Meet Dakota: The Big Softie We Couldn’t Resist
Funny how life surprises you—you head to a Jeep Festival for Jeeps and fun, and come home with a new best friend. Right in the middle of all the off-road energy, vendors, and rows of Jeeps was Bark About It Rescue, with a bunch of sweet dogs ready to win hearts and find their next adventure buddies. Dakota did exactly that. He’s now the newest member of our family. This is the story of how our rescue dog chose us and how the past few weeks have been filled with snuggles, stubborn moments, and so much love.
He’s 78 pounds of pure goofball who doesn’t seem to know how big he is. The first time I went to pet him, he leaned right in and gave me a full-on dog hug. Then he did it again. That was the moment I knew. It felt like we both realized we needed each other right then and there.
We hung out with him at the rescue booth, talked with the amazing volunteers, and completely fell in love with his big, sweet personality. We hadn’t planned on coming home from the Jeep Festival with a new family member, but sometimes the best things happen when you’re not even looking for them.
Our First Three Weeks Together
The last three weeks have been all about learning each other. Dakota is figuring out that we’re his loving hoomans, and we’re figuring out how Dakota works too. He is convinced he is a lap dog, trying to climb into our laps like he weighs ten pounds instead of nearly eighty.
He loves snuggles, but he also has a big personality—and when he decides he doesn’t want to do something, he just stops, deadweights, and is impossible to move. I’m sure the neighbors get a good laugh watching me try to coax 78 pounds of stubborn pup back home! 😂
But I absolutely love him. And he loves me. He’s helping me through my grief and giving me a reason to get up and go for a walk every day. I’m so forever grateful that we met.
I didn’t realize how much I missed having a fur baby here after we lost our sweet Moxy last fall, but I guess our home will always need four paws to greet us. I’m so looking forward to all the adventures Dakota and I will have together.
Bringing Dakota into our lives wasn’t planned, but it was exactly what we needed. Rescue dogs have a special way of choosing us as much as we choose them. Here’s to new beginnings, big hugs, stubborn walks, and a lifetime of love with our big-hearted boy.