Homecoming Day

Oliver at the Richmond International Airport

The weeks leading up to Oliver’s arrival seemed to last for months.  The hour  spent watching his crate sit on the tarmac seemed to last an eternity.   I had taken the red eye out of San Jose on Thursday evening and had flown all night to get to this moment.   I was fortunate to have my super sweet house sitter, dog sitter, former yoga studio employee, Kathleen with me that afternoon.   We watched from the back of my SUV as the plane descended, then landed.  We watched them unload the passengers, the luggage and the crate.  Oliver was the only pet passenger on that flight from Atlanta.  It was so frustrating to be 100 yards from him unable to do anything but wait.   I started to worry about everything.  What’s taking so long? What if something is wrong?  Won’t all that noise hurt his ears?   When the transport vehicle started in our direction, we were like giddy 5 year olds.  When the representative brought him around, he was lying perfectly still and staring forward.  He was stunning.  I opened the door and he hesitantly crawled forward on his belly.    I think I almost squeezed him to death.    He was hungry – which I obliged with lots of treats.  I got a pretty quick return on that investment..on the family room, hallway and kitchen floor J.  He rode quietly in the car and I talked in my best Alabama accent to make him feel at home.    He was so quiet the first night, content to just sit in my lap.  When it was time to go to bed,  he went quietly into his crate and slept all night.  Well, he fussed for about 90 seconds and then he was just quiet. That is a testament to his trainer, Selena, and having already having experienced that at Puppy Prep School.   I was so excited to have him home, I woke him up at 4 a.m. just to hold him and our first full day together had begun.   Oliver has officially come into my life and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Finally Home!

Question: What is your biggest fear about bringing this puppy into your home?

This is one of the questions asked on questionnaire that was sent to me by Smeraglia the week before Oliver began Puppy Prep School.  My answer?  "That I will love him so much, I will never want to go to work again!"  And, I haven't even met him yet!  What is it about these beautiful creatures that makes us fall in love with them and leaves us searching for the words to describe their adorableness...see what I mean?  If you have spent any time on the Smeraglia website, you know for sure that part of it is those glowy, fuzzy, slow motion videos featuring the beautiful Meredith snuggling with a gorgeous little puppy!  Anyone else had tears come to their eyes over one of those or caught yourself with a big silly grin on your face?  How about the  photos with the teddy bears and the big ribbons?  As soon as I saw Oliver in this big blue dotted bow, I knew that I wanted him!  Sherri is brilliant and I love her for bringing these babies to us!

Since I received my video of Oliver's first week in puppy school, I have watched it 1000 times and have invited  friends, business colleagues, even strangers on airplanes to watch it with me.  A fellow future doodle mom, Tracy James, used the term "doodleholic" this week.  She nailed it perfectly.

But it goes beyond that, once the puppies (excuse me..) umm, new family members, arrive at their  homes, it gets better.  These doodle parents are crazy about their doodle babies and have formed a facebook support system like no other.  There is a doodle family out there and you can become a member by bringing one of these heavenly creatures into your life. How awesome is that?

I was struck by something I read on my flight to California yesterday from a book entitled "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know" by Alexandra Horowitz.  It is on the NY Times Best Seller list.  She was talking about her beloved dog, Pumpernickel.   I dedicate this out to all of the doodle families and anyone who has ever loved a dog with all your heart because you will totally get this.

"It was our way of interacting together that made her who she was, that makes dogs that most people want to live with:  interested in our goings and comings, attentive to us, not overly intrusive, playful at just the right times.  She interpreted the world through acting on it, by seeing others act, by being shown, and by acting with me on the world - promoted into being a good member of the family.  And the more time we spent together, the more she became who she was and the more we were intertwined".

Oh and by the way, to my boss, if you are reading this.  I promise to come back to work!

Oliver and his trainer, Selena.

Four Dogs? In THIS house?

Oliver G. Doodle is a 10 week old English Teddy Bear Goldendoodle who currently resides in Robertsdale, Alabama.  He will be flying to Richmond to live with me in his new home in 5 days and I am ecstatic.   I have been nesting for 2 weeks.  Yes, nesting - just like I did when my son was born almost 22 years ago.  I have cleaned, organized, put the yard in order, shopped for toys, collars, leashes,beds, crates, and everything that a new puppy might need (and some things that he doesn't) .  I  have even had the carpets cleaned.  I know, carpets cleaned before bringing a new puppy home?  The last thing the carpet cleaner said to me was "Four Dogs?  In this house? - Here's my card, you're gonna need it".  Let me explain...

Leo, the 12 year old husky mix, has been part of our family since we rescued him at 6 months old.  He is the sweetest boy that ever existed.  He has had ACL surgery on both back legs and suffers from a bit of arthritis.  He has the most laid back personality EVER and will be the daddy figure/mentor to my new addition. 

Chloe, the 13 pound, 8 year old schnauzer mix is a silly little girl with a bit of neurosis. There is really no way to describe her.  She is much like that "weird" family member that shows up for Thanksgiving dinner.  I always tell people that she is like a cat...quite aloof.  Then she tells them that I lie by snuggling with them when they come by the house. 

Sydney, the 6 month old yellow lab was an angel sent to us in May of this year to help my son heal after he experienced a terrible tragedy.  She lives with my son who is completing his senior year in college. He attends a private, all boys college and she is the princess of  Theta Chi Nu.  Her "uncles" are ensuring that she is spoiled every day and that no "beer" ever touches her pretty little mouth. 

So, technically, there will only be four of them in the house periodically.  But I don't care.  I love them all.  They each bring me joy in their own way. 

The summer spent raising Sydney with my son brought me unbelievable happiness.  I actually made the time to play, I took that long walk each morning that I have been promising to do for myself for years.  I met more of my neighbors this summer than in the 6 years I have lived in my home - a cute puppy has a way of bringing people together. I took lunchtime walks and stopped working at a reasonable hour for a change.    I belly laughed every single day.  When she left for school with Cody, I made the decision, with Jack's encouragment and support, to bring a new puppy into my life.   Jack is my significant other who lives in New Orleans and serves as an Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.  That is where my search began.

Extensive reseach led me to www.teddybeargoldendoodles.com and that is where I first spotted the handsome "Latte Blue Dot".  Smeraglia regularly posts videos of these amazing creatures and I couldn't stop watching the one with Oliver and his litter mates.  He was so funny...while the puppies romped and played, he just sat around in the background, munching on some unknown "treat" in the grass.  You can see it for yourself at:
http://vimeo.com/47874014

I was hooked and made the call.  After speaking with Heather, one of the "doodle specialists" at Smeraglia,  I decided to bring him home.  "Latte" was Oliver's mother's name.  "Blue Dot" was the color of his ribbon which identified him from his littermates.  After many lists, advice from friends and lost sleep, I decided to name him Oliver G. Doodle, after his beautiful father, Sir Oliver and in honor of his breed - the goldendoodle.  Seriously, could you have resisted that face?  The adventure is about to begin...and I can't wait!