A year ago, we adopted a blur

Here he is:


Darwin is still scared of the camera but a bit less so. Once I figured out how to make the camera silent, he pretty much stopped running away from it, but he poses in the most mournful manner.

I am so sad.

WHY? Why do you torment me with that black box?
Don't you love me?

Yup, Darwin, I do. I adore you. And so, I take pictures of you sleeping.

In a cute snuggly "paws by face" pose:

All snuggly, wuggly in my bed:

Um. Well. Ahem.

We've had a great year.

There were outings to rivers:

Swimming in lakes:

Camping:

Birds! Birds! Birds!

Birds! Birds! Birds!

Birds! Birds! Birds!

Notice that when there are Birds! Birds! Birds!, I can sneak a camera in his face without him melting down.

His smiley, tail waggy face is the one I see most of the time. Darwin is a charmer and a cuddler. He brings me a toy to show me & then plays keep away. His tail is pretty much always wagging.

A few weeks before Christmas, he was finally able to accept treats outside and I began to do some more clicker training with him. Prior to that, the moment he stepped outside, his brain fell out on the road and he just vibrated Birds! Birds! Birds!

Now, he can actually sit outside (usually), he re-orients, takes treats and is slowly learning to not drag me in pursuit of every winged creature out there.

And look, we can sometimes even snap an awake indoor photo. You'll have to imagine it but he's saying Roo-Roo - an endearing English Setter trait & their own particular way of talking.


Happy 1st Anniversary Darwin! I'm so lucky you're here!