There is nothing like the unconditional love of a dog——something that Jen and Joe Calvin, homeowners at Alys Beach, know all too well. And indeed, love abounds in their home in the form of their three four-legged children: Oliver, Leo, and Arthur. 

Walking through the streets of Alys Beach, it’s likely you’ll spot the trio of adorably fluffy dogs accompanied by their dog dad, Joe, as they stroll to Fonville Press Market + Café or play fetch in Central Park at sunset. 

“I think Joe and the dogs are a bit of a fixture. Joe loves to talk, but if you ask people, I think they’d say that they recognize the dogs first,” says Jen, the other piece of the group’s pack, and dog mom extraordinaire. 

Although they often move about as a trio, there is no doubt that each dog’s individual personality shines through. Oliver, at eleven and a half, is the senior of the group. While he may be the smallest in size, make no mistake——he more than keeps up with his larger and slightly more rambunctious siblings. Jen says, “He’s sweet and laid back, but don’t think that means he’s a shrinking violet. He may not have the biggest personality or the biggest physical presence, but he holds his own. It’s impossible not to love Oliver.” 

Leo, two and a half, is the middle child, and somewhat the peacekeeper of the group. “If Arthur is ever playing with Oliver, and Leo feels he’s gotten too excited for the smaller dog, he’ll let out a bark letting everyone know it’s time to reel it in,” says Jen. Although he keeps an eye out for his siblings, Leo loves to get in on the action as well. “He and Arthur love to play with a ball. Oliver has little legs, so he mostly watches, but Leo and Arthur will run after the ball at top speed and then they both somehow end up locked onto it, in a very quiet but intense battle of fetch.” 

Arthur, named for a dear friend of the family, is the newest member of the group. Still in his puppy years, he is a bouncing ball of energy, thrilled with every new experience. “He’s still a baby, so he’s still in that tear around, love-everybody stage. Funny enough, though, despite all of his energy, he can be a bit shy around new people. He’s the kind of dog who likes to take things at his own speed. He wants to come to you, and figure things out on his own terms,” explains Jen. 

Life for these “velcro dogs” is sweet, with days spent playing in the parks at Alys Beach, and ending every night in a real dog-pile sleeping arrangement (all three dogs sleep in bed with Joe and Jen, something the couple revealed with humorous chagrin). 

There is no doubt that Oliver, Leo, and Arthur are living the dream, but it is Jen and Joe who will tell you that their lives are the ones enriched through the presence of their beloved companions.