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February 7, 2017

Who is This Puppy?

Who is this handsome pup? The truth is that you guys know nearly as much about Zero as I do. Our first week together was a whirlwind of late night whining, early morning wakeups and lots of pee breaks in between. (Most such breaks, I'm happy to report, occurred outside.) Now that we're settling into our new routine, it's fun to learn more about his personality and disposition each day. Because while I once thought of puppies as blank slates, I know now that these guys each come prepackaged with their own unique character.
Rhodesian Ridgeback, Puppy, chicago, marking our territory, zero, adventure Who is this handsome pup? The truth is that you guys know nearly as much about Zero as I do. Our first week together was a whirlwind of late night whining, early morning wakeups and lots of pee breaks in between. (Most such breaks, I’m happy to report, occurred outside.) Now that we’re settling into our new routine, it’s fun to learn more about his personality and disposition each day. Because while I once thought of puppies as blank slates, I know now that these guys each come prepackaged with their own unique character.
Rhodesian Ridgeback, Puppy, chicago, marking our territory, zero, adventure

And you don’t get to custom order it on Amazon!

So who is this Zero character?
Rhodesian Ridgeback, Puppy, chicago, marking our territory, zero, adventure

A dapper gentledog, like Eko was?

Rhodesian Ridgeback, Puppy, chicago, marking our territory, zero, adventure

A wild beast, like Penny is?

Rhodesian Ridgeback, Puppy, chicago, marking our territory, zero, adventure

Or, a unique pup all his own! Yes, this is certainly the answer.

The other fun part is that Zero is along for the ride as well. He’s still figuring himself out, just like us.
Rhodesian Ridgeback, Puppy, chicago, marking our territory, zero, adventure

And like us, he isn’t quite sure what to make of those catcher’s-mitt paws of his.

Rhodesian Ridgeback, Puppy, chicago, marking our territory, zero, adventure

“Excuse me, Paw? Why are you so big?”

There is one thing we do know for sure…
Rhodesian Ridgeback, Puppy, chicago, marking our territory, zero, adventure

Zero is already a total mama’s boy!

With that being said, we’re taking bets about our boy’s future. If you fancy a dance with chance, let me know your guess about what Zero’s personality will be (and for fun, also include a guess at adult height/weight). Step right up and give it your best shot!

Comments for Who is This Puppy?

  1. he will be a gentle dog… and it seems he is a mom-boy :o) but that are only wild guesses… the only thing I know is that he IS YOUR BOY… no if’s no butt’s :o) we had the first two nights without pee-breaks… either Phenny had mercy or he knows something what we haven’t discovered by now LOL

  2. Emmadog says:

    Madison has huge paws too, but she is quickly growing into them. We all have our own unique personalities, but we are also very similar in our cores. Madison is especially impressed with the bow tie and thinks he is very handsome! Can’t wait to watch him grow up! How’s Penny doing at being a big sister? She’ll probably teach Zero all the naughty stuff like Bailie teaches Madison!

  3. An adorably sweet Hulk? Wow. Those. paws.

  4. Victoria Coleman says:

    i think he will be a cuddle bug with tons of energy – but no matter what he will be totally adored by all – no idea on weight and height but will guess 71 lbs 37″ high.

  5. fran welch says:

    God gives us all different personalities like no one else. Just like snowflakes, all different. Zero will be a pup all his own but loving,people person, fun living n dedicated to mom n dad n big sister Penny. I love this adventure already. He us precious, and i bet He n Penny are in love already n u have seen the sparkle in Pennys eyes that has not been there since Eko has been gone. I hear the happiness in ur voice in ur blog, that spark. Zero will be a big boy no matter what. Love the pics but specially the one of him looking at his hugh paws. Much love, fran

  6. KarenS says:

    He’s a charmer and will just look at you through those wrinkles melting all those problems away. And already showing that he is a ladies man, even Penny will fall under his spell. Or not!

    He seems to be a confident pup, and a great addition to the family.

  7. Exactly, that’s the most important part! We had some whining last night, but luckily no pee-breaks. I think…

  8. We’re all in big trouble with Penny in the role of teacher. Perhaps Penny most of all with the way she’s teaching Zero all he favorite wrestling moves. Little does she know that she won’t be the “big” sister for long.

  9. Based on current growth patterns, Zero will be 1,000 pounds and 10 feet tall. We’re hoping the curve flattens out a bit at some point.

