Puppy Swap

We're extending a warm welcome to Ike, and at the same time bidding Teddy a fond farewell and good luck on his next journey. Ike is actually General Eisenhower. And Teddy, of course, is Theodore Roosevelt.

Remember when I went away for a month? Teddy's puppy sitters fell in love with him. They've been waiting to raise a pup, but wanted an older, more stable pup. Ike was slated for them, but is still kind of a youngster and not as "easy" as Teddy is. It was then we made the realization:  here's Teddy (who they're already in love with) – the easiest pup to live with, and who's already spent an entire month in their home without any trials or tribulations.

I'm always up for a puppy, so it was an easy decision to make when the Director asked what I thought of the idea. So this morning Teddy's off to his new family — who have two great young kids and another dog for Teddy to play with. And my guys are getting familiar with Ike.

There are a few things we've already noticed about Ike – he's a big-time retriever (he already knows how to pick up a keyring and a phone!) and he likes to bark.

When he's done with his meal in his crate, he announces it by barking. And barking. And then barking just a little bit more. That's definitely high on our priority list of things to work on!

Ike is a Labrador retriever and he's four months old. He was donated to Hero Dogs by a generous Labrador breeder. Ike's lines have a great history of producing dogs with excellent hips and elbows – very important for any dog, but especially for a dog who will have someone depending on him for many years to come. We look forward to sharing Ike's journey with you.