Trooper

Okay, we know we are crazy about our dogs. We love them. Recently we have been teaching them each about being in the house, (meaning) how to stay in the kitchen and go nowhere else...We have been wildly successful with Trooper. He is the best boy. His personality is very calm and I know this sounds incredibly corny, but he actually helps me to feel calm while Steven is gone. (That sentence seems to imply that I things are calm when Steven is home....what the?)

This is the Troopster the first night we brought him home from the shelter. We went to the shelter because we had read about different puppies in the paper, and when we got there they told us they also had a few other puppies that had been tossed out of a car the night before. So, a few short minutes later Steven was holding Trooper and crying. I'll never forget those tears.

Crazy Line. I think she actually taught Trooper how to be calm and submissive. I remember her first few nights visiting the puppies. I couldn't believe how still he was sitting for her, and then I saw how her knuckles were white, and it became clear just how tight she was holding on to him. Since those days, all he wants to do is sit in someones lap and be squeezed. Thanks Line!

Notice the lap sitting? It was fun when he was a baby, but it isn't so comfortable when someone weighs 80 lbs, and has "wandering limbs" and not a lot of finesse about the whole process.

Really stereotypical of Troop. I am constantly tripping over him because he is always right behind me. He is such a good boy and we love him so much.

So, I'm sure some of you are wondering...aren't there more dogs over there? To quote Tim, "Indeed you are correct sir!"

We are still working on the other dogs being in the house. With the baby coming, we are trying to establish that the house is a very calm and quiet sort of place. So, Troop is the best at it, and the others are learning. And let me tell you, it isn't a process you really want to see on film.

We love this guy.