"She has been her own lady since day one," Kristal told The Dodo. "The first thing she did when I got her home was to make a beeline for the food dish, burrow into it and eat till she passed out."

Bitsy is far from the helpless dog her grandpa anticipated. She's been all around the nation with her mom – hiking, kayaking, riding the metro and even skating. "Bitsy is the kindest, friendliest, most loving and devoted dog in the world," Kristal added. "She is brave and spunky and she loves adventure!"

Kristal's dad loves his granddog more than he could've ever dreamed, and the two hang out together whenever they get the chance.