A Year in the Life of Rook

Today our boy turns a year old!  It has been an incredible year full of love, puppy insanity, and squishy bulldog cuddles.  I wouldn't trade our pup for anything.  I usually try to limit my ramblings about Rook... but since this is his birthday, you will just have to indulge me. :)

AUGUST ~ 1 day old

A Rook is born from a litter of three pudgy male pups.  How would we ever be able chose one?

Newborn Rook gets his
drink on and fattens up.

Our pudgy little piglet
snuggled up with his brothers.

SEPTEMBER ~ 1 month 

No need to worry because Rook chose us, popping up from the bin to check us out while his brothers pretty much ignored us.  It was love at first sight, but we had to wait another month before we could bring him home.  We chose to name our guy Rook because Adam loves to play chess.  It seemed very fitting to name a stubborn bully after the chess piece that is strong but can not be moved right away.  Rook lives up to his name everyday.  

Look how small he was!  I 
almost can't believe our crazy 
monkey was once so little!

"Bonjour! You will take me 
home and I will love you
forever... and eat your shoes."

OCTOBER ~ 2 months 

Rook was born four days before Adam's birthday, and we brought him home on my birthday.  I have to say, that was the best birthday present!  Rook and Adam bonded immediately, and I am certain they are soul mates.  It probably doesn't hurt that they love the same things - sleeping, being impossibly stubborn for no reason, chewing ice cubes, and snuggling up to me.

How can you not fall in love with these
two cuddly guys?  I am one lucky girl!

It didn't take long for Rook to settle in - he knew immediately that this was his home.  He never cried at night, even though it was his first time sleeping alone without his brothers.  He only whined once when I refused to play at 3 in the morning.  For that first month, Adam and I worked hard to crate train Rook and maintain a schedule.  Rook worked hard at being adorable.

Okay, he didn't actually have to work
that hard - Rook is naturally adorable.
But being so cute sure did tire him out.

NOVEMBER ~ 3 Months 

Once Rook received his second round of puppy vaccinations, the vet gave us the okay to start taking him outside for walks.  When we first set him down on the ground, our big bad bully was trembling.  After some encouragement Rook was walking on a leash like a pro... and trying to eat everything off of the ground... including snow after our first snow fall of the winter.

"Nom, nom, nom - this
fluffy water is tasty!"

"I don't care if you told me no,
I WILL be eating all these leaves!"

After Rook conquered his fear of the outdoors, he immediately befriended everyone on our street.  How could anyone resist him?  But he still had plenty of time to love on Adam.  Why are there no pictures of me and Rook, you ask.  Because these two guys are inseparable!

I can confirm that snuggling with Adam
is as comfortable as Rook makes it look.

DECEMBER ~ 4 Months 

By Christmas, Rook was ruling the house.  His bulldog stubbornness was really shining through, and he insisted that he could make up his own rules.  Sometimes it was really hard to be firm and tell that cute little face "No".  Even if he was sitting on my husband's head.  I found it was best to hide my laughter behind a camera, so I could capture these great moments.

Oh look, I finally made it in a picture!
Even though they don't notice
me - too busy loving each other.

Rook can sit where he wants,
when he wants.  And ignore me
when I say it is time for a walk.

   

Rook had a great time helping us wrap and then unwrap all of our Christmas gifts.  That is, when he wasn't too busy trying to figure out what was up with the weird tree we decorated.

Helping eat all the gift wrap.

Stalking the Christmas tree.

    

JANUARY ~ 5 Months 

Even with Montreal's winter in full swing, Rook couldn't let a little snow get in his way of having a good time.  He much prefers the cold and snowy winter to the hot and humid summer. We had plenty of romps in the snow followed by many naps on the sofa (Rook's favorite spot).

Being a rambunctious puppy
is tough work which requires
multiple naps a day. 

Running around in the snow,
with his red ball, and his 
favorite people.  Life is good!

    

FEBRUARY ~ 6 Months 

By Valentine's Day, our little love bug was getting big.  He was also "loving" our neighbor's dog a bit too much.  It was time for our little man to get a little snip-snip.  He still runs around like a crazy fool, but Rook is much better at behaving like a gentleman with all his canine friends.

Four months after we 
brought him home, Rook
 had quadrupled in size.

Post-op, Rook was a sleepy pup.
He bounced back as if nothing
had happened (or was missing).

 

MARCH ~ 7 Months 

By the time winter was winding down, Rook decided he was old enough to start sitting on chairs because he is unaware that he is actually a bulldog, and not a human.  Since Adam and I sit on chairs, well... monkey see, monkey do.  How can you tell that squishy face "No".

Having mastered the sit command,
Rook ups the level of difficulty.

APRIL ~ 8 Months 

Rook is not a fan of Easter.  Probably because I put an obnoxious pair of bunny ears on him. But what Rook does enjoy are sticks.  He would pick up any twig/stick/tree branch he could find during our walks.  Then he would "sneak" them inside.  Rook is not good at being sneaky.

"I am a bulldog, and this is
my stick.  Good luck trying to 
take it away from me."

MAY ~ 9 Months 

By Spring, Rook had reached his full grown height.  But that is not to say he was done growing. English bulldogs don't fully mature until they are around 18 months old, so now Rook is working on growing out instead of up.  I must say he is one fine looking rollie polie bulldog!

Who doesn't love a chubby bully? 
By the end of May, Rook was 
nearly 50 pounds of awesome.

JUNE ~ 10 Months

As Rook got older, he decided he would help out around the house.  He sorted the laundry by stealing all of the socks and he supervised the ironing.  When he was not on laundry duty, he was busy monitoring the cat's food bowl to make sure not a single piece of the kibble was lost.

Mama's little helper.

JULY ~ 11 Months 

Over the summer Rook was pretty patriotic, celebrating Sainte-Jean Baptiste Day and Canada Day in style.  When he wasn't being a beef cake and posing for pictures, he could usually be found hanging out on the sofa with his napping buddy, like two peas in a pod.

What can I say, being a bulldog
(or an Adam) is tough work.

Being Quebecois never
looked so cute!

AUGUST ~ 1 YEAR!

What can I say about our little sweet potato?  Over the course of a year, our inquisitive piglet has become a zany bulldog.  Rook has more personality than he knows what to do with (he must store it in his wrinkles).  He spends his days playing tug with anyone who is (half)willing, flirting with ladies and hanging with dudes, and snoring on the sofa.  He is sweet, tough, hilarious, and simply amazing.  He is constantly making us laugh with his goofy antics, and loves us unconditionally.  I am so glad to have him in our lives.  We are so lucky that he chose us!

Happy birthday, Rook!