Sweet parting, puppies

One of the most common questions I am asked is, ‘How can you bear to part with the pups?’

I want to reply, ‘It’s easy!‘ but the seeming insensitivity of the reply puzzles me and would likely shock the asker. Yet more accurate still would be to reply, ‘It’s my pleasure!‘ which unfortunately carries an even stronger message of coldness towards the innocent little joy-bundles who have been in my care (!)

I have had plenty of opportunity over the years to examine why it is I feel this way and, as odd as it sounds, I am perfectly at peace with these feelings. So I thought I would expound here.

Not my pups

From before conception I am always aware that these pups are not my pups. They are the canine mums’ pups to begin with and then the human families’ pups from 8 weeks of age onwards.

I am just the lucky person who orchestrates the process. I witness the adoration the bitches have for their babies and – at the other end – I see this adoration carried on and spanning the very many years with the human families.

Plus of course I love the puppies too. Who couldn’t? I marvel at their development, their little baby steps to independence from mum, their funny ways and the emergence of their little personalities.

And they are seriously so funny at times. Like when they first develop their little barks, at about five weeks of age. Out of the blue, you hear a high pitched little ‘err-ruff’ from a litter that had previously been one of gravelly little rumble noises. What’s really cute is the look on the face of the puppy when they create those first few barks: they give themselves a fright! Before long that characteristic puppy curiosity takes over and soon they are enthusiastically practising their new found talent.

As I type here at my desk in the doggery, I can hear the occasional squeak of a plastic toy. Experience tells me this will be met with great surprise by the perpetrator, who will be unsure of his role in this most unusual happening. It will only take a few more accidental squeaks during play for puppy to make the connection and realise he is causing the squeak.

I love too the way that they adore humans. What a creature: the dog! Upon weaning from mum they run to my hand, adoring your every touch. They look you directly in the eye, as though they want to understand you and have you understand them. They expect to communicate. They request that communication, from the age of four or five weeks onwards.

And who can go passed the joy of the pups coming into the world? The first tiny noises of new life, successfully-arrived. Those three weeks of their silent dark world, when eyes and ears are yet to open. It’s the snuffly slug phase; a darling little blob sniffs and senses this strange non-mum animal that raises them high and snuggles them into their animal warmth with hot potatoes and cuddles.

Best of all, I think, is the utter integrity and honesty that bowls me over. I marvel and I draw strength from the trust and purity of motive of pups and parents alike. Dogs have a lot to teach the human species in this regard. They humble us, I believe, and we are richer for dwelling with them.

Next phase – enter human parents

In no time at all, my role and the bitch’s are finished. We have nurtured this baby to rudimentary independence and it is now time for them to venture out to be with their family; people who will love and protect them for the rest of their lives.

The love of these families is palpable, in most cases well before they have even met the pup. I am in no doubt that the people taking this pup are going to imbue puppy with all love and care humanly possible.

With such knowledge, how can I be anything but thrilled that puppy is progressing to his forever home? Plus both owners and I have the understanding that if for any reason life deals a different plan, I will take this dog back – at any age.

The best way to illustrate the owners’ role is their own words. Here I share a bit of what I experience as a breeder with every precious litter. To do this in a representative manner, I will publish some of the communications between me and the most recent litter to go, just a few days ago.

Owners’ inject their magic 

Let’s start with Mowgli. A little black & tan boy keenly awaited for many weeks by his parents in Western Australia.

For this I have chosen the two videos kindly sent through by Jamie and Sarah. Please bear in mind these videos are taken at the end of a 14 hour day for puppy, departing the farm at 6am and arriving with his family on the opposite side of Australia some 12 hours later.

Mowgli : see and hear for yourselves what his new parents offer

And his talent knows no bounds!

Click here to see more of Mowgli 

Then there’s Monty. His family in Queensland has had a sad time of it lately; bitter sweet, as one loved dog passes and another arrives.

Michelle is happy for me to share this with you.

Hi Fiona 

Our hearts are absolutely torn into shreds.  Earlier this evening we said goodbye to our darling, special boy, Milo.  He never did get to meet Monty.

 Poor Sophy is beside herself.

 Anyway, just had to share his picture with you.

Just thought I would let you see the little guy’s bed and some new toys waiting just for him 🙂  Just one of the many beds but despite all the toys, these are new ones just for Monty.  Don’t want him to feel like he is getting all the “hand me downs” as the younger kids normally do.  LOL. 

 I must say, knowing that he is coming soon and counting down the days is really helping take the intense pain that loosing Milo left me with.  While my heart still aches dreadfully (and it is going to for a long long time still I am sure) I cannot wait to have a little boy to cuddle and love. 

 I wish you could hear and read all the comments from my daughters friends, boys and girls alike.  They just cannot wait for him to arrive.  He is going to be one very adored little boy – as his big brother was.  So good to know that your dogs are so special to other people as well as just your family and if he is anything like Milo, he will love every single one of them.  

