Sweet Liberty

The Fourth of July is about freedom and independence. Two things I have not had much of since bringing home sweet Liberty eight days ago. Liberty is our brand new, now seven week old, puppy. She is an adorable yellow lab which is working in her benefit right now. She has been long awaited by my boys and while I think that she will be awesome in the long run, I have noticed a couple of things about raising a puppy.


-Their sleep schedule is just as messed up as a newborn baby.

-When they decide they are hungry, they are hungry...not in ten minutes when the food has had a chance to soften, but now....which is why the book probably told me to prepare it early and have it on stand by.

-They are used to playing with, and biting, their litter mates. There is no regard as to whether it is a toy or an arm, they bite it.

-Their teeth are SHARP! Not cute sharp, but like little razors blades scaring me one day at a time.

-Unlike bringing home a new baby that hangs out in a bassinet for at least a couple of weeks, it is more like bringing home a toddler. Sure she sleeps a lot still, but when it is time to play, it is like a tornado blowing through the house.

On a positive note, she is very smart. In one week, she is already almost housebroken. She is learning to sit and to shake, although I think she is annoyed with this because when we tell her to sit, she does and then she waves her paw in the air as if to say, "I am shaking too. Any other tricks you want?" She is doing great in her crate. The boys and I actually left her today for three house to see a movie and she did good. She sleeps four hours straight and only gets up one time a night to go out. She is actually making my kids more responsible and less selfish, although that is a work in progress.

I am happy we took the plunge. I do think it will be great for the boys to grow up with her. Now I am just praying she will be the dog we have always hoped for. And #73 if officially off the to-do list.