Favorite

Tadaki made it to Kirsten's Favorite Things list and right now he's at the top of mine.

I love how he lays on his back cuddled next to Deacon after he's had a long hard day at the office laying under my desk on his over-stuffed bed. His paws are all four lifted to the sky like he's calling down the moon and his lips fall back showing his threatening teeth that wouldn't hurt anything tougher than a plastic bone which he devoured at Melanie's house last week, then promptly lost all over the rug that night. Sorry T-Breath, you were enjoying it so much I didn't have the heart to take it away. Kind of like taking a scratch away from an itch. I know it just felt sooooo good.

I love how Tadaki forgets he's a highly-trained dog every freaking time he sees Paul at work and Paul is willing to run through the entire NE quadrant of our building, crawling under cubicles just to let T-Bone streeeeetch his legs while the rest of us bore ourselves with internal conference calls all day.

I love how T-Square is true and loyal (even though Barb has the best popcorn machine in the world with really pretty lights and great butter smells and how it accidentally falls on the floor so he can gorge on yet another really bad thing for him). Barb, he always goes home with me, so there!

I love how Tadaki knows that on Saturday and Sunday he needs to say in his kennel and not disturb the marital bed. But on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings he can creep into bed any time he wants to lay his head on my neck to say, "You know what, I suspect that you might need a hug today." And you know what, he is effing right.

I love that Tadaki will go UNDER like I ask while the Girls have some Toasted Head, Buffalo Pie and Frangelico Apple Crisp at Mac's. And only tells me once that he wants KELLENE to HURRY him. Whatever! I accept that he needs me and a girlfriend too. We have an open relationship.

I love how Tadaki makes everyone feel special. I've watched his socializing this week. (Socializing: it's one of those corporate words like "fifty-thousand feet" or "low-lying fruit", or "out in the weeds" phrases that you ask yourself WTF are they using that figure of speech for when they could just say what the hell they mean.) He socializes things like, "Would you be able to meet your deadlines better if I put my head on your lap and VISIT awhile?" or during a 4-hour client dinner this week where the topic of conversation was primarily painful because a certain person wouldn't shut up about her DUI and Tadaki's therapy was to LAP or VISIT everyone around earshot of this conversation. Thank GOD, he was there! While Person embarrassed the entire team and bored the client with a 4-hour story about being in jail and blowing a breathalyzer.

Yes, that happened. Person is retiring. Thank You Jesus for miracles!

I love Tadaki because he is willing to eat only 1.5 cups of food today because he needs to lose that extra pound because I let him eat that plastic bone last week.

I love Tadaki because he is a stand-up guy that passes out business cards for hours just to recruit a puppy raiser or show the world how valuable a companion dog can be.

Yep, one new applicant to raise puppies and a skilled companion applicant just this week. He is getting his own business cards. You can email him at Tadakidog@gmail.com.

I love Tadaki because he has a crush on Kellene and will only HURRY for her.

I love Tadaki because he has substance. He isn't just a pretty boy or a follower-of-rules, but because he has learned to tell me, "Um, you might want to go to the restroom about NOW, because you might wet your pants if you don't."

Seriously he does that. I LOVE that. And I've started to learn to listen to his gentle nudge and AMAZINGLY he is right!

Eileen, I love Tadaki. Thank you so much for him. Please continue to make great men out of little puppies!

Seamus and Todd. Your mission in life is to make great men out of mutts. Keep it up, please.