The whole is far greater than the sum of its parts!

With the adoption of Willow, a Border Collie, Jack Russell mix, we now officially have a pack.  Having three dogs is incrementally more work than just having two dogs - especially as the two are in their "senior" years at eight and ten, and Willow is 18 months - 7 in puppy years if you are asking.


Like everything about Willow, her addition to our family was unplanned and fast moving.  We certainly weren't looking for another dog - but after the China debacle, from our daughters perspective, we weren't returning her!  


She was quickly accepted by the other two dogs - a minor miracle that I chalk up to many years of doggy-daycare and a quick connection between Willow and Koko.
Willow quickly adopted Katrina as "her person" and adores her while adorning her with kisses whenever possible.  Willow LOVES the little people!


She showed a healthy respect of John by squatting and peeing in the bedroom daily for the first few weeks, topping that trick with leaving a significant pile of poop just outside the bathroom door one morning, which he stepped in, of course.   Not her most endearing move.


Willow is all play and love and cuddle and flop.
She loves her new life full of doggy-day-care days with new friends and pack nights with everyone piled together in the snug pit.
She is charmingly unaware of "personal space" and is one of the least graceful dogs I've ever seen, consistently stepping on you, walking into to walls and tripping up the stairs.
Willow is a food-stealing-people-food-licking-mooch!  If there is food and she can a) smell it and b). find a way to reach it, it's all hers!
She is also a goof - causing a near riot at the vet with her reaction to having her temperature taken and the resulting escape attempt.
Willow is what we refer to as "Florida Fixed."  Her recent, (and last!) heat (did you know that dogs go in to heat for 3 weeks!) was not a welcome surprise.  This unexpected event resulted in doggie diapers, dry cleaning, draping of sheets all over everything and a week of border-line grumpiness and over sensitivity on her part!  


So - let's review the canine beaters currently residing at Chez AmRhein...

• Kahlua (A slim and trim 92 pound Chocolate lab) - Our oldest canine child who would live in the water (and stink) year round if allowed.  It is all about Kahlua and she can't think of a reason why you wouldn't love her.  She is the sweetest, most gentle (except when meat is involved) dog you will ever meet.
• Koko (A slightly chubby 65ish pound Black lab / something mix) - Our second canine child and first rescue dog.  She is nuts, sensitive, your best girl-friend and convinced even after all of these years that "today is the day."  BTW - She loves riding in the boat and will jump off the front at a moments notice where ducks are involved, resulting in stopping the boat, John getting out of the boat, and shoving all 60 (ish) wet pounds of her back into the boat.  Not pretty.  
• Willow (Our lightest canine friend at 45 pounds) - Our third canine child and now second rescue dog.  We're still getting to know Willow, but she either has far fewer issues with being a rescue dog than Koko did, or we are just so used to dealing with dogs in transition that we just roll with it.  She is a sweet girl, but trouble.  She will follow Koko into the shallow water, but so far no swimming.  Her best attribute is her immediate connection with and loyalty to Katrina - which makes her more lovable by default.

So, if you are planning at trip to Chez AmRhein, be aware, we now have a pack of dingo's living here - all loving, but the whole is definitely bigger than the sum of the parts!  Your best defense is to split the pack up and love the pieces and parts, which are all more than worth it!


Coming next blog - peeling a banana in your car while driving is hazardous to your health!