While some empty nesters savor a quiet house and forgo a new pet when the family dog passes, David and Allison McKee were the opposite. With both daughters off at college, they realized fairly quickly after losing their Wheaton Terrier Ripley three years ago that they missed having a dog. Instead of one pup, they opted for two. They first got Tucker, a two-and-a-half-year-old Bernedoodle, in July 2021 and this March added now-one-year-old Goldendoodle Rosie to their home.

 

“We decided we needed to add another pup to our house to be a playmate/friend/ companion for Tucker,” notes Allison. Tucker came from Ocoee River Doodles in Ocoee, TN, and Rosie from Moss Creek Goldendoodles in Plant City, FL.

 

The family, including daughters Haley and Lauren, came up with a list of names for each dog. “Tucker” and “Rosie” were among the few all could agree upon.

 

Allison jokes that the pups “rule the roost” of their Hunters Brook Court home. Every evening, Rosie and Tucker sit on their beds in the breakfast area waiting for the nightly cheesestick and are not bashful about letting the McKees know if the treat is late or forgotten. When asked to do something they don’t want to do, Allison says each has selective hearing.

 

The pair is inseparable. They love playing in the backyard, although Tucker always tackles Rosie when she zooms by in a game of chase. When playing in the house, Rosie steals Tucker’s toys and Tucker will sit next to her barking until she relinquishes and gives the item back. The two have fun chasing squirrels, playing ball, and taking a daily walk around the neighborhood.

 

Tucker and Rosie are always on the hunt for food or a glass left on the kitchen counter (potential treat!) or a sock or shoe on the floor, which they see as fair game for chewing. Tucker sits on the back ledge of the couch like a cat, looking for a UPS or Amazon delivery truck to pull up. Rosie wakes at 6:30 a.m. sharp every day. “She is the best alarm clock,” notes Allison.

 

Rosie and Tucker have quickly become a part of the McKee family. “We love how they always greet us with smiles and wagging tails and they keep us laughing with their silly antics,” says Allison. “We miss them when we are out of town and cannot imagine our home without them.”