Meet Willow-Photo Bomb

So I wrote about picking up a puppy for Elise back in February.  We did.  We ended up with the black poodle for about 3 days.  He was not a good fit.  He and Elise bonded slowly, but he did not get along with my husband or son.  At all.  As we will be living with each other for the next 10-15 years, we need to all get along, if you understand what I'm saying. 

 

So, back to the shopping, and listening and praying.  And we stumbled onto this lovely.  Her name is Willow.  She is an interesting mix of a standard Poodle (3/4) and a German Shepherd (1/4), a very deliberate mutt called a Shepadoodle. 

 

She has been with us since the very first of March.  It is a perfect fit.  Elise adores her, Charlotte cannot get enough, my son is enchanted, Amelia thinks she is great, and she gets along well with my husband.  And I think she's amazing.

 

We have a trainer, but much of what we have done so far is just live together and get a sense of each other.  She innately knows what Elise needs much of the time.  When to back off, when to be persistent.  She is a very sensitive dog.  I am profoundly thankful for her intuitiveness with Elise.  It was a spectacular match from the first day. 

 

I look forward to bragging on her in the future.  For now, please enjoy our journey thus far.