Opal is a typical puppy. She was born approx. 7/2/21. She has a lot of energy and loves to play. We have 3 resident dogs and she does great with them. She's met a few neighbor dogs and does just fine also. She would love to have a friend to help her burn some of that energy! She has not been around cats. We have a caged Guinea pig that she's interested in, but not overly interested. 

 

We also have 4 kids ranging from 2 to 11. She's done great with them, but is a little mouthy when it comes to playing, and those puppy teeth hurt! But, she is easy to redirect with one of her toys. Oh, and as far as toys go.... the squeakier the better! She loves any kind of toy. Soft ones are great, she did rip the fuzz off of a tennis ball today. She grabs stuff that isn't hers but generally will drop it if you give her a verbal "ah" or stern "hey." 

 

She has shown absolutely no aggression over anything or possession over bones or "special" treats. She's gentle when taking treats and waits patiently for them. She loves crackers! 

 

Potty training is a work in progress. She's getting better at asking to go outside by whining and going toward the door where we take her outside. I've been trying to tell her "potty" when she does either and really praise her when she does it, and she seems to kind of understand that means she needs to go. Otherwise, sometimes she gets distracted with noises or people and she takes a while to go. Plus, sometimes you just need to find "the right" spot. 

 

Her leash walking is not too bad, still getting used to staying on one side and in front. The kids can walk her and she does great. She doesn't pull or go crazy anymore like when we first got her. She definitely seems to be a fast learner. 

 

She sleeps in her kennel at night and is quiet. Every once in a while she will whine a little or bark, but not for long, unless she needs to go to the bathroom. She has been in her kennel more than normal because she's had to remain less active because of a healing incision, but is really good about going in and being quiet, but if you're near, she might sass you a little bit by whining or barking, but it's not constant by any means. 

 

One of her more "quirky" behaviors is with her food. She is a bowl pusher sometimes, something I feel like is typical of a boxer.... if it slides on the floor, she will jump on it with both paws and push it, which can get messy. I also have been putting it in her kennel often because I feel like she's too distracted to just stop and eat. It's akin to having a busy toddler. 

 

She's overall a very, very sweet puppy, and as she matures and gets the training she needs, she will learn her manners and boundaries very successfully. She does have a lot of energy, so an active family will be important. She loves to be outside, and jumping in our leaf piles has been her favorite thing to do! 

 

We know nothing about her breed. She's an adorable mystery. She has pretty wide hips, so I'm curious if there's some bully in her. I definitely think there's some boxer though. But, I'm not an expert on dog breeds by any means! So this tells us we won't know her adult size at all. Her fur is short, so she might need a coat in the winter in MN. I'm guessing she'll be similar in shedding to a lab or other shorthaired breeds. She does have a scar on her right cheek, which you can see in one picture. It doesn't make her any less cute though. And we don't know where it came from or if her fur will grow back there. It just means less shedding, right? 

 

We love her! She honestly fits in perfect with our resident pack of pups, and she's been really amazing with the kids. She will be another one that is hard to say goodbye to, but it will be so much fun to see updates from her forever family some day. If we didn't have 3 dogs already, she would be a "keeper" in my book.