Life has a way of reminding just how innocent and simple it can be. It may seem cliche, but the addition of a new 10-month-old Australian Shepherd/Terrier to the Wright family has been so much fun. Dogs, like humans, each have their very own unique personality, and we have been so lucky to choose a puppy that fit in perfectly with the two dogs we already have. The personality of each dog corresponds to its age and that is why the addition of a puppy made perfect sense.

First, we have the protector of the old guard. Moses has been a constant force in the Wright family since we adopted him when I was in kindergarten. He has grown to the ripe age of 16 but since has some jump in his step. While he can not hear the best, his sense of smell is very keen and we claim he can smell a treat right when you open the door. Moreover, Moses seems to be a mentor to the other dogs Beau, and now Socks. He does not have a lack of emotion, but he never seems to be too high or two low. Stoic is the only adjective that does him justice. He has lived the majority of his life with our family and is an important member of it.

Next, we have the small dog who thinks he is the size of a horse. Beau is a 20 pound Boston terrier, but he believes he is a Great Dane no doubt. He is the alpha male of the dogs we have and loves to assert his will in everything he does. He could be considered middle age and seems to be in that period of his life where he controls anything he sets his eyes on. Moses will set him in his place when needed, but Beau really runs the animal show around here.

Finally, we have the newest edition to the Wright family, Socks. The 10-year-old puppy has taken the house by storm but not from being obnoxious. She is a person magnet and loves to show affection to everyone. She took almost no time to come out of her shell and fits right in. She does not challenge the apparent authority of Beau and is able to play nice with Moses. Adopting a dog is such a great experience because of the moral fulfillment it provides, but it is also great when the dog is an instant hit with everyone around the house.