#NationalPuppyDay

Today is National Puppy Day! Since I am obsessed with my rescue dog, and every other dog I meet/see a picture of, this is one of my favorite "holidays." There isn't anything better than scrolling through Instagram posts with the hashtag, #NationalPuppyDay, especially when I am hiding from a winter storm. So, in honor of the holiday I thought I would tell you a bit about my rescue pup. Full disclosure: at the age of 5 he is technically not a puppy, however I will continue to refer to him as my pup from here on out. 

After weeks and weeks of searching petfinder.com (ADOPT DON'T SHOP!) for my future pup, my best friend finally came across a dog who seemed to be the perfect match. He was small, which was what I needed since I was living in a NYC apartment, he was house broken, knew basic commands, and wasn't a barker. (His pictures were also adorable!) I immediately inquired about him and set up an appointment to visit him at his foster home. The hike to get him was not an easy one - two trains and a taxi ride totaling about 3 hours or so of travel - but it was worth it. I fell in love with him immediately. Needless to say he came home with me that day. 

Since he had been living on a farm for a while I was a bit concerned about how he would adjust to the big apple but he did just fine. He loved our apartment and enjoyed his walks along the east river. Whenever I went to a restaurant with outdoor seating he tagged along, he rode the subways and the buses, had visited Brooklyn, and was familiar with NJ Transit - he was a true city dog. When we moved back to the suburbs of NJ he adjusted with ease again - chasing squirrels, staring outside the window keeping an eye on anyone who walked past our house, and occasionally barking at the mailman.

And now, my rescue pup is a Colorado dog! He survived the drive across the country with long naps and runs through the grassy areas at rest stops. He settled into our airbnb quickly and eventually our apartment. He has adjusted to city walks again but he now knows that a car ride means we are going on a hike - his favorite activity. At only 14 pounds he tackles hikes like a true mountain dog. Most recently he hiked through the snow as we attempted to see the Royal Arch in the Flat Irons. To be clear, if he had his way we would have kept going, but without snow grips my boyfriend and I were struggling. To give you some perspective on my dog's hiking ability- last summer he hiked 7 miles up and down a mountain in upstate New York leaving his best friend, a German Shepard, in the dust. I know, he is impressive ;) 

Don't forget to follow me on @FromDenverCoWithLove! (I promise lots of pics of my pup.)

A quick PSA: if you are considering adding a dog (or a cat, or rabbit, or any animal) to your family, please adopt! I promise you will find what you are looking for at your local shelter. I found my dog through PetFinder.com, so I recommend starting your search there. Yay for adoption! 

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From Denver, With Love