I can’t believe it’s been one full year since we scooped our stubborn, sassy, shedding husky up from the Maricopa County animal shelter!
I detailed the story in full last year about how we spontaneously adopted Ochi on our way home from a backpacking trip in Sabino Canyon, and gave you a little update about a month after that, but honestly, I’ll always take the opportunity to share photos of Ochi.
Cause who doesn’t love cute dog photos?
Ochi is such a huge part of my and Ryan’s lives, and he’s been featured here a LOT, but we really have had such a great year with him!
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Welcome home, Ochi!
We taught him how to paddle board…
Took him to his first National Park*…
*That we know of, of course.
Took him on a short backpacking trip last year…
Took him on a longer backpacking trip last month…
Brought him along for our annual (his first) Christmas tree cutting excursion…
…and then spent his first Christmas with us.
And had plenty of other incredible experiences with him.
He turned 7 this past fall, and he really has settled into his new family (and his new home in the mountains of Flagstaff!) very well.
We were really worried when we adopted him about how well he would behave with other dogs due to the shelter’s requirement that he be adopted into a single-dog home.
He does get a bit aggressive with other dogs while he’s being walked on leash, but he’s also shared our apartment with some of his pup friends (shout out to Tortilla and Nova!) with ease, and he’s a regular at Kingsmark Kennels, where he routinely attends doggie daycare.
His report cards let us know that he plays really well with other dogs.
He’s not the biggest cuddler, but he is a bit of a Velcro pup. He loves to remain as close to us as possible (which gives me hope that one day we can train him to be an off-leash dog!) and hates when the two of us occupy separate rooms of our apartment.
Ochi had major separation anxiety when we first adopted him — he would sit at home and howl and cry and scratch at the front door constantly when left alone.
And while he does still get a bit bored when left home alone, the separation anxiety has eased quite a bit. He spends a bit more of his alone time at home napping and less time panicking.
He also loves his walks.
Whenever one of his humans puts on socks (or slippers), or opens the hall closet, or approaches the front door, he hurls his body across the room, spirals himself into a tizzy, and starts “talking” up a storm.
And of course… if Mom only opened the hall closet to put her backpack away, it’s non-stop pouting.
He loves Ryan’s parents as well — and luckily, they love him!
Mary and Brad watched Ochi for us a ton last summer while Ryan and I both committed ourselves to fire assignments for work, and were gracious enough to take him for the month that Ryan and I spent in India last fall.
We are always so grateful for their support and help with him, and we’re so lucky that they take such good care of Ochi and spoil him crazy.
Ochi’s got one little spot right under his front legs that he LOVES getting scratched. He’s more of a whimperer and crier than a howler, and he loves to tuck one of his paws into his chest when he lays down.
He is also a big pouty baby, and will absolutely hold grudges about anything and everything.
I (of course) wish he and Yukon could have met, and I will forever miss Yukon.
But, I’m so happy Ochi has settled into his new home so well. Ryan and I just love him so much! We’re looking forward to continued years of adventure with him.
