Anel and I are so excited to announce the newest addition to our family, Mr. Boots! We’ve been wanting a dog since we moved into the new house and when one of my coworkers had puppies, I fell inΒ love and never looked back.
I can’t believe how hard I’ve fallen for this little guy, and I feel so lucky to be his mama!
Scroll down to readΒ more about Boots and be sure to follow along on Instagram and Snapchat (lemonstripes) for more of the cuteness.
Breed: 1/2 German Shepard, 1/2 Pit Bull. Both breeds get a bad rap because they’re often mistreated and raisedΒ for the wrong reasons, but in reality, both breeds (and especially this mix!) are incredibly loyal, smart, protective, and family oriented. We had my five year old brother Jackson with him for a few hours and they exchanged many kisses and cuddles.
Age: He’s six weeks old today.Β We brought him home this weekend for a day to get him acquainted with the house and for his first visit to the vet, but he’s not old enough to leave his mama yet so we’re taking him home for good in a few weeks. Having him for a whole day was the absolute best and leaving him was the absolute worst.
Training:Β My husband grew up with German Shepards and is incredible at training dogs. We are going to be crate training him pretty strictly at first so that we can establish boundaries andΒ rules. The vet confirmed that his thinking that we should keep him in his crate unless he’s exercising, eating, or playing with us, is correct. We have a cozy bed in the crate as well as what has, in a day, become his favorite blanket. There is a section of our family room gated off that also includes his water bowl, toys, and a pee pad.
Name: His cute little white paws on all four legs sparked the name boots. My husband came up with it the second he saw him and that was that!
Bed: I found the cutest ever dog bed that’s on the way now from Amy Berry Home.Β All you dog-owners need to look her up immediately.
Food: We plan to feed him a mostly organic, natural diet. We bought Wilderness Blue puppy foodΒ but if you have any other recommendations, we’re open to it!
Personality: He is the runt of the litter and when we’ve seen him with his brothers, they’re always fighting and playing, and he lays there calmly. He is literally the chillest puppy I’ve ever met and the vet confirmed it! I hope he stays that way but we’ll never know.
So much more to come about our experience with a new puppy and raising a dog. I know you’ll all soon love him as much as we do!
Note:Β I have deleted a few of the comments below. That is not something I usually do. I believe everyone has an opinion and should be able to voice it anywhere, including here. That being said, Β I felt as if the some comments were hurtful and mean regarding something that is a very big deal to me and my husband. We love this dog with all of our hearts and plan to treat him as a part of our family! I also added a piece about crate training above.
Such a sweet little boy! I can’t wait to watch him grow! Having a dog is THE BEST.
Alyssa | Glitter and Grey
omgggg !! he is sooooo cute! We have two little puppies here in Danbury.. i love them both so much. Having puppies is like having kids.. you love them so so so so much! Welcome to the family boots!
So precious! I’m terrified for that dog bedΓ’β¬βbased on my dog at that age (and up until he turned 3, really), it sure feels like saying goodbye to money. Looks like a supervision-only bed until he’s finished chewing!
That said, our dog destroying beds led to him sleeping at the foot of the bed, and at this point he tries his best to wedge between me and my husband.
I hear you! We will not be using the “fancy” bed until he’s fully trained. He’s being crate trained as a puppy!
Please do not feed him dry dog food! Dry food is so bad for pets, even if it is a grain free one. Plus it makes them fat. Feed him wet food only. Hound and Gatos makes a very high quality wet food for dogs that is very affordable – it is just human grade meat and vitamins and minerals. Dr. Karen Becker, a holistic vet, has a lot of good articles on what to feed your pet and other pet related issues. See http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/07/21/13-pet-foods-ranked-from-great-to-disastrous.aspx.
Also no rawhide bones. Since he is going to be a big dog, with a strong jaw, you should get him a good Kong that you can stuff with peanut butter and other treats. It will keep him entertained, especially when you go out. Don’t bother with stuffed toys – he will rip them to shred in two minutes flat.
I also agree with Caroline’s comment about that dog bed. It is going to get destroyed. Your best bet is to get him an inexpensive bed from somewhere like Petco or Petsmart that fits in a crate (you are going to need to crate train him) and then slip a king sized pillowcase over the bed. This way, you can just throw the pillow case in the wash. Wait until he is an adult to get him a bed and then get a quality one you can easily wash.
