I left with the largest and palest colored female he had. She was 7 weeks old, hugely fluffy and simply adorable. I called Brad on the way back to the school to tell him that I had a surprise. He had a suspicion because I had already asked if it would be okay if he got a puppy early. We had already talked about getting one.
I'll never forget the look on his face when I got out of the car. He didn't see me. He didn't the ground for that matter, he just rushed over, scooped her up and didn't put her down for a while. She was sleeping. I left her with him then went to WalMart for food, a bed and a collar. I had to get a red one because Brad wouldn't EVER let me have a pink collar on any of his pets. "I don't want you to sissify my dog" are his exact words. "But she's pretty little lady" I reply. I still haven't won this argument. We've had her for 5 years and I still can't have her toenails painted.
Okay, so I had a name picked out for OUR dog. Annabelle. It's a nice name, but it just didn't stick. You know how names are supposed to fit the named? Be it, person, fish, cat, dog, iguana... I mean, the cat could be named Fluffy, but it may not stick, and Esmerelda may be the more appropriate name. That night of Arwen's homecoming to us was the first annual Starlight concert at UM. We had Ricky Skaggs! We go, our friends are there sitting on blankets and we bring this walking hairball with us. Everyone's playing with her, holding her and taking her picture. Our friend, Joe Langley, asks what her name is. I tell him "her name is Annabelle, but I may call her Anna for short". "No," he says, "name her Arwen". Joe had spoken the name that fit my dog. Arwen it was. Brad and I are HUGE Lord of the Rings fans so we really dug this new title.
She was a bad little girl. She ate EVERYTHING. She once digested a shoe of mine. No, she didn't just "eat it" where the dog chews and leaves the remnants on the floor. She chewed it, swallowed it, and crapped it all over our back yard. There were pieces of leather and rubber to be found for days. She's a smart girl, though. On command, she sits, lies down, stays, plays dead, fetches, speaks and high fives. Sometimes she'll hold a treat on the top of her nose, throw it in the air and catch it, but she's not consistent.
She was a pale blond as a puppy, now she's a rich amber color. Her eyes look like a deer's. She's just beautiful with her silky wavy hair. Arwen is very kind hearted too. Naturally gentle, I would trust her to guard a newborn baby. Which, she'll undoubtedly do in the future. She's a mommy at heart.
We had her bred a few years ago and she was the best doggie mom on earth! She had 10 puppies, in fact. However, 2 didn't make it. That's normal so I was already prepared. We found 8 homes for our lovely puppies. I must say that was such a hard effort, keeping them clean, keeping Arwen healthy and finding just the right homes. I don't think I'll ever do it again. I got um...attached. :)
My baby girl has a very distinct personality, which is truly golden. I can put my hand in her bowl to grab at her food and she'll gently nudge my hand out of the way. No growl, no bite, just nudge. She's so sweet.
She's lazy now. Arwen was so hyper the first year and a half, then overnight she became a couch potato. She does have a special spot on the couch, by the way.
Her night time ritual always involves Brad. Once we are in bed, she wants to jump up with us, lie on her back, wedged between us and then it's time to talk. We talk to her and rub her belly and she kinda talks back. It's so funny!
She really is like a daughter. My two dogs are very different from one another, though raised by the same people, and in the same breed group. I love retrievers, they have all the qualities I love best in a dog: appearance, intelligence, gentle nature, and loyalty.
If Arwen had to choose between us and her food, she would choose us. When Brad and I have those icky "I love you more" arguments, it's pretty much over when one of says, "I love you more than Arwen loves you". Case Closed.
