Happy 1st Birthday, Makai!
I can’t believe our little guy is already a year old. Time really does fly. It feels like we barely got to enjoy the puppy breath phase before he was too big to fit in our laps. (To be fair, he outgrew my lap shortly after we brought him home—but don’t tell him that. He still tries to curl up like he’s eight pounds instead of fifty-eight.) We still get the occasional sleepy puppy grunt when he’s extra tired, but overall… our little boy isn’t so little anymore.
We celebrated his first birthday with a homemade doggie carrot cake, a spiffy bandana and bow tie, a bone bigger than he is, and plenty of toys, love, and belly rubs (and yes, we absolutely sang happy birthday). Makai wrapped up the day with a cozy nap in the window, curled up next to our palm tree. All in all, it was a perfect way to celebrate and reflect on an unforgettable first year.
Makai dug right in to his carrot cake! I thought for sure he’d go for the bone first!
The first year of Makai’s life hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing, but it’s been full of growth, learning, love, and more than a few vet visits. He came to us as a rescue from South Carolina, and the first few days together were a whirlwind (you can read more about that here). Since then, we’ve tackled two rounds of giardia, mysterious limping, discovered what head tremors are (and in the process realized he’s likely part boxer), and dealt with a double ear infection and a pretty brutal belly rash. Shoutout to the amazing team at Old Lyme Vet Clinic in Old Lyme, CT—we’re basically regulars at this point. The silver lining? Makai’s made a lot of friends there. The downside? Well… our wallets have taken some hits.
Behaviorally, Makai struggled with alone time early on. But we implemented the same training protocol I use with my separation anxiety clients, and through the right training approach, we saw great progress and overcame that hurdle. He also had some fear around loud noises and unfamiliar environments, but he’s been getting braver every day. These days, he can relax in his crate while we’re out—sometimes I still check in on the camera, and my heart swells when I see him snoozing peacefully. He might perk up at a noise, but instead of panicking, he typically settles back down. It’s a huge win for him (and for us).
Makai tends to be on the timid side, which makes sense given his past. But he’s slowly growing more confident. He loves our trips to the park and the beach, and recently made a new friend in Stoney, the black lab across the street. Stoney has done wonders for Makai’s comfort on neighborhood walks, helping him feel a little more secure with every outing.
Makai and his friend, Stoney
One of my biggest worries early on was how he’d get along with Roxi, our older dog. Puppies and adolescent dogs can be a lot for adult dogs to deal with, but thankfully, they get along really well. I’m always mindful to give Roxi her own space and time to relax, but it warms my heart when I see her initiate play with him.
After enjoying his cake, he got to work on the bone!
Now that Makai’s a little older (and much more trustworthy), he’s officially earned bedtime privileges. He sleeps out of his crate at night, and I’m loving the late-night snuggle time. That said, he definitely still keeps us on our toes. Something tells me that’ll be a theme for years to come. But between his antics and his sweet, goofy personality, he keeps us smiling every day.
Some of Makai’s favorite things? Bones, bananas, shredding paper and cardboard, his giant ball (and then destroying said ball), lick mats (and then destroying said lickmats), and checking in on us during showers. One thing he’s not a fan of? When we take Roxi for a walk without him. He let’s us know that he doesn’t appreciate being left behind, thank you very much.
It’s been one wild but amazing year with Makai, and I’m so proud of how far he’s come. Here’s to many more adventures, tail wags, and birthday celebrations!
With wags and aloha,
Cori Tufano- CPDT-KA, CSAT, FDM, FFCP
Turning a year old is exhausting.