For Christmas my interpreter, Hiroko, gave Melody an iDog. If you've not seen one yet, it's one of the many gadgets that seem to be glomming onto the whole iPod craze. It's the same color plastic and is designed to be "fed" music.

On its own, he (we think it's a he, although there's no way to really tell...) makes little beeping and whistling noises, and shakes his head and waggles his ears. If you pull on his tail, he makes "mad" noises. He also has lights in his head that change colors and designs as his mood changes. Right now, he's making the "please come pet me" sound, sort of a whine. If you pat him on the head or nose, he makes happy noises. And, if you leave him alone for long enough, he'll just go to sleep.

All in all, he's an cute and amusing little fellow. Here are a few pictures of our new puppy.

Unfortunately, we're having to break him of a lot of the typical puppy habits...
Get off the couch! Bad puppy!

Puppy ate something that didn't agree with him...
Bad puppy! No vomiting on the floor!

We're still housetraining him, of course, and there are bound to be accidents...Bad puppy! No piddling on the floor!

A little "surprise" that he left us on the steps...Bad puppy!

But, when he's all snuggled in his little puppy bed, he's so cute...Guess we'll keep him.