In our old apartment, we couldn’t have pets. This was hard for me because it meant I had to leave my dog and chinchillas with my parents. One of my chinchillas actually passed away while there (yes, I was devastated).
My husband has wanted a puppy for years. We knew as soon as we bought a house, we were going to get a puppy. Just before the quarantines, started, we found a house. It was time.
The Search Begins
Originally, my husband said he wanted a German shepherd. I was totally fine with that, and I had even started researching reputable breeders. They were pricey puppies, but we could afford it.
The same week our offer was accepted, one of the girls I have known since elementary school shared some photos on Facebook. She breeds Australian shepherds and posted some photos of an adorable puppy whose forever home fell through. I showed my husband the photos.
Finding a Puppy
We pretty much fell in love with the puppy that night just through his photos. I asked my husband several times if he was sure because he originally wanted a German shepherd, but he told me to go ahead and see if the puppy was available. He assured me he liked Australian shepherds, too, and ultimately he just wanted a puppy that would be cute, playful, intelligent, and capable of going on long walks or jogs with him.
Long story short, I sent a deposit for the puppy that night and this amazing woman agreed to hold the puppy for me until we closed on the house and could pick him up.
Choosing a Name
It actually didn’t take us that long to choose a name. His name was originally Boomer, but my husband wasn’t a fan. He suggested Vader, but I thought the puppy was too cute. Since my husband is such a big Star Wars fan and we loved The Mandalorian, I jokingly suggested the name Mando. I didn’t think he’d actually like it.
I was wrong. My husband loved the name. It stuck.
Bringing Home a Puppy During Quarantine
The day after we closed on our house, Mando officially moved in and became part of the family. We took the first week to bond with him before introducing my 6-year-old chow into the mix. The dogs love each other, we love them, and we’re having a blast with our new puppy.
I think getting a new puppy during the COVID-19 pandemic actually made the stay home orders easier. He loves to snuggle, play, and he’s a great distraction from the insanity of the world outside our home.
Note: None of the adorable puppies pictured are ours, but I did choose photos that looked similar to Mando