The Commerce Journal

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December 30, 2011

Adopted puppy is more than a handful

Caleb Slinkard Commerce Journal

COMMERCE — My roommates and I adopted a puppy from the local animal shelter about four months ago, and I can honestly that it has changed my life.

Or, at least my habits. Our dog, Wilfred, has lived an interesting life so far and has a definite personality. We got her when she was only about six or seven weeks old, and she was a tiny little thing that probably weighed less than a loaf of bread who could fit in your hand.

Now, she’s at least a 16-18 inches long and weighs 20 pounds, she still thinks she’s tiny, though. We named her Wilfred after the talking dog on the FX show of the same name. My roommates, who picked her out, told me she was a boy.

They were wrong.

We house trained her by putting up bells near the doorway. We were so proud of her when she first began to use them. Now she’ll ring them all the time, even when she doesn’t need to go outside, just because she enjoys making us get off the couch.

Wilfred has always had a penchant for chewing things up, particularly paper and tissues. She’ll shred a newspaper in a matter of seconds. Her jaw has become stronger and stronger over the months, so now she’ll take her toys and rip them apart to find the device that makes them squeak. She has a spot underneath one of our recliners that she stores all of the items she’s decided to chew up- newspapers, receipts, bones, toys, shoes, etc. She loves to drag my shoes off and pull on the shoelaces so that when I try and put them on, they’re way too tight.

Wilfred has always enjoyed company. When she was a puppy, she would put her front paws on the edge of the couch and whine to be let up so she could take a nap next to me. Even now she jumps on my lap (which hurts) and takes a nap while I watch TV.

Wilfred loves to work her way underneath blankets. She’ll jump on my bed and get under my covers and just roll around. It’s very strange.

She also loves ice. My roommates will grab an ice cube and throw it on the ground, and she’ll go racing after it like it’s a treat.

The thing is, ice is slippery, so it will go flying across the floor and she’ll follow it all around the room until she finally gets it or it melts.

My roommate Mike and I will stand at opposite ends of our backyard, which is at least 50 feet long, and alternate calling Wilfred. She’ll race back and forth, back and forth until she’s tired. She loves it.

Even though she is occasionally a headache, very needy, and currently fighting a bevy of hereditary problems, Wilfred has changed my life.

In a good way.

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