I heart you, Phoenix, times 365.

The photo that made me race down to the shelter and pick him up.

On the 25th, Phoenix will have been in his fur-ever home for a year. A whole year. A whole year where he has spent one single night with out me (I think you may recall I left my mother in charge, with a list of about 18 emergency vet clinics in a 50km radius, a written note of his likes, dislikes, severe hates and how much drool he will produce on average. And yes, he survived, and I nearly did, too).

The first photo of the two playing together...awww!

I am also happy to announce, after his yearly check up and vaccine booster on Wednesday...he has put on a whole 8.2 kilo's since he became my child. He was a very thin 29kg the day I picked him up, and apparently had already stacked on 2kg in the months he'd been at the shelter, so he really was an emaciated little man.The drive home from the shelter with the dog who didn't care where he was going, yet leaned on me the entire way.

As you all know, he's grown masses of confidence, a whole heap of trust, and best of all, he actually smiles these days. He gets a big goofy grin and his eyes light up, instead of the fear and dread thing he had going on back in the day.

Falling for my gorgeous boy!

You'll be aware he now will let people pat his tummy (well, maybe only me and Sarah, as demonstrated at the vets when she attempted touching his manly area and he practically climb up the wall, holwing and rolling his eyes) and he excelled himself to the second highest level of training in our club in a few short months.

He still thinks he's a lap dog at nearly 40kg

He even 95% got over his on leash aggression, and can be walked safely on and off leash in public.It wasn't all roses with Phoenix...

All in all, he's a changed dog, and all for the better. I couldn't imagine life with out my big Boofer Woofer, and I even mostly tolerate his drool all over my black clothing.

One year one, and hasn't he turned into a handsome boy?

His first ever go at agility, such a star!

...and here's some sillyness I just had to share ;)