After Maple, Comes Syrup
The day Maple passed, something in the world shifted. Not long after, Syrup arrived — tiny, curious, and unaware of the space she would fill. This is a story about loss, second chances, and learning that love doesn’t replace, it grows.
To start, could you introduce yourself?
My name is Rose Ann, and I’m a professor (the day job that funds Syrup’s lifestyle).
And who is Syrup :)
Syrup is a year old and half old. She is a Cavachon with a lot of personality and spunk! I don’t know where she learned this (maybe my own personality), but she is VOCAL or maybe I should say—an excellent communicator. For example, when she was younger and we didn’t put out a water bowl to control her water intake, she would sit in front of the kitchen counter and bark to communicate that she was thirsty. She loves sniffing and meeting new dogs. We call her a tsismosa/chismosa (gossiper in Tagalog and Spanish) as a nickname because not only does she love to connect with other dogs, but she is also highly observant of her surroundings and likes to be in-the-know when other people are talking by watching our neighbors in the balcony. Our daily routine consists of two daily walks, feeding times, and tons of nap and play time.
Syrup came into your life at a very specific moment. Can you take us back to how it all began?
Syrup and our family crossed paths on an unexpected day—the day my first dog Maple crossed the rainbow bridge, October 16, 2024. In fact, Syrup was supposed to be my parent’s dog. I remember looking for breeders online because my parents wanted another Cavachon like Maple. That evening, I found a Cavachon breeder in Washington with puppies ready to go home by November 2024. I called the individual and left a message, and long story short but definitely not a short drive (24+ hours in total over a weekend), we picked up Syrup on November 17, 2024, and welcomed her in our home. In between that time, my mom could not wait for Syrup and rehomed two Schnoodles, Maggie and Peggy.
Finding Syrup on the day Maple passed felt like fate; that’s why she is named “Syrup”—to honor and keep Maple’s legacy alive. When folks ask what her name is, they often hear “Sarah,” so I have to correct them and restate, “Syrup like Maple Syrup.”
When we took Syrup home, she only weighed 2 lbs. Now, she is a whopping 14.4 lbs, and has grown so much into a loving and playful personality—living up to her sweet name.
This is such a warm story! So Maple was also a Cavachon. What is it like raising Syrup knowing what you know now, and in what ways are the two of them different?
They are SO different, and I’m glad that their personalities are different.
Syrup is more confident and explicitly communicates her needs and wants with a stare or a bark. She is also more playful than Maple. Maple loved to cuddle and was not a picky eater. Syrup is definitely a picky eater! I do love both of their Cavachon temperaments, super sweet and friendly towards people and other dogs.
At what point did you feel, “this is the one”?
My partner and I wanted a darker colored dog, so when we saw pictures of her, she was perfection! Actually, when she was younger, a majority of her fur was black. Now, only the tips of her ears and tail maintained that black color. She is different shades of brown all over; for Cavachons, this is called “sable.” We didn’t get a chance to meet her beforehand since her breeder was 12+ hours away, but her breeder did FaceTime us and keep us updated with photos. She was one of the runts of her litter and actually wasn’t as rambunctious as her siblings. Now, she’s fully grown confident into her own personality!
You chose her without ever meeting her in person. So what was that first day together really like?
The car ride home, the first sniff around the house, the early impressions.
Oh my gosh—our first day consisted of an 8:00 am pick up and then driving 12+ hours home. I was surprised at how Syrup did so well in the car with two strangers (us)! She slept the whole way, and when she did get up, she spent time on my lap or resting her head on the leather of the center console. We think she loved the leather because it kept her cool.
She also did a great job holding her bladder and peeing on the pee pads that I set up in the vehicle. I was very paranoid about not having her touch her paws on any public surfaces, so I set up a contained space for potty breaks.
Early impressions included a sense of curiosity and slight skepticism given the new environment; we loved that she wasn’t fearful in sniffing around our apartment but did so with caution. Also, we found it hilarious that she was scared to go around the kitchen island; now she runs around it with no problem!
