Snips & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

What are little boys made of

What are little boys made of

Snips & snails & puppy dogs tails

And such are little boys made of.

What are young women made of

Sugar & spice & all things nice.

-Robert Southey

A dog is a man's best friend, so it follows that a puppy should be a little boy's best friend. Our dog, Ari, was about a year old when Alex showed up. We worried about how she would adjust to having a baby in the house. The first couple of nights, she tried to sleep right next to Alex's bassinet beside our bed. Now, she shares her toys with him and pulls gently to play tug o' war with him. Ari loves bounding around our living room to make Alex laugh, but she is always careful never to knock him over or catch him with her claws. I've found it very gratifying to see that it is care, not luck, that has kept her from harming him. Her favorite time is when Alex is eating solid foods. Alex will reach down and share his food with her, and that's just what he purposely gives her. House rule is whatever hits the floor belongs to the dog, so baby meal times are great for her.

Ari also insists on keeping her boy safe. Before we welcomed our little boy home, Ari very rarely bothered to bark at outside noises. When Alex isn't home, she still doesn't. However, when her boy is home, she makes sure to tell her people about anything coming towards them that might threaten her little friend… including doorbells on the television, the gardeners, and any other innocuous passer-by.