Milo was a standard, short hair.  He arrived as a little ball and was a ball till the day he died.  He loved food, all food, the more the better.  Pasta was good, but his all time favourite if he could get to it was lasagne.  The bravest height challenged dog I have ever met.  Afraid of nothing and no-one.  Loved to find snakes – and then call me, the one in the family that is terrified of them.  He came into a home with 2 5yr old Dalmatians and within a few days he was the boss!  His big brother, Harley, taught him all he knew, how to mark territory, how to follow mum everywhere she went, how to get out and terrorise the neighbourhood dogs.  The stories I could tell you about those two boys.  He used to round the Dali’s up and herd them outside and then sit down ever so proud of himself, so much so that my husband would say “dogs outside and you too Milo” and the parrot would say all day “dogs out and Milo”.  Milo only had 2 settings – love and hate.  He either loved you to death or hated you and wanted to kill you.  Glad to say, the ones he wanted to kill were very few and far between.  Extremely sharp and would pick up if someone was scared of dogs and he would make the most of that!  Memory the size of an elephant, he never forgot anything or anyone and if you did something with him twice, heaven help you because it became routine.  He absolutely loved going for his walks with dad and had a set course and he would not turn back before, those little legs would dig in and that was it, you eventually gave in and went his way.  His last walk was the night before he died and my husband had to carry him half way back home because he refused to turn around and that was the only way he could get him to come home.  No back trouble with him, even though he was a fatty all his life.  Epileptic though for the last 3 years, something which the vet told us is pretty common with them, but easily controlled through medication.  The only downside to the standards that I found was that he was not as cuddly as Sophy and heavier to pick up.  As he got older he wanted to sit on my lap as well or next to me and sometimes that was a bit difficult.  He never forgot people.  My mum passed away 2 years ago and that Christmas my dad came over to visit from South Africa.  Milo adored my mum and so when my dad walked in he was ever so happy to see him.  Then rushed around sniffing and smelling, and just searching.  Looking for mum.  When he couldn’t find her he went and sat at my dad’s feet and howled.  I have never seen or heard anything like that ever.  Broke my heart.

Sophy, the little mini short hair, well, totally different to Milo.  Nervous, shy little thing.  But that said, came into the house of 2 Dalmatians and a standard dachsie and at 8 weeks old ruled the roost.  They all bowed down to her, if they were eating and she wanted what they had they just all stepped back for her.  Miss Sophy.  Then she learnt to also herd the poor big dogs but she would also bark that them.  Too scared to venture out into the garden alone, she would call Milo for backup, especially at night.  These last few nights I have had to go out with her.  Tiny little thing, but she was the one that got the back issues.  Loves to swim, showers, doesn’t bath and will hop into the shower with me if she can get the door open.  She doesn’t take to men very easily and in fact it has taken her a long time to make friends with my husband and son.  A real ladies girl, while Milo worshipped the ground I walked on and followed me everywhere like a shadow, he was also really fond of everyone else in the family, especially dad cos he could con dad into anything. 

Miss Sophy is the pickiest eater I have ever come across.  Her favourite food – she doesnt have expensive taste at all – chicken breast meat chopped up very finely.   She can go for 2 days without eating just because she does not like what is on offer.  Some dogs have a magic word for getting them to do something.  Sophy’s magic word is chicken!  “Come Soph lets go make a wee and then you can have some chicken”.  Works every time – well 99% of the time.  She can be so deaf, you can call her and she will ignore you.  Go open the kitchen cupboard where the treat packet is kept and no matter where she is in the house, even upstairs in the furtherest room, she will come rushing down just in case she misses something.  As a pup she was the most difficult dog I have ever had in my entire life to house train.  Oh she was toilet trained ok – you could stand outside with her for 2 hours on the grass and then she would run inside, and go on the mat in the bathroom, as close to the toilet as she could get.  Well, I suppose she figured, hey, this is where we are supposed to go.   So 6 years down the line and we are still shaking our heads sometimes in dispair, but she is really good and will take herself outside during the night through the doggy door flap if she needs to go – unless it is raining, in which case she will then use the bathmat.  Better the bathmat than the carpets I suppose.  Puppy training pads she will move out of the way.

 Both are extremely intelligent dogs, learn quickly, understand way too much, personalities that are so unique to themselves but love and adore you with everything they have.  I have heard of mini dachsies jumping up onto chairs and then getting onto the table and cleaning everything off, etc.  Ours were not allowed onto the furniture, from very young, not encouraged to jump and so never ever worried about even trying to help themselves to food, even on the coffee table.  What a pleasure after having 3 dalmatians that would just wipe everything off with their tails.  The best thing I can do for them is to take them in the car when I do the station drop or pick up for the kids.  Milo knew if a text message came through at a certain time after I was home from work that it meant someone was getting close to home and he would watch and when that missed call came he would be waiting at the door and first to the car.

 The first breed of dog I have owned that has been able to read body language.  They know when someone is not well and will not leave their sides.  Very devoted and loyal.  Need loads of attention though – as does any dog, and very much indoor and part of the family pets.

Michelle, day zero…arrival day!