Five Fun Facts About Rio

Rio was our first child in many ways. We adopted her in May 2004 when she was 8 weeks old, and just a month after we got our yard put in. She was the second puppy we had seen and was so adorable we couldn't avoid getting her that night. We went to the local grocery store (we had reached the cash limit at the ATM), each purchased a pack of gum and took the max cash out, just so we could take her home then instead of waiting for the check to clear.
She has been basically a constant delight ever since then. She is smart, sly, and can be quite funny. This Friday, I give you my Five Favorite Things About Rio.

1. She cuddles up in her kennel whenever she needs a break. I had read in dog-training books that many dogs will use their kennels as a 'den', a refuge. She's the only one I know who actually does it.

2. She hogs the cold air. She is the one who invented the concept (with Samson as her faithful follower) of laying on the AC vents in our bedroom at night. We have to turn it down to at least 64 degrees before she'll step off, and since we can't very well do that anymore with Mason to consider, she gets full reign.

3. She will bring your her bowl when she's hungry or knock the 5-gallon bottle of water off when she's finished drinking it. She very clearly communicates her needs.

4. She can intimidate you with just a glance. We once had a neighbor who flat-out refused to walk past our house because she would watch him. She never once barked at him, she would just sit in the far corner of our yard and stare when he passed.

5. One of her ears doesn't stand up correctly. Her right ear always flops. We had thought briefly about making her a show dog, because her coloring is beautiful, but the floppy ear would've ruined that. But it gives her so much personality we couldn't do the harsh ear-cutting surgery to really make her ears point. She'll cock her head and look at you with that floppy ear, as if to say "I dare you to pet me. Or give me a hot dog, your choice."

Rio, the first night we brought her home, May 2004

Rio, as a very very dirty princess on our camping trip last week, July 2008