Ladies,
I wrote about my impending pregnancy HERE and now I'd like to introduce you to my new baby.

Meet Dolly Arnette Staggers Richardson, the love of my life! Born 7/25/08, and already holding my heart!

YES.

OH MY GOSH! How precious. Georgia I am so happy that Dolly found you. Any Postpartum?

I was so excited to spill the beans once you told me you were getting a pup this weekend, BUT I was a good girl and kept my big yap shut.Would you look at that fat belly of hers, so adorable. Are you calling her 'dolly?' I am thrilled you got another baby quickly, she and you will be inseparable I'm sure.

She's BEAUTIFUL!!

JJ she's adorable. I am sure you and she will be the best of pals. What kind of puppy is she?

I understand why you or she found you. Our house is lonely and empty without any pet at all.

Congratulations on your new arrival!!

Ross and I have been trying to decipher this photo. We finally realized that your arm must be acorss her belly. Your arm matches her coat. I thought she had an extra appendage. What a hoot. She's beautiful. Can you please tell us about her name?

Does she still have puppy breath?

Too adorable.....what kind is she?? Boxer??

Well, I may have to sign over the house to Ms Dolly because ladies, she rules this one. Talk about bossy! But I love it.

Dolly (great-grandmother's name)
Arnette (grandmother's name)
Staggers (Maiden name)
Richardson (speaks for itself)

Yes on the puppy breath, and yes, she is a boxer...only I believe she thinks she is a Chihuahua, or some other kind of lap dog.

I totally forgot what it's like getting up at 2 or 3 in the morning to take out a puppy! LOL! And down here, it was 20-something degrees last night! YIPES!

Dotsie, that's my sister Brenda (the tan person) holding Dolly in the picture. Dolly doesn't know she has four legs yet...oh boy!

She has come to the right place..
sitting on your knee...there was a local dog Winnie just out of puppy time and she so wanted to sit on knees as she had done.The mystery showed on her face..imagine she has thoughts we had all shrunk..
Mountain ash

Those early morning pee runs are worth ever second of discomfort because of the hours and hours and years of pleasure she will bring into your life. I am so happy for you and for her to have you as her mom...

Woof woof Dolly...just want to woof welcome you. Make sure our JJ is well taken care of. Lie on her feet when they are cold. Force her to take you on walks, and make her laugh at least twice a day.

Dolly was in "time out" yesterday. She found the toilet paper roll...and she tried to electrocute herself silly self by chewing on a lamp cord...which she eventually pulled off the table.

She's at my feet right now...where's she been most of the day. God love her!

That is such a cute name, Dolly. And what a precious pup! How in the world do you enforce time out?

Chewing on an electric cord! I've forgotten what it was like to have a puppy. She'll keep you on your toes, won't she?

She keeps me mostly on my knees, scrubbing "uh oh's" in the carpet. As far as time out, enforce it? Bawhahahah....I wish I could. I just told her she was in "time out" and she just looked at me like, "Ah gimme a break. You? Put ME in time out? Like THAT'S ever gonna happen!" And she pranced off to find another cord.

I shall win! I shall! I shall! Just wait till she learns what the V word means....VET!

I see obedience school in her future. Near future.

Dolly fears me. She knows I AM the master of THIS domain...she knows I RULE...my word is LAW! I am THE QUEEN here. I AM--ah...I am th---sigh...

OMG, does she look as if she has a care in the world or what??? Somehow JJ, I see her wearing the crown these days, not you... You can just see her fear of your rules, ha, ha, ha!!! I bet she has already told you to go float your boat in your moat! LOL!!!

Does she get on with Trixie?

Oh honey, you've been gone a long time. I had to put sweet Trixie to sleep a while back. Yep...sigh. I can't tell you how many times I've called Dolly--Trixie, too. I've had to retrain my love words.

I'm so glad to see you back in here!

Hey, it's Lola. Great to see you girl. I'll look for you in other rooms.

Glad to be back and catching up with reading previous posts. Been gone a day or two or three or four or more...and heeeeeeeere's Dolly! She's such an exhibitionist, isn't she? You had to put Trixie to sleep?

Hi, Dots. Ann and Dennis are supposed to have arrived yesterday. Looking forward to meeting them on the weekend.

You don't have to answer that, JJ. Not if it'll make you cry. I've just come across Sandpiper's post on Rembrandt and yours on Trixie. I am so, so sorry, JJ. She was'nt mine but, I'll miss Trixie as well.

That Ann and Dnennis are absolutely amazing. Please give them a hug for us. Take a photo and post it if you will...

Holy Cow! What an angel! jawjaw she is a cute as they make 'em.
I love the 4 names! My cousin gave her dog 3 names and it tickled my funnybone! Hello Dolly! You're a beautiful baby!!!

Chatty,
I'm giving Xena that vegetable, ground beef mix you suggested
a long time ago. She loves it. And the veggies help fill her
up. The lady doc. says Xena ought to cut back 10 pounds. I'm
trying. But it's hard. She has lost 3 lbs. though.

Good luck jj, keeping Dolly trim; those "Dolly" girls are round
and firm and fully packed, ya know!

As Dolly Parton would say, "Its takes a lot of money to look this cheap!"

Jabber the same as with us girls, Xena needs exercise besides a diet. Take her walking and even a short run and low and behold you both will benefit.

When keeping a foster dog that is FAT, I feed them differently, The diet I told you about but I feed them three times a day, smaller amounts, and it really helps. Also find some 'natural made' doggy biscuits and use them as a part of the diet too...

If you can't find any let me know and I will send you some.

