I know, I know…this post is way overdue. Most of you already know that I have a cute little Bernedoodle puppy, but I wanted to take the chance to properly introduce him.
Meet little Reese, 18lbs of pure energy, curls and unparalleled cuteness. Reese has pretty much turned my life upside down…in a seriously good way. My life needed a little bit of a shake-up as blogging, going to events, and non-stop travel pretty much stole all of my free time.
Last December 6th, which just happened to be a milestone birthday for me, my husband presented me with a huge, purple gift bag. In it was a dog bowl, dog treats and a big fluffy dog toy. I immediately started crying tears of joy. He gave me a big hug and said that we would be getting a puppy whenever I was ready. With tears streaming down my face, I immediately fired up the computer and started researching.
How We Found Reese
OUTFIT DETAILS
Crop Top – Aritzia (similar here) | Jeans – Topshop | Heels – Aldo | Belt – Aritzia (similar here)| Newsboy cap – Le Chateau (similar here) | Earrings – Dynamite (similar here)
Supporting the Ottawa Humane Society is important to me, so it came to mind first. I signed up for adoption alerts and visited the site constantly like it was my full-time job.
Sadly, we were never able to adopt a dog. Dogs are adopted really quickly, and puppies are adopted at lightning speed.
I was also worried about my allergies, which narrowed our adoption search. We needed a hypoallergenic pup, and those are highly popular. After two months of searching, I threw in the towel and called a local goldendoodle breeder with an excellent reputation by the name of Mohr-Over Kennels.
Sheila, the owner, didn’t expect a litter of goldendoodles until mid-spring, but she did have a litter of mini Bernedoodles on the way. I put my name down for one despite not knowing what they were (shhhhh….don’t tell my husband that). After doing a quick internet search, I was happy I committed.
What is a Bernedoodle?
A Bernedoodle is the cutest damn dog you’ll ever see – that’s what. They are a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Goldendoodle. A Goldendoodle, by the way, is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. So yeah – you can say that Reese is a real mutt…but a seriously adorable one.
Reese is lovely….truly has the temperament of an excited Poodle (sigh), the goofy and affectionate personality of a Bernese Mountain Dog, and the easy-going warmth of a Golden Retriever. He loves nothing more than to chase you, run full speed into your arms for cuddles, lives for belly rubs and is an eating machine. He keeps up laughing constantly with his completely ridiculous antics.
Reese the Peanut Butter Cup
His litter of ten pups was delivered on January 9th. When they reached six weeks of age, we were able to come pick one out. That chilly February day, I could not keep still. I couldn’t sleep the night before and I most certainly couldn’t focus on work that day. When work mercilessly ended, I rushed straight to the breeder with Ryan in tow.
Sheila greeted us with a big smile and took us to the kennel. I was NOT prepared for the cuteness overload that would be a litter of 10 wriggly puppies. I was also not prepared to be chosen by a puppy as opposed to the other way around. When I walked up to their pen, a jet black puppy with brown paws looked up at me and stood up with his paws outstretched, wanting to be picked up. With Sheila’s ok, I scooped him up and he licked my face. I cried again. That was my dog. He picked me…and that was that.
We decided to go to dinner afterwards to celebrate and on the way to the restaurant, Ryan noted that “the puppy sure is cute. Kinda looked like a Reese Peanut Butter Cup.” We then just looked at each other and exclaimed “REESE!!!”…and like that, his name was settled.
A month later, we were cleared to bring Reese home and I’ve been a loyal dog mom ever since. As much as I love the little guy, I was not prepared for the struggle that would be raising a puppy. Don’t get me wrong. It is worth it but shhhheeeeeetttttttt!!! I wish someone schooled me on the ins and outs of dog motherhood. There are a few hundred things you should know before deciding on getting a puppy. The most important ones are listed below.
Things You Should Know Before Getting A Puppy
- Remember – there are thousands of dogs out there that need a loving home. Consider adopting first!
