mackenzie's big brother

I really enjoy my new home with my new Mommy and Daddy. It has been awhile and I have learned so much. I have made so many new friends since I moved here, too. I met my new Grandparents on my Daddy's side. They take care of my new best friend and uncle. His name is Uncle Baxter. He is part Beagle and part Yellow Lab (we think). He really works me hard when I go over to his house to play. Sometimes, I just want to relax and he seems to never run out of energy! I adore my Grandma. She will pet me and cuddle with me whenever I want her to. I see them two to three times a week. But, guess what? Uncle Baxter comes over to play with me at my house, too. Daddy and Grandpa finally got my fence up. I don't need to be on that leash, anymore. It seemed silly that Mommy and Daddy had to watch me go potty. I mean, who really wants to see that, anyway? Since my new parents have been great to me, I have been trying to please them. Mommy taught me some new tricks and I think they are fun. Daddy thinks that they are cool. I already knew how to sit, so Mommy felt pretty silly trying to teach me that trick. But, now I know how to lie down, roll over and I just learned to shake. I can do all of those with only the sound of her voice AND/OR the hand gestures. Mommy taught me to sing, too. My sister, MacKenzie giggles when I sing. Otherwise, I am very quiet and laid back. Even the dogs that live around me don't bother me. I must say, though, that yappy dogs make me want to take off after them. I don't know if it's the sound of their voices, or just that they look like rabbits.

Speaking of rabbits. I learned the bunny path in our front yard. I can never find that bunny until its too late and he takes of into the neighbor's yard. I would catch those silly animals if only Mommy would take the leash off.

After trying to hunt the rabbits, Mommy takes MacKenzie and me for a walk. I think we walk about two miles every other day. On the more humid days, we take shortcuts. I learned to walk beside the stroller and NOT in front of it. After our walk, I drink water by the gallon. I can finish a five-cup bowl of water in one sitting. Mommy and Daddy started to take my water away after 7PM because I drank way too much and I started to wake up at 3AM to go potty. Now, I can sleep through the night again (and so can Mommy and Daddy).

The evening is very relaxing. While Mommy and Daddy are busy with getting MacKenzie ready for bed, I just hang out by the couch and try to find that darned squeaker in my sheepskin bone. I love to chew rawhide, and I quickly learned that MacKenzie does, too. Luckily, Mommy and Daddy take my bones away from her. On special occasions, Mommy will give me a pig's ear. I become very overprotective and I have even snapped at my parents when I thought they were taking it away from me. I am learning to be calmer while eating my pig's ear. That's the only time I have ever misbehaved. And that is why I don't get the pig's ear very often.

My Mommy and Daddy have given me a HUGE responsibility. It really makes me feel important. The job isn't really that hard. I would call it fun and relaxing. My new job is to watch over and play with my new sister, MacKenzie. When she cries, I run to her to make sure that she is okay. MacKenzie is crawling and she is really starting to get into things. Since Daddy is at work, I need to help Mommy out. I follow MacKenzie everywhere. She massages my back and my jowls. Sometimes she pulls too hard and I just give her a warning growl. MacKenzie knows to back off a little. MacKenzie does silly things, too, and I really don't understand them. She LOVES to chase my tail and there is something about my collar tags. MacKenzie keeps trying to put them in her mouth. YUCK!! I mean, who knows where those tags have been? 

All in all, my new life here has been a great experience. I hear it will get better, too. There is talk of a new doggy brother or sister. I am very excited!!

-- Willy