We fell in love October

In the Fall of 2018, I told everyone that I wasn't looking for a dog. Of course I kept looking.  I looked a schnoodles, aussie doodles, schnauzers, and while insisting I didn't want another dog after Eddie, I stumbled on this this photo of "Rusty" via facebook and all my professions were recognized as hollow.  I was in love. He was in Redmond, Oregon and we were in Spokane.  It was completely impulsive.  I sent an email to the breeder explaining why we would be "good" owners, and scratched together what we really didn't think we could spare, grabbed Maddie, and drove to Redmond late November 2018.
There were 8 or 9 in the litter and quite frankly as we stood, cooed, and sat in the front yard, Rusty was the least interested in us of all the pups. He was chewing on shrubbery and rather focused on it.  There were some beautiful mini reds that were adorable and tempting but I was determined that Rusty was ours and the only one coming home with us. We played for about an hour, learned what we could about his breeding and shots, and took out little fluffy boy into our arms and headed home.

His name evolved a few time within the first week at home "Rusty", "Copper Rusty", Cooper Rusty Finley", and finally "Cooper".

Thankfully, our adult daughter, Kaylee, agreed to be our pet sitter, because between Van and I working full-time, and Maddie in school full-time, we needed a Nanny. She was agreeable but Sheba, her cat most certainly put out by this drastic change in devotion. Coco has been more tolerable; more aloof by nature than Sheba unless he is on want of something.  Because of Coco, and Maurie before him, I was convinced that I preferred cats to dogs.  But because of Eddie, and now Cooper, I cannot claim one over the other.

Cooper is a love.  He is friendly to everyone and the first to roll over and show his belly. He smiles "aussie-style" soaking it all in, and is surprised that not everyone would want to spend all their time loving on him.  Unlike most mini-aussies, he likes creature comforts...like laying on pillows, blankets, and cushions. For his first 18 months he tip-toed around puddles and sprinklers, but now is quite happy digging in mud to "help" us with our gardening hobby.  

Cooper has a different relationship with every member of our family. With Van he is a lap sitter and hugger especially when a treat is involved. With me, he is a devoted child.  With Nathan, Cooper is a mellow companion.  With Kaylee he is a playdate, and with Maddie, Cooper is a patient "captive" friend.

It is hard to imagine our lives without this sweet guy. He joined us two months before Van's mother unexpectedly passed away, 7 months before my metastatic cancer diagnosis,  senior year of Maddie's high school, Nathan's winter break from seasonal employment, and Kaylee's settling back into life with parents and siblings.  He has had a lot of holes to fill, and he has measure up to filling everyone of them. Is it any wonder we love him so?