Happy Gotcha Day Dylan (yesterday!)

I can’t believe it’s been five whole years! I adopted Dylan 5 years ago yesterday. I picked him out and my friend payed his adoption fee as an early Christmas gift! I’d wanted a dog for years but had no idea what I was getting myself into with a young puppy! I loved him from the moment I saw him (despite the fact that he was trying to hump my arm while I was doing his adoption paperwork). The pic above was taken the day after I got him. He was SO tiny I just can’t believe it. Look at that toy and how big it is compared his tiny little body!!

It’s amazing to me how much life has changed since that day. In only five years, I’ve become a dog nut and feel quite competent when it comes to handling most animals. In five years, I have grown up a lot and actually understand the responsibility of being the sole provider for another being. In five years, my boy has accomplished so many things and overcome so many of his fears and behavioral issues!

I was looking at him yesterday and realized he’s got a few grays coming into his muzzle. That makes me get a bit teary eyed and I can’t beleive he’s aging so quickly. He’s still a strong and wild boy though and I am sure he will be for years to come! I really think he is in his prime! He’s finally old enough that he doesn’t mind sleeping 22 hours a day. He’s mature enough to be able to focus and work with me and physically capable of doing all the things that he loves. He’s in great shape and I hope that will be the case for the next 20 years (although I do know that’s a fantasy!

Sometimes, I can barely remember the life I had before he came around. I think the reality is, there’s a lot I want to forget and Dylan helped me learn to move forward, grow up, and leave a lot of things behind! I’m happy these days and I attribute that a lot to him! He came into my life at such a critical time and was the reason I was able to become the person I am today!

We are having a lazy day today and Dylan has been in BED all day! He got up to go potty this morning then got up a few hours ago to sleep. Each time he went back to the exact same spot he had been sleeping before! Right now he is having REM sleep and one of his eyes is halfway open! It’s kind of creepy but I am glad he is doing what he enjoys! Wish it weren’t raining out today so we could go out and do some things while I have the day off!

Dylan is not going to be happy to find out that his only gotcha day gift is going to be seeing the vet for a dental cleaning. Hope he understand that spending the money there is the best gift I could give him since it will keep him healthy! It’s his second cleaning in 5 years because the stinker gets bad plaque build up and is just too terrified of the toothbrush for regular brushing!

I love this little pickle more than anything! I’ve been feeling jealous lately as he has bonded with Paul so well. I know that he is my boy though and always will be! There’s just no way he could ever be anyone else’s dog!

Here are some pics of him doing the things that he loves! Happy Gotcha Day Dylan!