This is quite the observation to make, and I’m sure you’re wondering what on earth compelled me to come to the realization that my little six-month-old American Eskimo Spitz puppy is, in fact, a human at heart.

I got Kota in February. When I went to pick her out, I had a choice between her and one of her brothers. I tested the waters with each, sitting on the floor and playing around with these two little white puff balls of fun. After a lot of hard thinking, I decided to go with the one who was more calm, in hopes of plenty of snuggles to come. I handed the kind lady my money and left with this idea of sweet naps with my new little polar bear. I got in the car and BAM. The sweet little ball of preciousness turned into this wild, rambunctious little ball of fury. And with that, my dreams of a new cuddle partner went out the window. This is where I first got a glimpse of the human brain living inside my brand new puppy.

The first day I had her at home, she acted like any toddler does towards their mother. She didn’t listen, she ate everything in sight and was far from potty trained. She talked (or, er, barked) back to me when I told her no, and flashed that adorable and totally irresistible puppy dog face of hers to get her way. Slowly but surely, she began to listen, and she calmed down. I call these "The Preteen Months." It was all going good until, one day, my boyfriend came over. He walked through the door, and my little Kota's ears shot up. I knew her innocence was shattered, as she then began to, wait for it... Flirt with him.

This very unsettling thought came to me as I was sitting on my couch watching my precious baby stick her fluffy butt in the air, and cover her face with her paws when he would say her name. I could tell I was about to have a lot on my plate as a mother to my fur baby.

A few weeks later, me and my friends were headed downtown for a little shopping and sight seeing. I decided it would be a great idea to bring Kota along and expose her to some new people and places. I went out and got a cute new collar and leash combo that would stand out perfectly against her white fur. I headed home to surprise her with her new fashion statement, thinking she'd be spinning in circles (she loves to be spoiled).

That was far from what happened. From the moment I walked through the door she could sense something was up. She hid under the couch, rebelling my plea to come out, try on her cute new accessories and go out on the town with me. She kicked and cried until I finally gave up. This is when I saw the spoiled teenage girl she was becoming as she protested her mother's wishes. Let me tell you: it's not fun at all. I was hurt, even a little mad, that she didn't want to come with me.

Later that night I came home, and she was waiting for me in my room. She jumped up, all excited to see me, as if she knew she had hurt my feelings earlier that day. She put her front feet in the air, as a signal for me to pick her up. I did, she laid her head on my shoulder, and it was all worth it once again.

I'm not sure if the moral here is that Kota is part human, or if I'm shaping up to be a pretty bomb.com mom, but even so I know having Kota has been such a blessing. If I could go back and choose again, I know that I would choose her in a heart beat. My sweet girl means the world to me, along with all her quirks and shenanigans. My life wouldn't be the same without that little fluff of sass.