This one…Where do I even begin?

My oldest baby

Pretty sure this pup has been has been amongst the most formative relationships I’ve had as an adult.

That might sound weird to say about a dog, but hear me out…

I got this little June bug at Christmas time in 2008. If you’re mathing the maths on that, it means she’ll be 16 this year! Unbelievable, I know.

The day I got to bring her home was Christmas Eve-the only gift I wanted…

A sweet, squishy little yellow puppy, with the softest fur in all the land and a forehead wrinkle that would stop any passerby in their tracks to ‘ooh’ and ‘aww’ over her.

June got pretty used to being adored at an early age 😅😅

She was precious AND precocious, ya don’t get a nickname like @theyellowdiva for nothing, you know??

Headstrong, smart as a whip and full of unwarranted, unwavering confidence in the face of any challenge, obstacle or fight.

She’s full on alpha-female energy in a smallish 60 lb Labrador frame, with a mischievous sparkle in her eye and a two-dimple doggy smile that will absolutely win your heart.

Like I mentioned yesterday, sharing about my Bogie boy- She was a fucking psychopath of a puppy!

This dog would NEVER listen

She bit me and tore my clothes

Ran away any chance she got

Destroyed shit at any unattended opportunity

Just all around, such a bitch…and you know what, she still is

always has been 😅 Iykyk

But oh man, I love this dog. She’s taught me things about life that I’m not sure I could have learned any other way

Important life lessons like:

-If the leash is too short, you’ll step on each other’s feet 🐾

-The best way to take a nap is in a patch of sunlight ☀️

-Keep your eyes on the prize and your nose to the path

and my personal favorite…

-Never take surprise food for granted! 😅

June is one of those animals who’s always living her best life, in the moment

and she just expects all good things to come her way.

Learning these really a beautiful lessons, from a dog who has been tf through it with me has changed who I am fundamentally, at my core

I’ve always loved dogs but June showed me what it means to love unconditionally

Because this bish be testing my patience, lemme tell ya

and I’ve never once considered not having her in my life. No matter how naughty she’s  been.

She’s my girl

I’d do anything for her

Now that she’s old, it’s amazing to witness her in all of her old lady glory.

Still naughty, still full of all the unwarranted confidence that a small dog with a big attitude has when she’s been kept super safe and cozy by her humans her whole life

But we’ve definitely had some rough patches in our time together.

Bachelorette life

Lost jobs

Sleepless nights

Scary, mysterious illnesses from any number of random things she snarfs off the street

Neurological episodes that I thought for sure was the end…

But we always seem to get her sorted out

She’s a half blind, pretty deaf, sometimes dizzy old lady who’s being medicated for canine sundowners dementia now

and sometimes I think about how unfair that feels for my clever little girl.

But she has mellowed,

she’s happy

she’s healthy

she’s loved…so loved

I truly must be the luckiest dog mom in all the land