Johnny's life so far...

Brian's been asking me for a while to start a blog, and since Johnny is the most interesting and exciting thing in our life right now, Johnny it is!

Not yet ready for kids, Brian finally talked me in to getting a dog right before his birthday in June.  We had a boy's name and a girl's name picked out, and finally found the perfect dog- our Lil' Johnny.  What follows is a brief summary of his life so far:

April 1, 2011... Lil' Johnny (originally named Sampson) was born in a litter of eight.  True to his name and his birth date, Johnny is trouble.

This picture was taken when Johnny was still Sampson!

June 12, 2011... Johnny comes to live with us!

On our way home...

Playing in the yard.

First family shot!

July... Johnny got neutered and ate through his e-collar in a day.  Oy.

He also got a delicious Kosher Bone for being so brave!

August... We started a weekly obedience class with Johnny.  He's quite the instigator and just wants to play with all the other dogs, but he actually does pretty well.  Most of his skills are generalizing to home too!

September... List of casualties by chewing: couch, vacuum cord, lamp cord, blu-ray cord, 2 puppies beds, my favorite Target flip flops, other flip flops, lots of socks, new bathroom rugs, kitchen towels, lots of rolls of toilet paper, dog food bowl, tupperware, dog toys that are "indestructible," $40 cash, anything we hang on the refrigerator, M&Ms, 2 checks, a SARRC report, table legs, etc.

...and the hose...

...and a cantaloupe from our used-to-be garden...

...and the peach tree...

October... Johnny gets bit by a rattle snake!  It was a really scary day, but Johnny made it and we learned some things.  Did you know that if dogs get antivenin within 2 hours they are usually ok?  That's way more time than a human has!  Snake bites can wipe your wallet, so we took Johnny to a snake aversion session.  Hopefully he'll stay away from snakes from now on.  Johnny also graduated his obedience class, with honors!

Puffy face from the snake bite on his nose.

So sad and fat-faced!

Johnny driving on the way home from snake aversion training.

Johnny graduated!  We are so proud!

November... We took a 12 hour car ride to New Mexico for Thanksgiving.  Johnny grew up on this trip and was SO well behaved.  He traveled to four states, played in snow, and stood on the corner in Winslow, AZ among other adventures!

Standing (sitting) on the corner in Winslow, Arizona.

Being a ROCK STAR on the car ride!

At the Four Corners Monument.

Happy Thanksgiving from Questa, NM!

Window Rock, AZ

December... Johnny spent a few days at Doggie Day Camp at Petsmart.  This is my new guilty pleasure.  I would spend all my money there if I could!  Johnny has so much fun and comes home exhausted.  Too tired to bother me!  It's perfect!  He continues to blow us away with his genius.  Johnny learned to throw a container that held his food down the stairs to get the food out.  When that didn't work he learned to unscrew it!  Can't put anything past this dog.  He's special.