Stainless steel or ceramic food and water dishes are best. Plastic can breed bacteria.
Baby gates also are a good idea to keep him out of places you don’t want him to go.
Thanks for your comment. We’re new at this so it’s very helpful. I’m going to look into that dog food and checking out the link now. Thank you!
Ask your vet about the food. I always feed my dog high quality dog food and it was what our vet recommended. We have a golden retriever that we got at 8 weeks. I don’t know anyone that feeds theirs wet food, except for one friend who has a very old dog that is missing all their teeth.
We feed our dog Merrick’s mixed with a small amount of coconut oil. His skin and fur is so soft! Our pup is like a child to us so for special occasions we mix some dry food with a can of Merrick’s wet food and he loves it!
That’s interesting Anna! I am going to ask my vet about that and see what she thinks about me trying that for my baby… mixing coconut oil with the dog food. Sounds like such a good idea. I just want to make sure it won’t have any long term effects on her gut health as a dog. Thanks for sharing.
He’s adorable! Congrats on becoming a dog owners–I know you’ll love it. Enjoy his time as a puppy as it goes by super fast!
xx Hannah // http://www.HomemadeBanana.com
One more thing – puppies love to chew, especially pitbulls. When I was at the vet’s office, a 20-something guy called because his pitbull puppy had just chewed up his rug and ate it! Bad for the rug but bad for the pitbull and guy, because that pitbull most definitely needed to have a costly surgery as a result. So make sure you keep an eye on the dog at all times or you will be spending a lot of money on redecorating and vet bills.
Ahh…he is so cute! Enjoy him!
BEAUTIFUL PUP!! I am so happy to hear that you aren’t separating him from his momma yet…love your blog, esp your authenticity/warmth…welcome to CT–a wonderful place to grow a family!
Awe so cute! I want a puppy so bad!!!
Laura | Laura Aime Vous
What a little nug! Congratulations!!
Not to be a debbie downer, but are you sure this is the right dog for you? Owning a dog is A LOT of work and it is so important that you have the right dog for your lifestyle. I ask because that expensive dog bed you picked and all those white furnishings you have in your house don’t go well with a Pitbull/German Shepard mix. You might be better with a smaller lap dog, like a Shih Tzu, or with a cat .
I know you recently quit your job, but have you thought about what you will do if you have to or want to go back to work? A dog cannot be left for ten or more hours a day by itself.
A dog also needs a lot of exercise, socialization, and training. If these things aren’t done, then the dog starts engaging in destructive and sometimes aggressive behavior. Are you willing to exercise this dog every day no matter the weather or how tired you are after a long day of working? Are you willing to commit to training and socializing the dog? And how will you feel if that dog destroys all your furniture?
Also what happens if you have a baby? Will you still have the time and desire to properly exercise and care for the dog while taking care of a baby? What will you do if the dog doesn’t like the baby?
What will you do with the dog when you want to go on vacation or you just want to go away for the weekend? Boarding a dog is expensive and very traumatizing for the dog.
I say this not to be mean but because I see so many dogs end up at shelters because their owners were totally unprepared for what it meant to properly care for them and because they picked a dog they thought was cute rather than a dog that was right for their lifestyle.
I would LOVE to have a dog but I know that as a single person working full time with an active social life and living in an apartment, it would not be a good fit for me nor would it be fair to the dog. That is why I ultimately decided to adopt a cat (which to be honest, can be difficult, because I cannot just go away whenever I want anymore and she has health problems I have had to deal with). Maybe one day, when I am retired and have the time to devote to properly caring for a dog, then I will adopt one. Until then, it is the cat and me.
Thanks for your thoughts, Penelope. My husband and I have fully thought out this decision and are prepared for everything from chewing to training to exercise to vacations. We are both extremely loving and caring people and we plan to treat this puppy like it’s a part of our family.
Congratulations, Julia! Owning a dog is so exciting, and I miss having one. They are the BEST, and Boots is so cute! I know he’ll give you a lot of love, as you will to him.
Ellen | A Pop of Pink
Congrats on your puppy, Julia! He’s adorable!
