New Puppy?!?

I never, never thought this would happen. But, Barbara and Erik continued to apply the pressure, and I found out that there are certain breeds and cross-breeds that are actually very good for those with dog allergies. And, to top it off, my allergy doctor gave the green light for these types of dogs. Everyone conspired against me. We did some research and then found a "labradoodle" - a cross between a black labrador mother and a poodle father (a "normal" sized, 45-pound poodle - not the snooty french-style poodle which are very good for allergies). This puppy 7 weeks old - and is not housebroken. So, we've cleared all the rugs off of the laminate kitchen floor and purchased another baby-gate so that we can isolate it - her - in the kitchen area. We're in the process of trying to teach it where the bathroom is and to not whine at night. Erik has volunteered to sleep upstairs in the family room to help her adjust. We're also still looking for a name - we're thinking of Chicha (chee-chaa) - the wife of Pacha in "Emporer's New Groove" (one of Erik's favorite sayings was once "Ehh, Pacha?").

There are a few more pictures on our flickr site.