Sweet as Syrup, Miss Maple

Written March 2022

This month has been one full of adventure and excitement as my dad and stepmom came to visit and brought us a chocolate lab puppy we affectionately named Maple. She was a Thanksgiving baby so beyond the fact that she is quite literally sweet like maple syrup, it was somewhat of an autumnal name as well.

This little bundle of love comes to us just one month after I had to return Nova to the people that we had adopted her from as she was just too aggressive towards me to keep her. I don't know what happened in her past but none of these things were apparent to me before adopting her. Regardless, it wasn't meant to be.

Maple has been learning lots of new things since we got her. She is almost potty trained and she loves to take naps and go on walks. She gets excited to ride in the car and even enjoys going to Lowe's with us. She is really good at "Sit" and "Fetch", and is slowly getting better at "Lay Down". She still sleeps in the kitchen and is so good about staying off of the furniture. She really is the sweetest girl. She likes to bring us things she finds like a beer can from under the deck and lots and lots of sticks. There isn't anything bad to say about her, she's still a puppy so learning is a full time job between naps and outside breaks. Maple also is learning that being alone is okay. She spends sunny days outside and rainy days napping by my desk while I work, preferably belly up just in case I feel like giving her some belly rubs or chin scritches. Her first vet appointment is tomorrow and I am interested to see how she will react around other dogs and lots of smells. I have no doubt that she will just want to make friends and sniff everything she can. She is a very social pup, learning to sit while meeting new people is extremely difficult because she just can't contain her excitement but we are working on it.

Update Addition: October 31, 2022

Happy Halloween! We have had Miss Maple for seven months now. She fits into our family seamlessly and we are always happy waking up to her smiling face. She still loves walks and fetch and spends everyday sleeping next to my desk and following me around the house.. to the kitchen, to the bathroom, to the backyard, she never leaves my side.

Maple is the sweetest girl, she has learned most all her commands and even learned to use a button to tell us when she wants to go outside. Learning how to use her puppy dog eyes to get all the cuddles and treats wasn't difficult either.. I'd say that she has us trained to her liking as well. She has so many people that love her and send her toys and treats and even come to visit her. She's had a few play dates with friends and is excited to travel and meet and see all of her family. this coming holiday season.

I love dressing her up by changing her collars to fit the occasion and the season and even got her a bed with her name embroidered on the front. She is completely spoiled, but we don't have any human kids yet so can you blame me for loving her too much?

I can't wait to see how her personality grows and changes in the coming years. If you would like to follow along she has her own Instagram page @sweetsyrupdogmaple. I will be sharing all the fun there.