Pink Champagne Problems
Chewy.com will be your new best friend. Best website ever for dog supplies. Everything on their website that they sell is made in America. Wouldn’t shop for my dog anywhere else.
http://www.officialpatagonia.com
looks very flattering and so cute!Great post.Thanks for sharing.I love your dog.
Congratulations! He is so adorable:)
xoxo, Jordan and Grace
twoblondepreps.blogspot.com
Congratulations Julia! I am shocked about how negative people can be over a puppy! I lived in an apartment with my lab/mastiff mix for his first 2 years, and crate trained him. He is now almost 6 and absolutely loves his crate! Crates don’t have to be a negative if you don’t make them. The one recommendation I would have is socialization with people, other dogs and kids is key. It makes for a much more well adjusted dog. Even though the puppy days are a lot of work, enjoy them, they grow up fast!
Julia, I read your blog daily but haven’t posted a comment before. I doubt that I am alone in saying this (and I feel that this is a larger problem with our society these days): it astounds me that people feel the need to “educate” you for a decision that you obviously put a lot of thought into. My fiance and I just got a puppy ourselves and it is the best decision I’ve made in years, I know you will be very happy!
Amusing. posts on many blogs (this one included) are to educate the reader on something or other, so it stands to reason that some commenters would feel the need to ‘educate’ as well. Anyway comments are all about opening up discussions otherwise what’s the point of having them unless the blogger is just looking for constant praise
I am surprised that my comment (which stated that blogs are designed to educate the reader and in return it is no surprise that readers would want to educate other people) would be considered to awful as to be deleted….way to go first amendment and free speech!
That face! Adorable pup and love the name π My husband and I are waiting until we buy a house to buy a dog too…and I’m hoping that is one of our first additions when we do! Will love to see how this guy settles in with you two and hopefully get some tips before we get our little pup.
I’m sorry people are being such pooper scoopers. You guys are going to be awesome! My only request is that you post a nauseating amount of pictures!!
Best comment ever π
Boots is the best! I love that name. My husband and I also have a pit mix with white paws. We say she is always wearing socks! Our dog is two and I only lost one pair of shoes when she was a pup, but that was my fault because I left them in the living room where we kept her toys. Give him plenty of toys and play time and you’ll be golden. I think some dogs like to chew beds, but mine only likes to sleep in them. I’m so happy for you and your hubby and know you’ll make the best puppy parents!
Such a cute puppy!! We got our golden retriever at 8 weeks and although it was a lot of work at first, it was all worth it. She is almost 4 and is a big part of our family. Definitely spend the time to train him. We had a trainer that we worked with and he said, you get the dog you deserve. The more you put into the dog the better dog you will get. We also crate trained and it was a lifesaver! As she got older, we just crated her when we left the house and at night. Then we were able to leave her in the house while we were gone and just crated at night. Then when she was around 2, we stopped crating completely and she has been great. Get lots of chew toys too. I think that has helped us not have any problems with chewing on furniture.
I don’t usually comment but I wanted to say congratulations! He’s adorable and you look so happy with him. Mostly I wanted to comment because I don’t get what people’s problem is?? Some commenters are acting like you are the first couple in the world to ever decide to get a dog. I’m sure you will be wonderful dog owners! Just wanted to chime in since I can imagine getting negative comments about a happy event is a downer.
Wow, what an adorable addition to the family. I have worked with dogs all my life (we currently have 3 plus a foster). Welcome to the “parent” world! Your dog will love you more than life itself. I’m sure you will do a great job!
So sad to think people would say something negative about something so adorable and exciting. Hopefully he adjusts well and gets through the worst part (potty training) quickly π
Oh Julia, I’m so sorry that people said terrible things to you about your beautiful puppy. Kudos to you for deleting the comments and moving on… Life is too short. Our dog is crate trained but at her wise old age of 6, she only uses it at night and if we’re going to be out of the house for awhile. She is happy to hop in when necessary and I think she feels very safe and cozy in her “bed”. It’s well padded with a cozy bed and contains her favorite blankie. Also, in the beginning we always gave her a treat when we said “get in your bed” and so she has a good association with it. I didn’t get a dog until I was 42 and what a joy it has been. She’s quite little – a Boston Terrier runt – but she has added untold happiness to our lives. I know Boots will do the same for you. XO
Oh my goodness what a beautiful puppy! Congratulations!!! I can’t wait to see more posts with your puppy! http://www.elanalyn.com
Puppyhood is crazy, but so much fun! It’s amazing how fast they become the center of your world– ours is 17 months old and I can’t imagine life without him now. Enjoy it!
