Buddy Update

A lot of you have asked how Buddy is doing. Minus the infamous peeing incident, he's doing really well and has surprised us with how well he is trained – even knowledge of a few special commands, like "high 5." He generally minds very well and lives to please us, but can be stubborn on occasion when he doesn't want to do something. If other people or other dogs are around, forget about it. It's like he has no ears to hear what we're saying. He seems to especially like little girls - when our niece Miss H came over for the first time to see him, he made a beeline for her immediately from across the yard. He also loves the little neighbor girl next door, in addition to the lady cocker spaniel next door. I guess he’s just a ladies’ man!

He also loves to sit by the big bay window in the livingroom and watch whatever is going on outside. He also likes to take walks with me and is getting a lot better at not tugging on the leash. A tennis ball can entertain him for hours, and we've gotten into a good routine of dropping it, sitting on signal, and retrieving. He will also purposely push it under the recliner in the family room, just so he can paw at it and get it out. Apparently that’s fun for him, not so fun for the person sitting in the chair!

Buddy loves to be with us, and any people for that matter. He adores attention and isn't shy in "asking" for it (i.e. nudging our hands or elbows). If he has a choice he will usually hang out near me, unless he knows I am mad; then he’ll sulk and give me the sad eyes (he’s good at that). Husband was sick this past weekend, and it seemed that Buddy knew something was wrong, as he parked himself outside the bedroom door where Husband was sleeping. When I got home from running some errands, Husband had moved to the couch and there was Buddy, snoozing on the floor right next to him. Very cute.

We visited the vet and he seems to be in great health. He weighs 52 pounds and apparently that is perfect. He does still have a bit of the sneezes, so we are watching that. It’s probably an allergy, because a bit of Benadryl seems to help (who knew dogs could have Benadryl?) The vet bought into the bulldog/shepherd mix, but said he may also have a bit of Labrador in him, by the way he was wagging his tail. Apparently Labs have “happy tails,” and that is definitely Buddy.

Overall he's a very sweet boy and loves anyone who will scratch his ears. I really look forward to getting home at the end of the day, because there he is, wagging his tail so hard his little butt shakes. He has brought a lot of happiness and laughter to our home.

I just wish I could get this song out of my head.