A New Chapter at Christmas

Merlin’s First Christmas and a New Season for Our Family

This is Merlin. He is our 11-month-old Keeshond puppy, and he came to live with us just in time for Easter. From the very beginning, he has brought lightness and joy into our days. He is a gentle little soul — curious, thoughtful, and just mischievous enough to keep us smiling.

Many longtime readers will remember our Samoyed, Jasper. This blog was part of our family throughout his entire life. Jasper passed away in November 2024, and we miss him deeply. He was our constant companion and our Christmas buddy for many years. Nothing could ever replace him. But sweet Merlin has brought a new kind of spark to our family — not as a replacement, but as a new chapter.

How Merlin Changed the Season

There is something especially magical about experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a puppy. For Merlin, everything is new — the lights, the music, the scents from the kitchen, the snow under his feet, and yes, even the outfits.

Merlin approaches the world with gentle wonder. He often seems to be asking, What’s that? and then deciding, Okay, let’s try it. He is a little timid at times, but always curious. His enthusiasm is contagious, and without realizing it, we find ourselves slowing down and seeing the season differently because of him.

What Stayed the Same — and What Changed

We haven’t had to make many big changes with Merlin around for the holidays. Mostly, it’s about puppy safety — especially around food. He listens well when we say “no” or “leave it,” but anything left unattended on a low surface still calls to his puppy heart.

One accommodation we’ve definitely made is due to Merlin’s love of paper. He was excellent at opening his own gifts — and helping everyone else open theirs — but the instructions for the Christmas lights didn’t survive the process.

Decor-wise, he’s been surprisingly respectful, even with ornaments hanging low on the tree. That said, we did find him one day chewing on a dried orange slice that had been hanging halfway up the tree. He had climbed onto the couch to reach it, clearly convinced it was meant just for him.

Winter Through a Puppy’s Eyes

Both Samoyeds and Keeshonds are double-coated dogs, built for cold weather. Jasper, at twice Merlin’s size, had the heart of a sled dog. Long, fast walks were his joy, and he was a devoted running companion for our family.

Merlin is an athlete too — just a very different kind. He specializes in zoomies, tight circles, leaping onto snowbanks, and flinging snow into the air with his nose. Long walks aren’t really his thing. He prefers exploring, climbing, and tasting snow whenever possible. I suspect he’s more of a “run through the woods” dog than a sidewalk walker.

We’ve turned our fenced backyard into a small winter wonderland, adding extra lights and shovelling paths so both people and puppy can enjoy the space. Merlin loves romping around with his people, chasing sticks and playing in the snow. The humans join in too — usually with hot drinks in hand to keep warm.

A Very Special New Chapter

This year also marked a first for us: Merlin as a visiting and therapy dog in training. He has a natural gentleness and seems to sense what each person needs. One of my most treasured memories this Christmas was Merlin visiting a personal care home, delivering small paw-print cards to residents.

The quiet, innocent connections he made that day are hard to put into words. It was a reminder of the deep comfort animals can bring — and of how healing those moments can be for everyone involved.

Capturing the Little Joys

Merlin also has his own small Instagram page now, which means we’ve taken far more photos than ever before. Sharing his experiences has made me more mindful of small moments — the everyday joys that might otherwise slip past unnoticed. @merlin_keeshond

The holidays have felt lighter this year because Merlin is part of our world. He has brought laughter, movement, and new memories into our home. And for that, we are deeply grateful.

This season has been shaped by both memory and new beginnings, and Merlin has helped us hold space for both.