The Love Of A Puppy

When Zoe was lost it was a very long time before Colby was ready for another pet. I have to admit it was the same for me. Zoe was one of those pups that came into our world and left a huge mark on our lives in a very short period of time. She set the standard for the idea of a house companion. Her loss was a huge gaping hole in our lives for a very long time.

It was near the time that I met Steve that Colby began to ask for another dog. Another miniature poodle to be exact. She didn't just want a dog or a pet. When it was obvious that we would most likely be moving to Virginia and starting a new life with Steve I had asked her to wait until that time and then we would get a another puppy.

After we moved and were settled Steve always threw up red flags as to why we couldn't have another puppy. His dog would not understand. His dog would feel threatened. His dog was too nervous and wouldn't be able to cope with another pet in the house. Blah blah blah. So Colby and Grace were told there would be no puppy. No dog. No cat.

When we moved to this house I really wanted another dog. The exact same excuses where thrown up at every turn. After Steven was born I talked about having a puppy for Steven to grow up with because every boy needs a dog to share his boyhood with. Steve was against the idea completely. It caused a lot of frustration and more than a few tears of my own. I was beginning to feel like I was a child being told I couldn't have a puppy. It was/is a feeling I do not like and had a lot of trouble tolerating. I even considered getting a dog and letting the chips fall were they may.

When Steve's dog passed on things changed. There was no reason nor excuse of her presence that could be used to veto another dog. When Steve and I talked and decided to get another dog that sort of set in motion something in me that could not be stopped. If he could choose a dog and bring it here to live so could I. If we could start all over with new pets there was no reason whatsoever to continue to deny Colby and Grace a puppy that had now become a fuzzy dream.

Monday morning I placed a call in answer to an ad in the Charlottesville newspaper looking for a new home for puppies. The gentleman was very nice. He described his litter as friendly pups, dark apricot in color and only one female of five puppies in the litter. I made arrangements to go visit and see the puppies that afternoon.

When Gracie came in from school I loaded up the truck and we took a drive deep into the Blue Ridge in search of a little farm in the moutains owned by a lovely Mennonite family.

As we would around a mountain side and into a valley and over a ridge and down into the next valley it took us a bit longer to find the place than I had planned. Just before dark we made our way into a hollow and pulled up to a newish style farmhouse.

The gentleman of the house met me at the door. Wonderful smells of supper poured out of the door and wrapped me in warmth on a cold fall evening. Gracie had no idea why we were at this place. Steve was sleeping in his car seat. I roused them both and went in. In through the the livingroom and to the kitchen where his wife, several daughters, a couple of sons and a littler of puppies where in a flurry of evening activity.

Some girls helped to cook. Some girls set the table. Boys played with puppies and wandered in and out from rooms in the back of the house. The dogs present where two different sizes. I assumed the larger pup was the mother of the litter and the other two were her puppies. I was wrong. The mother was a miniature poodle, some of the other pups where miniatures as well. Two of the pups where toy size. The only girl was a toy. It didn't take much for Gracie to decide that she was the one.

In a matter of a few minutes the deal was sealed. We wound our way out of the mountains and back to the flat lands with a puppy who easily got car sick. Not once but three times before we made it home. Then yet again when Mr. Grumpus held her while Gracie went to change her clothes and bathe. Mr. Grumpus, who did not think he could tolerate much less begin to like a tiny dog, has taken to her like crazy. He is a little intimidated by her size but still very much taken with her.

Our new family member is Abby, a toy poodle, apricot in color with the sweet disposition you could ever imagine.

All of the dogs went to the vet Wednesday morning. That was a bit of a three ring circus. All of the dogs check out in great shape. They all got shots. J.E.B and Ajax got their rabies vaccination. J.E.B will be fixed in two weeks. That might just help him to settle down, too. Ajax won't be big enough for the surgery until sometime in March. The vet was very pleased with them and was really surprised they came from the pound.

Abby will be microchipped next month. She is 2lbs 4oz now and maybe in a month she will gain another pound and it will be easier for them to slip the needle under her skin to inject the chip. She did get her puppy boosters and as yet she is far too small for a rabies vaccine so we will wait until such time as she is big enough.

We had planned to get Abby a sweater to help keep her warm. Steve didn't like the idea of 'dressing up a dog' and wasn't keen on it. The vet recommeded that she have a sweater and his attitude changed. He suggested we should buy the sweater for Colby and Gracie and anything else needed for Abby. And so we did. Last night we made a trip with all the kids and all the puppies to petsmart and went shopping. J.E.B. got a new crate. Ajax got a new rawhide. Steve got a new book. Gracie chose a sweater. colby chose a coat. I chose a lovely shampoo, conditioner and spritz for bathing Abby and keeping her sweet smelling.

I still think we need one more. A small companion for Abby. Abby is one of  Colby's  and Grace's Christmas presents. Normally I don't think puppies are good to wake up to on Christmas morning because they are often spur of the moment type things to make a big impact but I have really wanted to do this for a very long time for them. Now was the right time.

Now before you groan and say, "OMG, she's gone crazy! You must know I grew up in a family with many dogs. My grandparents had indoor and outdoor dogs. My stepfather had a kennel of hunting dogs (beagles, hounds, bird dogs, etc.) and we had outdoor pets. My mother wasn't crazy about a dog in her house so we were limited to the outdoor variety of pets. When Colby was born that changed and she allowed indoor dogs - go figure. My former in-laws had several small pampered indoor dogs and a few spoiled outdoor dogs.

I have always lived  in the coumtry, always had great pets. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time now. Steven is learning to interact with each of the different pets. Gracie is loving being able to take the dogs for a walk and having them to play with.Colby is loving having dogs in the house again and the sound of life all around her. Steve admits he is enjoying watching and interacting with the kids and dogs and traveling as a pack. The dogs go with us everywhere and are really well behaved.

I am feeding the dogs a more natural diet. They get rice, yogurt and eggs in the morning and fresh meat protein and a bit of puppy chow in the evenings. The kennel stench is now gone and their coats are beginning to show a shine. Ajax has lost his bloated belly and the gas is gone. Abby loves her rice, yogurt and eggs in the morning. It is one thing we don't have to hand feed her that she will gobble right up.

Speaking of eggs - I am getting about a dozen or so a day now. I collect twice a day. I hope you can tell the variety of colors. They are gorgeous! Such beautiful dark yolks, too.