So this little thing was wandering around a busy street on my way to work the week of our anniversary.  I sent Bryan this picture in a text message that said, “Found this; he’s at our house.”

Bryan got the message and immediately knew what this meant:

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BRYAN!

Beau has been with us for almost a month now.  And while any new puppy is hard, Beau is.. well, he’s pretty awesome.  First of all, he’s just pretty damn cute.  He’s much smaller than he looks in pictures (I know that makes no sense, but trust me.. he is), and he’s just such a happy dog.

And honestly, I’m inclined to write “dawg”, cause he is.  He’s just that DAWG.  I’ve had packs of dogs since I was little, so I’ve seen all sorts of personalities, but his?  His is just the best.  He’s just happy, and floppy, and curious, and cuddly, and fun.

Sure, he shits in the house from time to time.

(Admittedly, he figured that business out pretty quickly.  He housetrained himself in a matter of a few weeks.)

And MY GOD, he is a goat.  He will eat anything not nailed down.

And sure, he dragged in a six foot tree branch just moments ago.

And alright, I spend most every waking moment in my house shouting, “BEAU!  NO!  NO, SIR!”

But he PLAYS with Mabel.  Like, they PLAY.  Mabel (now almost ten years old) hasn’t played since I lived in the Bitter House.  Charlie was too rough with her, but Beau is just the right size.  They play hard, running and tackling and nipping and barking, and it’s awesome.  And Beau has developed a VERY unlikely friendship:

Our ancient cat, Friday, is Beau’s biggest ally.

Friday doesn’t mind dogs, but you know, he’s OLD.  And he kinda just wants to sleep all day. (I thought.) Beau came in and Beau thought, hell yes! This thing here is my size and will swat at me.  BEST PUPPY PLAYTHING EVER!

So we worried that they wouldn’t get along.

But here we are, a month later, and this is what our couch looks like EVERY NIGHT:

(Yes, those were two separate evenings.)

They SERIOUSLY love eachother.  And even though Friday has his own part of the house that the dogs aren’t allowed into (the carpeted areas of the bedrooms are dog-free), Friday will put up with the torment of Beau gnawing on him and chasing him around because.. Friday is a masochist.  He LOVES the attention of Beau, and he LOVES the snuggle puppy that Beau becomes when he’s worn slap out.

We’re going to register Beau for obedience classes, not because I think he’s a born agility dog or anything, but because he has that perfect temperment that I want to be able to take him places.  He’s a natural for attending Jack’s football games or dog parks or even running with me.  He’s just this really, really great dog.

.. who is currently devouring one of my dishtowels.

::sigh::