I was the one who initially brought up the idea of getting a puppy to my boyfriend, Zach, but he didn't seem too serious about it so I didn't push it. Well, if you consider me nudging him everytime I'd see a dog as not pushing it, than sure, I didn't push it 😉 But it was him that surprised me on our anniversary last year when he brought home a dog bed, puppy toys, treats, and even poop bags. It was his way of saying "Let's do this!"

So, on November 20th, 2016, Zach and I brought home our mini labradoodle Riply and it has been an adventure ever since! It hasn't been all puppy eyes and cute cuddles though. There's been some tough times, plenty of frustrations, and some creative problem solving since becoming puppy parents. While Riply has only been with us for about 9 months, she has certainly taught me a lot about what it means to actually own a dog. For anyone considering getting one of their own for their first time, I want to share just some of those lessons!