JULIO!!!!

For at least two years, Greta has wanted a dog.  She has watched old videos of Max, the dog we had when she was born.  She used to tell people that she loved Max so much and that she missed him.  Given that he died when Greta was a year old - almost to the date - she cannot possibly remember Max.  Nonetheless, she wants to remember.  She craved having a pup for her own.  So much so, Wyatt has walked on all fours with a leash around his neck for some time now barking and digging and sitting on command as Greta takes her "puppy" for a walk.  Wyatt - - you are now liberated, my friend.  JULIO has joined our family.  Sweet Hoolie is our little street dog who found his way into our family a little over a week ago.  I found him through Adopta Perro, a shelter for dogs here in Santiago.  Hoolie was dumped there at the shelter's gates along with his other little siblings.  He was the only one of the litter to have his coloring and the only one without a ridge back.  Hoolie is most likely a Mastiff mixed with Lab or Great Dane or Boxer.  Perhaps he's mixed with Rhodesian Ridgeback since his siblings all had ridges.  At any rate, he is our Chilean street mutt, and he is a beauty.  All worried brow and awkward runs -- our Hoolie is just as sweet as they come.  During these first days with him, we've established a routine. Each night he gets tucked in with Greta and Wyatt during their story time.  Hoolie gets to sleep with each of them on a rotating basis.  Once the child with the dog is asleep, Paul or I take Hoolie out of their room and head back downstairs with him where Hoolie promptly goes to sleep in our laps.  He is a very good boy.  

 Greta wants to hold Hoolie all the time, and very, very soon - - he is going to outweigh her by a lot, I am afraid.

Sweet Hoolie got cold on his first night in our home, so on his second night, he got to wear Wyatt's pajamas to bed.  He was much cozier.  And cuter.

 Here's to a long, joyful life with Julio Coolio!  We love you, Hoolie!