The newest member of my family has just been named Teddy, because he looks like an adorable teddy bear. He’s a miniature goldendoodle, and we’re madly in love! He’s only eight weeks old and is in the process of being trained. He’s so precious, and I can’t wait for him to grow up. He’s a dog for my mom and my sister as well, and he’s a little brother to our adorable maltese, Coquito, who’s old now (he’s 12).

I wanted a clever dog, as Coquito is not the brightest. So I typed “small”, “cute” and “smart” into Google, and miniature goldendoodles came up. I had no idea what they were, so I went and saw him at the kennels. Goldendoodles are a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever – and there were loads of them. I didn’t know which one to pick; I looked at them all and talked to them, and eventually I made a wonderful decision.

Teddy is loving and playful – I love puppies that are needy. Consequently, I am showering him with gifts. He’s still being basket-trained, and I’ve got to stop him sleeping in my bed. But he cries, which makes him much more difficult to train. The first thing I bought him was a basket, but it was enormous – big enough for a rottweiler. Teddy will grow up to be 20lb maximum, and dogs don’t like a lot of space. There’s something comforting about being in a smaller basket – it’s like being in the womb. So I got a smaller one for him and put a pillow in it.

LA is the perfect place for a dog. It’s filled with celebrities pampering their pooches. Paris Hilton has Tinkerbell and a bunch of other dogs. She even came out with a line of dog clothes and pet furniture. Her dogs have all sorts of ridiculous outfits. Britney Spears is a terrible example, though. She has been voted the worst celebrity dog owner in America. She doesn’t seem to love her dogs that much – maybe they’re just an accessory to her. They should be taken away from her by the courts.

A lot of my friends have dogs, too, so I can’t wait to take him on play dates, but he hasn’t had his shots yet. I don’t think I’ll put him on Facebook – that’s for people with time to waste. For a treat, he likes pig’s ears. It’s kind of gross, but he’s teething and likes something to bite through. I’ve also invested in a dog trainer – it’s a must in Hollywood. The trainer says it’s important to get the dog to do things – sit, stay, fetch – and it takes a minimum of eight sessions. I’ll make the investment, of course; as many lessons as are needed. After all, my family has learnt from its mistakes. Coquito – it means Coconut in Spanish; we’re Latino – wasn’t trained, because my mom and sister bought him after I had already left to go to college in New York. I came back, and he was doing everything everywhere.

Now we’re training Teddy together. My mom and sister left Miami and now live in the same apartment complex as me, two floors below. They work for me in one way or another. Teddy pesters me when I’m doing my blog, and sometimes I’ll play with him, but then I’ll get back to work. He’s too, too cute! I’m definitely a dog person: cats aren’t as loving. Dogs are needy, but they are very affectionate as well.

We’ve already got him some Christmas presents. My mom got him a little sweater outfit, and maybe I’ll get him a doggy massage. They’re good for humans, so why not for dogs? There are dog psychics here, too, but I think they’re a waste of money. Then there are pet cemeteries . . . I haven’t even thought about where Teddy will be laid to rest – I’ve got to talk to my mom and sister. If I move house in a couple of years, I’ll find out how to bury him properly in the backyard and have a place to remember him.

Animals are a responsibility, rather than a luxury. They’re not disposable, like a car: a pet is a commitment, and a rewarding one.

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