We had considered getting a new family pet sometime in June, when we knew the kids and I would be home all summer to train a puppy. Jim has wanted a pale yellow lab named Maverick (and another one named Goose) for as long as I can remember. When he heard school was cancelled, and basically everything else in our lives except our jobs, we decided now was a great time!
Jim made some phone calls to lots of breeders in the area (and some out of state too), and we found this beautiful boy a few hours’ drive away in Yacoult, Washington. We spontaneously kicked the kids out of the house with my parents and made the drive. We got to meet his parents, who were well behaved and beautiful as well, and his brother. Jim quietly suggested we bring home both dogs (!) but we’d only brought enough cash for one and we were over an hour from an establishment in the middle of farmland, and I was not mentally prepared for two puppies at home!
So we made the decision to take this sweet boy home with us. Meet Maverick Corona Keene, born November 6, 2019… at least, that’s what his AKC certificate says. Ha!
He suffered through his first car ride with his head on or near my lap in the backseat.
We stopped every hour to let him out. He was not interested in water, walking around, or moving.
We stopped at Mud Bay because we had exactly zero things necessary for a dog. He was not impressed and stayed put by the door the entire time. He wagged gently at everyone who walked by – he just did NOT want to move.
We came home and surprised JT and Haley (and my parents) by walking in the house with a puppy. The kids were SHOCKED. My parents had guessed we might be bringing home a dog, given the current situation of the world and our love of dogs. He sat next to the couch and waited for us to carry him outside to go potty. 🙂
In the morning, we all woke up to a dog in the house! He started playing and eating and doing all the normal dog things in his new home. He also learned about things like wearing a leash. When you spend the first four months of life in freedom, a collar and leash is rough.
He also figured out that he could be as close to me as possible, all day long. It was adorable.
By the end of the first week, things were going well around here. He likes to play hard and crash hard.
Maverick likes sticks, balls, and his stuffed fish that squeaks.
He likes to sleep in the corner of the couch behind the ottoman. It must feel very den-like.
He has learned to sit at the back door to ask permission to go out and come back in. He knows his name and comes running with floppy ears and puppy paws all askew when I call him. ❤
He can sit and is learning “down” as well. Next we will start on stay and come. He is growing like a weed and eating twice the recommended food per the bag’s serving size for weight and age… at his puppy checkup at the vet, she said she would guess he’ll get to around 80 pounds.
He loves to play (of course) and be close. But mostly, he is an absolute sweetheart who does NOT like to be in trouble. Usually all it takes is a “aaa!” sound from us, and he stops whatever he was doing. Unless he is chewing on the Rhododendron. 😉
We are so thrilled to have a dog again!
The Keene Family 