- Going with a breeder? Research that person thoroughly. Puppy mills are a real thing and they are horrible. You do not want to end up supporting illegal business practices that hurt living beings.
- What is your lifestyle like? If you are never home, dog ownership is probably not for you. If you are a couch potato, breeds like Bulldogs and Great Danes make good companions. Super active? Get a border collie. Need companionship and love lapdogs? Hello! Shitzhus! Just want a pal? ADOPT.
- Patience is your best friend when raising a pup. Be tolerant and loving and remember, they are just babies. Take a time out and enlist help if you need it (dog walking, training, etc.)!
- Puppies are extremely time-consuming. I remember those days when I would come home, and just relax. That has ENDED. My adorable little nutcase needs to be watched like a hawk as he’s so mischievous. Dogs need to be walked, trained, loved, played with, and monitored closely. They are not cats that you can leave alone for long periods of time. They need to be fed on schedule and let out immediately after eating. Consider crate-training as soon as you can!
- TEETHING. Like babies, puppies’ gums hurt when their teeth are growing. They will chew everything including your limbs to soothe the pain. Also, their baby teeth are razor sharp, so watch out!
- Dogs are expensive. There is the obvious like vet bills. Then there is the dog food, countless dog toys and outfits (lol) that you’ll want to buy, and other necessities like dishes, leashes, combs, brushes and treats. Retailers take advantage too because they know we are suckers for our puppy babies.
- Be prepared for the destruction. I have lost shoes, makeup and countless pieces of clothing torn to shreds thanks to Reese’s razor teeth. Before we crate-trained Reese, he’d chew the baseboards and cabinets…anything that was within reach if you weren’t watching him closely! Dogs are a bit filthy too. Mine is a digger and loves digging up my garden flowers. He then runs in the house and sits on my white chairs. SIGH.
- Puppy-proof your home. Put shoes away, get your plants off the floor and secure all garbage. Trust me…if your puppy can get into it, he will. Reese loves toilet paper and dirty laundry. Be prepared for shredded remains of both if they aren’t secured.
- Enjoy this time! They may test your patience but they love you. The snuggles and puppy kisses make it all worth it.
Reese’s addition to our family was a huge lifestyle change, but one that I’m thrilled with. The cuddles he gives me are life-giving and I love that he’s so attached to me that he follows me around everywhere. He’s the best companion ever and the way he looks at me with those big, brown eyes makes me melt each and every time.
Do you have a puppy? What kind? Please share in the comments!
Dominique is a Canadian-based fashion and beauty influencer with a strong voice in Ottawa’s black community. Since launching her blog Style Domination in 2015, she has amassed a global fanbase. Dominique shares her life through beautiful imagery and compelling story-telling that speaks to her fans on a personal level. She’s been featured in The Guardian, Flare, The Kit and Cityline. She also hosts events for Dress for Success, the Gem Conference, and has been named a United Way Person 2 Know for the past three years.
He is adorable! He almost doesn’t look real, like the cutest little stuffed animal!
~xo Sheree
poshclassymom.com
Author
Haha! He gets that a lot. He looks like a teddy bear!
OMG the cutest!! I love your tip “be prepared for destruction” haha!! Oh no!
Author
LOL! He’s a good dog but he gets into so much trouble! He LOVES to tear things up!!!
What a sweet and informative post! Reese looks like a sweetheart.
Author
He totally is. Best boy ever!
OMG He is a dream! Congrats. Adding a dog to a family is an amazing experience. xox The Babbling Babe
He looks absolutely precious and super soft with all that fluffy fur! I haven’t had a puppy in a long time, but they definitely can be a lot of work, like a new baby lol! Love your tips on how to prepare before deciding to add a new member to the family!
Alyssa // ninethreezero.blogspot.com
YES ! YES ! YES ! Those sweet little bundles that make your heart melt WILL be the real centre of your universe – and every second you spend letting him/her learn how to be a happy, well behaved puppy will be the best investment ever !! You are spot on with regard to breeds and needs; our previous dog when I was younger (active, energetic, super healthy) about 20 years ago was Border Collie blend(mainly BC). – most wonderful dog in the world, but I had spent hours/weeks/months learning and training. With my current lifestyle – guess what ? I have a “couch potato” Great Dane girl – just like you said 🤣 Here’s to your ongoing adventures with your bouncy boy, Reese (love the story !)