And was there a moment when you felt she fully trusted you?
Aww, I love this question because it makes me reflect about the earlier moments with her.
Yes, I remember when we took a trip to my parent’s house on the east coast in December 2024, and there was one morning that she just woke me up so early. Because she was only maybe 13 weeks old by then, I knew that she may have possibly needed to go to the bathroom early in the morning. After waking up early, I ended up taking a nap on the couch, and Syrup never left my side. Instead, she climbed on top of my head, leaned on me, and snuggled with me as I was falling asleep.
And now, a year and a half later, how has life changed since those very first days?
She creates structure in our life, especially with my fiancé and I both being academics, who have more autonomy and control of our schedules. She forces us to get out of our heads and into fully being present and enjoying life
On a deeper level, what's the biggest way Syrup has changed you?
She has taught both of us to love expansively. Both Rigo and I lost our dogs — Maple and Bubba — around the same time, so we were grieving in our own way. For me personally, Syrup has taught me about my immense capacity to love. Maple was my first dog, and when she passed, my heart broke. My heart ached uncontrollably. My heart cried unexpectedly throughout the days after. I loved Maple, and when Syrup entered our lives, I learned that I had the capacity to love again. Syrup showed me what healing looks and feels like when embracing a new family furmember in one's life.
They say dogs and their owners are alike. After hearing all of that, we have to ask — do you see yourself in her?
Oh, absolutely!
Jokingly not jokingly, when I introduce myself, I say that I’m tiny but mighty. I stand at 5’0” feet tall but have a large and memorable personality. I communicate directly, firmly, and confidently. Syrup is literally me in dog version. Haha. She communicates directly, firmly, and confidently whether that is in her barks or body language.
So what does that communication actually look like in practice?
Their ways of asking for attention, affection, food, or play.
For attention, Syrup paws at us—at the back of our heads when sitting on the couch, at our hands, and at my laptop and phone when I’m working; she literally knocks the phone at my hand. Rude. Haha. When she wants to go outside, she licks us uncontrollably and then she sits in front of the door and looks at her leashes.
For food or treats, she stares at the counter corner where her food is at and then will stare at you. She’ll do this at least twice to let you know she wants a treat or food on the counter.
For play, she barks and does a puppy bow. Then, she’ll chase us trying to bite our toe or socks.
For a dog who already makes herself so clear, what do you think she would say if she actually had the words?
My fiancé and I call her, “Pretty girl.” So she would probably say, “Well, if I’m so pretty, where are my pretty privileges like extra treats?”
Rose Ann has given us her heart, her story, and a glimpse into life with the world's most opinionated Cavachon. Before we let you go, we have a few quick ones.
<<<Rapid Fire>>>
Who does Syrup go to when she needs comfort?
It’s me. Haha.
She is obsessed with me, her mama. She paws at the bathroom door when I’m taking a shower—like girl, give me some privacy. Haha!
What’s Syrup’s favorite toy, game, or activity?
She LOVES nosework. She’s been doing nosework since she was a puppy, so she loves to be mentally stimulated.
Has Syrup ever sensed your emotions and comforted you?
Yes, she knows when we’re frustrated, stress, or sad. During those moments, she comforts us by cuddling with us. She’s truly super sweet!
If Syrup were a person, what kind of personality would they have?
CONFIDENT in all caps—like you can’t tell this dog nothing.
What’s the most “human” thing Syrup does?
She stands on her back paws and WALKS on them. She does it in public when she’s curious and wants to see another dog from afar.
What advice would you give someone considering bringing a dog into their life?
Having a dog requires time and energy, tests your character (i.e., patience, understanding) and grows your capacity to love unconditionally.
When you imagine Syrup years from now, older and slower, what do you hope she’ll feel looking back on their life with you?
I hope that she feels that she was loved every single moment of every single day.
The story doesn't end here. Follow Rose Ann and Syrup on Instagram @thesweetlifeofsyrup