bo.

Jack is a smart dog. So clearly, when it was time to get Bo, Jack knew it. He had noticed all of the clues that he was getting a baby brother. (It probably didn’t hurt that I told Jack about Bo every single day.) Jack loves dog beds. After we got Bo’s bed, I was sure Jack would think it was his. He didn’t. It was in my mom’s room for a week and Jack didn’t lay on it once. When we brought Bo’s crate in, Jack seemed like he expected the change.

Jack sat at the front window for hours, barking at every car that drove by, knowing that sooner or later it was going to be him. Starting at five, I sat with Jack and cuddled. We were supposed to get Bo at six and both my mom and I were extremely anxious. We distracted ourselves by looking at some vacation spots while we wondered about whether or not we would get to meet our new beloved dog today. My mom had texted and e-mailed Bo’s foster mom and she still hadn’t replied.

Six rolled around and our spirits were low. We still hadn’t met our new dog. Just when we had given up hope, my mom got a call from Bo’s foster dad. They were running late and they would be there at 6:30.

A big truck pulled up to our driveway and stopped. My heart skipped at least three beats. He was here. I didn’t even see the guy walk in, all I saw was my snow colored puppy. I immediately started talking to him in my usual puppy voice until I realized he had no idea I was talking to him at all. I clapped my hands and he felt the vibrations and looked at me. I sat on the floor and he came right up to me and gave my face a good washing with his tongue. He cuddled with me just like Jack always does. That’s when I fell in love with him.

While my mom was talking over the contract and boring stuff, I got to watch the dogs. I let them outside and watched them get used to each other. They weren’t fighting. Good sign. Most dogs immediately don’t like Jack; he’s a people’s dog not a dog’s dog. So this was a promising observation.

After things settled down, Jack grabbed a bone and snuggled up on his bed with the new pup. Jack doesn’t share his bed with other dogs. Good sign number two. I sat down with my mom and Bo’s foster dad and listened to their conversation.

Bo got up and walked by the mirror and just stopped. Bo loves his reflection. We think he thinks there’s a parallel universe out there. There’s fun fact number one about Bo.

Fun fact number two: boxers STANK. Bo’s foster dad mentioned it, but we didn’t really find out until after he left and Bo let one rip.

We paid and signed the contract and our family was officially one mischievous member bigger. We took our eyes off of Bo for a couple minutes and he managed to pee on my mom’s favorite chair. Then, while my mom cleaned that mess up, he went into the other room and marked the other chair as “his territory.” My mom wasn’t so happy and I think she went to bed with a little doubt in her mind about whether or not adopting this new pup was the right thing, but I went to bed knowing that our home was meant for Bo.