  10. You may be the “$1 Bob” vote. Penny is 60ish lbs! If Zero is only ten pounds more I’ll be quite shocked.

  11. I can resist many things, but never puppy wrinkles.

  12. LOL, I’m sure he’ll fill those paws out ‘pawfectly.’

  13. I think he is going to be calm and gentlemanly like Eko was (there can only be ONE Penny Mayhem!!! lol)…..he is just precious!!! I am awful about guessing height and weight, will leave that to others who are more knowledgeable than I am! He is soooooooo handsome! His face and calm expression reminds me of Eko! What a cutie!!!!

  14. Ellen Quilty says:

    Judging by the size of those mitts?107or so?I guess you have to look at the size of his parents too.He won’t be dainty that’s for sure.He looks mellow and loving.I think they all come with their own personalities we just allow that to develop or try to contain as in Miss Mayhem’s case!

  15. meANXIETYme says:

    I think Zero is going to be just a little bit mischievous. Something in his eyes… LOL Not quite Penny Mayhem, but more a gentle kind of jovial character. In the end, I know he’ll turn out to be the perfect dog for you and your family, because that’s how it’s supposed to be.
    Love those pictures! Can’t wait for video… 🙂

  16. Connie Taylor says:

    He’s just what the doctor ordered. Cute, charming, handsome, very dapper with those “puppy” wrinkles. Height: way tall; weight: have to wait and see ⏲, and most of all he’ll be loved the world over by all of us readers. So glad your heart healed enough to allow another puppy into it. I know Emily and Penny are looking forward to their adventures with him too.

  17. TheRidgebackLife says:

    He is such a cuddler. My guess, is he will be a hunter. Anything that runs, flies, or scurries, will be his game. Hopefully Penny will offer him encouragement to chase her. As for his full grown size, put me down for 30″ and 85lbs. He’s going to be big, but you keep your pups healthy and lean, so I think much of his weight will be muscle. Oh, and in his spare time, he’s going to be a super model. He already has the pose down.

  18. Eve Walraven says:

    I think Mr. Zero will be charming while mischievous guy who will totally win your heart with his playfulness and desire to learn what he needs to know. Enjoy the puppy stage and have fun at the same time!! lol

  19. My guess is he will grow fast like his mama and end up around 93 pounds and be just the right height. As for personality he was a lover boy puppy so I would guess he will be the same kind of big sweet lug his daddy is. Not to worry, Penny might have trouble keeping up with him once he is full size, his dad is super fast and leaves the others in the dust, and when he is running with his head turned watch out because you don’t want to be hit by that train. LOL.

  20. One Penny Mayhem is more than enough for this world, let alone my aprtment.

  21. Thankfully he’s nowhere near as crazy as puppy penny was – not sure the planet could hold two of them, let alone a single apartment.

  22. Mischief and Mayhem, I like it!

  23. I can only hope Miss Mayhem only partially rubs off on her little brother.

  24. All my pups quickly learn camera = easy treats! And whether he wants to or not, he may be a bit of a brawler. You kind of have to be to survive living with Penny.

  25. Mischief is a word that keeps popping up in my mind and in others. Hopefully his brand is a bit more mellow than his sister’s

  26. Elin says:

    He is such a stunner! Have a feeling he will be a big boy, especially with those paws

  27. You certainly know him best of all, so I’m weighting your guess for sure. A speedy friend would be Penny’s dream. When Ridgebacks start playing, I know to keep my knees bent and ready to jump to the side!

  28. Aud says:

    How’s Penny taking this?

  29. Lynn Wolford says:

    I just love the black and white photo. Oh my goodness! Zero looks like he’s all dressed up and ready for church. He looks so handsome and well behaved. I think you’ve got “a keeper” there, Will! I just know he’s got to be warming your hearts with his cuteness and discovering the world.

  30. Rose says:

    He’s adorable, Will. Thank you for sharing the fun of Zero. Gotta have some “highs” in life to balance out the lows.

  31. As she takes all things – at full speed, ready to brawl. Lots of fun updates to share on that front.

  32. We’re having a great time learning about each other while showing our new guy the big wide world.

  33. Someone guessed 195 lbs, but we’re hoping he’s a bit shy of that!

  34. Anne says:

    Well, first off, we have 4 Ridgebacks in our family, and they all have their own unique personalities. They also are different sizes, and we have one who started out looking a lot like Zero, except he’s very red, but he had the biggest paws we had ever seen! We had visited the breeder when he was 5 weeks, and he was solid then, but when the breeder delivered him to us at 8 weeks, and handed him into my expectant arms, I said, ” What is this, a baby calf ? This is no puppy! ” He weighed 18 pounds at 8 weeks. We do not overfeed our dogs, and neither do you, He is still is over a 100 pounds and very tall. You are definitely going to have a very large dog, way above the standard; just more to love!

