Border Collie, Spaniel

February 2005 update from Tucker's family's holiday letter.

Hi Everybody – I’m Tucker Mickey M. and I’m the new kid on the block here. I was adopted in March from a nice foster family and settled in; puppy style. I know last Christmas was tough, cause Georgia was completing her incredible 115 year life and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She’s a tough act to follow, but my forever family assures me I am blazing my own trail! I know Georgia’s up there helping me write this letter, ‘cause I don’t know how to turn on Joe’s computer yet. I’m only 20 months old and am learning new stuff everyday. I do sit, stay, down, off, and want nothin’ but love.

I am happy that I’ve got the best boy in the world! Benjamin and I are inseparable. I sit at the door each afternoon & wait for him to come home from 5th grade. We run around the yard and I play with my stick or hoola hoop. Then at night I sleep in Ben’s bed. When he’s not home I sit at the door and cry. It’s pitiful I know, but it gets some attention. Everyone says I’m spring loaded, and have trouble saying hello without wanting to be on your lap. But for a 19 pound adorable, black miniature Irish setter–type, we are all having a lot of fun. I’m doing my best to make Miss Georgia so proud of me to ‘see’ her family happy and laughing again.

Tucker, aka Mr. Tucker aka Tucker Puppy has adjusted quite well and we to him. He is quite a different personality from our Georgia - in both looks and mannerisms! It took a while to adapt to his different ways and realize that 'this or that' is what or how Georgia would respond, but we've got the hang of it now. Tucker has many sides, playful, endearing, puppy tailchaser, quite the jumper and most of all eager to please. He's extremely quiet and uses his bark only on the rarest of occasions! This is the biggest difference -- as our girl was a 'talker'. He uses his eyes most effectively and has his own ways with each of the 3 of us.

Oh yes, and he does occasionally howl! Its quite adorable, and I didn't catch on at first, but Joe is sure he was expressing his missing Ben, who was at his first overnight with Cub Scouts...

He's a wonderful car rider going all the way to the Adirondacks for July 4th weekend and has picked up more commands. He now responds well to sit (he came that way, thanks to Jen) stay, shake, off, down, come and kennel. He loves carrots and throwing his doll pup around.

Tucker turned one on May 17th and has gained only 1/2 lb since adoption. We believe he's maxed on growth at 19.5 lbs, and that's just fine with us. When I come home from work, if I sit or stand with my arms wide open, Tucker JUMPS STRAIGHT UP, landing practically on my shoulder!

He likes his walks and we're still working on leash walking and not jumping on everyone he sees. The skiddish days are gone, unless he's surrounded by lots of little hands where he's outnumbered and shies from this. Mittens also got him a bit worried. He sits RIGHT under my computer and one of these days he's gonna get rolled on.. :) He has a sweet pup to pal around with the other side of the fence too. They roll around like a couple of squirrels...

He tried swimming in a lake and eating red velvet cake, a few cable wires and most anything now if left alone and uncrated. He was not chewing anything for the first month, then got comfortable, so we crate him when we're not here. We tried gating him in the kitchen, but he figured out he could jump the gate only days later. Tucker, we've come to learn is spring loaded!!

We proudly tell his story of adoption/rescue and of Petfinders and Hedgesville. Ben and I took him for his update vet visit and ran into the officer that came to inspect us. That was a nice surprise.

Well this was to be a short note, but I guess this Mom has some bragging rights!