My keeper puppy from Thalia's first litter, Roman.

Roman really is the perfect balance of Kane and Thalia, and I see pieces of both of them in him all the time. Temperament-wise, I couldn't ask for much more from this dog. Roman is confident, social, loves kids, and is genuinely one of those dogs I can take anywhere, anytime. He looks like one giant teddy bear and, most of the time, acts like one too. He's goofy as all hell, always making us laugh, and has never quite figured out that he's as big as he is. He also... inherited his dad's need to be involved in absolutely everything I do. Kane has always been my shadow, and Roman quickly became my second. If I'm doing something, Roman is probably right there with me, whether I've invited him or not.

But underneath all of that teddy bear is a little bit of that Kane spice.

When it's time to work, a switch flips. The goofy dog disappears and Roman gives me everything he has. His intensity, focus, and willingness to work are some of my favorite things about him. I can take him anywhere and trust him to be the easy, social dog I know and love, but when I ask him to turn it on, he's ready. That balance is what makes Roman so special to me. He doesn't have to live his entire life at a hundred miles an hour to have intensity when it matters. He can love on kids, follow me around the house, be an absolute clown, and then show up ready to work the second I ask it of him.

Roman feels like such a beautiful combination of his parents. He got the wonderful temperament and easy-to-live-with qualities I love, while still carrying that little bit of Kane fire that keeps things interesting.

He's my giant teddy bear, my second shadow, and one of those dogs I can genuinely enjoy no matter what we're doing. I wouldn't change a thing about him and I knew when raising his litter that he was meant to be mine, forever.