Archive for January, 2009
First Puppies Go Home
Dancer
The first two puppies left yesterday- first Prancer, my big bear of a snuggle buddy and then Dancer, the high energy puppy with the wicked sense of humor and energy. I was sad but resigned. It is what I’ve been anticipating all along – their leaving. I could never have them for more than this short time and, as I’ve written before, they deserve more of everything, more than I can give them.
Prancer
So Prancer, go forward with your sweet self, love everyone you meet and make everyone you meet feel loved. Put your soon to be big, gentle head in their hands and look at them with your wise, warm eyes and teach them how to slow down, relax, and enjoy the moment. And Dancer, keep your energy and your spirit intact, help your new family keep up with you. Keep your sense of fun, and joy. Run a few circles around the room and bark everyday, thinking of me.
Annie is a Good Mama Dog
The puppies had their final nurse on Sunday night. I was shooting video, trying to capture the beauty of nature – how everything works as it should. Pups suck and milk lets down so they can drink deeply and fully. You can even see the milk dripping from the open nipples, and hear the deep gulps of the drinking puppies. As I was marveling at the sight, Annie regurgitated her latest meal for them. I was amazed and excited but Mike was (understandably) grossed out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-W1am7ZVxI
So little time, so much to do
I can’t believe it, it is almost over. It is so abrupt; one day you are scrambling to find time to sit down and the next day they are gone and there is this huge hole in your life. But now is the busy time, where they are needing SO much and I have so little left to give. Plus, I am letting go, spending far less time with them so it doesn’t hurt so much when they leave. I am up late at night, reviewing the adoption decisions I’ve made, hoping the families will be good matches. I can only do so much and then I have to just let it go. Let it be what it will be. This is difficult work. Remember when I was saying that I would be happy to see them go? Well, I will be happy to have my house back and my time back and my dogs and family back but I will miss their little fuzzy bodies and puppy breath (what makes is stink so?) and their growing personalities. But (more…)
What Puppies Dream Of
Last night I was thinking about how in two days the pups will start going to their new homes. I was sad that they were sleepy tonight because I would have liked to cuddle some. So I cleaned the room, laid the papers, put out 4 bowls of clean water and food to last them through the night and rolled them all off the wet bedding and onto clean dry bedding. I will miss them. It never gets easier, this short time before the long goodbyes.
Someone asked me, “what do you think puppies dream about?” I think they dream about playing and nursing. And who wouldn’t if that was what your whole life consisted of? And who would really want it any differently if it was?
Adoption Process Underway
Annie and her no-nursing shirt
Yesterday was a busy busy day for everyone. We had numerous viewings of the puppies as well as a few families who came by to play with and cuddle their new family members. The puppies are now 7 weeks old and aren’t ready to leave just yet. I like to wait until closer to 8 weeks to give them as long as possible with their littermates and mama. Annie continues to be a stellar mother, nursing them whenever they ask for it. I have to keep chasing her out of the puppy room to stop that as she will be leaving soon. I was up until 11:30 last night sewing her a little shirt to keep her teats in and away from the puppies. I was using an old t-shirt but the pups were climbing into the shirt through the arm (more…)
8 Pups Romp in the Yard
Yesterday was chilly but a good enough day for the puppies to romp in the yard. I took Annie and her eight pups out in the yard for about 20 minutes of high energy play time. We have been trying to help Annie ween her pups but they are determined to nurse. Much of the time I was throwing a stick for Annie just to keep her moving – a moving mama is hard to nurse!
