Sunday, November 20, 2011

Gone to the Big Dogs (and one little Pepperbox)



The house is so quiet!!
I miss the boys and girls but will have the pleasure of keeping Pepperbox for two weeks before she goes to her forever home.

Smith on his way to new home
It all started last Saturday with the temperament tests and all but Derringer tested as typical Dalmatians...Derringer is just a tad too independent and that day she was very independent.  So, when I left Karen's Saturday Schofield and Derringer stayed with their people.  Tuesday was an emotional day from Mr. Smith's health cert to his microchip to the drive to Atascadero and finally, meeting Smith's new person.  Thursday was doubly hard because two puppies went to their homes, Pound and Wesson. They got to ride to their new homes together, I was lucky enough to find two homes in same area and they drove together to get the puppies.  And then Friday came, Winnie's new parents came to pick her up and she was showing them when they were here how good she is at coming when calling. 

I have to say as hard as it was to let them go, I am estatic with the homes that Karen and Patti helped find for these puppies.  I am excited to see pictures of them growing up and hear stories about their antics. 

Now I have Pepperbox and Carly and Henry and we will see what we can do about having her housebroken before she goes to her new home.  I will also have to try not to spoil her because she will be plenty spoiled at her new home.

Pepperbox enjoying a big yard

Carly and Pepper playing in Pepper's crate

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Hearing Tests!!! (And seven week stack shots)

This has been a big week. On Friday, some puppy people came to look at the puppies and see how and where they were raised and also, to get an idea on what puppy might be theirs.  Then puppies, Karen, Jaime and I all travelled to Atascadero to Dr. Holstein's office to get hearing tests done.  Patti LaRose met us at the vet, we found out that all puppies are bilateral hearing. That was a huge relief.  Some, occasionally may suffer from selective hearing as many dalmatians do (at least that is what I have been told). Saturday, we will be performing the final temperament test on the puppies and there should not be any surprises there. Then, we will do final paperwork and contracts and finish determining who goes where (but we mostly know that now).

The seventh week is definitely bittersweet,  as I continue to socialize, clean and feed the puppies, I realize all I can do now is hope that the puppies make their future owners as happy as Carly and Henry have made me. On Saturday,  two puppies stay at Karen's house. On Tuesday, I drive back to Atascadero to drop Mr. Smith off and meet the Alaskan couple that are coming to pick him up. Between Wednesday and Thursday, Winnie, Wesson and Pound will all have new names and be going to their new homes, however, they will always be part of The Magnificent Seven.  Schofield is going to be a co-owned puppy we want to watch how she grows, she has the potential to be a show puppy.  Pepper is staying in Tulare to be watched and looked at as a show puppy when she is six months old.  And finally, there is Derringer the pick, she will be staying with Karen as a show puppy, however, she will spend time with Patti and also with me.

Here are some more photos from this week and some seven week stack photos.

Derringer and Pound

Schofield and her attitude

Derringer

Schofield and Winnie

Schofield and Pound attacking Grant
Pound and company

The Seven (or some of them)
Wesson

Schofield and a look her mother gives me
The Seven, or again some of them

Smith's non-show side
Smith's show side


Smith

Derringer non-show

Derringer
Derringer's rear shot


Derringer's show side

Pepperbox

Pepperbox
Pepperbox's non-show side

Pepper's non-show side and her goofy lick
Pepperbox's show side

Pepperbox's rear shot
Wesson


Wesson's non-show side

Wesson's show side (kinda)
Pound

Pound's non-show side

Pound's show side
Schofield

Schofield's show side

Schofield's non-show side

Schofield's rear shot
Winnie's non-show side

Winnie's show side

Winnie

Monday, October 31, 2011

Seven Little Dalmatians and One Big Brother

This week has been a fun week and a week of lots of cleaning.  Henry got to play with all the puppies individually and was a good boy.  The puppies reactions to Henry ranged from hiding under the coffee table and couch to growling and nipping at him.   Henry took it all very well and was only a little to rough a couple of times and that is mostly because he is still a puppy and doesn't know his own size and strength.  Each puppy eventually got used to Henry and would brave a run across the room taunting him to follow and would grab his toys to try and play tug with him. 

Carly got to come out a little but I am still trying to get her tail to heal, so she was limited. She was super cute playing with the puppies. 

I was able to get one puppy out in a car ride so far, Derringer, she did very well.  She is very sweet and did well riding in the crate in the car.

Coming up this week are the puppies hearing tests and a visit with the stud dog's breeder in Atascadero.  I have some future owners coming on Friday to have a look at the puppies, it is all starting to be a bit bittersweet.  Oops....I cannot forget their six week shots and worming, too.

Here are some pictures enjoy!! (I certainly have been.)


Smith with Henry's bird
Schofield and the picket fence.
Wesson and Henry


Pepperbox showing Henry who's boss.

Pepperbox claiming her cookie cutter from Henry.




Henry and Pound/Lady Browning

Henry and Wesson

Henry and Smith exploring the bird.

Carly and Derringer

Carly and Wesson
Carly surrounded by puppies
Henry and Schofield..she has her eyes on his tags.
Henry and Schofield
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Henry and Derringer

Henry and Winnie
"Just one kiss"  (Henry and Winnie)

"See, I can do crazy eye, too, Henry"