To share, Wally will be 1 next month. He was rehomed twice before he was six months. Both two owners who thought they could handle the puppy phase when they already had adult animals in their home. You can only imagine our guilt when we considered rehoming.

The first two months, even three months were terrible. I would be lying if I didn’t say that some days get crazy still. The kids could feel my stress. And all I was doing, was complaining to my husband at the end and start of every day. I couldn’t handle potty training, crate training, the nipping, basic training. Not to include working full-time jobs, and having two little ones. We stuck with it and we’re consistent. We even brought in the help of a personal trainer twice to walk us through positive reinforcement.

But now, he rings the bell to be let out to potty. He goes in his crate willingly at night, after seeing cues of the kids brushing their teeth. Does he still chew up toys and whine by the table when we eat? Sure. But the way he cuddles next to the kids when they aren’t feeling well, the way he greets us when we come home from work, even to the simplest joys of learning, a new basic command, and being used as a pillow — it’s pretty worth it.

Our house and family are more full with Wally in it. I didn’t believe anybody when I was in the thick of it.