Milo | The Professional Sunbather Turns 5!

Happy birthday little pup! You are now older than me in dog years. But you were always wise beyond your years and a bit of an old fart anyway.

With all of his fluffy hair, one of the most common questions I receive is, "isn't he hot?"

Well folks, let me tell you. He likes it hot. (He also doesn't have an undercoat, so he gets cold easily.)

In the last year, Milo and I have discovered his love for sunbathing. I always knew he liked warm weather paired with a nice breeze, but this past year in particular, he has actively sought out that ray of sunshine peeking through the window, that warm patch of concrete in the driveway, and everyone's front door welcome mat.

Sometimes, when we return from a walk, he will stop on the welcome mat, look at me knowingly (and happily) as he refuses to step indoors, and then do his circle-walk before planting himself down for a toasty session of relaxation. Sometimes he doesn't even get that far; we might just return home from a car ride and he decides to plop down on the sunny driveway.

Or randomly in the flower bed at the mall . . .

Even when he's clearly hot, panting with his tongue extended, he has a look of joy on his face. I have to physically nudge him indoors to break him from his reverie and ensure his physical well-being. I haven't allowed this as much recently, with foxtails being in season outdoors, but perhaps today on his birthday I will indulge him.

Milo | The Tahoe Adventurer

Milo has always been a great travel dog. He loves road trips, sticking his head out the window, and pretty much just going wherever I go because it sure beats bumming around on the couch. And I've always known he enjoys the outdoors (in his must-sniff-every-nook-and-cranny sort of way). But usually dirt hikes end up with burrs or pine needles stuck in his fluffy paws and plaintive looks up at me to spare him the discomfort and carry him the rest of the way.

So, I knew he would be enjoy a recent trip to South Lake Tahoe, but I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which he jumped up and down rocks on a steep hike and eagerly splish-splashed into Eagle Lake. His cotton hair sure soaked up that water.

He couldn't wait to explore and his big black eyes weren't pleading with me to pick him up—no, those accusing eyes looked back at me like I was holding him back from his adventure!

I'm proud of this pup and look forward to many more adventures ahead.

Milo | Portrait of a Gentleman

Better known as Mr. Milo when on Google campuses, Milo dons a purple bowtie while on east campus:

and a red bowtie while on west campus:

 

I think my pup is kind of handsome. Excuse me while I have a proud parent moment :)

Milo | Dog Beach Day at Carmel-by-the-Sea

It's been a while since I have posted about Milo. But this romp earlier in the year at the Carmel-by-the-Sea dog beach is a fun moment worth sharing!

Milo is a keen and observant dog, but perhaps a bit too skeptical to be foolishly joyous and happy-go-lucky around strangers (both humans and dogs). As a result, he tends to come across as shy around new people. But when you get to know him, he is one funny pup who likes to tease and challenge you. It's hard not to anthropomorphize him!

This video is an especially happy one for me because Milo's wild play times in public have been more infrequent ever since he got attacked by a big dog last year. In addition, when we used to go to the Del Mar dog beach, the crowd of big dogs there always seemed to intimidate him, so he never quite got to appreciate the beach. Here, during a sunny moment of a rainy weekend, he finally finds a friend and learns firsthand what a wave is . . .

Milo | Turns 2!

Happy birthday Milo! Milo celebrated his second birthday (and his teenage years) with another granola cake this year. It is incredible how much he has grown, how quickly (yet sometimes slowly) the year passed by, and how few posts I made in the meantime (hopefully I can fix that in the upcoming year).

The puppy's cuteness is unwavering though. Here are a few photos!

"I spy a cake."



"Is it for me?"



"Are you sure?"



"I'll just give it a little taste test."



"Maybe a big lick."



"Okay, get thee in my mouth!"



"All mine, all mine!"

Milo | Curious (Suspicious) Puppy

When Milo wakes up in the morning, the first thing he needs to do is go outside for a little walk. After waiting for me to put on my contacts, he jumps off my bed and scurries along behind me. When I get downstairs though, he always stops at the top of the stairs and tilts his head at me. Why? Because sometimes I go to my work laptop and check email first. Milo doesn't like that. Here's what he's thinking:

Me: "Come Milo!"
Milo: *stares* *blinks* *tilts head* "I don't believe you. Are you really taking me out or what?"
Me: "Milo, come!"
Milo: *snort* "You tricked me into jumping off the warm cozy bed!"
Me: "Milo, we're going outside!"
Milo: *tilts head other way* "Prove it."
Me: *puts on shoes*
Milo: "Not good enough."
Me: *jingles keys*
Milo: "You really mean it! I'm coming I'm coming!" *bouncing down stairs*

He also stops at the top of the stairs when we call him during the day too, as if to ponder whether there is anything in it for him if he came all the way down the stairs. Sometimes he will plop down too.


He also likes to do a plop down when we're bustling in the kitchen or otherwise ignoring him and he's waiting for a little attention.

Milo | A Dog's Life

Rub my belly please.


I like to fetch my ball and then roll around with it. Why chew my ball while standing when I can do it while lying down?

Milo | Rhino Dino

Hello! Shhh . . . I am hunting . . .

Milo | A Field Day

Milo is a running back. When he runs, he zig-zags back and forth and yet still somehow manages to dash way ahead of you and out of your reach. Admittedly, his endurance is not great, but we rarely meet a dog that can keep up (or escape his playful pounces) in the short run.



Here, we've caught Milo in action at the park. When he tires out, he sits down, kicks his back leg out like he's decided to plop down on a couch, and refuses to continue on. Then, daddy has to carry him all the way home.



UPDATE: This final picture of Milo at the fountain made it into our vet's upcoming calendar! Milo will be Mr. September 2011.

Meet Milo | A Birthday Bonbon

Today is Milo's birthday! Our Coton de Tulear is now one year old, and certainly no longer a puppy. He is now tall enough and feisty enough to stand up and nab his birthday-doggy-donut from the dining table. However, as any parent would say—or in this case, doggie parent—in our eyes, Milo will always be our little baby puppy. (He certainly still acts likes one!)

I promised myself that on Milo's first birthday, I would start this blog. With the demands and stresses of my job, a new geographic location without old friends or any easy way to make new ones, and a loving husband who has been kidnapped by something called medical school, I often feel like I have to seek out and treasure the little things that make me happy. Two of those things, without fail, are Milo and cupcakes (both baking and eating them). With this blog, I hope to keep at least those two loves of my life at the forefront of my mind, so that I always have a reason to smile. Hopefully I can share those smiles with you too.