The Gunner Story – Part 1

I have a gazillion pictures of my dog, and I’d love a reason to showcase them.  So, naturally I’m going to do a blog post or two or three..? 

Most of you don’t know that our puppy was an impulse buy. An EXPENSIVE impulse buy, to which I am embarrassed to admit the actual amount.

We had talked about getting a dog for months, but most of those months were while we were both still in apartments and it wasn’t feasible. Then I moved into the house. More talk continued, but nothing substantial. Of course during all of these months, I had sent James options for dogs and puppies that I found online.

Our first kiss

That fateful April day I sent James a link for Golden Retriever puppies. Now we knew we wanted a  Golden because I wanted a Lab and he wanted something fluffier – thus the breed was the perfect combo. So I guess seeing this listing made something in James’ mind click that this was it…

I came home thinking nothing about it. We were supposed to have “date night,” which rarely happens. I was excited to spend a little quality time with him. But first thing he did was bring up the puppy listing, asking if we should call. I told him I wasn’t sure. He pressured back that a call couldn’t hurt. Well it did – the puppies were available for meeting that same night.

EEEEEEK how can you say no to that? Perfect date night right? But I had my hesitations. A puppy is A LOT of work (to which I can now attest to). Plus I would rather save a rescue dog than get a puppy. Somehow however, I found myself at the bank taking out half the asking price. At this point I was a little excited, but kept telling myself “we’re just looking.”

Too cute for words on my lap on the way home

As we talked about it on the hour drive over to Adrian, OR, it was pretty obvious we probably wouldn’t leave the farm without a puppy. Panic set in. I honestly had a mild anxiety attack. I was not ready for this.

We pulled into the little farm house right as a gentleman was about to back out. He was more than accommodating however. He got out of the van, introduced himself, and said he was running late to his daughter’s play at the school he was the principle of. I told him we could come back (although that would be a pain) but he insisted we could see the puppies.

First make-shift dog enclosure

He opened the garage door and I was sold. PUPPIES. More like little balls of fluff. I wish I had taken pictures of Gunner with his brothers and sisters.

The guy let them loose too! Oh man--a little train of cute wandered out into their front yard. I had another moment of panic – how would we ever choose?

The next few minutes went by so quickly. One minute we were chasing puppies around and the next minute a downpour of spring rain was upon us. We had to help herd the puppies back to the garage. 

Our first night with him home

That’s when I picked him up. The littlest one I could find, with a blue collar.

We got them all back in their pin other than the little guy I was holding. James looked at me like he knew. “Is that the one you want?” YEP.

We worked out payment and the guy grabbed us what was left of his worming medicine. He took down our info as they would be sending the puppy’s papers later that month. His daughter (the one in the play) is who was in charge of raising the puppies, so her dad had some trouble taking care of the “check out” process.  However we paid up and went back to the garage through the pouring rain.

Snoozin

The guy asked me if his collar was blue as I picked up my favorite again. I told him it was. He gave me a big smile and said that he was his daughter’s and son’s favorite.

I had picked a good one!

So we loaded in the truck, puppy on my lap, and that was that. While you can’t beat an adorable puppy in your lap I was still having anxiety issues. There was no going back now.

Nap time with Dad

I was pleasantly surprised on our ride home how calm he was though, even with thunder and lightning all around. This couldn’t be that bad I thought to myself.

For the first couple days it wasn’t…

Look how fluffy and light he was!

Our tiny little fluff ball. Man has he changed!

TTFN Friends! Much more to come on my favorite little guy!
Laura