On Sunday, Rebecca and I brought home the newest addition to our family. His name is Cash, and he's a 10-week old English Bulldog mix.

He gets his name from the late, great Johnny Cash.

We've been wanting a dog for quite a while, and it was difficult to find a breed that met our criteria. He has to be able to live in an apartment, be independent, not be a heavy shedder or be feminine, get along with the cat, and not grow to be a large dog.

Difficult, I know.

There seemed to be two options: a Pug or an English Bulldog.

My preference, of course, was the bulldog. Luckily, we found him and Nate came along to offer the advice we were looking for. This is Rebecca's first dog, and the first I've raised from such a young age.

Both of us are scared. Raising a puppy is certainly a responsibility that presents itself in clear detail the moment you bring one home.

We plan to kennel train him, meaning while we're gone, he's locked in his kennel. Luckily, we're able to split the day so he's not alone very long, but it's going to take a few weeks for me to get comfortable with it.

It has to be frightening for Cash, because he went from a big home with a mother and three siblings to an apartment with a cat that doesn't want him around.

So far, he's been great. He knows how to sit and not to pee in the house. He's learning not to bite, yet he's very playful.

For some reason, I became uncomfortably nervous today at work. I'm worrying about him at home without Rebecca and I. Did we feed him correctly? Are we taking him outside enough?

All questions that are answered by being prepared -- which we are; it just takes time to grow a comfort level.

Thankfully we have Nate and a couple other friends who've been through this to offer advice.

If we're going to be good parents, I suppose this is our true first test.

Labels: Cash, Life

Posted by M. Derrick Davis on Monday, September 24, 2007 at 11:11 PM | Permalink