Duke

Exciting news in the Zorio household...our family grew by four paws in June!  

The kids have been wanting a dog for FURever (see what I did there?).  They have been very sweet about it without begging, but we were very aware of their desire for a furry friend.  After much, much thought and conversation we finally decided to take the plunge and adopt a puppy.  We did a lot of looking, and came across a litter of pups that a reputable local rescue called A New Leash on Life had up for adoption.  They were only 6 weeks old at the time, so they would be ready for adoption in 2 weeks. The mom dog was a stray who had had 6 puppies in a barn.  We fell in love with Duke (and his mom too honestly). We thought if Duke could be as sweet as his Mom who had been a stray until just a few weeks ago and now loved people, then we would be thrilled. 

We went to meet Duke at the foster family's home when he was just six weeks old. These are pictures from that visit...

So tiny, fluffy, and sweet.  He wanted to be near his Mama but was perfectly content with us holding and snuggling him too. The kids were in love instantly. The foster family took this picture of us with him.

We decided we would adopt him. We would have to wait two more weeks though until he was 8 weeks old.  That was okay though because we were about to go to the beach, so we would pick him up the day after we returned from Florida and he would be 8 weeks. 

This meant that ALLLLL the kids talked about at the beach was what we should name him. They came up with this plan that we make a big list of all the names we liked.  These are some of the names that made the list: Harvey, Ace, Weston, Buddy, Rocky, Webber, Sparky, Maddox, Huck, Ryder, Apollo, Captain, Duke, Archer, Ranger, Scout, Tucker, Ollie, Winston, Remmy. The kids then narrowed it down to Harvey, Ace, Buddy, Duke, and Scout.  They came up with this plan that when we talked about him any time for one whole day we had to call him by the specific name of the day...and let me tell you they were talking about him all the time! So they quickly knew which names they got tired of saying and which they liked.  They all easily agreed on the name Duke at the end of the week. They all liked it best.

Then we came home from the beach and began getting ready for our puppy!  We bought a big kennel for him to sleep in at night that he can grown into. It looks huge now though!

Just because I wanted to remember what Duke's Mom looked like so we can see how much he looks like her as he grows the picture above is his mom, Bonnie.

Another picture of his Mom, Bonnie.

When we got home from the beach the kids and I made Duke this doggie bed.  We also went shopping and purchased toys, treats, dog food, and other necessities.

The car ride home with our Duke dog!

Sleepy puppy

We took a blanket to the foster family's house when we adopted Duke. We rubbed the fleece blanket on the Mama dog so it would have her scent. We had read this helps calm puppies as they are separated from their Mom and litter.  Here is Duke snuggled on his Mama blanket as soon as we got him home.

The kids were in love.

Duke was so happy to be right beside all the kids from day 1...even if they were busy doing something else and not paying much attention to him.

Duke

What a good dog he is?!

When he gets sleepy he crates himself and sleeps in his crate with the door open...or his paw hanging out.

A girl and her dog.

Duke managed to get the little container of training treats. He was pretty happy with himself even though he didn't get it opened.  We used these training treats to house break him and he was AMAZING! He only ever had 5 accidents total...so easy to housebreak.

He doesn't want for attention.

I had said he wouldn't be allowed on the furniture....well, here he is snuggling on the couch.

How can you not snuggle this cute puppy on the couch though!?

The kids love buying him toys.  He's a good dog and doesn't shred them. He just carries them around and plays.

Duke really is the easiest dog I could imagine. He's playful, but content to crate himself and rest. He loves the kids and is infinitely patient. He looks for one of us when we aren't all 6 together.  They said he's part border collie so maybe this is his herding instinct.  I'm not sure what else he is...maybe part jack russell with the shape of his face? Maybe part springer with his curly tail and spots on his legs? We aren't really sure and the vet wasn't either, but it doesn't matter to us.  He's a sweet, fun puppy. 

The kids couldn't be happier! I'm so glad that we decided to finally adopt a puppy. They are in love.  I barely do anything for Duke, as the kids do all of his feeding and taking him in and outside for bathroom breaks. They've been so responsible with him.  It really has been a joy for them, us, and watching them love this sweet little pup!

I forgot to mention that when we adopted him he was 8.5 pounds.  His mother fully grown was 24 pounds.  I'm just saving this info here so I can look back on it when he's fully grown.