My mom and dad brought him home yesterday. I heard them talking about how they got him from our breeder, Sumo Labradors. It seems someone bought him from one of the litters last year, but now they don't want him any longer. So they brought him back to the breeder. She called my mom and dad because she knew they were interested in a dark yellow (fox red) Lab. And that's how they got Hoppy.
Well, let's get a few things cleared up here. Let's get all the cards out on the table.
First of all, I found out where that ridiculous name "Hoppy" came from. (Personally, I thought they were getting us a rabbit with a name like that.) For you old people, you might remember a cowboy that starred in the movies way back in the last century...way back when movies were black and white. His name was Hopalong Cassidy. Well, my dad is one of those old people, and he remembers this cowboy dude and used to idolize Hopalong Cassidy when he was a little boy. (Why couldn't he idolize a real star like Rin Tin Tin or Lassie?)
Oh well, in the movies, Hopalong Cassidy's nickname was Hoppy. So this big new thing in our family is named Hopalong Cassidy, but they call him Hoppy.
I'm not impressed.
Secondly, he is fat.....really, really fat. Granted, he is a big dog, bigger than Spud even. But he is still fat. He has a big fat belly, a big fat neck, and a big fat butt. My mom and dad brought him over to the field with Sally and me to do some chuck-it retrieves. He's too fat to retrieve! He tried to run, but he can't begin to keep up with Sally and me.
I heard them talking about getting him in shape. And I did notice that this morning for breakfast, my mom gave him just a little cup of food. So maybe pretty soon, he will be in better shape. But he's going to have to get with the program if he's going to keep up with Spud and me!Last of all, there's a little matter of territory. I let Hoppy know in no uncertain terms that I am the boss dog. If that big horse-sized dog thinks he can come into my house....play with my toys....sleep in my bed....lie around on my floor....pee and poop in my yard....and most of all, get attention and loving my my mom and dad....well, he's got another think coming. No siree....yesterday and last night I was not a happy camper!
Then my mom had a talk with me. She reminded me how I felt the same way about Spud when he came to live with us. And she assured me that I will always be her baby and that I'm still #1 around there. Then today, she took me all by myself to swim and dock dive and do chuck-it. We had a blast.
So I feel better now. Spud likes him a lot. I'm sure I'll probably get to love Hoppy before long, as a matter of fact, some of the things he does are pretty cool. He can patty cake. Look how cool this is:
There is one more thing you need to know about Hoppy, but I'll save that for another post. It's a very personal matter that is weighing very heavy on my heart. I need to talk to my mom first and get all of my feelings straight first.
So for now, things are getting better with Hoppy. I'm even willing to help my mom and dad with his weight problem. I'll keep running him and exercising him for them.
So much pressure on the big sister!
See you on the dock,
Sally, the Fire in Team Fire and Ice
Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs
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