Let’s start with my first born - Ringo turned six a few weeks ago! Part of me can’t believe it’s already been six years and another part can’t remember life without that crazy guy.
Ringo is the first cattle dog I’ve ever had and honestly the first one I’ve ever been around. When I announced that we were getting him almost six years ago a couple people with cattle dogs left warnings about how crazy they can be. They weren’t kidding. He’s definitely a handful…although it’s gotten A LOT easier as he gets older. I love Ringo very much, but I don’t think I’d ever get another cattle dog and wouldn’t recommend one unless you live a certain lifestyle.
Of course with all that energy comes a big personality! He’s seriously the quirkiest dog I’ve ever met. We always joke that life is never boring when Ringo is around. He gets really upset when someone gets in the shower, so he lets his frustrations out by barking and wildly swinging his toys around. It’s entertaining unless you’re trying to sleep…Speaking of sleep, he’s turned into my little nighttime cuddle bug. He likes to sneak onto the bed in the middle of the night and sleep with me. Sometimes I have to kick him off because he’s trying to sleep on top of me, but usually I can fall back asleep and I love having that sweet guy snuggled next to me.
When I first started dating Adam and he came over for the first time, Ringo sat on the cushion next to us and stared him down the whole night. He wasn’t sure of this new guy or his intentions. Of course now Adam is his favorite person in the whole world. He’s definitely a man’s dog and is so happy to finally have a guy in his life who loves him back just as much.
Of course Abby loved Adam right away because Abby is the typical loving lab. She likes pretty much everybody, but is definitely the guard dog of the house. Ringo and Jelly are the bark, but Abby would be the bite if it came down to that.
Abby’s my little shadow and she follows me everywhere. She sleeps in the bathroom while I get ready in the morning, lays by the stove while I cook, and cuddles with me on the couch every night. She’s totally my ride or die chick.
I’ve loved every dog that I’ve ever had, but Abby is definitely the doggie love of my life. Please don’t think that means I love Ringo and Jelly any less or give them less attention/treats. I just have an extra special bond with Abby. She’s 100% my dog and I’m 100% her person (vs. Ringo who prefers Adam).
We’ve had to take Abby to the vet a couple times this year because we’ve found a few small growths. She has one on her face and one on both of her hind legs. The one on her face was the first one we saw and had tested. The leg ones were more recent. They all ended up being just benign fatty tumors, which apparently can be common with labs. So luckily it was nothing serious and my sweet baby dog is a healthy girl.
And lastly, let’s talk about our newest addition: Jelly! Jelly has integrated into our family so easily and I’m so happy that we decided to adopt her. Let’s be honest, it was just a matter of time before we foster failed.
She’s such a great little dog and is so fun to have around. Jelly’s the perfect mixture of wild and sweet. We’ve had no problems with her and the other dogs getting along. They play and mess with each other, but no fights. She doesn’t mind being third banana in the house, but also doesn’t take any of their nonsense.
Jelly does have one pretty weird quirk: gnawing. She gnaws on our sheets, her toys, and pretty much anything fabric. It doesn’t damage anything, so we’re not too worried about it. I think it’s how she deals with anxiety or overstimulation. We don’t know how long she was a stray, but she spent time in the pound and then two years with the rescue group waiting for a home. She hasn’t had a stable environment in a long time, so hopefully this will stop with time.
As much as I originally didn’t want a third dog, it’s been so much fun having her around and introducing her to new things. She is so well behaved in the car, but is still nervous going to new places. When we took her to the vet to get her shots, she would not go in the door. I had to pick her up and carry her in. The first time we took her to the dog park, she wouldn’t move away from the gate. I eventually took her to the timid dog area and she just hid under a bench. Of course she loved it the second time. Right now we’re trying to get her into the swimming pool. She won’t get in on her own, but she’ll let us hold her in the pool. She’s definitely getting braver about getting closer to the edge and her front feet fell onto the step once and she didn’t completely freak out. It might take another season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up liking the pool.
So, that’s the latest news on our three fur balls. Having three dogs can be exhausting (and expensive), but it’s so worth it. I love coming home to those three happy faces every day. No matter how bad my day was they always make it better.
LOVE the photos! You have such beautiful dogs. :) Glad everyone is doing well. - Shelby G.
ReplyDeleteEEEEP!!! Your dogs are so cute! I'm such a dog lover - my boyfriend is limiting me to two dogs (FOR NOW).
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dogs! We've been thinking about getting one again. My daughters are relentless in asking!
ReplyDeleteThe dogs are super cute .I love seeing pups play .I am sure mg daughter would love one as pet.
ReplyDeleteThey are such cute pups!! I miss having a big dog.
ReplyDeleteSuch sweet fur babies! It's so funny how dogs all have their own personalities and quirks. Love seeing these updates :)
ReplyDelete