Introducing Luna!

We got a puppy on Saturday!  This seemingly sudden decision was actually a really long time in the making.  The kids have been asking for a dog for a long time now--years, for sure!  I have always said, "Not until I am all done potty training!", and that kept things at bay for quite some time, lol.  But Verity was potty-trained last summer, thus ending over 20 years of diapers, so that criteria was done.

At that point, however, we were contemplating taking a space-a trip over to Germany to visit our friends the C's in February, and I knew we did not want to have to deal with what to do with a dog, especially since we had no idea how much time it would take us to get out or get back.  We did end up making the trip, which was amazing, and I was indeed relieved that we weren't worrying about a dog.  It was bad enough worrying about our bunny Mocha!

By then, however, we knew we were moving to Ohio in the summer, since Bob had actually started working out here in January.  And who wants to deal with a new dog *and* a move??  Not me!  So again, we put it off.  But the thought of getting a dog was a big incentive for the kids to want to move, especially since we ended up giving away Mocha (to a wonderful fellow homeschooling family who are taking fabulous care of him!).  So we have been praying for God to bring the right dog into our life for a long time!

Bob had joined a local area "pet classifieds" facebook group this summer, and he had noticed that someone local was selling a litter of 10 Newfoundland puppies who had been born on July 15.  We talked about it, but we didn't move on it right away.  The girls and I had to go back to VA for a meet, and it just didn't seem like the right timing.  But then last week the guy posted that he still had 3 puppies left, and so Bob and I decided to go see them.  We've always liked big dogs--when we were stationed in Colorado, we had a lab/malamute cross as well as a Great Pyrenees--and we had actually tried to adopt a Newfie from the pound before we got them, but someone else was ahead of us.  I knew that Newfies tend to have a really steady temperament  and are really good with kids, which obviously was important to us. 

So Bob and I went over to this guy's house Friday night without any kids.  The puppies were so cute, and the parents were really nice.  The dad wasn't as big as the Newf that friends of ours in VA have, and neither parent was very barky or jumpy.  The mom didn't bark at all, even when we rang the doorbell and she saw us looking in a window!  We decided to take the plunge, so we came home to order a ton of dog-related stuff on Amazon.  We came back the next day, Saturday, Oct. 6, and we picked out a gray female we named Luna!

She looks black here, but she really is a little lighter than that.  The hair on her head is really neat--it's almost frosted a lighter shade at the tips.  I've never seen anything like it, and I don't know if it will stay that way, but it's really pretty!  She also has a white blaze on her front, and on the front of her 2 back paws.

This girl is about the most chill puppy you can imagine!  She is not the stereotypical "inquisitive puppy looking for mischief and getting into everything" at all.  We haven't let her into the carpeted areas of the house, which means she just stays in our kitchen/dining room area.  We have 2 sets of 70's-era doors that close off this area from the rest of the main level, but even if they aren't closed, she just sticks around in the dining room, mainly.  She's very happy napping under our big table, and so far she has only tried to chew on Micah's croc!

She doesn't jump all over you or nip or anything.  She's been great for Verity, who was definitely the most scared of dogs in general, especially dogs who jump up on her.  The family we got her from had several kids, so she is very used to kids, which is good, lol.  She occasionally will mouth your hand or arm as you pet her, but we're working on that, and she's really gentle.

The only problem so far (other than house training, which she is improving in, but we can't wait until she can go through the night, and she doesn't have any more day time accidents, lol) is that she really is not a fan of walks. She loves our yard and will romp around there quite happily with the kids--but she has no desire to leave it ever!  When we try to walk her around the park behind our house, she is so reluctant.  She pulls backward on her leash, and tries to just flop down and not move.  We've started giving her those little training treats to get her to walk at all!  I've never seen a less curious dog! 

When we actually get to the playground, which is at the opposite end of the park from our house, she enjoys seeing people there and being petted.  But after a little bit, she is pulling on the leash to go back to our house.  She has like a built-in compass, and she always knows which way to go to get to our house!  We've taken her out to the street in front of our house, and she dislikes that even more because of the occasional car.  So far we've made it all the way to the end of our next-door neighbor's house, lol.  I was really looking forward to walks with a dog, so hopefully she will get over this quickly!  Now it is just an exercise in frustration because it takes forever for us to make just one lap around the park (which is only 1/3 mile!)! 

I think part of the problem is that the breeder guy was a little overwhelmed with all the puppies.  He told Bob they weren't expecting to have puppies, although I mean, he had a male and a female, so you'd think he would not have been shocked, lol.  But anyway, they didn't *do* anything with them (other than handle them, which is definitely super important!), like take them anywhere or even take them on any walks or anything.  So I think that is contributing to her timidity in new places.   Also, she's now 12 weeks old, so we did miss a good part of the window where she is open to new experiences.  We are trying to remedy that by doing a lot, like not giving up on walks!  We've also visited Petsmart, and tonight we took her to Sonic with us while we ate.  If you are local and want to meet her, stop by!  Or we'll come visit you, lol.  New experiences!!

So Luna is settling into our family quite well, and the kids are thrilled with her!  She really is such a sweetheart, and I am so glad for a quiet, calm puppy.  Now if we can just get her to like walks . . .