The Newest Member of Our Family

For the past few months, we have been in search of a dog. We had pretty specific wants - a small to medium dog, older (aka already house trained) and good with kids. One of Ray's clients rescues dogs, and ultimately, this is where we got Tootles...(not the best picture, Ray was taking them...)We think Tootles is a full breed Dachshund, but we aren't sure, and it doesn't really matter. She is a great dog, doesn't bark, good with Ashley and Audrey, small and doesn't really shed.

And this is Ashley's first reaction.

Ashley is used to one of our neighbors dogs who is big and jumps on her all the time. Ashley warmed up quickly though. And Audrey? Watching her with the dog is hilarious. She goes from sheer joy to excitement to terrified to mad in the matter of a few seconds. She is so excited about the dog, but then we the dog puts her paws on her, she gets a little scared. And then she wants Tootles to just sit so she can pet her, and when Tootles doesn't, she gets pissed. She spent much of the first evening with Tootles chasing her through the house yelling "DOG, DOG, WAIT". It was quite cute.

Tootles is definitely a lap dog. She wants to be on someone at all times. And we were told she likes to sleep with people. Ashley wanted Tootles to sleep with her the first night, so she made a bed out of blankets on her floor. Ray went to read Ashley books, and Tootles got a little excited and ended up peeing on Ashley's blankets. I asked Ashley if she wanted Tootles to sleep with her when Ray was done reading to her, and her answer was an emphatic no. I think she was worried Tootles would pee on her. So Tootles slept with Ray and I, or rather me, as she slept on me most of the night. Then last night she slept more with Ray, which was nice since the dog had gas...ah, to be a pet owner again...