Meet Leo

 

This handsome little guy is the newest addition to my brother and sister in-law’s household. Although in a slightly different order (and perhaps a little faster), Adam and Alex seem to be following a similar life path to that of myself and my husband. Four years of dating, the purchase of a house, an engagement, a wedding, and then along comes Leo with the introduction to the puppy years.

I know from experience that long before the glow of a wedding wears off, the flood gates open up to questions about babies and grandchildren. When? How many? How far apart? The list is endless. I do’s are said and future Nana’s and Grandmas start waiting with bated breath.  Adam and Alex, in a sheer stroke of genius, came home from their honeymoon talking about puppies. We’ll see how long this holds them off.

Owning a puppy, in my opinion, is an excellent introduction to parenthood. Financially and otherwise, there are many similarities – although it is often frowned upon to cage children for an extended period of time, feed them from a dish off the floor, or take them outside to pee. The lack of sleep and training that follows bringing a puppy home is shockingly the same. Inevitably, you will find your iPhones, Instagram, Facebook and conversations filling up with stories and images of your adorable little puppy and their impossible cuteness. Leo is exceptional (says the proud Aunt). He is unbelievably cute and quite possibly the smartest puppy I’ve ever met. Six months old and he can already sit, lie down, and roll over. There’s a video on Instagram to prove it.

I come from a large family of dog lovers. I was raised to believe that they are more than animals, they are members of the family. As such, we believe that we owe it to them to go above and beyond for their overall health and wellbeing. When it comes to these values in particular, Adam and Alex haven’t missed a beat. A little less than two months ago this little family had a huge scare. What started as a snack shared between two dogs resulted in a trip to the emergency vet for Leo; broken bones, countless stiches, and thousands of dollars. They almost lost this little guy.

As you can see from these photos, recent events haven’t slowed this little guy down. Leo spent Easter morning at Nana’s, barrel racing through her vegetable garden. Like my kids, he has quickly become well versed in what he is able to get away with under the watch of an adoring grandparent. I suspect this accident, combined with his adorable looks and sweet temperament, will provide him with much behavioral wiggle room for a long time to come.