It feels like just yesterday that we brought Moose home, but it’s been several months now since he officially claimed our house as his own. Since April, Moose has made it clear that he runs the place, and to be honest, we’re all okay with that. At six months old and already weighing over 55 pounds, our yellow Labrador retriever is growing like crazy, and it’s safe to say he’s on track to be a pretty big boy. I’m guessing he’ll end up somewhere between 100-110 pounds, which is larger than your average Lab, but honestly, that just means there’s more Moose to love.
Of course, being a puppy isn’t all snuggles and wagging tails. Moose is currently going through what I can only describe as his “teenage phase.” It’s that stubborn stage where he knows exactly what he’s supposed to do but flat-out refuses to do it. It’s like he’s testing the waters, seeing just how far he can push us before we break. And I have to admit, it’s working—he’s testing my patience daily. Take crate training, for example. He’s fully crate trained, but if you ask Moose, the crate is the worst thing ever. The lengths he’ll go to avoid going in there are nothing short of impressive. He’ll pace, whine, and even try to make himself invisible, which, let’s be real, isn’t working for a dog of his size.
Despite his stubborn streak, Moose has one weakness that I’ve definitely learned to use to my advantage: food. He is extremely food motivated. You’d think I was starving him with how excited he gets at mealtime. Like clockwork, every evening, Moose turns into my personal dinner reminder. He’ll sit and stare at me with those big brown eyes, patiently waiting for me to get the message that it’s time for his supper. The moment I stand up, though, the calm disappears, and Moose turns into a bouncing, wiggling fool, hopping around as if his life depends on it. It’s honestly hilarious to watch—though not quite as funny when I trip over him in my rush to get his food ready.
Moose may be a bit of a handful right now, but he’s still just a puppy, and puppies take time to learn. I know we have plenty of training ahead of us, but he’s incredibly smart, and when he wants to, he picks things up quickly. Plus, for all his stubbornness and antics, Moose is such a sweet and lovable dog. I don’t think he has a mean bone in his body. He’s the kind of dog who wants nothing more than to be with you, whether that’s playing outside or curled up next to you on the couch. He’s goofy, affectionate, and just an all-around joy to be around.
Moose has truly become a part of our family. As much as we joke about his stubbornness or his crate antics, we wouldn’t trade him for the world. He’s growing fast, both in size and personality, and even though we know he still has a lot to learn, I can already tell he’s going to be an amazing dog as he matures. We couldn’t have picked a better companion, and I honestly don’t know what we’d do without him.
Here’s to many more adventures with Moose—the dog who’s stolen our hearts and claimed our home as his own.
