My office has become the puppy command center these days. If I can manage to keep the clutter off my desk I can spy on the puppies in their puppy palace box through the desk’s glass top. The puppy palace is then neatly nestled, wall-to-wall between the desk and the open futon … my current “watchful mother” sleeping accommodations. In other words, style has given way to function.
For those of you who are old pros at raising puppies, the push-pull between style and function is familiar territory. Taking a puppy into your home is very much like having a new baby. Kiddy gates go into doorways, the timer warns that it is time for a puppy pit stop rain or shine and the stylish accessories are placed out of harm’s way. Thank goodness puppies grow into more “civilized” adults and the household can get back to a more normal state. But change remains. Continue reading Puppy Blog: Change
I think it is about time that I bring you an update on recent events in our household. Some of you may be familiar with the news and some may not. Either way, I want to keep in contact!
On Tuesday November 17 Bianca gave birth to seven puppies . . . four females and three males. We were both exhausted at day’s end! Bianca is a wonderful mother. In spite of her “preferred” lifestyle of running the universe from our backyard and doing so very energetically I might add, she is devoted solely to her babies and their need to eat and cuddle with Mom.
Birth weights varied among the puppies as they naturally will, but two were born very small and weak and subsequently I lost both in spite of supplementation. So we are now at five, but those are thriving! In the two weeks since birth they have grown and changed. In fact last night their little eyes started opening and most are now completely open. Their ears, faces and body movements are changing day by day and I cannot stop being amazed by the transformation!
Three families have already decided to take a puppy and are eagerly looking forward to January when they will be ready to go to their new homes. Two are still available. Please visit our Puppies page if you are interested, or contact me.
Bianca is doing very well. She and Ochie are best of buds now. This afternoon I found them sleeping in a patch of sunshine on the kitchen floor, Bianca cuddled right up next to Ochie. I went for the camera but of course they figured I was off on an adventure and got up to be in on the action. . . .
I am so glad that Bianca has joined the family. She most noticeably seems to be relieving much of Ochie’s separation anxiety. In addition she is a true little sweetie and we are bonding very well.
When my friend Jill comes back from the cabin up north I will have her take a picture of my little family . . . it would be cool to include Saffie and Corey the cats, but I suppose getting that many “children” posed at once might prove to be impossible!
4 months
She is growing quickly and endlessly keeps Ochie occupied. She is fitting into our family so well . . . in fact she is quite sure she is the queen of the household!
1 year 4 months
Here is just a bit of an update on Bianca. Bianca is definitely the alpha female of the family. She dominates Ochie, bosses him around, chews on him, pushes him aside when loves are being given out, etc. And the funny thing is that Ochie puts up with it all! Also, her energy NEVER runs out! She is ready to go any time of the day or night at the drop of a hat!
The back yard is Bianca’s favorite place. She races out the doggie door and makes a circuit around the perimeter of the yard at top speed, tail flying and ears pushed back in the wind. If I am at the computer and she wants me to “notice” her, she bugs me until I ask her if she wants me to watch her at which she zooms out the door. She reminds me of a kid that says “Mommy, watch me!” I tell her what a good girl she is and how pretty she is and watch her for a few minutes. That makes her completely happy and I can go back to writing or checking e-mail . . . for awhile!
The great pleasure of a dog is that you make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, he will make a fool of himself too.
– Samuel Butler
Personally, I would not give a fig for any man's religion whose horse, cat and dog do not feel its benefits. Life in any form is our perpetual responsibility.
- S. Parkes Cadman
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
- Groucho Marx
To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
- Aldous Huxley
Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring—it was peace.
- Milan Kundera
Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
