The story of Comet

Comet 8 1/2 weeks. Her ears weren't sticking up yet.

Max learned how to draw pictures over the summer. He started drawing pictures of us and then he moved onto drawings of a dog who he named Comet. He just kept talking about this dog Comet who would be his "doggy friend". After going to many rescues and having no luck we ended up finding a backyard breeder who had just had their first litter of white german shepherd puppies. We drove two hours to Sacramento to "look" at the puppies and of course walked away with Comet.

After a few days of getting her, her ears perked up. Here she is trying to sleep with her "littermates".

There were two puppies left and the kids were running around and playing with them. Max came to me and whispered in my ear that one of them had given him a hug and that he wanted to take that one home. So we did! I held the puppy in my arms as we drove home and we shared our first bonding experience when she became car sick and threw up on me. Not very fun then but funny now :).

Still small enough to sit with us on our laps. On our way to Target and Petco for socialization.

Since then life has been amusing, hectic and frustrating at times. Its hard to raise two small kids with a puppy around. Now that I have the hang of it I like it. You know how when you have a newborn your life revolves around their nap schedule, well for me it kind of revolves around Comet's play schedule. Whats great about it is that I get plenty of excercise. I have a companion with me when we take the kids to the park and that when she is tired she is a cute cuddle bug. Whats not so great about it is when she doesn't get enough exercise she gets bored and she chews up our shoes, clothes, trash, door mat, dead grasshoppers, hands, toes and basically anything that will fit in her mouth.  But she keeps my life interesting and I have met a ton of people because of her. We have a doggy playgroup we go to every night. We have made friends with other herding dogs and go on trails. We had the chance to meet an Irish fellow who let Comet become familiar with horses and let Max sit on this beautiful horse. It was awesome. The kids are learning (slowly) to care for something. We teach them to think of her feelings and wants and to be gentle and loving. We have been to some beautiful places because of her. Rodeo Beach is a dog beach, Indian Valley Trail is for hikers, mountain bikers, dog people, and horse back riding. We love Comet and are so happy to have her in our lives. I never would have thought that I would love a dog like I love Comet. I actually wish the kids weren't around sometimes just so I could explore some more advance hikes and do other cool activities like flyball, agility...even just to watch her do what she was bred to do: herd sheep.

At Rodeo Beach. Comet loves to help the kids dig in the sand.

The only time Comet can run alongside Max. Other times she tries to herd him.

Indian Valley Trail is really close to our house and Comet LOVES this place.

I have recently started letting Comet off the leash at the park when no one else is around. She likes to think she is one of the kids by climbing up the playground :)

Max and Comet exploring in the woods.

Comet has been on the trail with horses before but she has never met one until now.

Max meeting the horse.

As Max was being placed on the horse he started to become scared but we encouraged him anyway and then he loved being on the horse.

The beautiful horse named Dodge.