10/20/2026
1st Year Pupdate: Ace
āAdopting Ace was the single best decision we could have made. He is an absolute dream. We donāt know much about his life before he came to us, and we sincerely hope it was a good one. But please rest assured: he is living his best life now.
Luna runs a very tight ship, but the benefits are excellent.
You might remember that their first meeting wasnāt especially promising. We were already in love with this nearly 80-pound boy. Luna apparently wanted to check his references. Sheās normally friendly with every dog she meets, so her hesitation when they first saw each other had us concerned.
Thankfully, [SCGRR] suggested a walk around the block on neutral territory. They sniffed the same smells, peed on the same bushes, and by the time we got back, Luna had withdrawn her objections. Their shared enthusiasm for public urination was all it took.
Today, they couldnāt be more different, or more devoted to each other.
Luna is fiercely independent. She accepts affection on her terms, at a time of her choosing, for a duration only she will determine. Please do not call her; sheāll call you. Sheās a busy lady: patrolling the perimeter, monitoring the cul-de-sac, and supervising everything that happens in her house. And, to be very clear, it is her house. Luis and I are only allowed to live here because we can open things.
Ace respects this arrangement completely. His older, wiser sister takes the lead, and he is happy to follow. He has no ambition to be top dog, although he does enjoy lying on top of the top dog. Ace considers six inches of personal space a long-distance relationship. If he isnāt pressed against me or Luis, heās draped across Luna. And somehow, our fiercely independent girl loves being her brotherās pillow. Heās worn her down with sheer devotion. In return, Luna is teaching him how much fun life can be once you stop worrying and play when your big sister tells you to.
Sometimes these lessons interrupt his naps. Luna decides theyāre wrestling; Ace briefly considers his options, remembers he doesnāt have any, and gets up to appease the boss. Forty-five minutes later, theyāre both happy and exhausted, and the rest of us are cleared to resume normal operations.
Watching her introduce him to the water has been especially beautiful. Ace initially regarded baths, sprinklers, and crashing waves as three compelling arguments for staying indoors. Luna, on the other hand, would prefer we deliver her meals to her in the pool, lake or ocean. At Rosieās dog beach, Luna took charge of his swimming lessons. Ace watched her navigate the waves, followed her lead, and gradually learned when to head out past the break. He trusted his sister before he trusted the ocean, and watching that trust turn into confidence was something special. Now he loves swimming, and weāve gone from encouraging him to get in to negotiating with him to get out.
She did the same thing for him at home.
Thanks to your thoughtful evaluation, we knew about his separation anxiety before bringing him home. What we didnāt know was how much Luna would help him through it. Her confidence seemed to reassure him: the people leave, the people come back, and in the meantime, we have each other. After those first few weeks, he began to relax.
Today, he barely bats an eye when we leave. He may raise an eyebrow to establish whether a departure treat is being offered, but otherwise, weāre welcome to go. The panicked howling and barking are gone. The mailman announcements, however, are thriving. Luna has explained that the truck brings a man in a blue uniform, and the man brings biscuits. They can hear him coming 15 minutes before he actually arrives.
Every morning at precisely 6 a.m., Ace decides everyone has been sleeping long enough. He doesnāt need to go outside. He doesnāt want breakfast. He wants cuddles, and being asleep is apparently no excuse for neglecting our duties. I have no idea how he knows the time, but I would like a word with whoever programmed him.
Amusingly, when Luna notices affection being distributed without her supervision she decides she also needs cuddles, preferably all of them, and would like us to remember that she was here first.
There are other important developments. Ace remains devoted to tennis balls, particularly those belonging to other dogs. All the toys at home cannot compete with a used filthy tennis ball stolen from the park. The stinker, the better. Squirrels are another consuming interest. Heāll sit for hours at the bottom of a tree, waiting patiently for one to come down. They never do.
We celebrated his birthday last month. Somehow, he knew the party was for him, and he could not stop smiling. His āAce-iversaryā this week was marked with a treat and a song. He lights up when he realizes the celebration is for him.
Itās been an extraordinary year. Luna has helped Ace feel safe enough to relax, explore, and enjoy himself. Ace has helped Luna discover the considerable pleasures of being adored at close range. She still makes the decisions. He still follows her lead. But theyāve both made room for something they didnāt have before, and watching that happen has meant the world to us.
Thank you for trusting us with this wonderful boy. And Luna thanks you for the brother she didnāt know she needed and now couldnāt live without.ā
