This beautiful boy's mom writes:

" My heart is so full of love for this sweet little boy, that I just feel compelled to tell you all how he is getting on in his new home. Hopefully it won't bore everyone to death :-), but what can I say, I am just a proud Mommy, woof, woof.

Ducati has settled easily into our home and into all of our hearts (and our bed, of course) and he is currently snoozing I call him my Pooped Puppy, behind me on the waterbed in myden/guestroom/computer room. He had a pretty busy day, with a vet visit for a check up for himself (he now weighs 25.5lbs) and his sister Sila (all is well, except Sila will have to have her bladder checked at the South Paws Clinic with a specialist) then off for a drive to visit Petsmart and Petco (and more new toys and treats of course) plus lots of playtime in the yard and wrestling with Sila. Thank you Mommy Susanne, for making him (and I am not kidding) an absolute perfect passenger in the car!!!!

The waterbed scared him at first because it moved. Funniest thing to watch was him attacking the "waves". When he moved, the bed of course moved too, and he would bark and bite at them. He got over that pretty fast and now uses the waves for entertainment. The waterbed has a mirror in the headboard and Ducati barks and yelps at himself in it, what a nutty puppy! Our Katie Kat does not seem to be too happy with this latest addition to our home, but I am sure she will learn to tolerate him too, as she has learned to tolerate all the others.

He has a blast playing ball in the backyard, though the Frisbie still scares him, and he has learned to run after the ball or toy, bring it back to me and drop it into my hand on the "drop" command. I use the same command when he gets into sticks and other things and he does drops whatever it is he has in his mouth. What a good puppy! Of course the daily visits of the from a bunny, which a "great" neighbor set lose last fall, and which I have been feeding ever since and trying to trap for rescue, gives him lots of exercise also. The clumsiness of him chasing the bunny is such a pleasure and joy to watch.

Loud noises, mop, broom, vacuum cleaner etc. still scare him and he seeks refuge behind his new Mommie's legs real fast, though his barking while doing this is meant to convey how big and tough he really is. I learned he will eat anything, so for training and treats, I give him baby carrots, orange pieces, water melon, beans, strawberry and banana pieces and I am sure his menu and variety will broaden as we go. He even has a puppy teething ring which you put into the freezer, LOL. I, of course, spent a fortune on new toys for him to play with and he and Sila have a lot of wrestling sessions for exercise. This we love to watch, especially since Sila, before Ducati did not seem to enjoy or pay much attention to any toys.

He is a cuddler first class and exactly what I was longing for in a new family member. Other than on the first day, when he tried to growl at me for taking "his" treat, he has not shown any aggression at all and I adore having him around me 24/7. I am so lucky to be home with my babies. He goes on regular walks with his Daddy Bill, myself and his furry sister Sila, whom he keeps hopping and on her feet (which is great because since we lost our oldie girl Troubles she has been such a laid back girl) and seems to enjoy the walks a lot. But he stop and will not walk unless Sila is by his side. When she stops to sniff something, he will not budge or go further until she again moves too. The "come " command still eludes him, but we are working very hard on that, in addition to the laying down command and others.

My hubby Bill tells me at least once a day: boy, I love this little guy! which of course makes me smile everytime.

Thank you Susanne and Hotwater Rescue for giving me this bundle of joy to love and cherish!!!!!

The original e-mail I got below did not have Ducati's picture attached, so I am attaching the "birth announcement" I created and sent to all of my family, friends and probably over 200 internet pals (the proud Mommy thing again), and 2 pictures of him taken yesterday (of course I have taken a zillion of them since he joined our family, LOL).

I know this was long and I hope it wasn't too boring, and I want to mention again, that I would love to see and hear how Ducati's sibling are doing."