Officially introducing my new puppy, Dogtor Westley Cole, to the blog (just in time for Valentine’s Day). Westley is a 3 month old Aussie-Lab rescue named after one of my favorite characters from the movie The Princess Bride.
The Adoption
In the middle of this pandemic, I remember feeling stagnant and sedentary. I asked myself: Should I buy a Peloton or a puppy? Deep down, I knew it was never really a question. I have been wanting to rescue a puppy for years. Countless hours spent moonlighting as a dog walker both privately and for companies like Wag and Rover, as well as volunteering for a local animal shelter, built up to this day. (I spent so much time walking dogs and playing with our hospital’s therapy dog, one of my co-residents asked if I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a veterinarian as well).
When I heard back from Jonah’s Ark Animal Rescue, a non-profit animal welfare organization that rescues homeless dogs, it turned out they had a different puppy in mind for me than the one I had applied for initially. They messaged me a photo of his adorable face and gave me 24 hours to decide. Within moments of receiving his picture and hearing how playful he was with his siblings, I said yes.
Picking him up has been the highlight of 2021! He had the sweetest demeanor and immediately wanted to snuggle. Everyone says he will grow to be 50-60lbs but it’s hard to imagine when he can fit in my lap.
The Preparation
I had already started nesting, with a crate and crate cover as well as lots of toys and treats thanks to my family and friends. For house training I made sure to get puppy pads and a Fresh Patch (a box of grass) as well as a hanging “doorbell” for him to ring. My friend introduced me to Snuggle Puppy, equipped with a “heartbeat” and heating pad, which simulates his littermates to ease anxiety. Click the photo below to shop:
His favorite toys include the Nylabone, Kong, and these cute little stuffed dumplings. I’ve been feeding him Purina Smartblend (grain-free food has been shown to have adverse effects on dogs, especially cardiac related). As he gets older and his adult teeth come in, I plan to give him Greenies for dental care. Zuke’s are great for training treats. I’m also watching Brandon McMillan’s dog training MasterClass before I take him for puppy classes.
The Puppy Picnic
To give Westley a real welcome home, for Valentine’s Day, I treated him to a puppy picnic thanks to @picnicpaletteco. This small local business offers picnics for all occasions, from anniversaries to birthdays, and of course puppy picnics!
I was excited to be the first one to request this type of setup and was overjoyed with the results, complete with a charcuterie for me and dog treats for Westley.
As a little dog in a big city, he has been adjusting well. He has a bill of health from the vet and is on his way to being fully vaccinated (just like his hooman!). West loves meeting new people and has quite a bark. And let me tell you, this little guy is keeping me more active than any stationary bike ever could! You can follow him on IG for your daily dose of cuteness at dogtor.westley.
Huge thanks to my family and friends for the love and support they have given me during this new chapter in my life! Special shoutouts to Mimi for helping me bring Westley home, Amanda for being my best friend and on-call veterinarian, and Monet for getting Westley exactly what I didn’t even know he needed. Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with lots of Puppy Love!
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