An Early Christmas Gift

Casey got me a new puppy for Christmas.  I have been wanting my own dog for a long time.  And before you laugh, YES I am tired, YES I am busy keeping up with him and YES Sam and Guinness are jealous.  Sam is wonderful, don't get me wrong, but he is Casey's dog.  Well...he's both of ours, actually, but he is more attached to Casey.  I have always loved big dogs and with living out in the country, I want a dog that will be protective but also a good family dog.  Over the last couple of months I have been searching animal shelters and local adds and listings for the perfect dog.  Casey finally convinced me to get a puppy so we would know its history and be able to raise it ourselves.  In any event, I found an add for some German Shepherd puppies that were for sale.  I knew I wanted a male, and as luck would have it, she had one left when I called.  I don't think Casey expected it to happen so soon.  When he started to hem and haw about it, I informed him, "Well let's just go look at him.  "Yeah, right!" he exclaimed, "You're going to get attached to that thing immediately and there is no way I am going to be able to tell you no. I think I'd rather shoot myself...Fine, let's go and pick him up..."  That was all I needed! Immediately after work I beelined it to Target and got all of the puppy supplies we would need - and more.  When Casey walked into Target (we carpool and I hitched a ride with a co-worker) he walked up to where I was sitting in the dining area, looked over my cart as I was reading my new book: Your German Shepherd Puppy Month by Month, and said, "I don't even want to know how much money you spent..." 

We drove down in the sleet and freezing rain to get my new puppy.  I would say it was love at first site, but who in their right mind doesn't immediately fall in love with a puppy?  This new little puppy is solid black right now- my favorite of the German Shepherd breed.  Who knows if he will stay that way...his mom is all black and his dad is black and sable.  No matter what, I love this puppy and after several days of having him, I have finally settled on the name Scout.  Sam took to him right away and is both playful and protective with this puppy.  Guinness, on the other hand...well let's just say it takes him a while to warm up to anything.  Each day gets a little better, but so far he is tolerating the new addition to our family.  I do stress tolerating. 

I haven't had a puppy is nearly twenty years, and raising a puppy when you are 10 is A LOT different than when you are 29.  Mostly because your parents aren't there to pick up your slack.  :)  I don't mind, though.  I love taking care of him.  I don't sleep through his howling like I used to when my old dog, Dollie was a puppy.  Nope, I wake up when he whimpers and whines - fortunately it's only around midnight so I can let him out, and then I put him back in his kennel and go to sleep for another 4 1/2 hours.