Purple Pups: Bleu Smith

[Viktor]

"He loves Bleu so much. He's really playful, and so is Bleu – they wear each other out, honestly," Smith said. "It was a hot day in New Orleans, and me and my mom went to the store and bought a little slip-and-slide. Me and my little nephew were playing, and Bleu just comes in and just tries to take over. It was super funny."


Whether on trips home to visit family or to see friends or teammates, Bleu has become Smith's regular sidekick.


"Everywhere I go, she comes. For me, she's like my little homie, really," Smith said. "Anywhere I go, if it's dog-friendly, I try to bring her with me. She's my little extra friend that I have at all times."


Bleu now has racked up the air miles, but her first flight wasn't exactly smooth.


Smith noted that Bleu had always done well riding in a car, but he recalled wondering how air travel would go. As it turns out, she was an anxious flyer.


"She was getting nervous, so she kept [passing gass] on the plane," Smith laughed. "I was sitting in the front, so [the other passengers] couldn't really see the dog … but you could definitely smell it. I'm just sitting there like, 'Aww, maaan.' "


The smelly situation didn't change Smith's affection for his pup, though.


A proud dog dad, Smith said he appreciates the way Bleu's carefree personality tends to rub off on him – especially during a year that's had its share of major challenges and weighty issues across the country.


"When I get up in the morning, Bleu's usually really happy, really energetic, wants to play, and that kind of just gets me started, as well," Smith said. " 'If my dog's like this, then I should be like this, as well.' "