My husband and I have always loved dogs and have had them as pets all our lives. But since we got married, we have been pet-less because we lived in a townhouse with a tiny little back courtyard which would have been unfair on a pet, especially since we both have soft spots for large dogs.
So when we moved to a house with a backyard, our first reaction was "we have to get a dog!". Conveniently, our son turned 5 in early April and for such a momentous occasion, we decided we would get him a pet for his birthday. We hoped that it would foster in him a sense of responsibility, having a pet to look after as well as giving him a companion, since our efforts to give him a sibling have failed. Being an only child myself, it's a lonely life to lead.
Now that the decision to get a pet had been made, it was a no-brainer as to what type of dog we would get. When my husband and I were still dating, he bought an Alaskan Malamute and we named her Lady. Despite her size, she was the most gentle and loving dog you could ever wish for. She died in 2008 and we've always said if we ever got another dog, we would get another one of the same breed.
I found a couple of breeders over the internet and decided on a local breeder who lived not far from where we were. I wanted to make sure that we would have easy access to the breeder so that we could remain in close contact and be able to visit the dog's family on a regular basis.
So, after a visit to the breeder to see the litter in late April and picking our favourite from 8 gorgeous balls of fluff, we were finally able to pick up our pup on Saturday, the 7th of May 2011.
