Darwin had his 2 year old visit this past winter and did fantastic! His issues with Red Mange are long gone and his stomach issues seem under control. Turns out the grain-free food we fed him was just too much for his stomach. He's saving us a bunch of money now that we are using the regular stuff!! Every now and then he still has an upset stomach - but we can't always prevent him from chewing on things in the back yard or drinking water out of puddles.
Our vet was so proud of us at his visit. Six months before the most recent one, he weighed about 60-62 pounds and the vet thought that was a little too high. So, we cut his food back a little and now he's perfect at 55-57 pounds!
Here are some of my favorite recent pictures...
Darwin trying to make himself a chocolate lab by rolling in the dirt
Sniffing something in the air
Relaxing and enjoying the sun on the deck
Sporting his new green reflective collar and leash
Making himself comfortable on the couch
He's been doing great with his commands. The only exception is that he doesn't always come when called - especially if he's distracted (like today when he had to alert the whole neighborhood that there was a baby possum in the yard). He's still frequently shy around new people, and some things make him a bit nervous (like kids). He doesn't always greet us when we walk in the house cause he's too busy in the backyard, sunbathing, or relaxing, but he has brought us great joy often. My favorite is when he cuddles with me on the couch - which he did a lot during this cold winter!
We are still working on making the car enjoyable - taking him on short trips to day camp - which he loves. But, sometimes he still shivers because he's scared to go for a ride. We've realized he is better in one car than the other.
He is such a sweet dog and a really good boy. And, I'm probably biased, but I think he's pretty good looking too! We are so glad we went to the Petsmart Adoption event 2 years ago and I look forward to many wonderful memories together.
