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my new home

almost a year!

Well--I'm almost a year old And what a great year it has been! I've made lots of new friends and really enjoy my family! I've grown up to almost 60 lbs! Mom says I'm petite, and maybe I am, but I have a very big dog bark for when the mail carrier comes! I let me family know when the mail arrives...and when the garbage is being picked up...and when there is another dog walking by....and when there are children outside playing...and when I know I hear squirrels in the yard...But usually I am very quiet. Really! I am very good at watching over my family's house and yard and when I can, I follow mom and sister everywhere. Afterall, we are a pack.

growing up

In another two months, I will be full grown! I haven't been to the vet in a long time, but mom thinks I am about 75 pounds. Some days she says I'm so big and other days, she says I'm so little. I don't know if I am big or little, I just know that I am Leila and I love to run & play! We have had some changes in our house since the weather got cooler--my playmate/sister is back in school and mom is back at work. That means I am by myself ALL DAY! I don't mess in the house and don't chew on stuff I'm not supposed to...except the wood from the bin by the fireplace. Shredding that wood occupies the time that I would normally be hanging around my people. It is also more fun to chew than my bones sometimes. Mom says not to chew the wood--that I have a job to do. My job is to watch the house and I am very good at it! I let my people know when the mailman comes and when ever a dog walks past our house. I found that if I sit on the 4th step, I can see PERFECTLY out the window and down the block--Then I can give a LOT of warning that another dog is approaching! When I am lonely, I sit by our newest pet--the rescued parakeet. We talk a lot to each other. On weekends, my family takes me to a dog park now so I can run and play. I love to play chase with the other dogs and run through the fields! this growing up comes with a lot of responsibility but it is also a lot of fun!

my little buddy goes home

For the past two and a half weeks, I have had the most adorable and yet annoying little brother following me around. He's cute and akward and loves to play...but sometimes I am not in the mood to play. My mom says that that is when I play too rough with the little guy and then she separates us. Mom says I do a good job training him,though. I groom him and keep him in the yard. I am TRYING to teach him house manners but I think he might be slow. Mom says he's doing fine...but I still think he's slow. And he is, too, because he can't catch me when I take my toys from him and run around the yard! Mom says it is because he's just a baby...but I know he's just slow. And he eats my food. And he steals my toys. And he gets the attention that I used to get. But I love him. I do. When he cries at night, I lay down next to his crate. And when he gets upset, I give him kisses. When he's happy I give him kisses too. He really is cute. The other day, one of our neighbors wanted to walk with him and I became very upset. My tail went down and I lowered my body and my ears, keeping every second of my eyes on him. When he came back, I wagged my tail so hard and kissed my little buddy! I tucked him under me with my paws. I was so glad he was alright!!!!
But now he's gone. I knew he was leaving but I didn't know it would be so hard to see him go. I tried to scare off the family that wanted him...but I could tell that he belonged with them. After he left, I paced the house all night looking for him....expecting him to jump out like when we play hide and seek around the big tree. But I know he's not here anymore. I miss my little buddy. He was like a little brother, my own puppy, and my best friend. I love him and hope that he is happy happy happy in his new home.