2/16/14
Dear Lexi, Happy 2nd Birthday. I love you, sweetie-pie. What a good, good dog you are, so cute and affectionate.
You were a nasty, wild, hurtful puppy, weren’t you? Don’t look so sad, you didn’t know better. I know you are sorry. You were just an oral devil dog, digging those demon sharp puppy teeth into our arms and legs and clamping down. We probably tasted better than all the chew toys we bought you. Our welts gave you texture, right? Grandma kept telling us to “give you back” every single day but I couldn’t do that. Many trainers tried but they all said “You’ve got a really willful puppy there but if/when she grows out of it you’ll have a really great dog.”And, sweet girl that is who you have become.(Thank God)
At about eighteen months, from one day to the next while we were busy doing other things you became a dog, an amazing dog. One that cuddles and protects us, hugs us and plays with us. You are the dog we always wanted, we just needed to give you and ourselves a little more time.
It taught us all about being more patient, didn’t it?
Right now you are sleeping with your head on my knee, nuzzling, a part of you always has to be directly on me. You know each member of the family so well. With Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain I do spend a lot of time in bed and that’s where you come, leaping on the bed, to be with me, happily. When “Dad” is around you get the leash, go to the front door, and start whimpering. You get instantly wild when your brother comes to visit, but we know he provokes you. He allows you to be wild, we don’t. Yes, I know, YOU are WAY cool when you rough house together.
Oh, but when your sister comes home from college you hear her parking her car and you run to the front door and start crying until she comes in. Yes, our daughter, your sister, will kneel down to your level and you hug each other while you cover her with kisses. That picture of the two of you on the ground stays in my heart forever.
Have a Happy 2nd Birthday, thank you for choosing us at the shelter to be your family.
Love, Mom
Hibernationnow's Blog 
Dear Lexi, Happy Birthday Sister! I knew you would mature eventually. Being good isn’t all it’s cracked up to be let me tell ya. I am good all the time and guess what my Mom brought home for me? A cat. Yep. A cat. Be very good and you might get one too. \xoTootsie
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Dear Lexi-Pro Canine Dog, Human Trainer
Good for you teaching your human beings instant gratification is not good! They sure did take a long time – 18 months – but you didn’t give up on them even thought, I am sure, there were many times when you should have. Most human beings can learn in about a year, so yours are a bit slow.
You’ve also done a really good job teaching all of them to understand everyone is unique.
I’m thinking you should start a Canine-dog training school to teach other canine-dogs how to train their human beings.
Admiringly yours,
Freddie Parker Westerfield, CDT
Canine Dog Therapist
P.S. Happy birthday
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