Meet Walt and Lilly! AKA Walter Elias Doodle and Lillian or Lilly Belle.
I’m a huge Disney fan, this is not news. Back in 2019 when I lost my Joey and was anticipating Walt’s arrival to help heal the hole in Elphaba and my heart I was also thinking ahead on names. I wanted a name for Walt that had a distinctly Disney spin. But I also wanted a name that could easily be paired in the future with a partner name. As much as I wish Elphaba could have lived forever, she was up there in years already and I knew the day would come that she would no longer be with us. I couldn’t imagine not having multiple pest so I wanted a name with an easy pair.
I couldn’t go with Mickey because mom already had a Mickey. I had a serious debate with myself about Stark for Tony Stark, or Thor, or Rodgers for Steve Rodgers - thinking whichever I didn’t go with if I got another boy in the future I could pick from someone else. And if I got a girl I could go with Natasha.
After tons of suggestions nothing felt right. In the end I settled on the most Disney name of all - Walter after Walter Elias Disney! I figured if I ended up with a future boy dog he could be Roy for Walt’s brother, and if I ended up with a girl she could be Lillian for Walt’s wife! If you remember the first part of the article you’ll know it was a Miss Lilly Belle who joined us in 2022.
Walt came home in July 2019 and was already bigger than Elphaba and immediately smitten with her. He had the most beautiful eyelashes and sweetest personality. At least when it wasn’t the witching hour. But he was a quirky boy too. No matter what I did this boy did not like his crate. By 6 months old I gave up and puppy proofed the heck out of the house and put up cameras and let him have free reign. And my sweet boy basically laid between the front and garage door waiting for me whenever I left the house. He hated being left alone. Elphaba would watch him smugly from the couch was he laid by the door or paced with a “what’s your problem” look on her face.
Fast forward to April 2022. I got back from a house hunting trip to Texas - where a house with a fenced yard was top of mind for Elphaba and Walt. Sadly a then 14 year old Elphaba started showing signs of paralysis in her back half. X-rays revealed severe spinal degeneration. Based on her age and the condition the vet didn’t think it made sense for us to do anything extreme to try and help her. We put her on pain meds, I rolled rugs and yoga mats all over the house, and ensured she had all 4 legged pajamas to protect her back legs from dragging. Despite this I knew our days together were numbered, and I knew Walt would not be okay on his own. I contacted his breeder, the amazing Paw Pad Goldendoodles, and got myself on the list for a new puppy.
Did I mention I was in the process of moving to Texas and we were living with my bestie??? She’s amazing by the way. Anyway, Walt and Elphaba and I moved into my besties house in I think April. I couldn’t get into the new house in Texas until late June early July. Bestie helped me take care of Elphaba but she declined fast. In June she was gone. I didn’t know it at the time, but the same hour we were saying goodbye to Elphaba, Paw Pad emailed me about Lilly. When I wrote them back later I mentioned the timing. They said Lilly wasn’t quite what I had asked for in my wishlist, but something told them to contact me about her litter. There was no way this wasn’t Elphaba picking out our new puppy and sending her along to us.
July 10th Walt, bestie, and I hopped in the car to make the drive to Texas. Lilly wasn’t quite old enough yet to leave her mama, but the breeder would be flying to Texas the next week and agreed to bring her to me. Walt had been so sad since losing his sister and was looking all over the house for her, laying where she would lay, just generally forlorn. Then I put him in the car and went for the longest drive ever from Illinois to Texas - it took 6 hours before he realized he could lay down in the backseat. Then we got to Texas which was well into 100+ degree days already. This boy was depressed and mad. But when I tell you the minute I got home from the airport with Lilly my boy was lit up with joy. She instantly pulled him out of his funk. And somehow despite the fact that she was Elphaba’s size already at only 10 weeks old - he also knew he could play with her in a totally different way then he could play with Elphaba.
Lilly proved to be sweet, and loving, and crazy. Unlike Walt she is perfectly happy in her crate - which is good because she has a fondness for eating all the things she should not with a favorite being electrical wiring. Not once…but twice. Second time it was plugged in still. Fortunately she’s a pro at getting X-rays of her tummy and we’ve avoided surgery so far!
Now Walt is 6 and Lilly is 3. Lilly rarely leaves my side. Walt is more independent but comes in for cuddles. I bought a golf cart in 2024 to tool around my amazing Texas neighborhood and this past summer Walt became suddenly completely totally obsessed with rides. Like throws little doodle tantrums if he doesn’t get his daily ride. Sometimes two rides if it’s a weekend. And temperatures don’t matter - even during our January freeze we were taking rides in 20degree weather once the roads thawed. Thank goodness for the golf cart blanket and warming packets my dad sent us for Christmas!
These two are my whole world and I could not love them more.
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