CIrcle of Life

My first post of 2012 is a happy one - it's an introduction!

As you know, we had to say goodbye to Mason (our 13.5-year-old Chocolate Labrador) just before Thanksgiving.  We knew he was in twilight of his life, but that didn't make his loss any easier.  Although we had planned to remain a "2-dog household", our family just wasn't the same without a "big dog".

Paul quickly realized that the only way to help heal the hole in his heart left by Mason was to get another Lab.  Thanks to my connections in the competitive dog world, our search for a puppy was short and simple.  In a series of almost eerie coincidences, we found ourselves driving to visit a breeder within a day of making the first inquiry. We really didn't plan to be bringing home a puppy until at least after the holidays, but fate apparently had other ideas.

There was an 8-week old litter of labs, two yellow males still waiting to meet their new pawrents.  We ended up going to see them the same night we called, and within 36 hours of beginning our search came home with our little yellow man.  Meet Trevor (officially known as Rockhaven's Twist of Fate):

To say the Frenchies were a little surprised with the new addition is an understatement.  What was this funny-looking, yellow-furred thing with a pointy nose & long tail that was invading their home?  Still, introductions went well, and by the time we went to bed that night Trevor already felt like part of the pack.

What?  He's STAYING????

As things tend to go around here, there hasn't been a dull moment since.  Trevor had to hit the ground running, and luckily he was up to the challenge.  As soon as he kind of got the hang of things at home, we hit the road in Big Earl (our motorcoach) to travel to Florida for a national agility championship that Brutus had qualified for.  Trevor was a great little traveler, and already has a couple thousand miles under his belt - most of it traversed while he slept!

Sisters make great pillows.

All three of them fit on my lap - for now.

We arrived back home just in time for all the holiday hubbub to be in full swing.  A 10-week old puppy and christmas decorations?  Ugh.

But all things considered we made it through Christmas with no major tragedies, Trevor taking it all in stride.

Our best attempt at posing in front of the (as of yet undecorated) tree.
Too bad that their eyes are glowing brighter than the lights!

He was a hit with our holiday guests both big & small, including some out-of-town company who came to visit with their two dogs (a lab and a Frenchie).

Trevor and Ollie, his "brother from another mother"...

...Who was oohhhhh so patient with Trevor!

Trevor watching the girls (Carmen & Gracie) play.

Now 15 weeks old, Trevor has already outgrown his first crate (although he's in denial of that and still likes to crawl into the Frenchies' crates) and weighs 30 pounds.

Instead of the roomy crate next door, Trevor would rather cram
himself in Carmen's crate for a nap.

One look at those polar bear-sized paws will tell you how big of a dog Trevor will inevitably be.  I think he'll eat us out of house & home in no time if he keeps up the current growth rate.

I swear I used to fit in this toy box.  It must have shrunk...

Trevor appears to be the most astoundingly "normal" dog we've owned.  He is already about 85% housebroken already (by comparison, it took Carmen until almost 6 months, Brutus until over a year to get to that point!).  Trev loves to go outside - weather conditions (rain, snow, cold) do nothing to dilute his enthusiasm.

What do you mean it's freezing out here?

Can't catch me!  Let's play!

Our vet gave him two thumbs way up for both confirmation at temperament.  Already he's the star of his puppy class, walking nicely on a leash and learning basic obedience commands like the working dog he was bred to be.  Last week Trevor went to work with Paul for the first time, and got a A+ for his first day on the job as a shop dog.  I tell you, nothing fazes the yellow man.

The more, the merrier.
Everybody in "Fort Trevor", the ginormous crate in the bedroom.

Pack dynamics have turned out to be pretty much what we expected.  Brutus accepts Trevor - mostly since now there is someone else for Carmen to pick, on but also because there is someone else to take the blame when something has been chewed/peed-on/torn-up/slobbered-on/eaten.

I'll sit next to Trevor, but only because I know there's a cookie in it for me.

Carmen, on the other hand, LOVES Trevor - she is part mother, part rough-and-tumble playmate.  Although he already seriously outweighs Carmen (who weighs a little over 20 lbs), she is no doubt the alpha dog around here and has no trouble putting Trevor in line.

Sorry it's blurry -play between Carmen & Trevor is fast-paced to say the least!

Carmen can effortlessly tackle and pin Trevor, and spends most of her waking hours wrestling, playing with and chasing her "little big brother" (while Brutus sits on the sofa and rolls his eyes).   They are snuggle buddies too - a nap is always better with company, after all!

We have had a really mild winter so far, and the three dogs love to go for pack walks together.  I look like the crazy dog lady for sure, two Frenchies in one hand and a small yellow moose in the other.  Funny thing is that Trevor is the easiest to manage of them all!

Trevor is primarily Paul's dog, so no plans for him to follow in the Frenchies' footsteps in the agility ring - in fact one of his main jobs is to keep Paul company when I'm away with Team Frenchie.   That's all good with Trevor, he loves being a "daddy's boy"!

I'm planning on doing some obedience with Trevor, and hope to get at least a few basic titles in that type competition as he seems well-suited to it.  Beyond that Paul hopes to find some fun things to do together to keep Trevor busy, like dock-diving or some field training.  I think no matter what we ask of him, Trevor will always be happy to oblige (especially if you have something to feed him!).

Trevor has already figured out that the camera is a good thing because everyone gets cookies!

So we've come full circle.  Lost the founding member of our pack, but seem to have found an even more unflappable dog to fill Mason's shoes - although I think her already out grew them.  I will probably revamp the blog (again), as Trevor will most certainly find himself being posting material as often as anyone else.  I'm starting another blog (www.teamfrenchie.blogspot.com), so that I can keep our Team Frenchie/competition stuff from clogging up this page.  So stay tuned, with a puppy around, there's bound to be no shortage of posts.  And no shortage of naps either!

If he outgrows this bed, we're in trouble!