Aria is Getting a Puppy!

Aria has been asking for a dog for several years now. She has been patient (well, pretty patient) in waiting as we all become ready to get a dog. Just last month we made a firm agreement as a family to get a dog and began the search in earnest. Karen did a huge amount of research into possibilities and we all agreed that we liked miniature-sized poodles and poodle mixtures (Ted grew up with a wonderful poodle named Licorice). After checking out various choices we found that a cocker spaniel - poodle mix (cockapoo) litter was about to be born at a local breeders. Karen checked with the breeder who told her that we were one of 73 people on the waiting list. The morning that the puppies were born (Sept. 9) the breeder sent photos to everyone on the waiting list and said first-come first-served. Karen quickly responded and, lo and behold, we were one of the lucky ones to get a puppy. Aria was overjoyed and has been thinking of a name. She is pretty set on "Sparkle." We get to bring the puppy home once she is eight weeks old on Nov. 4.

Here is a compilation of videos of the puppy taken over the past two weeks. Note that at one time the breeder is speaking and she says that there are two Lindas. She actually means two Karens. Also, all of the puppies had their tails "docked" except for ours, which we asked to remain natural.

Here are some photos of the new puppy along with her mom, dad, and litter-mates. You can click on any photo to see it full-screen and then use the arrow keys to move through the photos.

Sparkle on the day she was born - Sept. 9, 2015

Sparkle at 11 days old

Sparkle at 11 days old

Sparkle and her litter-mates at 11 days old - She is the one in the upper left corner

Sparkle's Mom, Mae, a cocker spaniel

Sparkle's Dad, Bear, a miniature poodle