Another year has flown by and Gabriel Noel Conley is now three years old. Sometimes it seems like just yesterday when I went to Creswell, North Carolina to pick Gabe out. Other times, it feels as if Gabe has been by my side and having adventures together for most of my 40 years. Gabe is actually my second Chesapeake Bay Retriever. My first, Molly who lived to be 18, was a Chessie mix and while she and Gabe look similar, their temperaments are totally different.

Molly was a mild-mannered, gentle lady who when we went for our walks, would prefer to sit next to me on the golfcart while Gabe charges ahead, crashing through the woods looking for something to chase. On a cold winter’s night, I would open the door for Molly to come in and she would wait for permission to cross the threshold. She would then curl up on the rug next to the woodstove or in the recliner and sleep there the rest of the night. Gabe does not do that! He thinks he owns the house and tries to come in anytime the door is opened. I think the longest he has ever lain still is about five minutes and that is a generous estimate.

Gabe and Molly share a few similarities, however. They are both very loyal. They like to steal cat food when your back is turned and they always have something in their mouths. In fact, Gabe “helped” with Hurricane cleanup by carrying off fallen limbs we had already stacked on the golf cart. I have a feeling Molly would have done the same thing.

My point is, each dog, even if they are the same breed and look similar, are totally different for the most part. The same goes for humans, as well. My twin brother James and I are polar opposites. He took me to do an interview for an article once and called it, “A painful experience”. I love the interview process and telling other people’s stories. We both love animals, though. James and his family have two dogs, a rabbit and a baby squirrel that they rescued after the hurricane. I have Gabe, two cats  and a duck. My other brother Joe has two dogs and two cats. All the dogs in my extended family enjoy Arin’s Good Girl Dog treats and I make Gabe share whether he wants to or not. We also share treats with the dogs we meet covering sporting events and get to relate Arin’s amazing story to their owners. I wish Molly could have tried some Arin’s Good Girl Dog Treats.

That’s why the new Treat Lover’s Box comes in so handy. Every dog that has tried Arin’s Good Girl Dog Treats loves them, but some prefer different flavors. The Treat Lovers Box has all three delicious flavors, Cheese and Bacon, Pumpkin Peanut Butter and Dragon Slayer all attractively packed in one place. They are comparable to a Whitman’s Sampler of Dog Treats. They make wonderful Birthday or Holiday gifts for any dog. Gabe received one for his Birthday and absolutely loves it. Even at three years old, he acts like a big puppy, eagerly awaiting the next shipment of treats in the mail.

Happy Birthday Gabe! It’s time to celebrate the things that make you unique, even for a Chessie. As you continue to grow and mature, I hope you never lose that joy and zest for life that matches my own and no matter how many birthdays we get to celebrate together, you will always be the BEST BOY IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!