Our New Family Addition

Mike and I have been talking about it for a few months, weighing the responsibilities and also thinking about the impact that an additional family member may have on us and our two girls, Charlotte and Pearl.

After much discussion, we decided to start acting! Mike contacted Charlotte and Pearl's doctor who also raises puppies- different kinds of shepherds. Turns out, there was a 10 month old looking for a home. Her name is Tempe and she's a beautiful sable German shepherd. She's so smart and very affectionate.

Mike met her on Saturday while I was out of town and called me to say that he really liked her. "If I wasn't married, I probably would have bought her then," he said. However, being the smart husband he is, he made an appointment for both of us to go see Tempe (pronounced Tem-pea) last night.

When Mike and I first started discussing dogs, we went back and forth between getting one from the pound or a breeder. We also discussed puppy versus dog. Trained versus fresh-out-the-womb. In the end, we feel that Tempe is just what these first-time dog owners are wanting. She's young still, but is already VERY trained.

Tempe was originally bred to be a worker dog. Many of her brothers, sisters and cousins have gone on to have successful careers working as K-9 Unit dogs, with people who are disabled or as bomb-sniffers. Tempe was picked to be a bomb-sniffer dog. She even went to Ohio to a special program where her handlers wanted to place her at the Creation Museum where she would sniff out bombs and other similar threats. However, it turns out little Tempe had other plans... to live with us (where no bombs ever happen unless you count what Pearl and Charlotte create in their littler boxes at times)!

Turns out the Tempe's nature (or temperament, which is actually the full version of her name- Tempe is short for Temperament) is a bit more lovey-dovey and less working-girl. When I asked the trainer what her best attributes are he described her as "gentle, loving and social" which apparently didn't mix that well with the line of work she was intended to do. Her worst attributes? "She likes to eat sticks, which she knows she's not supposed to do." Ahh...

So, last night I met Tempe for the first time and could see why Mike was instantly attracted to the little girl. She's very smart and also very social and gentle. She's on the smaller side for being a German shepherd, but that's ideal. I wouldn't want a dog much bigger. We'll get to welcome Tempe to our home next week on Wednesday night, the 28th. That's when she and her trainer will come to the house. He'll introduce Tempe to our house and our other girls (Lord, please help us). Additionally, Mike and I will get our own training for a couple hours.

Here are some pictures of us with our newest family member!!