Not many couples buy a dog on their honeymoon, but that’s what Ritu and Jim Childs did while in Italy celebrating their marriage. They realized as their few-months-long trip (which included their grown children at times) was coming to an end that they would be returning to an empty house.

 

“The sound of an excited dog waiting for you to come home and love on them is what we needed to make our house a home,” says Ritu. “So, we adopted Roxy virtually while we were in Florence, Italy.”

 

The Childs got Roxy from Smeraglia Teddy Bear Doodles in Robertsdale, Alabama. “We put her in a four-week residential puppy school and the day after we landed back home, we flew to Alabama to pick her up,” Ritu notes. The training school also had cats, piglets, a chicken, and three large dogs on the property. As a result, Roxy loves playing with big dogs, particularly golden retrievers.

 

The seven-pound, white Schnauzer-poodle mix’s name comes from The Police song Roxanne. “The way Sting calls out to Roxanne is so melodic and full of emotion,” Ritu notes. “I’ve also loved the new wave sound of Roxy Music. I guess subliminally, the name has stuck with me for all these years.”

 

Although tiny, Roxy will hike miles with Ritu and Jim. Unlike many dogs her size, she is mild-mannered and not a yippy pup. Roxy is spoiled and the princess of the Child’s house on Brookhaven Walk Way, according to Ritu.

 

“She is tiny, but she is so full of love and personality,” Ritu says. “Jim and I have truly loved how much joy Roxy has brought to our lives.”