“Hi Jennifer,

We just wanted to wish you and your family and Merry Christmas and lovely holiday season. We came up with a “top 10” little day-to-day things we love about Louie. Well, it was supposed to be a top 10, but we couldn’t narrow it down beyond these 13! . Hope it gives you a little glimpse into how lucky we are to have him!

1.       How patient he is when neighbourhood kids play with him (or my sister gives him a man-bun with a scrunchie)

2.       How he loves belly rubs and will extend his front paw straight out and hold it there to show he wants more side rubs

3.       How he knows he needs to sit when we walk in the door but often his entire backside is wagging so much that he’s physically unable to get his bum on the ground

4.       How he can be fast asleep on the couch and sometimes won’t even budge when the fridge door opens…but if he hears the cheese bag being taken out, he’s sitting nicely in the kitchen before the fridge door can close

5.       The big smiles he gives when we’re at the park or on a hike

6.       How he sleeps half in and half out of his bed each night, and stands up at the side of the bed to say hi when he sees we’re awake

7.       How he completely loses his mind if he sees a dog…or cat…or horse, goat, animated bunny, or tiger on TV and will race to the TV barking to inspect

8.      How he curls up at our side or in the crook of our knees/hips/corner of laptop

9.         How he manages to look both indignant and earnest when he gets in “trouble” for doing something he’s not supposed to

10.      How he uses his paws (and puppy eyes) to get our attention when we’re on the couch and he wants to play

11.      How he always takes food from his bowl to eat on the carpet 3 feet away

12.      How when we take him for a run, he’ll stop and “boop” our legs occasionally…initially we thought it meant he was tired. Nope, it means he wants some pats and cuddles, then he’s back to charging down the path

13.      How he will bring his favourite stuffy, Ali the Alligator, up to bed with him every night”