It's hard to believe, but today makes one year since Poppy came to live with us! She was so tiny and sweet when we first met her. For the first week she lived with us we wondered if she was somehow physically unable to bark, that's how quiet and meek she was. She was just a baby.
What a change since then! She's gone from 24 to 57 pounds (much bigger than we expected her to get) and now she loves to run along the fence barking at any people that come onto or go past our property. When strangers come into our house, especially men, she gets very protective and raises hell and acts mean. When the pest control guy comes over, I have to make her go outside, she acts up so bad! But with people she knows, she's super loving and loyal. She recognizes our friends' cars, and when they come over, she's wagging and whining with excitement before they can even shut off the engine. She loves meeting new people (as long as they're not plumbers or workmen coming into our home) and she really loves meeting other dogs. She's sweet and endearing with us. Every night of her life she sleeps curled up tight against the backs of my legs, and every morning when we all wake up (George sleeps at the foot of the bed) she crawls up to my pillow to say hello and snuggle for a minute before getting up.
The best part of Poppy coming to live with us, though, is what it's done for George. He's absolutely in love with her! She's always ready to play with him and he eats it up. As much as he loved Ginger, she was older and not nearly so inclined to play, at least not very often. I also think he was sadder and lonelier than we realized after Ginger died. Since Poppy came it's like he's got a whole new lease on life! They're great friends and George often acts like a puppy again himself around her. It's been wonderful to see how much happier he is now that he has a canine bestie again!
Happy Gotcha Day, Peapop! We love you!
