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.