AUGGIE!!!!

Jan 25th finally came and we got to bring our puppy home.  It was a 4 hour drive one way and it rained the whole way there .... and the whole way home!  I had contacted our vet for advice on picking out a puppy and he gave some excellent and very helpful advice.  When you are looking at 7 adorable puppies -- it is really hard to choose!  We had reserved a female, but we had first choice so they brought out all 7 and we began sorting.  There was one dark one, 3 medium and 3 light.  Brandon had favored the dark one from pictures but within moments we knew she wasn't the one.  She was very timid, and hardly socializing with the rest of the litter.  We liked the darker color so we eliminated the 3 lights, plus 2 of the light ones appeared to be fairly dominate.  So the medium brown seemed to have the medium personality that we were looking for.  We weren't going to wrong with any of them!  EB was holding one all crocked in her arms and she looked up at her with the sweetest most tolerant face!  EB thinks that is the one we brought home...it actually isn't, but she later held our Auggie in the same way and she did the same thing!  Brandon held her cradled in his arms and covered her head and her tail wagged for 2-3 seconds and then she became totally calm and submissive and I watched her body language and I looked at him and said "that's the one!"  Auggie is a F1B golden doodle.  Her father Buddy is a red toy poodle (a really cool poodle according to my dad, who got to meet him on his scouting visit to the breeders!) and Sonny is her mom who is a golden doodle.  Auggie is 75% poodle an 25% golden retriever.  I wore black pants all day today and you wouldn't know we had a dog!  It is so awesome not having dog hair!

Auggie did great on the ride home.  I was worried about her getting car sick but she was fine.  Elizabeth wanted to hold her the whole time and asked if could start training in the car on the ride home!  EB is all hands on deck with this one!  When we stopped in Springfield I moved to the front seat because I was getting queasy and I held Auggie the rest of the way home.  The kids must have asked four times if they could have her back...I told them no, it was my turn!

Sleep is not plentiful, at least not in our room, which is why after ten minutes of her crying the first night Brandon made himself a bed on the other side of the house! Tonight is night four and I told him I think he should try to sleep in our room again.  Each night she has made progress.  The first night was total flashbacks of having a baby!  She would fall asleep and then cry every half hour...just when I was really getting to sleep good!  The 2nd night was 1.5 hour stretches.  Last night was two 3 hour stretches.  I could do without the 5:30 wake up call, but that's what time B has been going to work, so I just get up with him and face the day!  Last night Auggie curled up with EB for a little pet therapy as she was going to bed.  She was upset about some trade she had promised a friend at school that she wanted to back out of.  She got upset when I  told her she couldn't back out unless it was mutually agreed upon, handed her Auggie and said "here, pet your dog and go to sleep"  Within 10 mins they were both out.  Tonight was Grant's turn.  He had a bedtime meltdown but with Auggie by his side he settled in and they both zonked out!  Now, if only she didn't have to sleep in her kennel at night and could just cuddle with us we would all get some sleep!  But rules are rules and she needs to be in the kennel and learn to like it!  After playing for two hours outside today she was wiped and I think she will rest better tonight (fingers crossed!)

Grant looks like he is 10 in this picture!

She is a doll and looks like a teddy bear.  I am not sure she can see that great, there is so much fur obstructing her view!  She got cold the other day and we wrapped her up and EB held her on her back just like an infant.  We had friends come over and we passed her through 3 people wrapped up like a baby and she was totally content!  We are working hard on her biting inhibition, as those puppy teeth are sharp and her mouth is very exploratory!  She really likes our boots and the new Soggy Doggy rug by the back door - but no damage has been done yet! She responds best to people walking away from her when she misbehaves and given a 2nd or 3rd chance typically self corrects.  It is just as much about training our guests as it is her!  I feel like I have a lecture to give anyone who comes to meet her, but don't want to be "that dog mom!"  (haha! I really don't care, I want an awesomely well behaved dog!)

We aren't sure she knows she is a dog!  She got cold and we wrapped her up like a baby and passed her through 4 people like she was newborn and she didn't stir! 

She is just what our family was missing and she is WELL LOVED!!! I look forward to warmer weather and long walks!! (once we figure the walking on a leash thing out - she thinks that is just fun chew toy!)

She loves to find a pile to curl up and sleep on!