I love watching my little girl get to know, and fall in love with, our dog Captain Pickles. They are quickly becoming best buddies and it warms my heart to see. I grew up with dogs in the family - so many dogs came and went in the course of my childhood. I also love animals so very much and I hope that I can pass on this love and appreciation to my daughter. I want her to dig going to the zoo and delight at the feeling of a big sloppy kiss from a hairy smelly dog.
She is at the age where she wants to touch everything and hold everything and inevitably put everything in her mouth. So, I encourage her exploration but also watch closely because she will (and has) take a toy fresh from the dog's mouth and put it right smack into hers. She loves the feeling of the dog's hair in her fingers but always comes away with a handful, which ends up in her mouth.
Soon she'll be walking and chasing the dog and I can't wait to see it happen.
