Annie is Moving On
Annie and pup
Annie seems to get that I don’t want her to nurse the puppies anymore. She is an amazing dog. So sweet, so wanting to please. I tried to help her realize that her life gets to be good now. She gets to be the center of attention. She gets to be cared for and doesn’t have to work so hard to take care of her puppies anymore. They are grown now and she can go on with her life and really really enjoy it. She has settled down so much lately. Last night she curled up into me and just sighed as I stroked her ears and told her how much I appreciated her.
Annie leaves us this afternoon for her new forever home. I worry about her, hoping the transition to her new family goes well. Hoping they love her as much as I’ve grown to love her. Hoping that she loves them and trusts them as much as she seems to have grown to love and trust me. I never take that trust and love for granted. I always feel honored and blessed when I see it. Every time.
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.
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…)
Precious Moments
Today my son was playing with the puppies after coming in from being outside again. They were roughhousing, and I heard barking, growling, and yelling, all communicating great happiness and satisfaction. Then I became aware that things were quiet. I had been going about my business and was up and down so didn’t really know when the quiet settled and the noise stopped. But I assumed I’d see the pups asleep and my son on to other things. I poked my head into the puppy play room and no one was there. I looked into the puppy room and saw all 8 pups asleep in their bed and my son, far too big for this, sitting in the tub where I hold their clean bedding, legs sticking up, head nodding, asleep also! It was a precious sight. I stood there for a long moment soaking it up – complete comfort brought on by exhaustion due to play.
