We’ve got Gaston, our standard poodle, and he’s 5 years old. The thing is, he’s a hefty 70 pounds, so he can be a bit tough to handle. That’s why we started talking about getting a puppy last year, one that’s way smaller than Gaston.

Hubby kept going to pet stores and telling me that he found one. They usually cost $3000 or more when he found them. We can’t go to the pound because of his allergies. He has to have a purebred hypoallergenic dog.

Come December, he is looking at dogs instead of doing what he was supposed to be doing. He came across this one breeder from the Amish country area. We were cautious because sometimes they run puppy mills. However, when we got there, we felt comfortable. He immediately ran over to our other dog and began chasing him. As soon as we got into the car, he began licking me as though he was giving his stamp of approval.

As soon as Pongo showed up in our lives, it felt like he’d always been part of the family. On his first day home, we got hit with a big snowstorm, which totally gave us a chance to bond. Then Christmas break rolled around just a week later, so we kept bonding some more. But honestly, did we need that much bonding? He’s like my shadow now, just following me everywhere, and I love giving him the comfort he craves.

Now my mission is to give him experiences as we explore around the area we live in. We have done 4 trail walks and one scenic overlook walk. He has not learned trail etiquette yet. He loves to bark at EVERYONE he meets, except for when I pick him up. Then he calms down.

AsI’mm writing this, he is staring at me. I’m surprised he has not jumped onto my lap, disrupting my work. We call him Pongo the Pogo stick for a reason. He jumps up with an ease that I wish I had.

I’ll share his adventures with you.

Five things to know about Pongo:

1. He’s a professional relocator of wayward shoes and socks – a real foot traffic coordinator!
2. He’s not just a regular dog; he’s a professional item-finder extraordinaire! We’re crossing our fingers he can track down that elusive car key—who knew keys could play hide and seek so well?
3. He absolutely relishes those lazy Saturday mornings when he can pretend I’m his personal heating pad, snuggling on my lap like a furry potato!
4. He absolutely adores wrestling with Gaston, and let me tell you, it’s a riot! His wrestling technique? He leaps at Gaston like a flying squirrel on a caffeine rush!
5. He whines like a toddler on a shopping trip as he trails behind Gaston, who struts ahead like he owns the place. Remarkably, our hero manages to wait for Gaston, as if he’s an over-enthusiastic fan waiting for an encore from a rock star!

Have a blessed week,
Traci