Happy Fourth Birthday, Cubb!

Dear Cubby,

Well, another year has come and gone and we barely had time to blink.  Sophie made me truly understand how short our time together is, so I've appreciated every minute we get to spend with each other and tried to make the most of them.

You had a few "firsts" this year ... your first boat ride, your first time at the ocean, and your first time at a zoo (well, Sea World, kind of like a zoo).  You sure did know how to disappoint us.  A great big boat with a loud foghorn out in San Diego Bay, the roar of the ocean and the waves crashing in at your feet, and coming face to face with a walrus, a dolphin, and a beluga whale didn't interest you in the least.  The same thing happened with your first snowfall, remember?  What's it going to take to get you impressed by something?

We mostly worked on sharpening your existing skills as a service dog but we experimented with a few new commands.  You're pretty good now with helping me up and down hills which is just a combination of stop, brace, and lean.

Out of harness, you've earned a few household privileges that I'm proud of you for.  You no longer have to sleep in a closed crate; you have the freedom to sleep wherever you please in the house although, most of the time, I wake up and find you all sacked out in your crate.  Thank goodness you've pretty much outgrown your destructive chewing although, of course, I still obsess over keeping an eye on you and your toys.  Your Gentle Leader also went bye-bye this year, kept in the dog bag only if you were to need it, and you haven't.

You're up to 19 flights now with 6 more planned before year's end.  And you're up to 11 states and 2 countries!

You've been awesome, Cubby, one top-notch dog both in and out of harness!  You just can't imagine how much I dearly love you, and how much I depend on you.  Not a day goes by that you don't keep my walking straight, save my hide from falling, and pick up the dozen or more things I drop.  Now your fifth year has begun ... let's make it amazing together.  I love you, Cubby!

PHOTO DESCRIPTIONS:  Happy 4th Birthday sign; Cubby standing in his chair under his birthday banner; Wendy, Cousin Julie, and Cubby at Santa Monica Beach; a handsome portrait; and Cubby with his new dinosaur he got for his birthday.