Happy 3rd Birthday Berklee!

On a warm day in July Brian and I brought home the most adorable little girl in the world! It was literally love at first sight! When I arrived to pick her up she was sitting quietly in the corner while her brothers and sisters ran around each other barking and playing. It was as if she was on her very best behavior for me! As soon as I picked her up she immediately nuzzled into my neck and started licking my face. There was no way I was going home without this baby. 

That was three years ago and our world has never been the same. Miss Berklee Marie (yes she has a middle name) was born on May 10, 2010. She became our first baby on July 3 of that year. Since then we have watched her grow into the best dog we could ever hope for. She's rambunctious, funny, energetic, loyal, loving and recently incredibly protective (of me). She is a tri-colored miniature Australian Shepherd. And we couldn't love her more!

She loves to play fetch and swim (but hates the pool), she sleeps in bed with us - although I'm not sure how that will work come September - and she is a constant companion. No matter how long we're away from her - whether it be an hour or a week (she stays with my parents) she is so happy when we return. Our greetings are similar to that of Dino and Fred Flinstone - if she were any bigger she'd knock us flat on our backs! Because of her breed she has no tail so when she's happy her whole bum shakes, it's quite a sight to see!

I could have had a horrible day at work, where nothing went right, but the second I walk in the door and see her little face it just doesn't matter anymore. Nothing can ever be wrong when she is around.

My parents are just as in love with her as we are and they refer to her as their "grandpuppy" The year we brought her home was also the year my parents had to put down the family dog. Bingo was a standard Australian Shepherd who lived an amazing life. He was 18 years old when they finally put him down. Berklee was by his side right up until the end, sharing his bed (and her bones) with him until my mum had to take him away. She has told us many times that having Berklee there (Brian and I were in Hawaii) "saved" them because while they were incredibly sad that Bingo was gone, at least they had little Berklee to come home to. My dad will call me on a Saturday and ask me if I'm coming over - if I answer "yes" his next question is whether or not Berklee is coming. And if I dare to show up unannounced without her, man I better have a good reason!

Berklee was the perfect addition to our little family and I just know that she will watch over her little brother as he grows up. It is my hope that they will be each other's wingman/dog in our sons early years! I have no doubt that she will love and protect him just as she does with Brian and me!

Berklee
(12 weeks vs 3 years)