I’ve covered Pofi’s origin story previously, but would be remiss if I did not share the story of how he came to be the best canine big brother our Mia could ever have hoped for.
As discussed previously, he grew like a proverbial weed…
At 11 weeks
At 16 weeks
At any age, Pofi was a social pup – loved people loved the company of other dogs. His very first friend was our tenants’ dog, Summit, a Beagle x Dachshund and a bit if a cranky old man (per his people), but our boy was a sufficiently respectful youngster, so peace prevailed.
Giving Summit space, Easter, 2005.
Learning to play with Summit, Easter, 2005.
Over his first winter, he also became even better BFFs with Igby, a Lhasa Apso neighbor who is just one year older. Pofi really has always been good at scaling his play style to size as appropriate and watching these two wrestle was great fun for all of us.
Dancing with Igby
Letting Igby pin him!
And we discovered the dog parks in Minneapolis as he got a bit older. We started at the small one in our neighborhood and I can remember the mounting excitement reflected in his expressions as he looked up at me in wonder hearing the sounds of dogs playing as we first entered the first of the gates. His gait got so animated as if he could hardly believe we were headed to a gathering of his kind. We went often and he loved running in a big elliptical orbit around the park with all the other dogs chasing him. A few of the other dog parents took to calling him “Our Dog Park Athlete” and appreciated the work out he gave their dogs. He would look as if he never broke a sweat leading them around and around. It was poetry and effortless grace.
Payton was a favorite dog park friend – a German Pinscher x Shar Pei.
And when our upstairs tenants moved out with Summit, the time was right for us to take over the whole house and also the yard and find a friend for our social butterfly dog. He was 18 months old when we found 6 month old Mia through PetFinder. We met her at an adoption event and walked them together in the parking lot. We left with each in our separate cars and met up again at a dog park where he was doubtless surprised to run into her again. We played with some of his friends and then again left in separate vehicles. And then when he got home, low and behold, she was there again. He was pretty instantly delighted and presented her with all his favorite toys and played with her patiently and endlessly those first few days. March 4 of 2006, we became a two dog family and Pofi became the best canine big brother Mia could ever have had.
Showing her the dog park ropes
Wrestling
Sitting for treats
Tug
Playing nicely
The beginning of a (mostly) beautiful friendship and happy adventures for us all!
I love his big puppy ears!
Comment by otisandtess — July 4, 2016 @ 6:56 pm
Thank goodness he grew into them!! 🙂
Comment by hester — July 4, 2016 @ 6:58 pm
What a beautiful story! So happy they have each other!
Paula and Nitro
Comment by dobemom — July 4, 2016 @ 8:07 pm
Thank you! They have been good for each other – Mia really needed a confident dog in her life. And he needed a playmate.
Comment by hester — July 4, 2016 @ 9:14 pm
Thank you so much for sharing these absolutely DEEEELIGHTFUL pictures and the background story of Pofi meeting Mia!
I love how you introduced these two…perfectly executed plan setting everyone up for success 🙂
Pofi clearly makes friends with every dog he meets. He and his various doggy friends really enjoyed being in each other’s company. Pofi really does know how to “adjust”‘his play style based on the size of his playmate. Such a smart boy!
And then we have the special bond between Pofi and Mia. The picture where Pofi is showing her around the dog park…the connection…the looks they sre giving each other…so happy! Yeah, that photo speaks volumes about their bond!
THE PUPPY PICTURES!!! Pofi really, really is o e of the cutest puppies…such a unique…a unique everything about him is unique!! 🙂
This was such a nice “bonus” to read this today and see these smile making pictures!
Thanks!!
Love to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Comment by benny55 — July 4, 2016 @ 8:49 pm
Thanks so much, Sally. I am glad they made you smile. Pulling them together and thinking about that time made me smile, too.
Comment by hester — July 4, 2016 @ 9:16 pm
OMG those ears!!! They are simply the best!!! He’s just the cutest – ever! Is he part Kelpie? I cannot recall his mix.
But I love them playing together… match made for sure! Those photos are the best … I just keep scrolling and looking at them again and again! Big smiles!
Alison with Spirit Shelby in her heart (and little Jasper too)
Comment by mom2shelby — July 5, 2016 @ 10:50 am
Thanks, Alison – I was SO convinced he was a Kelpie mix when he was a heel nipping puppy. I bought books on Kelpies and lurked on Australian Kelpie internet sites. Had someone stop us in PetSmart when he was about 3 or 4 months old to say they “knew” he was a Kelpie mix (the guy competed in herding with BCs, but knew people with Kelpies). There was even a sheep herding trainer near the cities who trained with her Kelpie and I thought about signing him up for a session just to see him next to her dog! But he grew SOOOO tall. The trainer who he took puppy class with joked that he would be the tallest Kelpie on the planet. He is likely a sled dog mix – with some herding breed mixed in and Malamute and Husky and either Saluki or Greyhound… He’s my mutt.
Comment by hester — July 5, 2016 @ 11:57 am