It wasn Henry's birthday yesterday.  He's now one year old.   

He started out looking like this:

A wee little thing, who liked to snuggle on my shoulder and fall asleep there.  The teddy bear toy we had bought for him was as big as he was.  He howled for almost a week when we put him in his crate at night....Jake used to come into my room begging us to let him out because "it hurts my heart to hear him cry like that, Mom".  We didn't give in, and he eventually got used to it.  For the first 3 or so weeks all he did was eat, pee and then sleep on our laps or shoulders.

Now he looks like this:

He still has his teddy bear toy.  It's missing an ear and is tattered and chewed on, but it's squeaker still works.  He likes his crate now...as long as the door's open, that is.  He stashes his treats in there, shoving his blankets around with his nose so he can cover up whatever tasty morsel he's snagged from someone.  It's really quite funny to watch.  He sleeps on his back most of the time, and he snores. 

He considers us his pack, and he knows where his place in it is.  Dave only has to raise his voice a little and Henry tucks his tail and rolls over to show his belly, deferring to the Alpha male.  He's learned to "shoot hoops" (sits up and begs, waving his little paws up and down like he's shooting a basketball) and to "sing" (howls on command).  He knows that if he needs to go out he has to let someone know and will go sit by the back door and yap intermittently until somebody hears him and opens the door for him. 

He detests the squirrels but loves the cat, and puts on a good show around strangers, barking and acting tough until they bend to pet him - then he runs for the cover and safety of his pack.  He's never, ever bitten or snapped.  He's never even growled at any of us.  We've literally put our hands in his food dish whilst he's been eating and taken it away from him, and he's simply looked at us as if to say "what the heck are you doing?".  I don't think that he has a mean bone in his body.  I don't trust ANY dog 100% to not bite if attacked or provoked enough...but Henry comes pretty close to that standard.

He's a good dog, is our Henners, and we love him (Dave says he doesn't like him, but I think he's fibbing). 

Happy Birthday, Henry.  May you have many more!