Meet the New Boss

It’s been over a year

Long-term readers of this blog (and thanks if you are one!) may recall that last May, we lost Boston RedSox, our 14-year-old Boston Terrier.

Sox had grown up on our little farm in Indiana and then traveled with us to Portugal.  Unlike us, she didn’t seem to have a problem with the language.  She was our constant companion, and the silence after she was gone was deafening. We mourned her loss for a year and told ourselves repeatedly, “We won’t get another dog.”

But grief has a way of softening over time, and this spring, back in the US, we decided we were ready.  

Falling in love online

We started browsing online, tentatively, just to “see what’s out there.” We got serious when we discovered gooddog.com—a website with a wide selection of puppies from vetted, reputable breeders.

That’s where we found her.

Her profile name was simply Brindle Girl, but the moment we saw her picture, we were smitten. 

We sent in an inquiry, explaining who we were and a bit about our history with Boston Terriers.  Within minutes we were surprised to receive a personal message, some photos, and a video of the puppy.  More surprising, Tisha Lozano, the breeder, called us. She was so warm and outgoing it felt like we were talking to a long-time family friend.

That same day, May 15, we sent in our deposit. And just like that, the waiting began.

Counting down the days

When we sent in our deposit, Brindle Girl was not quite two weeks old.  Tisha told us she would deliver the puppy sometime in late June.  In the meantime, Mary started buying the supplies we would need – a bed, a car seat, puppy toys, treats, a harness, a leash.  All of it stacked at the side of our living room, ready for a puppy.  

Over the course of the next 8 weeks, we corresponded periodically. Tisha was quick to answer any questions we had. The highlight of each week was the 30 second video Tisha sent every Sunday. These quickly went viral among our family. 

In our family chat, we started brainstorming names.  Several names were quickly suggested and discarded.  Then Katie suggested “Lily,” and Will, never one to miss an opportunity for wordplay, added “Of the Valley,” since that’s where we live. Done deal.

(An unfortunate coincidence:  We learned that Lilies of the valley – the flowers – are toxic to dogs.  Our back yard is overrun with them. We’ve also learned that they are an invasive species, with a tightly intertwined root system that makes getting rid of them a slow process.  We’re digging up about two square feet of them every day.  Luckily, Lily – the puppy – has shown no interest in chewing on them.)

The wait is over

As we got into the middle of June, we worked out the delivery schedule.  Tisha’s sister Jenny is her business partner.  Jenny’s husband, Shannon, is their designated delivery guy.  (He works for an airline and gets to fly for free.)  We agreed that Shannon would fly with Lily from Tulsa to Spokane, Washington – about 100 miles north of us.  I would meet him there.

It was a two-hour drive up to the airport, and I traded texts with Shannon periodically through the morning. We met just after noon near an airline ticket counter. Shannon walked up pulling a small carry on bag with a pet carrier strapped to the top.  He had a folder full of papers that he needed to review with me – health records, microchip details, food recommendations, etc. etc.  I probably heard half of what he said.

At last, he said, “I guess you want to see the puppy.” 

YEAH!

He unzipped the top of the carrier and handed her to me.

She was real. Warm. Sleepy.  (They had left home around 3am.) And surprisingly calm after being shuttled around for hours.  

Shannon snapped my picture and I sent it to the family, who were all eagerly waiting for updates. Then I thanked Shannon, we shook hands, and I walked toward the exit with Lily back in her carrier.

Outside, I found a patch of grass in the shade near where I had parked.  I got Lily out of the carrier, put on her collar and leash, and gave her some time to “do some business” and have a drink of water.  She was wobbly on her feet, but more alert.

Then back into the car for the ride home.

A little chaos never hurt anyone

The same weekend that Lily arrived, we were keeping Guy William, our grandson.  If you ever want to generate complete chaos in your house, start with an almost 3-year-old boy and then introduce an 8-week-old puppy into the mix.

There are a lot of similarities between the two. Based on our extensive field experience, here are two examples:

• Neither one knows the meaning of “No!”
  
• Neither one is potty trained.

But from day one, the two of them have been racing around the house and the back yard like they’ve known each other forever.

Two weeks in, and here’s what we’ve learned

• Lily is extremely well-socialized. This is a reflection on the care and skill that she received early on from Tisha.  Lily loves meeting new people and tolerates kids who want to pet, hug, and carry her around like a stuffed animal.
  
• She sleeps through the night. Praise be.
  
• She’s food motivated and learns quickly.  We’ve been helped by an excellent puppy training program provided through gooddog.com.
  
• She’s definitely a terrier—headstrong, busy, and full of personality.
  
• Her teeth are tiny and sharp.  Mary calls them “piranha teeth”.
  
• She passed her first vet check with flying colors.
  
• She is more vocal than Beans and Sox ever were.  If Lily ain’t happy, she lets you know.
  
• We’ve introduced her to our son’s swimming pool. She’s not a fan, yet, but we’re not forcing it.

So here we are

Most of all, we’re just delighted. The house is a mess—there are toys in every corner, chewed-up paper towels, and the faint scent of non-rawhide chew bones lingering in the air—but our hearts are full again.

We’re looking forward to many years of Boston Terrier comedy.

After all, the new boss is here—and she’s already running the place.

Until next time,

Mary and Mike

The Cook and The Writer

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