Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Having two dogs changes everything. And I don't mean the change in amount of food eaten or poop pooped.

Having Sabrina has changed our family. Having Sabrina has changed Riley and changed us as "parents." When we only had Riley, he was such an "Easy Keeper." He needed lots of attention and care as a puppy but once he grew up, he was so easy. He was the only child and we both easily showered our affections on him. I was convinced he was the best dog in the world, ever. How could anyone love another dog more than Riley? He's just too amazing. We took him with us on as many vacations as we could and shared our life with him. He was such a good boy. Always.

We constantly dreamed of having a second dog. We talked about getting another Berner, of course. In fact, we even named her, Emma. And then we thought about getting a smaller dog, a Westie. And we named her Rosie. But for some reason, I never felt it was the right decision. We of course love the breed of the Bernese Mountain Dog, but how could we love another Berner as much as we love Riley? To us, Riley is the quintessential Berner. There could be no other Berner. The Westie was cute, but didn't have the cuddle factor we were looking for. Finally, when Riley turned three, he began to change. We thought he was beginning to show signs of slowing down. He was happy to just hang out with us on the couch. He no longer play wrestled with dogs at the park. I suppose you could say, he reached middle age.

Shortly after, Sabrina came into our lives. Sabrina has become the perfect addition to our family. She is everything Riley isn't. She's mischevious. She's happy-go-lucky. She loves the water. She is agile. She has speed. She has boundless energy. She chases the cats. She has drive in her work as a retrieving dog. She is long and lean. If she breaks the rules because you weren't paying attention it's not her fault. She doesn't believe in sulking. And she loves to cuddle.

But in the end... She, just like Riley, is a wonderful dog. We are delighted to have such a beautiful puppy. She has captured our hearts. She, just like Riley has a heart big enough to love us unconditionally. Sabrina turned out to be more than we could have ever imagined. She has changed our family. She has helped Riley rediscover the world of running, romping, and wrestling. She has taught Riley her happy-go-lucky ways. She has become Riley's constant companion and our little petunia. She has taught us how to love each of them differently for their distinct personalities. Not a day goes by when the two of them don't make us smile or laugh out loud.