To share and never forget: Murfy {black}

Remember our sweet sweet dog Molly Brown? Well, as you know, we lost her November 12, 2012. That was just a little over a month ago. It still breaks my heart, brings me to tears, I miss her. We grieved. Zak and I took it the hardest. I do NOT want to relive that EVER..

A few days later we started looking at dogs again. Were we looking too soon? Maybe, we really didn’t have plans on getting anything unless we found the right pup. We went back and forth. What kind? What size? Girl or Boy? Age? Where from? The questions were endless.

Let me go back to before we got Molly. I didn’t want a dog. I don’t like the smell, sound, responsibility, annoying-ness.. really I love animals.. just not pets for myself. I always told Zak when we get a house with a fence, you can get a dog. {He LoVeS Dogs!} I also told him I wanted a brown puppy with a fat tummy and long ears. So, when he called me to come look at petco on my lunch break from work.. The moment I saw her in his hands I knew she was going home with us. She was a brown, fat belly, big ear dog..

The last picture I took of Molly Brown..
{I did take a video of her the day before she passed away though}

so when we lost her, It made me realize things. Things like; how much apart of our family she was and continued to become. How much of my heart she filled up. When she passed, my heart was empty. Zak and I knew that the emptiness needed to be filled. We just didn’t know when or with what exactly. I wanted a Golden, he wanted a lab. I wanted a little dog, he wanted a big dog. I wanted a brown dog, he wanted a black dog. Of course none of that really mattered when it came down to it. It would just depend on the dog.

He called me one day asking me and Mady to come look at a puppy at the local shelter. I knew he had been going there because he had his eye on a little puppy that wouldn’t be available till that Wednesday. So, Wednesday rolled around and the puppy was gone before he got there. BUT, there was another dog. So, we went and looked. I GOT NERVOUS. I wanted one until that moment. I saw the look in his eyes though. He was in love. I was scared. Like I said, I never ever want to deal with the emotions of Molly, ever again. I also didn’t know if it was the right time. Gosh, he was cute though. I told Zak I needed to sleep on it. I needed to see the pup alone, and not when him and Mady were in total love with the pup right in front of me. {I knew already that we were going to get him though}

THAT is when I pulled off the best surprise ever. Zak guesses everything. I mean, he pulls things out of no where and guesses surprised. It is kind of creepy. I hate it. I have never once surprised him with anything. I have tried, he ruins it. This would take some work.

Before Mady went to bed, as we were laying there in the darkness, I asked her what she thought of the pup “Luke”. She simply said.. I love him. I want him NOW. The next morning, on the way to school,
she said “are we getting the puppy?”
me: “I don’t know. I don’t know if he is the right one”
Her: “I already know”
me: know what?
Her: “that he is the right puppy”

I dropped her off and headed to the shelter. The moment they put him in the room with me, he loved on me. He was so happy. He sat right in my lap and just looked around.

NOTE:: he is a 4 month old, 22 pound (a little underweight) puppy

So, I said yes..

at the shelter, about to go home with me

And that is when I adopted MURFY (black) –we have not really given him the black part but thought it was funny one day when we said Molly Brown {that was her name} and Murfy Black.. we are dorks but it is cute.

Ride to the groomers from the shelter and first moments at his new forever family.

I had to go to school after I got him. I was so scared Zak would show up at the shelter to see him. I told him I had bad news, “Luke” was gone. I got there and another couple was playing with him. After waiting 15 mins, the lady said they are taking him. All the while, Mr. Pup was sitting in the floorboard of my car while I was praying he would bark and give it away. Pretty Risky.. but I pulled it off. I saw in class, writing his name over and over. Different ways to spell it. Thinking about him. NOT listening to the teacher. Afraid petsmart would call Zak’s number and say your dog is ready.. I had to leave class..

::funny story:: after picking him up from the groomers, Mady and Murfy are in the back of my car. I hear this noise. I say “is he peeing?” Mady looks at me in the rearview mirror like.. oh crap.. I say “no, really.. is he REALLY PEEING IN MY FLOOR?” She nods yes with the same look on her face.. of course it was my fault for not letting him go before he got in the car. but really? Really….

I talked to Zak a few times that day, sending him pics of some other dogs. Every time I talked to him on the phone I would mute it just in case Murfy decided to bark. Zak still had no clue! We waited and waited. Mady went to bed, and I sat on the couch with the new pup.. waiting. Zak worked late that night. But when he came home.. oh goodness. He walked in and smiled at me.. (just a hello smile) Murfy sat up on the couch, put his paws on the wood between the living room and kitchen and watched Zak walk right by him. Oblivious. Then he came around the corner and at the end of the couch.. there was MURF.. I couldn’t do anything but giggle. If I said anything I would have cried with excitement that I pulled it off and I bought my husband the puppy he wanted. I helped fill a whole in his (and my) heart. His look was priceless. He looked at me and grinned ear to ear.. saying Really Babe? You really bought me my puppy!?!?! Really?? and THAT was one of the best moments ever!

So, welcome to the family Murfy..

He has been amazing. He has only peed in the house 6 times, 2 being our fault, 1 being excited about people, and 3 made me mad.. (on the couch).. pooped in the house.. 1 time..

He now rings a bell when he has to go out.. or sits by the door. He is very good about telling us 100 times a day he needs to pee.. GEEZ, I can’t get anything done. I might as well post up outside and do nothing. He loves his crate.. doesn’t cry or bark for more than 1 min when you put him in there. No matter what time a day it is or what you are doing. He can sit and stay VERY WELL.. shake is a hit or miss. He lives inside and I let him on the couch. (losing Molly made me a little more open/relaxed/regretful/chilled out)

He is now a healthy happy 28 pound puppy. Lab/mix.. he has some hound in him so they said. The vet says he could have some hound..great Dane.. but for sure he is a happy Mr. pup and fits in perfect with our family. I couldn’t be any more happy with him!