Maria and I decided last night to change Leroy’s name to “Gus” and we don’t even own him yet.

We talked about it, but not for very long. We just like the name Gus better than Leroy, and Leroy was a fine name. I like one syllable names for the dogs, a border collie thing. Maria just likes the name, she thought it fit the dog we are seeing evolve.

Gus strikes me as a gentleman. He is affectionate, calm and curious.

He is coming home in a week and tomorrow we set out to purchase some toys and training treats for him. I like to be prepared.

Gus can’t wander around much until he gets his final shots, but I will bring him right to the Mansion to let him and the residents take a peek at one another. They are very excited.

We’re just about ready. We got a nice metal pen to put outside on nice days in the fenced in yard (where Fate often hangs out) and no, it will not be six feet tall, as many of you seem to want us to do. We do not have coyotes coming into our fenced area with Fate, and in any case, Gus will not be spending time alone out there.

We have a crate upstairs and a crate downstairs, crate training is important for me, and we will use it to housebreak Gus, then show him how to be calm. Also a safe refuge for him.

When people tell me they have hyper dogs, I twitch a little. I’ve lived with Labs an border collies for yeas, and have never had a hyper dog inside the house, I wouldn’t like that. It’s  up to me, not the dog, to make that happen.

Even Fate, who is as energetic and cranked up a dog as there is,  is calm and still in the house. We’ll see what happens, but I am expecting no serious problems with Gus, and with dogs, you usually get what you want and need.

Maria and I seem to need Gus, I’m not sure why, that will reveal itself over time. Thanks for the (mostly) good thoughts.