  35. I think Z will be a good, smart, sensible, patient boy – like Eko was. His paw already apparently weighs as much as my whole body, so I think he’ll be a million pounds full grown. …maybe a million and a half.

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

  36. Elyse says:

    Well, I cheated and looked up the breed to see what my choices were. They said: “Temperament: Strong Willed, Loyal, Mischievous, Dignified, Intelligent, Sensitive.” I think I’ll go wit hall of those, except perhaps dignified. I’m not getting that vibe from Zero. Perhaps it is only Penny’s influence, though.

  37. Shalini says:

    He will grow up to be a big ball of love, that’s all 🙂

  38. *gulp* Well, even more reason to make sure Penny Mayhem doesn’t teach him too many of her troublesome ways.

  39. Based on current growth trends this is certainly the correct answer.

  40. Not even the Queen of England herself could maintain decorum if Penny were involved.

  41. That is the most important part, for sure.

  42. Abbie says:

    Hm, ok. I think he’s going to be a mellow than Penny, but more peppy than Eko. Kind of in between. I have him pictured perfectly in my mind but I’m having a hard time explaining it. Very loving, but a bit quirky as well. Growing up with Penny as a big sister would do that to you, I think. I have no idea how much RR’s tend to weigh/how tall they get so this is a wild guess, I’m going to guess 60 lbs and a few inches taller than Penny (I’ll say, 1.5″) Lol, what if my ratio was way off. Anyway, I’m so glad you were able to get Zero. I know he’s not a replacement for Eko, but I think it’s nice to fill some of the physical holes (like having two dogs again) in your life to help you deal with the emotional holes. I haven’t lost a pet myself yet (I’m terrified), but I have lost other things, friends family members, I’m sure like everyone else. The pain comes back, but I find that if I fill my life with other people, it helps a bit. Anyway, sorry for that ramble, all of which is nothing you don’t know or haven’t heard. I’m just happy for you. And I know this doesn’t erase your pain, is basically what I’m trying to say. We’re here for you. ❤

  43. coastingnz says:

    Gorgeous – love those wrinkles. Hubby says here come 2 years of trouble lol Knowing the loving family he has to grow up in he can be anything he wants to be and more – but will be so well loved and looked after. That love is going to come from all over the world. We look forward to following his journey – and Penny being the big sister now.

  44. Victoria Coleman says:

    i was going to guess 82 but i didn’t want you to think i thought little Zero would be fat……my dogs at 140 lbs and 75 lbs – but i don’t know how much a healthy Ridgeback should weigh – i know yours are always super healthy (guessing Penny would weigh 10 lbs more if she wasn’t such an active little girl)

  45. lauramcgrew says:

    If he grows into those paws, I am guessing 85 pounds and taller than Penny.
    Can’t wait to watch him wrestle her like she did Eko!

  46. Thank you! And I agree, having Penny as your role model probably does some interesting things to you!

  47. I’m not sure who is in more trouble – Zero, Penny or us! Should be a lot of fun either way.

  48. Look at those paws! And that face! I’m guessing 90 pounds and full of mischief but with a mellower side when tired. He sure has Emily’s number. Sweet!

  49. midge says:

    Brown velvet face and t-Rex paws. I bet 70 pounds and taller than Penny. Looks sweet but mischievous and I am sure Penny will show him the ropes! Love the glow in Emily’s eyes while holding him….Puppy love!!

  50. Jo Rhodes says:

    I think you just built yourself a boat load of trouble. I bet you any money Penny will show him the ropes. He won’t bother to even think of saying no to her. And the look on his and Emily’s faces tells me he’s going to be running to Mama any time he thinks he might be in trouble. He’s not malicious though. Sweet trouble makers in regular and fun size…until he because giant sized.
    Love that puppy belly, Jo, Sam and Dean

  51. Laurie says:

    Having a male RR pup myself and being the only lady person in the house I believe he will continue to be a mama’s boy. They have a tendency to be inclined towards their lady folk. My goes on weight is around 100 lbs even thought that is slightly larger than the standard and height akin to a small pony. Regardless of playing favorites, heft and height..,I believe he is going to be a great adventure buddy as all RR come with that preprogrammed into the genes!!!

