Enda - Two Years Old!

Enda is TWO YEARS OLD!

It's hard to imagine that our little furbaby is two years old (or 14 years old, in her adjusted dog age). I guess this means she is now a dramatic teenage girl, and...yeah, that sounds about right.  She's definitely out of the toddler stage, but not yet behaving like a rationale adult.  Totally a teenager!

Guilty as Charged!

I would not say that Enda is "jealous" of JB, but she definitely tries to vie for her parents' attention now that she has to share us.  Just in case she reads the blog one day and says "HEY, why don't my parents document such detailed updates on me like they do the human baby!?", I decided it was about time that Enda had her own update.

Why is HE in MY birthday photo shoot, Mom?

So, here ya go - Enda's Two Year Update!

Enda's Measurements:

• Weight: 50lbs (like 90th percentile for a female, and overweight according to her vet)

At 2 years old, Enda...

...Eats her dog food only if we mix it up with yogurt.  What started as a way to control her toxic gas now means that meal preparation is more than just scooping dry food into a bowl.  She also loves peanut butter, pureed pumpkin, boiled peanuts, carrots, and whatever else the humans are eating.  The vet says she needs to lose 5 pounds, but she'd rather be pudgy and happy.  

...Sleeps under the covers in our bed.  Vizslas are burrowers.  And if you let them in the bed just one time, you better be prepared to sleep while spooning a 50lb red dog for the rest of his/her life.  This year, she has also decided that she loves to sleep in her crate during the day.  This would have been great when she was a puppy, but is a real pain in the A now that we want to move that ugly thing out of our living room.  

...Loves stalking squirrels; being with her family; cuddling with her dad on the couch; chasing her dog friends OR (even better) being chased by her dog friends; doggie daycare; having her hips scratched; sniffing dog OR human bottoms; the hair dryer; lounging by the fire; kissing her brother (on the lips); her Gia; her Wubba toy; riding in the car; and her kitty sisters ("why won't they play with me!?")

...Does not love getting her nails trimmed; portion control; being ignored; when toys get stuck under the couch; intact plush toys ("they must be destroyed"); closed bathroom doors; walking when it's early or cold; pottying in the rain; and the feral cats who pee on her front porch.

...Has mixed emotions about baths; playing fetch; half marathon training with mom; and the neighbor kids on the other side of the fence ("are they friends or foes??")

Raising a vizsla from a puppy is not for the faint of heart. Honestly, I am still debating whether Enda's "newborn" days or JB's newborn days were harder. (It's a toss up!)  When people ask if we'll get another vizsla, James and I both shake our head, nervously laugh, groan, and then say...UGH, we say YES, because Enda is just the BEST DOG.  Even though she's totally crazy and completely high maintenance and drives us up the walls most of the time, she is the most loving, affectionate, intelligent dog that we've both ever met.  

Although I totally know she's a dog, she really seems much more human than canine.  I know the fact I just wrote that out loud makes me a little nut-so, but she has such a strong personality and spirit that she'll never be "just a dog" or "just a pet" to us.  She is 100% part of this family.  Crazy and all.  

Happy 2nd Birthday, Enda!  We look forward to many more years of you being crazy, because our family would not be the same without you!

Happy Birthday to my Furry Sister!