12 months of Maysie!

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It's hard to believe, but we've had Maysie for an entire year! She's gone from being a 21 pound, long and lean Bernedoodle puppy to being a 65 pound, tall and long and lean Bernedoodle teenager!

In honor of her "gotcha" anniversary, I wanted to share 10 things I LOVE about this pup who has brought us so much joy:

One: Just look at this face!!



Two: The Bernedoodle head tilt. Give her a command she doesn't fully agree with? "Talk" with her in a Bernedoodle-ish voice? Turn off her Olivia Rodrigo playlist? Her head goes to the side and those big eyes question your logic.

Three: She's so cuddly. Our 12-year-old Maltese-Yorkie Bella came to us with food aggression and anxiety. On her best days, we can pet her back once or twice; on her worst days, only the Mr can approach her. Maysie LOVES to be pet, loved on, laid with, etc. Maybe too much? She will jump up and put her paws on your shoulders to "hug" you and make sure you give her your full attention. She also loves to crawl through legs, sometimes to the detriment of one's balance.

Four: She loves being outside so much! Doesn't matter the weather, she wants to be out and playing and running and laying in the grass (or snow) (or puddles).

Five: Learning how to train her. I was so worried about Maysie listening to me (or dragging me)... Although it will be a long, long process, Maysie and her big brain are really enjoying the weekly classes we are taking and her recall and recognition are coming along.

Six: Her love of laying under our kitchen table. It has always been one of her favorite spaces, even if there is less space now that she's bigger.

Seven: Playing frisbee in the backyard. It's still one of her favorite activities, even if my frisbee throwing has remained wild and sideways.



Eight: She plays with toys so much! Bella was never allowed toys at my mom's, so now she pays them no mind. Maysie is the opposite; she spends her evenings chewing away on one of her top three (durable) toys before crashing out on her mat. Also, see #7 above; we have bought backup frisbees because she loves sticking her head through hers so much.

Nine: The funny sounds she makes when she wants to be heard. They're not a moan or a cry or a howl, more like a mix between the three with inflection and VOLUME. Answer her back similarly and you'll get a head tilt (see #2).

Ten: Every bit of it. The hard nights, the stubborness, the size... There's been so much sad the last few years, and still is so much in so many places. This wild decision to get this large in size and personality pup has brought so much joy to our household. She's just the BEST! (even when she isn't, haha!)




We love a homegrown holiday in this household. Do you celebrate non-traditional anniversaries and dates? We still recognize the day we got our first dog, the equinoxes and solstices, dessert first Fridays, etc.

Comments

  1. ElisabethSeptember 22, 2026 at 4:47 AM

    Awww. What a sweet update. Congrats on the big milestone. It's clear she brings A LOT of love and joy into the family <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LindsaySeptember 22, 2026 at 8:25 AM

      So much love and joy (and tackles) (and Doodle sideye)!

      Delete
  2. Birchwood PieSeptember 22, 2026 at 10:16 AM

    A year of Maysie! I have just died from cuteness.

    Doggo was an absolute fiend for toys as a puppy, and there were times when she literally destroyed every toy that she had. Fortunately we found a handful of indestructibles/learned that Home Goods has quality toys for cheap/she finally grew out of the destructive phase. With that said...she was so ferocious and so cute in her destructive era.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LindsaySeptember 22, 2026 at 4:12 PM

      They just love their toys so ferociously! Home Goods is such a good call out - thanks!!

      Delete
  3. SusanneSeptember 22, 2026 at 1:01 PM

    I'm not a dog person but Maysie is so cute! Especially with that head tilt.And she sits like a human in that picture!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LindsaySeptember 22, 2026 at 4:12 PM

      She really does ride that human / dog line haha!

      Delete
  4. JennySeptember 22, 2026 at 6:16 PM

    MAYSIE!!! She really is long and lean! The head tilt is the best. Foxy does the same thing (he's the only one of our cats who does it) and it's just so cute.
    We definitely celebrate pet birthdays. We actually know Muffin's and Foxy's, we know Sylvie was born somewhere around the end of December, so my daughter decided she would share her birthday with her (December 30) and with Charlotte, we always celebrated her gotcha day.
    I hope Maysie gets lots of love and some new toys for her big day!

    ReplyDelete
  5. NicoleSeptember 23, 2026 at 4:58 AM

    Bernedoodles are the best! I love this breed. The head tilt, the lean, the big eyes. She's very long! Rex is 102 pounds and very solid. His birthday is the same as my son's and also our wedding anniversary, so we also celebrate the day he came to us - which is coming up in a few weeks! That day feels more relevant, since he was 1 1/2 when we got him. Happy day to Maysie!

    ReplyDelete

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