So, we did a thing. We adopted a puppy! Back then, she was a six-month-old bundle of something. When we first got her, she was all legs and ribs, a skinny little question mark. What is she? We wondered. A tiny deer trying out for the long jump? A malnourished kangaroo escaped from the zoo? Turns out, our little mystery mutt, now known as Sansa, is 50% Labrador Retriever (the “please love me” gene, which she definitely inherited!), 25% Husky (the “I will howl at the moon” gene), and 25% German Shepherd (the “I must protect this house from squirrels” gene). Which, in retrospect, explains… everything.
Sansa also boasted a magnificent, ridiculously long tail that wagged with the force of a small hurricane. It could clear a coffee table in seconds. And water? Forget about it. This dog was, and still is, obsessed. Even the tiniest puddle became an irresistible invitation for a splash party, complete with enthusiastic front-paw-dumping. She did this even with her water bowl! We’d find her happily paddling, looking like she’d just discovered a new continent. Sansa was a bit of an enigma when it came to social interactions. She was incredibly shy around people, preferring to observe from a safe distance, probably judging our fashion choices. But put her in a room full of dogs? It was a party! She was the life of the canine party, making friends and leading the charge in all the zoomie-related activities.
We thought puppies were energetic. We were wrong. This dog operated on a different plane of existence. A plane fueled by zoomies, and the refusal to sit still. **Ever.** Her internal clock was also a bit… off. Sansa was ready to party until 1:00 AM, then popped up again at 4:00 AM, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (literally). We were exhausted. Send coffee – quick! And maybe a therapist. Despite the sleep deprivation, we couldn’t help but adore her. She was a walking, tail-wagging, ear-flopping bundle of goofiness. Sansa tripped over her own feet, chased imaginary squirrels up the walls (we’re pretty sure they were ninjas), and had perfected the art of the puppy-dog eyes when she wanted a treat (which was always). We became experts in ignoring those eyes. Mostly. Oh, and while she’s generally a silent observer in the grand scheme of neighborhood noises, the arrival of any delivery vehicle transforms her into a barking fairy – mail carrier, FedEx, UPS, Amazon, the pizza guy – they all get the full, unadulterated vocal treatment. Yet, strangely, she never barks at anything else. And let’s not even talk about toys. We went through hundreds of them. Seriously. Each one, regardless of its supposed durability, met its demise in approximately three seconds. We even, in a moment of optimistic naivete, subscribed to BarkBox. It did not make it. The monthly delivery of carefully curated chews and plushies became a bi-weekly trip to the pet store for more… disposable entertainment.Now, at five, Sansa has developed a rather intense level of attachment. When I’m home, I am never truly alone. Ever. She stares. Constantly. It’s like living with a furry, silent security camera. And bathroom breaks? Forget about privacy. She follows me every single time, planting herself right outside the shower door like a furry, damp bodyguard. I haven’t showered or used the bathroom in solitude since she arrived. Apparently, my hygiene habits are a spectator sport in the Sansa-verse.She’s still very energetic compared to other dogs her age. She very much looks like more of a Labrador Retriever now, bigger and more filled out. Her whole body wiggles every time she greets us by the door, a testament to her enduring enthusiasm. It’s like being greeted by a furry, four-legged earthquake. And don’t even get me started on the playground. About a mile out, she starts this high-pitched squeal, a whine of pure, unadulterated excitement that has literally driven me to wear earplugs on our walks. It’s less a happy sound and more a sonic weapon of anticipation. We also had that one memorable incident where her inner Husky/Shepherd kicked in, and she chased the neighbor’s cat so far up a tree, we genuinely thought we’d need to call the fire department. The cat, by the way, still gives Sansa the side-eye. She’s forced me to walk during the pandemic for miles. I have gone places that I never thought existed in the neighborhood. Every nook and corner. Chasing birds (which she never catches, bless her heart) and everything that moves, even a plastic bag blown by the wind. She’s basically a furry Roomba, cleaning up the neighborhood one plastic bag at a time, all while plotting her imminent playground takeover and occasionally terrorizing the local feline population.Despite all the chewed-up furniture, the early morning wake-up calls, the ear-splitting playground anticipation, and the complete and utter lack of bathroom privacy, we adore this goofy, water-loving, selectively vocal, toy-destroying shadow of a dog more than words can say. She fills our lives with laughter (and a healthy dose of exhaustion). We wouldn’t trade her for the world (or maybe just a full night’s sleep, a locked bathroom door, a lifetime supply of industrial-strength earplugs, apologies to the neighbor, and shares in a very resilient toy company that has yet to be invented).
The Fun Doesn’t Stop Here!
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Want more tales of Sansa’s antics and the joys of living with a quirky canine companion? Check out these posts for more heartwarming and hilarious pet stories:
Sansa’s Silent Language – A charming exploration of how Sansa communicates her love and mischief without saying a word.
4 thoughts on “Our Little Mystery Mutt: A DNA-Fueled Comedy Starring Sansa (Now Five! Loved Beyond Measure Despite the Mayhem)”
Thank you for this wonderful comment! "What a wild, hilarious ride with Sansa!" perfectly captures it. You're absolutely right—her chaos is definitely matched only by the incredible amount of love and laughter she brings. Life with her is certainly never boring and always full of heart!
What a wild, hilarious ride with Sansa! Her chaos is clearly matched only by how much love and laughter she brings—sounds like life with her is never boring and always full of heart.
Sansa hit the jackpot! She’s one lucky dog with loving, caring hoomans who treat her like royalty. Their cuddles and care melt the stress away and fill her days with tail wags and happy zoomies. Proof that a little love goes a long way, especially when you have paws!
That's such a sweet comment! It really paints a picture of a truly happy dog.
It's amazing how much joy and stress relief our furry friends can bring into our lives, and it sounds like Sansa is giving back every bit of the love she receives. Tail wags and happy zoomies are definitely proof of a life well-loved!
By Laughs by Teresa
Thank you for this wonderful comment! "What a wild, hilarious ride with Sansa!" perfectly captures it. You're absolutely right—her chaos is definitely matched only by the incredible amount of love and laughter she brings. Life with her is certainly never boring and always full of heart!
What a wild, hilarious ride with Sansa! Her chaos is clearly matched only by how much love and laughter she brings—sounds like life with her is never boring and always full of heart.
Sansa hit the jackpot! She’s one lucky dog with loving, caring hoomans who treat her like royalty. Their cuddles and care melt the stress away and fill her days with tail wags and happy zoomies. Proof that a little love goes a long way, especially when you have paws!
That's such a sweet comment! It really paints a picture of a truly happy dog.
It's amazing how much joy and stress relief our furry friends can bring into our lives, and it sounds like Sansa is giving back every bit of the love she receives. Tail wags and happy zoomies are definitely proof of a life well-loved!