At just six months old, Simba Rafiki Rahlf has already made a big impression on his family—and anyone who walks through their front door. This lovable Shih-tzu Poodle mix may be small, but his personality is anything but.

Like many families, the Rahlfs spent years hearing their daughters ask for a dog. When they finally decided the time was right, they carefully researched which breed would best fit their lifestyle. Their original plan was to adopt an older, already-trained dog—hoping to skip the challenges of the puppy stage altogether. They searched for a poodle mix, like a cavapoo, but kept running into one thing: puppies, puppies, and more puppies.

Then came the turning point.

One evening after dinner, their daughter Emma convinced them to “just look” at puppies at PetLand to get a better sense of breeds. That’s when they met Simba—and everything changed. The family instantly fell in love with the cuddly little pup and decided they were ready to embrace the puppy phase after all. Simba officially joined their family on October 1, when he was just six weeks old.

His name fits him perfectly. With his soft features and expressive eyes, the family thought he resembled a baby lion—just like Simba from The Lion King. To make it even more special, they added “Rafiki” as his middle name, inspired by another beloved character from the film.

Simba has proven to be as smart as he is adorable. He learns tricks quickly and was nearly potty trained from the moment he came home—though, like many puppies, he’s still working on curbing his excitement (and jumping). His affectionate nature is what sealed the deal for the family, especially for Raquel, who loves the playful energy that comes with the puppy stage.

And spoiled? Absolutely.

Simba is convinced that every visitor who enters the house is there just for him. If he isn’t greeted with immediate attention, he makes his feelings known—barking and running in excited circles until he gets the love he expects. Despite having a full basket of toys, he prefers to sneak into the girls’ rooms and claim their stuffed animals as his own. At first, the girls tried to stop him, but these days, Simba pretty much gets whatever he wants.

He’s also taken on an important role in the household: morning alarm clock. Each day, he waits patiently in his crate while dad starts coffee and breakfast. But by around 5:45 a.m., his excitement can’t be contained. Once he’s let out, he dashes straight to wake up mom for some early morning playtime. Then, when the girls’ alarms go off, Simba heads upstairs to make sure no one sleeps in—barking and whining until everyone is up and ready to start the day.

Simba isn’t just a pet—he’s become an essential part of the family’s daily rhythm. From cuddles to chaos, he’s brought laughter, energy, and a whole lot of love into their home.

And in the end, skipping the puppy phase? Not a chance. For the Rahlf family, it turned out to be the best decision they never planned to make.

To learn more about becoming a sponsor for our publication please visit: https://linktr.ee/strollforestridge.