  52. Wow! Those paws crack me up.

    As for personality, I’m pretty sure Penny’s influence will be quite obvious. Once he gets his feet under him (literally), I think he will be wild and crazy but definitely a mama’s boy who loves to snuggle in order to escape the mayhem. As for size, 75 lbs and 2 inches taller than Penny…maybe more. He’s going to need it to survive Penny mayhem!

  53. Deena Sadek says:

    I think that he will be a kind, gentle dog with a sense of his own strength and sure footedness. He will be able to stand up to Penny’s shenanigans and maybe even participate, and will still carve out his own path to follow. Weight and size: 80-85# and taller than Penny by a few inches. He is such an adorable pup! I just love him already : )

  54. He’s got us all wrapped around those wrinkles of his for sure.

  55. Dinosaur paws is right! If he fills those out at his current rate, I’ll have a brontosaurus on my hands.

  56. My thoughts exactly – Penny gets her own giant-sized minion to do her mischievous bidding!

  57. Agreed. We’re hoping he stays on this side of 100, but then I keep looking at those dinosaur paws of his.

  58. She’s putting her little Spartan through his paces, so I have a feeling Penny is going to raise a lean, “mean”, wrestling machine.

  59. Thanks! His wrinkles just melt me.

  60. omg so darn cute and a personality already. Congrats on the new addition.

  61. Nina says:

    I think he is going to be a timid follower of Penny. Always checking with mom before he follows Penny. He has some ginormous paws so I say he will be 2 or 3 inches taller Penny and about 95 lbs.

  62. dogdaz says:

    Looks like a sweet boy who will follow boldly in Eko’s memory. Yes, only time will teach you all about each other. Adogable

  63. samestir says:

    My guess is that he will be calm but love to play. 101 pounds and 2 inches taller than Penny. His wrinkles slay me!

  64. Gail Simburger says:

    He seems much more laid back than Penny. Zero will certainly have puppy characteristics for a while. I’m guessing he won’t be as mellow as Echo or as wild as Miss Penny, but somewhere in between. And very smart! He’ll do great with learning the way Echo did.

  65. Fingers crossed for calm! Or at least calmer than Penny, which shouldn’t be an issue.

  66. He certainly can’t be crazier than Penny, so that’s a good start!

  67. Rikke says:

    His looks so gentle and innocent with those puppy eyes and a bit clumsy with his big paws. But with the wild & crazy Penny as his big sister, he could easily learn how to make some sweet trouble. I think he will turn out to be a protecting and loving dog, who loves his mama. And his weight will be around 55 kg.

  68. Everyone thinks he’s going to be quite big, but I can’t say I disagree with those paws of his. Penny is going to raise herself quite the minion.

  69. Joanna says:

    Judging by his current size/weight, I’m guessing he’ll eventually settle at about 90lbs. My RR, Finn, grew into 100 lbs and then leaned out. He now steadily hovers around 90lbs. I have to say he looks like a goofy lovable little guy, so that would be my guess for his personality… only time will tell. 🙂

  70. joanna0429 says:

    Judging by his current size/weight, I’m guessing he’ll eventually settle at about 90lbs. My RR, Finn, grew into 100 lbs and then leaned out. He now steadily hovers around 90lbs. I have to say he looks like a goofy lovable little guy, so that would be my guess for his personality… only time will tell.

  71. 90 would be nice! But that’s about where Eko was, and I have a feeling Zero may end up closer to 100. We shall see. I know keeping up with Penny will keep him lean.

  72. Karen says:

    OMG so happy you got another ridgie! Life is good. Nope, it’s great#

  73. Tom says:

    I think he’ll be a big goofy gentle giant at about 30 inches tall and 101 pounds

  74. Anne says:

    I said from the beginning that the paws don’t lie. I also guessed over a 100lbs then. You do exercise him a lot , but muscle weighs more than fat so… As far as height, I’m thinking taller than most. How tall is he now? I’ve heard you can tell by looking at their back legs at the lower part from the foot to their first joint. If that part is taller than usual, your dog is going to be taller than the average Ridgeback.

  75. I was hopeful he’d stay under a hundred but based on current trends that might be wishful thinking. He’ll certainly be goofy, no doubt there

  76. Interesting, I’d never heard that before, so I’ll have to measure his legs. I’ll definitely keep him trim, but even still, he may end up tipping the scales near 100

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