A Quivering Pile of Goo
October 26th 2010 14:44
Apparently this is all it takes for me to regress to the "aw, baby snookums, what a widdle sweetie" stage:
This is Eva, our new little girl. Yes, she's adopted. You might recall I just wrote of searching for weeks, months really, for a dog that would fit into our family. One who needed a home, a "forever" place.
So much disappointment initially. One was too expensive - that "re-homing fee" was really a backyard breeder trying to sell pups. One was too damaged and we didn't have the skills to take on that challenge. And so many were just not the right breed mix. Taking on a dog is the proverbial huge responsibility and impulse really has no place in that decision.
Then I saw it. Two month old German Shepherd pups at a shelter in Miami. This past Thursday it seemed as if all the stars were aligning and it was time to welcome a new member to our family.
We drove the hour and a half to the shelter, laughing and talking, so excited! That didn't last very long once we were inside. Oh, the shelter was doing the best it could, but oh! So many dogs and cats. So many gentle tail wags and welcoming licks on our hands. My younger girl just lost it. Her heart is bigger than the moon and her devotion to animals is the stuff of family legends, as is the reaction of animals to her.
We saw the puppies, a mix of German Shepherd and who-knows-what. To our dismay, every pup we wanted had a hold or even two on it. Some other people wanted to adopt these pups also. We toured the entire shelter, looking at every dog that had been tagged as a Shepherd or Shepherd mix. There just wasn't one that engaged all our hearts. We placed our own hold, third down on the list, and drove home, our hearts heavy.
It was, however, "Get A Dog Day" and I was "On A Mission". Those who know me, know that once I decide to do something - you'd better get the heck outta my way! I am in The Zone.
I started with the local shelters, one by one, growing more frustrated, yet more determined, with every picture I clicked on. Nothing.
As a last measure, just to be thorough, I clicked on Craigslist, the pets section, and saw it.
Puppies in MY neighborhood!
I opened the listing, expecting pitbulls or any other breed than what we wanted and suddenly let out a squee!
Six week old German Shepherd / Chow Chow puppies!
An hour later we were the proud parents of a little girl. I can't say enough about the folks who had this admittedly accidental litter. Their German was restrained, the Chow that went through a screened patio was not. Every pup in this litter was a sweetheart, but little Eva was unique. She's the only one who took after the Shepherd side of the genetic mix and is just the perfect fit in our home and in our lives.
Now comes the tough part. This pup needs strong leadership and to know her place in our "pack". She needs love and discipline and exposure over the next several weeks to everything outside the home that will be a part of her life, from noisy trucks to trains to kids to bikes to dogs.
She needs to be taught how to be the great dog she will be when she's an adult. Eva will learn that she's not in charge and she'll be the happier for it. She'll get soft pats and sweet voices when she acts appropriately and a stern tone when she doesn't. What she'll never need to do is fear a human hand.
I've never had a puppy this young, but I know what we do now will impact our pup and our family for the rest of her life.
What we do now and for the next year of her growing up will mean the difference between a dog that has to be crated whenever company comes or when there is a child around, to one who can be trusted to do the right thing because she learned what that was through a mixture of consistency and love and firmness.
That is NOT going to be our dog!
Like anyone, I can be a selfish person sometimes. I value my free time and like that my children are grown and I don't need to do that constant supervision anymore. Yet, with eyes wide open, understanding that pretty much the next several months, if not the next year, are going to be devoted to Eva, we took on the responsibility.
It's not going to be easy or quick and not every moment will be fun. What it will be is worth it. Worth every walk, every play time, every training class, every bonding experience.
It will be worth every single second.
Now, please excuse me while I go coo at her.
Our widdle sweetie!
This is Eva, our new little girl. Yes, she's adopted. You might recall I just wrote of searching for weeks, months really, for a dog that would fit into our family. One who needed a home, a "forever" place.
So much disappointment initially. One was too expensive - that "re-homing fee" was really a backyard breeder trying to sell pups. One was too damaged and we didn't have the skills to take on that challenge. And so many were just not the right breed mix. Taking on a dog is the proverbial huge responsibility and impulse really has no place in that decision.
Then I saw it. Two month old German Shepherd pups at a shelter in Miami. This past Thursday it seemed as if all the stars were aligning and it was time to welcome a new member to our family.
We drove the hour and a half to the shelter, laughing and talking, so excited! That didn't last very long once we were inside. Oh, the shelter was doing the best it could, but oh! So many dogs and cats. So many gentle tail wags and welcoming licks on our hands. My younger girl just lost it. Her heart is bigger than the moon and her devotion to animals is the stuff of family legends, as is the reaction of animals to her.
We saw the puppies, a mix of German Shepherd and who-knows-what. To our dismay, every pup we wanted had a hold or even two on it. Some other people wanted to adopt these pups also. We toured the entire shelter, looking at every dog that had been tagged as a Shepherd or Shepherd mix. There just wasn't one that engaged all our hearts. We placed our own hold, third down on the list, and drove home, our hearts heavy.
It was, however, "Get A Dog Day" and I was "On A Mission". Those who know me, know that once I decide to do something - you'd better get the heck outta my way! I am in The Zone.
Welcome to my house
I started with the local shelters, one by one, growing more frustrated, yet more determined, with every picture I clicked on. Nothing.
As a last measure, just to be thorough, I clicked on Craigslist, the pets section, and saw it.
Puppies in MY neighborhood!
I opened the listing, expecting pitbulls or any other breed than what we wanted and suddenly let out a squee!
Six week old German Shepherd / Chow Chow puppies!
The Squee Queen
An hour later we were the proud parents of a little girl. I can't say enough about the folks who had this admittedly accidental litter. Their German was restrained, the Chow that went through a screened patio was not. Every pup in this litter was a sweetheart, but little Eva was unique. She's the only one who took after the Shepherd side of the genetic mix and is just the perfect fit in our home and in our lives.
Now comes the tough part. This pup needs strong leadership and to know her place in our "pack". She needs love and discipline and exposure over the next several weeks to everything outside the home that will be a part of her life, from noisy trucks to trains to kids to bikes to dogs.
She needs to be taught how to be the great dog she will be when she's an adult. Eva will learn that she's not in charge and she'll be the happier for it. She'll get soft pats and sweet voices when she acts appropriately and a stern tone when she doesn't. What she'll never need to do is fear a human hand.
A best friend
I've never had a puppy this young, but I know what we do now will impact our pup and our family for the rest of her life.
What we do now and for the next year of her growing up will mean the difference between a dog that has to be crated whenever company comes or when there is a child around, to one who can be trusted to do the right thing because she learned what that was through a mixture of consistency and love and firmness.
Human fail, not dog.
That is NOT going to be our dog!
Like anyone, I can be a selfish person sometimes. I value my free time and like that my children are grown and I don't need to do that constant supervision anymore. Yet, with eyes wide open, understanding that pretty much the next several months, if not the next year, are going to be devoted to Eva, we took on the responsibility.
It's not going to be easy or quick and not every moment will be fun. What it will be is worth it. Worth every walk, every play time, every training class, every bonding experience.
It will be worth every single second.
Now, please excuse me while I go coo at her.
Just so coo-able!
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