I will continue to update this as she grows, and I will occasionally explore how this wonderful dog has changed our lives. We brought Lottie home on December 31st, 2020, a fitting end to a truly memorable year. We thought we were prepared. We read The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete, which gave us an appreciation for the bond you can develop with an animal. It’s true that the love you put into a dog, you receive tenfold in return. Between worrying about Lottie getting parvo yet still requiring adequate socialization and us trying to stay safe from COVID, we had a frenetic start to the year. After the third vaccine, the house training, and our own adjustment to this new bit of chaos, things finally got easier. Each week that goes by she becomes more ingrained in our routines: the morning walks around Forest Hill, the Sunday trips to Crissy field and Devil’s Teeth Bakery, the bimonthly winery or Tahoe trips. This website is intended to be for professional explorations and ruminations. But Lottie is a part of my daily life and deserves a post (plus she’s adorable). I only have to look between my monitors to see her lounging on the white leather couch, echoing the past generations of dogs who spent their days calmly staring out these same circletop windows. Lottie Fact 1 - She was named after the 2020 Great British Bakeoff Contestant Lottie Bedlow Lottie Fact 2 - She hates getting wet, despite being bred for hunting in water and having a water-resistant double coat. Lottie Fact 3 - She is extremely good at tug-of-war. 7/20/21 On Training People sometimes ask, “So what tricks can she do?” and I find myself slightly annoyed, as if she were part of a circus show. Even our vet tried to shake her paw, and Lottie recoiled, confused at the vet’s intentions. We began with virtual puppy training the week we brought her home. In the last six months, Lottie has learned how to listen to key commands, how to play with humans and other dogs respectfully, and how navigate her own emotions, all while quintupling in size and growing a whole new set of teeth. So, she may not be able to roll over (yet), and she may not shake your hand before a business meeting, but she has all the tools to be a wonderful companion and an important part of our family. 11/10/21 First Year Lottied turned one years old on Oct 30th, and we celebrated by taking her to her (our) favorite spot, Crissy field. We have made a tradition of driving to Crissy field and enjoying the view of the Golden Gate Bridge while Lottie prances in the sand and plays tag with other dogs (that is, until they go into the water and she’s too shy to follow). We then go to our favorite bakery Devil’s Teeth in the Richmond and get the most amazing breakfast sandwich and cinnamon roll. I very much look forward to the weekends we get to do this. It’s funny how dogs institute a certain routine to life: the morning poop, the afternoon walk, the evening play session, etc. Yet they also take life’s routines and, through their sponteneity and playfullness, make them so much more varied and entertaining. This year has been more challenging than most - the pandemic, the stressful job search and career pivot, and the tragic deaths - but I have felt more joy and purpose from raising this dog than I could have ever expected. I also feel part of this ‘dog community,’ which I had definitely been missing out on. 07/22/22 Thoughts Sometimes we joke that it would be great if Lottie could talk, could laugh with us. But the reality is, that is why people love dogs. Their lack of understanding is the secret to their undconditinoal love - their simplicty is beautiful. She’s the best WFH office-mate I could have ever asked for.