Author
Thank you so much, Kee! What a kind comment! I miss Jasmine, my BC. She was the greatest dog ever, right from the get-go. Reese is great too and really coming into his own. We just got him neutered (poor thing), and I hope it slows him down a little! Boy – I bet your Great Dane is gorgeous. Such majestic dogs!
Omg, what a cutie! Looks like a little teddy bear!
Oh my god! He is so cute ❤️ virtual cuddles for him. I agree dogs are hyperactive when young. Beautiful post, lovely photos as well.
Oh my gosh! How cute is he?? I want another pup now haha
Kasey Ma
TheStyleWright.com
Author
Don’t we all! LOL! Thanks for reading, babe!
OMG! This pup!! I can’t focus on much else in your post (although you look fab)! What an adorable dog – so cuddly!
I grew up with dogs and just love having one in my life. I adopted a boxer and enjoyed her goofy companionship for 6 years. Sadly passed away unexpectedly from bloat a few years back. Now I’m lucky enough to have taken over care of my mom’s Rhodesian Ridgeback. He is 105 pounds of big old baby and I couldn’t love him more. Having a dog just makes every day better.
Author
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are just gorgeous! My cousin has one named Baxter and he’s a huge lovable goofball. I bet your mom’s is lovely!
Awesome, Love this post
thanks for sharing
xoxo
JAM
http://WWW.TRAVELWITHJAM.COM
Great and so sweet dog
Author
Thank you, Carol!
What an informative post! Such a sweet little guy!
Author
I just love him. He’s a naughty little tornado, but still…
Your puppy is adorable!
Author
Thank you!
He’s cute and has a lot of hair.
Author
He has a ton of hair! Thank you!
He’s so cute get him lots of chew toy’s and watch out for your shoes. We got our dog a pair of antlers from Petco to chew on she loves them and it helps keep there teeth nice and white and they are so hard that they last forever .
Author
Hi Jeanne! Thank you for this! I actually got Reese an antler but he refuses to touch it! LOL! Sigh. I got him these weird vegan dog treats (he’s not vegan – I just got them because they were on sale – haha) that he loves. They are supposed to keep his teeth clean too due to their rough shape! Thanks for the tips!
He is so beautiful.
He is adorable. But just to clarify a bernedoodle is a cross between a bernese mountain dog and a poodle. Best of luck with him
Author
I’ll be sure to send your message to the breeder immediately.
Reese is should a cutie pie. Thanks for this awesome sweep.
What a beautiful dog!! I just learned about a new breed by coming to your site and she looks happy!!
Author
Thanks, Kevin!
LOVE THIS!
Author
Thanks, Annelore! He’s so snuggly. I love him so much!
Such a cute dog! We adopted a BoChi puppy a couple of months ago.
Author
OMG! I didn’t even know BoChis were a thing! So cute. Thank you so much for reading!
What a little cutie.
I love that dog.
Cute puppy
what a totally cutie patootie and you both look really happy in these pics 🙂
I don’t currently have a dog but am looking to get a service dog as I am disabled. Reese is a handsome little devil, so adorable. Thanks for the pics. I miss having a dog. I was raised with anywhere between 1 and 3 dogs at a time and when I moved out I couldn’t have one but now with my situation I can have one again. Thank God, now I just need to find a place willing to give me one instead of buying one. Again thank you for the share.
this was absolutely the cutest and informative blog post ever. found you from a viral tiktok of you living your best life, ten of course went and followed all your social media and found this blog about your beautiful Reese 🥺
Author
OMG. Dariel! Thank you so much!!! This really means a lot. And Reese is my heart. Honestly – he is the sweetest little mound of cuddles ever. Glad to have you here!