Spring With Marley

I just realized how long it has been since I've posted.  As of May 1st, Marley will have been with us for 5 months!  Wow, that is hard to believe.  The past few months have been difficult.   In January, my husband, John started to develop allergies.  It was right around the time he had his hip surgery and was home 24/7.  At one point it got so bad that he needed to leave our home for a few days.    We already had a cat and he seemed ok for the past couple years.  We found out he is allergic to dust mites, mold, dogs and cats. Apparently, the dog put him over his allergy "thresh hold".  You can just image how devastating this information was for our family.  To make a long story short- we landed up sending our cat away to a friend's house and cleaned all the carpets.  John started  immunotherapy, with a concoction of specifically-made allergens just for him.  Each day he takes drops under his tongue.  The theory is to slowly introduce him to the allergens, thus building up his immune system.
That man has been a real trooper!  The Happy News:  He is doing MUCH better now and Marley continues to be a happy part of our family!  

As for Marley, he partakes in all family activities!  Marley loves the outdoors and running with the kids.  We couldn't have asked for a sweeter dog.  Well mannered, smart, gentle, playful and funny....the list goes on and on.  Today he is tired because we spend most of the afternoon outdoors in the back yard.  The back yard is a huge green area and surrounded by woods.  We tested his obedience and let go of the leash in the back yard.  The whole afternoon he stayed by our side- not venturing out on his own farther than a few yards!  This is huge. I've been training Marley for the past 5 months, and he always gets a small treat whenever he comes indoors from the bathroom or comes when I call him.  Now, when I call him outside, I see his little white furry ears flapping in the wind, as he makes huge bountiful leaps towards me.  When he finally reaches me, he sits patiently for the treat.   This might be a common occurrence for you veteran dog owners out there- but for me- it's special to witness.  Not sure how things will be once squirrels, birds and other animals share the yard with him... 

I will look for some new pictures to post tomorrow morning.

Good wishes to everyone.  I hope you are all enjoying spring and counting your blessings.  We are all blessed in some way.