congrats congrats congrats!!!!!!! that is so exciting and so awesome!!!!! he is such a HAM, so adorable
wag.com is an amazing resource!
mushers dog wax helps with ice/snow/salt and dogs tend to like it better than the booties (which are hilarious and adorable, but unrealistic)
a large play pen saved my life with my pup
socialize and go to dog parks as much as you can
there are days when i would do anything to sleep instead of walking my dog, but it wakes you up (especially in the winter). make sure that you try your best to not schedule your life around the pop, which is what i did and ended up with a slightly bratty pup π
and definitely train, train train and do it early on so that it sticks. and keep going with it every so often, even after he learns because they can choose to forget really quickly and easily π
What a cute baby! He is so sweet π I’m sorry that people have said negative things. That is not fair to you.
http://www.thatgirlmags.com
Congratulations on your new family member!!!! Boots looks very cute. We have three dogs and I can’t imagine life without them. Enjoy!
OMG Julia! That puppy is just tooooo stinker cute ya’ll! I’ve fallen in love with him already! I have a little beagle puppy and he is suck a stinker but we love him anyways. Please post a ton of pictures of him!!! We would love it! lol
My puppy had trouble gaining weight so we bought the Royal Canine food, its breed specific and he added the extra pounds he needed in no time. Just a little tip incase you have the same problem. I CANNOT wait to watch your little puppy grow!
xoxo!
Congrats on welcoming the adorable Mr. Boots!! I hear there are great dog parks and dog-friendly hikes in Connecticut, which sound like fun. Yup, puppies require work but they’re totally worth it – and some people just aren’t “dog people” and may never get that. Plus, having grown up with dogs and having clearly been so thoughtful and intentional about your decision, it’s totally apparent that you both are up for it. I have serious puppy fever, but we’re waiting until after our wedding this fall to take the plunge. Please keep the Boots updates coming!
He is precious! Congratulations to you and you husband! Puppy training is hard work, but so worth it. I can’t imagine why such an adorable creature would spark any kind of negativity. Haters gonna hate, potatoes gonna potate. hrrmph.
–Roxanne
http://www.glassofglam.com
I’m so happy for you guys! Let me know if you ever want to chat puppy stuff…I was a damn maniac when Lucy was a baby and read allllll ze books π And if not…that’s ok too…because it’s YOUR baby! I can’t wait to meet him. <3 <3 <3
Aww Boots is so cute! Can’t wait to see lots of pictures!
xoxo,
Katie
chicincarolina.blogspot.com
AWWWWW! Such a cutie!! Animals bring so much joy in to your life. They love unconditionally and therefore require lots of love and attention from their owners. I can’t think of two better people to raise this little pup and give the love he deserves. CONGRATS @@lemonsandloafers:disqus
Oh for crying out loud, he is just too cute!!
Crate training is so smart…keeps them safe when you cannot watch them. Also, what if he needs to stay at vet for any reason, or be boarded? Much easier on him if he is used to a crate.
Please post regular photos of him, people are going to need that fix!
Such a sweet little pup! I think you should make whatever decisions you feel appropriate for you dog. I use Fromm dog food for my dog, we started with the puppy and have moved on to the adult. I have a lab mix and it makes her coat so nice and shiny plus she loves it. You have to watch out for dog food recalls on a lot of brands and Fromm hasn’t had any. I also have a big time chewer, she chewed all the legs on our furniture and destroyed any bone or toy we ever gave her (she even got through her kong). The only thing she is yet to destroy is the Jolly pets bone, it’s been great. Best of luck! There will be some frustrating days with a puppy and days you want to cry, but that’s ok, you’ll make it through!
I can’t believe that people were rudy Judy’s! My husband and I are getting a puppy this summer and I would love to hear how your husband is crate training him. That would be a super helpful post for me! Enjoy sweet, Mr. Boots! Can’t wait for more pics!
emily
http://www.deltachic.com