Future therapy dog who ‘clues in on people’ is Tacoma’s cutest pup. Meet Blue
The cutest dog in the Tacoma area is still a little guy in some ways.
Blue is 11 months old, set to turn 1 soon. He’s still learning, still experiencing new things, still finding his way in the world.
At the same time, Blue — a 60ish-pound Bernedoodle — is outsized and oversized, at least when it comes to sheer adorableness. Look at that face!
The good boy, who lives with his family in Gig Harbor, captured hearts across Pierce County and beyond in a crowded field to win The News Tribune’s cutest dog contest.
More than three-dozen dogs in and around the Tacoma area were entered into the contest, which started in October and saw Blue emerge as the victor through two rounds of voting.
Blue will now be entered into a second contest to determine the cutest dog in the country across more than 20 McClatchy newspapers, launching Monday, Nov. 10.
Brian Cox, one of Blue’s humans, said it was fun to see the pup earn votes and delight people.
‘Pulls at your heartstrings’
And Blue is a great pup, Cox told The News Tribune.
The pup joined the family – Cox is married with two adult children — earlier this year. The Coxes had a senior dog, a 13-year-old labradoodle, at home. Blue was able to learn from her and give her a burst of energy and purpose before she crossed the rainbow bridge.
“It was such a blessing for her at the end of her life, and for him to have that mentoring,” Cox said.
Blue has continued on being a blessing.
The good boy is fun and funny. He loves going out on the water and is learning to swim.
“On a walk, it’s a regular thing that he’ll find a stick that’s bigger than him,” Cox said.
He also loves to play fetch and has figured out how to “buy” treats by bringing sticks and toys.
Blue is also going through training, with the ultimate goal that he’ll be able to help out as a therapy dog someday, perhaps in a school or hospital setting.
“It seems like a really good fit for him, with his nature. He gets excited about kids. He clues in on people. If we’re out and he hears a kid crying, he wants to go there,” Cox said, noting that “it pulls on your heartstrings a little bit” to see it.
For Cox, raising Blue has been a special experience.
He works from home now, “and this is the first dog I’ve been able to spend the whole day with as part of my routine. It’s been nice to have that daily partner,” Cox said.
“For me,” Cox added, “it’s companionship. It’s that unconditional love that you develop with your dog. Having that in your life brings balance, brings intention.”
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