(You can read my biography.) Papa and Mama adopted me June 8th, 2002. I went home from the Strawberry Faire at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, where Pet Harbor was that day. I was not quite eight months old and very shy. After a quick trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa nearby, we went straight to PetsMart as Papa and Mama had never been blessed with a puppy before and had left that morning not knowing they would fall in love with me, the first doggie they walked. Papa was between teaching jobs that summer and had time to potty train me, take me on long runs early in the morning and lavish me with his ever-loving gentle kindness. Still, before I knew it, he quickly became the Alpha Dog, even though I resisted with my stubborn nature. Mama was more afraid of me than I was of her, so I have trained her well. Early on Mama and I had a long weekend alone together while Papa was out of town. She cried, I licked her tears, and she prayed prayers that soon were answered. We bonded but not fully until Papa went out of town for ten days and they had me stay with Tom of K-9 Consultants in the Brandermill area. He has an acre fenced in behind his house and had about seven doggies at 'camp' with me while I was there. He is a gentle soul, like Papa. We didn't have the backyard fenced in yet or the doggie door and Mama had to work. Mama came to visit me twice that week and the third time; she took me 'home' three days early because she missed me so much. Since then I've only been with Tom a handful of times. So I have separation anxiety sometimes when they go away. Two months after adopting me, my twin Trudi was also adopted to be my sister again. We had a surreal reunion arranged by Pet Harbor. We love each other VERY much and play, play, play. We struggled at first, though, and I've given in to Trudi's lead but still maintain my space. I still sleep on top of the bed while Trudi prefers underneath. I usually win out when food is concerned. At times, I have a way of distracting Trudi from food and then snatch her 'crumbs'. We've had some amazing fights but always kiss and make up. We are so close that if Mama takes Trudi for a walk when I stay home with Papa until my turn, I howl for Trudi.

Last November Tom put in a doggie door for us and in early December he finished a luxury dog house on stilts with two windows and a long bench inside. My favorite toys for inside the house are a six inch round squeaky 'pillow' and a stuffed squeaky squirrelly. I'm only given my inside toys when the doggie door is closed because Trudi and I love to carry our toys to the backyard. Papa got us the Mammoth Doggie Bones for inside so we can't get them out the doggie door. Before he thought of that, we'd gotten oodles of knuckle bones into the backyard! Trudi and I had a bad last week of May. Mama went to a family reunion and Papa was gone more than usual, playing in a local Bridge tournament. We got real bored and chewed up a couple rugs, recliner, sofa and the wicker basket with our toys in it. Even though the whole house was our domain, all of these furnishings were confined to our 'Den.' Since Mama and Papa are back on schedule, we haven't been 'punishing' them of late.

My favorite movie is Snow Dogs. I look much like Demon, the lead dog in the movie, only much cuter, and I have all good, strong teeth. If I don't eat all of my dinner [1 ½ cup dry food mixed with ½ pack moist, meaty gravy (alternate chicken, turkey, stew, beef)], from the day before, Mama mixes it with a little chicken broth after it's been in the fridge and heats it up in the microwave - Yummy! My latest favorite foods are microwave fresh sweet potatoes, still a bit warm and mashed a bit; and Frosty Paws frozen dessert from the grocery store.

I love to go for walks which I'll be getting more of now since Papa has finally taught Mama to take Trudi and I both at the same time. I love to get in the car and go for rides but have gotten carsick at times. We spent last Thanksgiving and Christmas in Sherwood Forest, Maryland with family and had a great time. This Father's Day we're taking a trip to the D.C. area of Maryland to visit family. I know that we are loved and love our adopted parents and thank Pet Harbor for putting us together.

You can read more about me in Trudi's success story.

Anaya Kloke, a.k.a. Anaya Whya Girlie Baby Doll