Pet Photos thread where too much is never enough.

[Whateverist]

Facebook reminds me that it was three years ago today that Smokey came to me as a wee pup, not quite 11 weeks old.  That was a little later than normal but I had a big event in the works and wanted to have my calendar cleared before he arrived.  It was toward the beginning of my retirement, my first school year out of a classroom.

I think he looks like a pudgy little panda here.  When I opened the door to his little shipping crate, he looked so concerned about me that I decided to wait him out rather than reach for him.  It took him more than two hours to steel his nerves.  His mirror neurons seem to be working fine here (if that is the correct application of that concept) as he gravitates toward Heidi and models his actions on hers.

1,000 karma points for you.

I think I'd better cash my chips out right now while I'm ahead.  You know I don't think he spent much time around people.  I like his breeder but she is a busy rancher and probably just leaves it to the mom other than feeding them.  He was probably traumatized when she stuck him in the crate and sent him into the dark bowels of a plane and then there I was, another mysterious two-footer.