please take me home!

Seriously.... could you have left that face?

Clara has wanted a dog/puppy for two years now. She has extensively researched dog breeds, read training books and watched dog training shows. We toyed with the idea of getting her a dog off and on... but ultimately we told her that when she saved the money, she could get one. Well... she finally had enough money. She had decided a while ago that she wanted a shelter dog. I think originally she was motivated by cost... but then she really became adamant that she wanted to give a dog, who had had a rough life, a home. She regularly checks the shelter websites for potential dogs for her. Tuesday night she found two that she liked at a local shelter. The front runner was a Cairn terrier mix named Lola with Mango, a long haired chihuahua, a close second. We decided to act fast. The next day, when the shelter opened, Jeff, Alex and I went to see the dogs (Clara was in school). Jeff met Lola first and although she is an adorable dog, she is very high energy.... needing lots of exercise and training. Across from her was Mango. She is a sweet laid back dog, who yearns to be a lap dog. Clara is a high energy girl.... however, between school and dance right now, her time at home is very laid back. We decided Mango was the perfect pup for Clara and started the paperwork.

Well... she's ours and Clara is so excited to meet Mango today (she had to stay overnight so they could spay her)! Clara so amazes me. Her time at home last night was spent reading training books, watching the "your new dog" video we got at the shelter and setting up the supplies we picked up at the pet store. She has talked endlessly about her training plans and has her preferred training methods already figured out. She definitely is not taking this whole thing lightly... she is very serious about the responsibility of having her own dog.