I looked at the Sun classifieds online and found a puppy. Not from a breeder or rescue group but a 5 month old from a couple that couldn’t keep up with her when their scheduled changed. I was really suprised that I was the first to call, she was so cute in the ad. She was a bit more pricey ($500 to the $300-$350 the rescue groups wanted) than we were expecting BUT she came with a year’s worth of heartguard, a crate, food, bowls, toys, a bed AND all of her shots are done (even the second round of puppy shots) all of which would have cost us more than $200 to buy on our own and we didn’t have to drive to NJ or Tennessee to pick her up like we would have if we got one of the other puppies we applied for. Which is a savings in itself-no gas, no tolls, no hotel.

When we went to see her she seemed thrilled to meet us and was very snuggly and playful. She has such a personality. And she was very alert and not a barker! We haven’t heard her bark yet. The owners seemed nice and there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with her that would make them give her up but they do shift work and wouldn’t be home for her.  I think they underestimated how much work a puppy is. At least they had the sense to give her up!

 Her name was Sadie, but we are changing it to….Pippi Longbody. I know, I know! I wanted Olive but Matt said she looked like a Pippi so we chose that. She is really is a pip.

 On to more interesting bits, she is so cute. I think she going to be on the small side of the doxie scale, she’s about 8 lbs right now. She barely puts any pressure on you when she sits on your lap or puts her paw on you. I think the previous owners must of carried her everywhere because she constantly wants to get picked up, but I am already breaking her of that habit. I’ll carry her up and down the steps but she can walk on the floor by herself! Anyway, so far she isn’t getting into anything or chewing so I am hoping she is past her teething stage-5 months should be at the tail end of that. My mom gave us Patches’ old leash and two tiny dog beds that are just right. Right now she is on one staring at me and wagging her tail.

 Bedtime was a little tricky, we kept her in the crate so she didn’t get into anything and while she seems love playing in her crate and according to the previous owners, normally sleeps in it (although I think with it open in a secured room) she cried until we turned off the lights and fell asleep. At least she didn’t cry all night but she hasn’t figured out how mornings work. She was too excited to eat this morning (and we can’t leave food out all day because of the other dogs-read: Elvis) and then didn’t want to go back to sleep (as is our routine, Matt does all of the morning dog stuff while I am still in bed) when he brought the dogs back up to bed at 6:20 AM. So I am up super early! Ugh. Now she is perfectly quiet. Once we know she won’t destroy the place, we can stop crating her at night. So far she is pretty active-all of the pictures I took of her look like a giant blur but she does settle down and leave you alone and does her own thing. She is very smart and alert and has been very politely sniffing and exploring the house and not getting in to things.  Elvis and Violet seem to like her quite a bit, they’ve all been playing together and running around in the yard and they were quite patient when she was still sniffing in the yard and they wanted to go in. She is just so tiny next to them.

The weirdest thing is that for some reason she is scared to go in the kitchen. She will walk just inside the doorway  but then back up into the dining room or living room. I don’t know why. Doesn’t like the checkered floor? The slight hum from the Aerogarden or refrigerator? Knows that THH messed up the floor, cabinets and countertops? Very odd and unfortunate as the backdoor is located in the kitchen and that is the only way to get to the yard.

So, I am staying home today with her (possibly to never go back, we are doing the budget, with Matt’s recent raise he is making roughly the same amount extra each month as I was working part time with my paltry salary and my car has like one more payment on it and he is scheduled for his promotion April 1 which should have a raise attached to it). Plus I am doing the new ads on the blog which should pay well and a regular column in this local magazine that pays okay and is every other month which is all new income.

 Tomorrow I have a lunch with a book agent (!) so Pippi will have to be home alone then. Crated? Secured in one room? But I think it will work out.

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