Two years of Wally

If you’ve been following along for a while, you’re likely aware that I have a goldendoodle pup named Wally. He’s two years old, with a white coat and the tallest towering legs I’ve ever seen on a dog (we joke that he’s got legs for days).

Earlier today, I watched a Snapchat memory that popped up from two years ago. A small, 8-week-old puppy was climbing on my nap, barely able to keep a rubber bone in his mouth, smiling for the camera with a goofy grin between nibbles of my hand. I realized, a few days late, that we’ve officially had Wally for two years—his “gotcha day” was June 6, 2020.

Two years of Wally. Wow! It’s hard to believe that I’ve ever lived a life without him, where he wasn’t cuddling by my side or running up a vet bill or making us laugh at his very naughty antics. It’s even harder to believe that he was ever a tiny rollie-pollie puppy and not a 70-lb counter-surfing dood.

Wally is smart and stubborn and hilarious and so, so sweet (most of the time). He prefers attention to food, and often clings by humans like a faithful parrot as they go about their day. At daycare, he has a nasty habit of running away when it’s time for him to leave—a very, very embarrassing new habit that’s very visible from the web cameras. Wally has a pretty sit but he doesn’t like to do it unless he has to (when treats or stern voices are involved), which we think has to do with his big clunky legs and the effort it takes to splay them outward.

Wally is known for his long curls as much as his horrible haircuts, which have given us several opportunities to appreciate his personality. He’s either smiling with a goofy open-mouth smile or using his big ol’ eyes to give us expressive, if not concerned, looks as he fishes for belly rubs and kisses.

Our windows are messy with snout-shaped marks and the Amazon cart is on a cycle of bones and jerky treats. Our days start and end with a warm cuddle in bed, with the noise of a tail thumping its way through a good dream.

Chad and I are very much Wally’s mommy and daddy and it’s been such an adventure to share and experience that next level of love together. Chad started out on an anti-dog campaign and is now a bonafide softie—Wally’s biggest fan and enabler. You know how parents talk about falling in love more with their spouse after seeing them parent? It’s kinda like that, on a dog level. Wally has brought me endless joy and happiness, but also brought me to a new adoration of my partner.

We’ve had Wally for two quick and adorable and silly years. They’ve simply been the best and I’m gleefully, almost glutinously, ready for more.

I love you, Wally. Thank you for being ours—the best good boy we could ask for.