so she is more Poodle. No shedding at all! And she is supposed to be about 50 pounds. Perfect! :)

lime said...

she is quite adorable and seems big already!

ewe are here said...

Wow! What a great little dog! You really are lucky. :-)

Riahli said...

I don't know how I missed this post, but wow, she seems like an awesome dog...really cute too! :)

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A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
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Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
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You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

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