MJ: The Tiny Puppy Who Stole My Heart

On December 29, 2021, a tiny puppy entered the world and immediately changed our lives.

MJ was part of the very first litter our Pomeranian, Mozzi, ever had. Unfortunately, things didn't go quite as planned. Mozzi rejected the puppies and wanted nothing to do with them. Suddenly, my husband and I found ourselves stepping into the role of round-the-clock puppy parents.

We transformed our bedroom into a puppy nursery. We had an electric fireplace running constantly, keeping the room around 90 degrees to make sure the puppies stayed warm. It was far from comfortable for us, but newborn puppies can't regulate their body temperature, and keeping them warm was critical. MJ also had a heating pad to help provide the warmth she needed.

For weeks, our lives revolved around feeding schedules. Every two hours, day and night, we woke up to bottle-feed her. Sleep became a luxury, but watching this tiny puppy grow stronger made every sleepless night worth it.

Today, MJ is still a little smaller than the puppies from Mozzi's later litter. But if you ask me, that just makes her even more special. She's proof that being small doesn't mean you can't have a huge personality.

One of MJ's favorite quirks is her love for chewing on blankets. If she's relaxing, you'll often find her gently nibbling and sucking on a soft blanket. It's something she's done for years, and it seems to bring her comfort and help her settle down.

Interestingly, blanket chewing is actually fairly common in dogs. Puppies who were hand-raised, bottle-fed, or separated from their mothers early may develop comfort behaviors similar to a child holding a favorite blanket or stuffed animal. The soft texture and repetitive motion can help them self-soothe when they're relaxed, sleepy, or seeking comfort.

As long as a dog isn't swallowing the fabric or destroying the blanket, this behavior is usually harmless. In many cases, it's simply a comforting habit that helps them feel safe and secure.

Looking back, it makes sense that MJ would find comfort in blankets. After all, she spent her earliest days wrapped in warm blankets, sleeping beside a heating pad, and being cared for by humans instead of her mother.

Maybe those blankets remind her of those first few weeks. Maybe it's just something she enjoys. Either way, it's one of the many little things that makes MJ who she is.

There's another special connection, too. MJ was born just one day before my son's birthday. Even more fitting, her mother Mozzi was born one day before mine. Somehow, our family seems to have a habit of sharing birthdays with our dogs.

This December, MJ will turn five years old. It's hard to believe that the tiny puppy who needed bottle feedings every two hours is now a happy, healthy dog with a blanket-chewing habit and a permanent place in our hearts.

Happy early birthday, MJ. Thank you for making all those sleepless nights worth it.