In 2016, we took a long drive out to western Virginia, and picked up this little bundle of fur that would become my personal assistant, the heartbeat at my feet and someone little to love. He weighed 3.5 pounds, was completely adorable and his name is Friday. He’s my Man Friday.

I wasn’t sure I would want another dog when Whitten’s dog died. But it had been three years and I was ready for a puppy, or so I thought. I wanted some company when Chip was away working, which was a lot at that time.

Enter new puppy….

Complete wildness for awhile and then we settled into a routine, mostly. I got a trainer for him (me) and we began to figure it out. He was pretty good at learning tricks and manners. It had been 18 years since I’d had to train a puppy and I had forgotten how much work it is. But he’s very smart and learned things quickly. It was more about training me than him.

He is a parti colored miniature schnauzer and is completely devoted to me, and I to him. Chip has even warmed up to the little guy too. There’s lots of “vim and vigor”, like the books say. He’s smaller than our first one, and much more crazy.

He’s a great guard dog - no one will ever sneak up on me. The UPS man could come five times a day, and he’d do the same thing - which is bark madly for 2-3 minutes and then run up to them, turn in circles until we’re all dizzy, and fall down on his back with his feet up in the air. He also actually skips when he trots along.

He’ll be six this year and acts like he’s still six months old - running around the house like a maniac, and has a basket full of stuffed toys that he plays with constantly. Skills include shredding paper (still), running away with anything that might provoke chasing, delivering the mail (for a treat) and the side-eye. Favorite toys are Mr. Bill and his bear, or anything that squeaks. Will eat anything except for salt & vinegar potato chips.

The only thing he doesn’t do well, is play with other dogs. He doesn’t know what to do with them. He’s completely a people dog. He loves you and assumes you love him also. He will jump up in anyone’s lap, at anytime. That’s the one thing I was unable to teach him - no jumping up and in laps. It’s a good thing he only weighs 13 pounds.

When we got him, I looked at him and said “you are gonna break my heart one day.” And there is no doubt about that. He’s the best little man.