The M. Pucketts: Meet Aspen Puckett

Our sweet little Aspen, named after the Colorado ski town, arrived last wednesday (1/22). She is a beautiful (snow white) German Shepherd, going on 10 weeks old.

This is her only a few weeks old, we fell in love but had to wait another month to bring her home.

So far she is more of a joy than a pain, but we both knew a puppy wasn't going to be all rainbows and butterflies. The first few days were hardest. I felt like I was cleaning up after her and telling her "NO!" more than "Yes!!" She loves to nip on you, but we have learned that if we let out a yelp she will stop momentarily, then be back at it but very gently, as not to hurt us.

Im sure she will quickly fit this pillow...

Potty training is by far the hardest part. We were not getting it at all at first. Being on the third floor of our apartment, it is a bit of a task to take her out regularly. She is still afraid of the daunting staircases, at least going down. However, she will bolt up them to escape the "extreme" cold we have been experiencing here in the panhandle.

Her "area" covered in puppy pads.. with the hope she will choose one of them to pee on, which she rarely does...

Thankfully we are already out of the training pad stage!

A side note, the last two days we have woken to iced over cars and frosty rooftops! I was hoping for snow! But alas the cold will have to do. As every other floridian is "girding their loins" and running to purchase a personal space heater, I am embracing the lovely chill in the air and fully prepared with my colorado ski coat! A little cold weather never bothered me!

However, the cold is a nuisance when Aspen needs to be taken out to relieve herself a couple times in the middle of the night. She is sometimes too cold to go. Being a German Shepherd, she is very smart. She knows how to get back home to the warmth no matter how far away from the complex we walk. And she is good at tricking you also, she likes to sit preciously next to you, give you a cute innocent stare then dart as fast as she can in the direction of home. I always hate locking the leash and pulling her violently back, but I am more than over cleaning up after her little accidents.

She has finally learned that she can't relieve herself on the concrete of the third floor of our complex as well, which we were letting her do at first just so she understood that she has to be outside to "go" rather than inside. But now she is understanding that grass or dirt means it is potty time.

She has "sit" command down like a charm and is quickly picking up on "stay" and "lay down". Her favorite place is actually her kennel.. or maybe it is just the blanket in her kennel. We gave her an old blanket to lay on her first night with us, now she will cry in her kennel if it is not there for her.

Just like Michael, she cozies right up to her "Nightmare Before Christmas" blanket

Overall she is a pleasure to have. She is absolutely adorable! She has almost eaten through her Kermit-the-frog toy and every time we introduce a new toy to her, she does a funny pouncing movement all around it as if it might magically come alive and bite her back. But as soon as we start to play fetch she is all over it. She is a loyal friend and has taken ownership over me and Michael. Like a small child she will hide between our legs when a new person or dog approaches.. so sweet. Oh and she loves to chase and chew on my ponytail whenever she can sneak up on me..