TOYS ARE US BIG TIME

One of the most poignant events with Dakota is his reaction to toys and bones. For the first ten years of his life, he didn't know that dogs get toys and bones for their daily enjoyment. I cannot imagine a dog not being able to have at least a bone to chew on but Dakota had never had either. The first thing I did was give him a bone that I had waiting for him when he came. Shortly after that I got him his first soft toy - a teddy bear. He didn't know what to do with the bear and was hesitant to even touch it. But the bone became an instant delight. We are almost three years down the line now and he now has his very own stash of toys from Christmases and birthdays and just plain mom's weaknesses. His most favorite of all is a white teddy bear I gave him from my own collection. I don't know why except that he realized it was mine when I gave it to him one day in my office. He watched me reach up to one of my shelves of stuffed animals and pulled down the white bear. He looked at me, I smiled, and he gently took the leg of the bear into his mouth and off he went. While he takes various other stuffed animals outside with him, Boo Boo Bear is never far away. We have to make plans ahead of time to retrieve the bear for the washing machine. Here are some of his favorites.....bones not included.































This is only the collection of his most favorite. They are kept in "his box" and available at all times. He is so much fun to watch when he selects the "toy of the hour." Sometimes, in the morning, as I head up to my office, Dakota stops dead in his tracks. You can tell he's thinking. All of a sudden he wheels around and trots back to the kitchen or family room, grabs his bear and runs back to continue following me up the stairs.

When he takes his animals outside, he loves to toss them around and pounce on them. I think he's found a lost part of his youth and is enjoying it to the hilt. Every day brings many smiles to my face and sometimes tears of joy that I've been able to introduce Dakota to some more happiness.