Penny's Here!

 She's here!  She's here!  Penny is here!  It's the day we've all been waiting for (yes, even me!).

I'm writing this blog a few weeks later, we've had Penny for about 3 weeks now and I have to admit two things:

1. Ryan was right about getting a puppy in the summer when the kids can help take care of her, and get to play with her all day long.
2. I said we weren't ready for a puppy just yet, but honestly, she's great.  

I think Penny is going to be much smaller than Copper.  Her Mom was small in stature and based on pictures of Penny at this age vs. Rooster at the same age last summer, I'd say Penny is tiny compared to him!

But, more than bragging about Penny, what I really have to tell you about is to brag about Abby.  Abby was determined, from the day we told her we were getting a puppy that this dog was going to be hers.  That Penny would be her dog, that'd she'd take care of her and raise her and hopefully Penny would love her the most.  Ryan convinced me to just let her try.  So night one (the worst night...the night the puppies cry and cry for the whole night because they miss their families and they miss their moms and they don't understand why they are alone for the first time every) we set up the kennel in Abby's room and left Penny in there for the night.

Abby got up every time Penny cried and took her out to go pee.  She listened to her cry and comforted her from her bed.  And, here we are 3+ weeks later and Penny's cage hasn't moved.  She spend every night in Abby's room.  She's getting up sometimes 3-4 times per night (sometimes she doesn't need to go out at all) and letting this puppy out to pee.  I've done NONE of it....and it's the most amazing thing ever.  I'm so impressed with her commitment and willingness to take care of this puppy.  You could never have convinced me that this would be how it would play out.  

Three weeks in and Penny is getting bigger and more adventurous every day.  Copper is playing with her so nicely and putting up with all her shenanigans.  He's kind and gentle and willing to get down on the ground and play tug of war with her.  I love Goldens so much!  The are the perfect family dog and I don't think anyone is ever going to be able to convince me otherwise.

*A tiny gym puppy

Penny chooses to sleep and relax in some of the funniest poses I've ever seen.  This is one of her preferred positions - she does it all the time.  And then there is the "sploot".  I'll have to grab a photo of it next time, but imagine her back legs laid fully behind her - as if she was a human laying flat on her belly, legs and arms out.  That's exactly how she relaxes.  It's hilarious and I sort of hope she never grows of it.

The back seat is especially full now.  Not sure if the girls will always appreciate having two dogs in the back with them, but while Penny is small, it works out fine!  That's a problem for another day.