I got Bentley on October 25th and it's been a month now.

I've never had a dog before. Wait. Correction: I've never my OWN dog that was my complete responsibility before. I had two hamsters when I was seven, but that one didn't work out so well either.... tragic, actually. And so, I swore off pets for a looong time. I think I had a beta once when I was in middle school but they have a film canister of water and live forever. Daffodils require more maintenance.

I wanted a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, specifically. I researched and researched puppies and when the corgi's picture popped up, here was this stubby little dog with big ears, a bigger personality, looking like he was wearing some tube socks. Loved it!!

His name is Bentley Bear Acuda (like barracuda, without the visualization of a large predatory fish with an underbite. And Acuda isn't my last name or anything, I just wanted it to flow like that. I'm sure it means something.... somewhere.)

He had worms at the beginning of November, but he went to the vet and he's all better now. Made me queasy when I first saw them after his morning poo. Ack.

He had a tick in his ear last week that I yanked out with a pair of tweezers. He was flailing around like I was setting his feet on fire and I felt terrible holding him still. I don't think I got the head out, but I read that it'll just fall out on it's own.

He chews EVERYTHING he's not supposed to. I sound like a broken record sometimes while he's walking around, "No, Bentley!" Or sometimes I like to change it up, "Bentley, NO." Variety is the spice of life.

And he EATS everything. He reminds me of a vacuum when he's sniffing about. Then I'll look away for a SECOND and turn back and see that he's chomping away on something and by the time get over there to try and get him to drop it, he's already swallowed it and is licking his lips. I've found remnants of my to-do list on a post-it note in his poo. As well as, but not limited to, a small piece of rubber he gnawed off his toy, pieces of cotton, paper, and carpet fibers. So every time he eats something that's not supposed to be digested, I have to look out for it to make sure it made it through the gastrointestinal journey. Thank goodness they're only in small amounts and as long as he's pooing regularly that means no obstruction. Hopefully. Unless there's a bezoar developing in this little tummy.

He doesn't eat his OWN poo. But he'll find other wild animal poo and try to eat it. Gross. So now I'm on double poo patrol in my backyard.

He's such a smart little guy, too. It's that food factor that motivates. Sometimes he gets all excited and just does tricks before I call them out. My absolute favorites for him are roll over and alle-oop. Originally, I wanted him to lie down on his side instead of roll over when I said, "bang bang!" and made the gun hands. But he always got all hyped up and went in to a frenzy of kicking legs, so I just settled for roll over. Hahaha. And alle-oop! is when he jumps through the circle I make with my arms. Which I'm not sure how long he'll be able to do that trick because he's getting bigger and if I don't position my arms right he'll ram right into my face.... hahaha.

And currently, I'm switching his food over to Blue Buffalo and he's very gassy. Like right now. If I didn't know any better, I would think he took a dump and hid it under my bed and that's what I keep smelling. I'm thinking I sound increase the ratio of his old food...