Chatty,
Xena walks a minimum of 2 1/2 miles a day; somedays she walks and/or runs 5 miles. Linda can verify that. Xena is worse than a two-year-old toddler. She has more energy than the energizer bunny. I'm feeding her Proplan Weight Management dog food. And I've cut back on the treats. She's holding steady. And she isn't fat. But she just can't gain. I think the doctor is afraid she'll gain. We're working at it. She's a beautiful gal.
Chats, Xena gets ONLY naturally made chews, already!
Jawjaw,
I love dolly. I went into Pet Smart to get Xena's Christmas
Presents (toys) and a young man was pushing a boy dog, which looked like your Dolly, around the store in a shopping cart.
He let me play for several minutes with that puppy. I wanted
to take that animal with me. SOOOOOOO CUUUUUTE..

I have been around dogs all of my life and remember, I'm old, ha!!! Anyhow, I love them all, big, small, fat, thin, mean or friendly. But let me say to you all:

I have NEVER seen a puppy that wasn't cute. NEVER!!!

No matter the breed, all puppies are just so adorable. I would own them all if I could. I know JJ is out of town for the holiday and was wondering if she took Dolly along. How cool to have a new pet to share the holidays with.

I missed that: JJ went out of town? I didn't know that. No wonder
she didn't PM me back. Wouldn't it be fun to take a puppy on
a holiday trip! Gosh does that conjure up some wild pictures!

I wanted to delete a post but it said it was too late to do that so I will just erase what I wrote and sing a little tune, la, la, la, la, la, and a kiss for all is right with the world! Now I am going out searching for some fudge for Christmas.

Oh I hope everything turns out ok. I can't pm her. Sending prayers your way JJ.

I'm fine. Nothing to fret about. Thanks anyway.

Whatever happened, I pray you're okay. Love to Dolly!

NEVER...EVER....leave a boxer alone in a bathroom without removing everything in there. Especially the TP. I had to be out yesterday and here is what I found when I got home...I-ya-ya! What a mess. Who could scold her? She was left alone with toys, food, and water, but no other devices to amuse her. Now if I could just teach her to use the TP, all would be well. (Eagle, I know you've seen this pic already, but I meant to ask you if you would be so kind as to come here and puppy sit?)

OMG, this made me smile. She looks so guilty doesn't she? I had to laugh...
I LOVE your bathroom wallpaper, what a nice room it must be.

Maybe next time leave a radio on, not sure why but when we do it at the SPCA, the dogs don't bark as much and it lulls them to sleep. In my home as well. But do always leave many different chew toys or the wall edges may be her next target.
She is so adorable JJ...

She looks ready to pounce! How dare you interupt her fun JJ! lol

Looked like she had fun! Great thing that lid was down though.

Oh, Dolly makes me smile! Xena is sitting here beside me. She knows how to do that too. We leave the Pet Channel on when we're on vacation. Imagine what fun a puppy could have in an RV. We put Xena in a cage, in the middle of the RV living room, slideout. Her loud complaints disrupted the entire campground. Then we got one of those spray collars, which supposely deters barking. That kind of worked, not totally but kind of. JJ we didn't leave Xena home alone for months. Either hubby or I would stay with her. They do let it be known: "Don't like to be alone! Puppy is here: Pay attention! Forget about going to the store or shopping or visiting. Puppy is the center of your focus!" Sayeth thy canine!!!

What a surprise you got JJ! She does look like she's saying, "What - me, I didn't do nothin." Funny picture and I can tell you're enjoying her so.

Yes, Jabber they do become the center of everything in your life for a time. Funny

Dolly didn't mean it mommy!

Sandpiper,
They are such wonderful enjoyment you can't get mad at them.
You just laugh it off....I love Dolly's face! Cute, cute, cute!

jj, Get yourself some extra Charmin!

Oh I did. That's when I ran and got the camera...then I cleaned it all up. Sigh...the good news is that I had bought the 12-pack of Charmin! LOL!

I realize now that one of the problems is that Dolly needs a playmate. I'm thinking seriously about going to the pound and getting another dog. I can't afford another boxer, but I could rescue one of the dogs from the pound...and I'm thinking seriously about doing just that.

Jawjaw,
I don't blame you. I thought about getting Xena a playmate but
I've got all I can do to clean up after her. I'm much too easy
going. They'd drive me nuts. But I do understand that temptation very well. Good luck with that!

JJ who is that in your new avatar? Adorable little doll!

I would council that you get a smaller dog than a boxer and a FEMALE. Maybe a dog less that a year old or one may not do well with the other. I personally have always had two pets to keep one another company. A large dog for protection but then a smaller yappy dog because they hear everything and when they bark the larger dog pays attention. Good luck with your decision whatever it is.

With my rescue work, my home is usually like a zoo. But at night when all curled up together on the sofa, its heaven...

I thought that was da Queen's baby picture. She's a cutie!
Chatty, I love that you do rescue work: It says to me you have a warm, compassionate heart. God Bless you for that. I had three dogs at onetime when I was younger. But Black Labs are big. And I'm NOT as young as I used to be. Xena keeps me hoppin' as it is. She runs and plays with certain dogs over in the park. And then her cousin lives here during every major holiday. So Xena gets chances to socialize. I love Boxers, though. It's a huuuggggggeeeee temptation to adopt a Dolly baby!!!

Dogs and cats are just so loving, so free with their love...I'm crazy about animals. They also make great company because I get to do all the talking.

That picture is my oldest grandbeauty...she's 4 now. That was her first Christmas. I've always loved that photo and it makes me smile.

I'm with you jawjaw: I love animals!