I say by Foster Dog

Ok, here's what I say, "That Atticus Dog is crazy."

Leanne brought him home and Luna and I looked at each other and said, "What the?"  Leanne smelled so happy and eager for us to accept him that we had to admit, "This is an adventure."  Atticus is a busy busy nut job.

Leanne says Atticus is a puppy who didn't have a Pack to support his development.  She also says that is no excuse for him to not follow The Ways, but she says it's going to take some time for Atticus to learn how things work around here.  He is so not on our plan.  As J says, "He is not dialed in yet."

I like my naps.  Everyone knows this.  Atticus has not yet learned the beauty of even one nap let alone the multiple naps I need during the day.  Thank You Leanne for wrapping me up so I can block out the rambunctious puppy.  I tell him, "Dude, I'm trying to sleep here.  Calm it down," and he says, "Foster Dog!  Come play with me!  Foster Dog!  I love you!  Foster Dog!  Leanne is calling me!  Gotta go!"  Again, Thank You Leanne.  I don't know how she keeps that bugger occupied during the day.  He is a non-stop Tasmanian Devil kind of creature.

You do have to feel for the guy though.  He'd never known the Blueberry Unfrosted PopTart until he met us.  He didn't even know about walks in the woods or chewing on antlers or  cuddling up with heated blankets or sleeping with humans.  He's been totally deprived so I'll give him a pass about some things.  Some things I won't.

The dude only wants what I have because I have it.  He's totally like a toddler who thinks everything is his.  I let him just have stuff because that's My Way, but it can get really annoying.  Leanne returns the stuff and distracts the Big A with something else so I can enjoy an antler or the destruction of a toy now and then, but it's like he's obsessed with me.  Leanne says he loves me, but he also competes with me, so she'll let him love me, but she'll never let him win.  Leanne says she will always win, and you know what?  She's right.  She never backs down from The Beast and he's learning that she means business.  Luna and I know that already, and totally think it's cool, but The Puppy just doesn't get it yet.  He will.

So until he's dialed in, Luna and I will keep trying to show him The Ways, and as long as he doesn't mess with my naps too much, he'll be alright.  I think we could really work together on the squirrel issue outside...once I get up from my nap.

My Words by Luna

Everyone has been asking if I like Atticus.  Eh, he's alright.  It doesn't really matter if I like him.  I can get along with anybody.  What matters to me is if Leanne likes him. When she's happy, we're all happy.

My job is to nurture Leanne.  I just make her feel good about everything, and when she feels good about everything, everything is good, you know?  She says I've taught her a lot, but I think I've just loved her and shown her that she's great.  Sometimes she doesn't think she's that great, and I just remind her.  Atticus though, he's really teaching her things.  He's a teacher.  He's going to show her she's great in his own way.

Atticus is pretty funny.  He's so clumsy he kind of falls down the stairs like a stretched out Slinky with extra gravity.  And if we won't play with him, he barks like a baby.  That's what he is really, a baby.  A big baby who can't really balance his head on his body.

Leanne worries about Atticus like she does about me and Foster Dog.  She doesn't like to be away from us and adding crate time for Attie stresses her.  Just like Foster Dog though, Atticus pretty much likes the crate, and that helps Leanne manage the time apart.  She also worries about meeting his needs because she's still learning what they are, so Foster Dog and I just let her know what we need and Atticus usually thinks our needs are good ones for him to have too.

He is Thee Worst about chewing on leashes.  Good grief, why does he do that?!  It takes up way too much of our time on walks sometimes.  Thank God Leanne is patient because I might have to have a talk with him about it.  It's just so annoying.  He is Super Good at waiting for meals.  I totally would have a talk with him if he was all antsy and runaroundy, but he's Super Good and just waits.  He's actually better about waiting until he's called to his station than I or Foster Dog.  That's why he gets called first a lot.  Leanne rewards our behavior, not our seniority.  Freaking puppy.

Oh My Gosh does he take up a ton of room in the bed.  Leanne isn't sure he's ready to cuddle up with us, but she lets him practice a little and one time we all fell asleep and left absolutely no room for J!  J is so accommodating with stuff like that.  J just slept somewhere else for a while until Attie decided to put himself to bed in the crate.

So do I like him?  Eh, he's alright, but he makes Leanne happy and she's super happy when we're all walking in the woods, or anywhere.  She just likes to be with us and as long as she still makes time to be with me, I'm good.

Hi Everybody! It's me, Atticus!

I said, "My name is Atticus.  I belong to you."

I've lived with Leanne, J, Luna and Foster (that's his real name) for two months now and they're great.  I knew Leanne was mine because she was the first person to hear me say my name is Atticus.  Some nice people at K9 Stray Rescue League named me Harlan when they saved my life, but Leanne heard me say my real name.  She's really nice to me and has bought me lots of stuff and is super patient with me.  She calls me "Attie" a lot and I always come when she calls me...except if I'm tracking a critter.

I kind of pull a lot on a leash, but Leanne won't let me be disconnected from her.  She says I'm getting better, and she says one day she bets I'll be able to track anything on any surface since my nose is so powerful.  Because it's been a little icy outside, and I'm so interested in squirrels, Leanne walks with us all for only 20 minutes or so outside twice a day, and then I get to walk on the treadmill!  I'm really good at it!  So I still need to learn how to not pull so much on the leash, and to come to Leanne even if I'm tracking something.  Leanne says I'll get it, and until then she tells me I have to stay on the leash, and I can't howl at the black squirrels, and I can't try to jump through the door wall, and I can't chase the Pug at puppy school.  She has a lot of rules, but she's nice.

We like to walk together in all kinds of weather!

Leanne was even super nice to me when I did a really bad thing.  I ate two of her chapsticks.  She calls them "lippies," and I ate two really really expensive minty ones.  Leanne doesn't know how I even found them, and she said she must have made a mistake and she needs to watch me more carefully.

Leanne says she learned from some people that I'm not the Young Adult the K9 shelter thought I was.  I'm actually a puppy and no one is sure how old I am.  I might not even be a year old yet!  A behavior lady says I was on my own really early and didn't really have anybody to show me how to be.  Leanne says she'll help me!

Leanne and J and Luna and Foster have helped me a lot already.  Foster plays with me and he and Luna try to teach me about playing nicely.  I've learned to wait patiently while Leanne makes my meals - I LOVE what she feeds me - and I wait until she tells me I can eat.  She tells me I'm so sweet and so patient.  I think she loves me.  And I think I love frozen green beans and Blueberry Unfrosted PopTarts.  I know I love the elk antlers they give me to chew on!  Leanne says I'm a Heavy Chewer and that it's her job to give me what I need so I don't get into any trouble.

Chewin' next to my favorite

Leanne says there are at least two things she's surprised by.  She thinks it's so great that I like the crate they gave me to cuddle up in.  She says it's hard to leave me, but since I like the crate so much, it's easier for her.  They only leave me for like two hours, but I can tell Leanne doesn't like to be apart.  When we all come back together everyone is so happy!  Leanne says she thinks it's so funny that I like to have my ears cleaned!  I still don't like my nails trimmed, but Leanne says she'll help me get used to it.

Everybody is really nice here and Leanne says I will live with them forever and ever.  I don't know what that means exactly, but I think it means they're my family and I belong with them and that they love me no matter what.

Leanne made us dress up and pose on the porch

Harlan/Atticus/Attie/Big A