Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Another lag between posts....

Well, I am happy to report that my black hair is much lighter, not the best choice I have made with regard to hair colour.  Especially since my lovely white hair underneath began to grow in within a couple of weeks.  So we (my hairdresser and I) have decided that my lid would benefit from some highlights, so we are back to dark and red.  Oh the drama....

I was thinking about this blog the other day, and I don't think I have formally introduced the newest addition to our family to my readership (yeah, that's right - my massive readership.  All five of you). 

Awhile ago Ken and I decided that having a dog would be good for the family.  I don't go back to my job for awhile yet (I took a leave of absence shortly after Renee was born, and I'll get back to work once she is in school), so by the time I do go back we figured the puppy would be well trained.  We spent a bit of time looking online and at rescue agencies, and finally found some puppies that we were interested in.  We filled out the application, and waited.  And waited.  Finally someone got back to us via e-mail and told us that because we were a young family, they wouldn't give us a dog.  Never mind that we have a fully fenced yard, and that I would be home full time.  Apparently (according to them) I don't know how much work having a dog is.  Needless to say I wasn't impressed.  YES I do know how much work a dog is, and I would make sure that he would be properly trained.  So basically I told them the kiss MY ass.

We then found an interesting litter through another rescue.  Eight puppies who looked like they each had a different dad.  There were dogs that looked like shepards, some that looked like golden labs, and some that had rottie colouring.  So again, we applied, and waited.  The rescue got back to us and told us that they wanted to meet us at our house for an "inspection".  Honestly, having kids was much easier than all this!

So two lovely ladies (and one lovely very large dog) came to our house.  Everything went really well.  The kids loved the big dog, and they all loved our yard.  We were approved!  They even had one of the dogs picked for us.  When they told us that he was essentially a big dumb dog with not as much energy as the rest of the litter we were sold.  They told us that he had a lovely personality and liked to sleep in his dog dish.  Even better.

The next week we got our puppy.  All 20 lbs of fuzz.  The kids were in love. 

The name he was given by the foster mom was "Bentley", and we decided to keep that name.  Totally suits him.  Overall, he has been a very easy dog.  Nowhere near as hard as the kids. 

He does have an easygoing personality, and loves almost everyone, except the mean old Russian lady who lives behind us - every time he hears her voice he runs to the fence and barks.  He doesn't do that with her husband or her grown kids, just her.  Weird. 

Check out his paws. Like I said, he is now 90 lbs and just growing into them. In this photo he was still a mere 30ish lbs or so...




Bentley is very protective of Renee - I guess because he has spent so much time with her, as she is attached to me 24/7.  It is a great relationship though, and Renee loves him to bits.  And no, he hasn't finished growing....