I love dogs.  And I especially love puppies.

I know this is not a surprise to anyone who has read any of these Silver Linings.  I won’t go back to count, but I know I’ve talked about canines frequently.  And yep, I’m doing it yet again today, writing yet another blog post about man’s best friend.

This past week, I met two more COVID-19 puppies.  The first was Sully, a Yellow Lab, only thirteen weeks old.  He came to our house almost white, but it had rained that morning.  By the time the young fellow finished playing with our (much larger) ten-month old Berner Aspen, he had turned into a light brown color.  Rolling in the mud tends to leave a pup that way, but a quick rinse with the hose sent him home just wet.  I’m looking forward to Sully’s return.

Over the weekend, Aspen and I drove to meet another Bernese Mountain Dog.  His name is Tobi, which fits him perfectly, if imaging the personality of a Tobi seems to make sense to you. He is two months younger than Aspen but comes from larger genetics.  Tobi and Aspen had a grand time together as well, diving through grass and splashing into a pond. 

Both dogs came directly out of their families’ COVID-19 quarantine time.  Both friends had been thinking about another dog for a while, but the timing just didn’t seem right.  Suddenly, when everyone was mandated to “stay home and stay safe”, the joys of puppy exuberance (and the challenges of house training) seemed much more manageable.

I am happy for my friends—and their new family members.  I’m also happy for me, and intend to keep on enjoying this silver lining for years to come!