home is where the heart is

I have developed a strong belief that a perfect home will always come up for each of my pups/dogs. . .when someone inquires on one of my dogs, if they're not gungho gotta have it, I've come to the decision they don't need my puppy/dog. . .

I want my homes to WANT said dog, not just kinda, but with all their heart. . .Maybe I'm overly cautious, but I don't want bouncebacks. .1 bounce back in almost 14 yrs, one sold back to me(and one death, something you just don't expect) in 8 litters, that's a good track record, and I want to keep it that way.

The only time I didn't go with that, I was pushed to wait the prospective wishy washy buyer out by my cobreeder, who assured me it was a good home, and well, I finally told said buyer to forget it, go elsewhere.

I don't normally place my adult Zoi. . but with my current pack, most of them can do more than one thing, so we can interact with each other their entire life doing fun things. First they run, then they start showing and obedience training. . .

Kani unfortunately doesn't fit in any of that. . she does not have enough prey drive to run, she's too submissive to people, you let her go, she goes and rolls over on her belly in front of someone, her seasons are so erratic and short(5-5 1/2 months) that she never carries enough coat for long to be shown, nor does she have a show ring personality. Because of her short seasons I worry about pyometra amongst other things so since she's had one lovely litter, I have been toying with the idea of spaying her and trying to decide about placing her, but she is so cute and sweet and such a great puppy sitter, I just couldn't do it. She is so darn special as her father's daughter, I couldn't do it. I hate letting dogs i've grown out this long go. Numerous people who've met her brother Dandy emailed me inquiring on her, but I just couldn't do it.

That changed this weekend.

When we moved to MD, there was a college kid working at Bonnie's kennel. Kani fell in love with him, she adored him to no end. She would turn herself inside out everytime she saw him, and if I'd been willing to part with her then, he'd've stolen her in a heartbeat.

This weekend, Kyle came down and picked Kani up. . his family had lost one of their two dogs, and they wanted a Zoi. . both parents work out of house, so a house trained, cat safe Borzoi was the best bet. . and I made the hard decision to let her go. Even to the minute he pulled out of the parking lot I wondered if I was doing the right thing.

But the giant Grins sized grin on her usual submissive petite polite grinning face when he came in the door told me i'd made the right decision. I have never seen her grin so huge as when she saw him Saturday. Her entire body wiggled in excitement, she crawled into the comfy chair with him and just looked sooo content. She hopped into his car and didn't look back.

Got an email this morning that everyone absolutely loves her, she's already curling up on the couch with Kyle's little(Teen) sister taking naps, isn't sure of the Greyhound and ignoring the cat. . .she may even go to school with his mom who's a teacher, which she would absolutely LOVE as kids are her thing. . I couldn't've designed a better home for her if I'd tried.

The perfect home came along. It just doesn't happen overnight. I've had others who wanted to take her and give her a forever home, but it just wasn't what my gut said to do, this time, my gut said yes. It made my month to know she's loved and in what sounds like a perfect home.

When I breed a litter, I know that I may end up keeping puppies longer than I'd really like to, because I am so picky, thus the Holiday litter is 13 months old, and Aurora is still with me. She is an easy going, happy, sweet puppy who's showing some interest in the running game, so it's not a big deal for me. Compared to Bellsabub(my keeper Bella who is an evil lil witch LOL), she is a perfect little angel. Bella is the better built dog, but Aurora is just too sweet and everyone loves her.

As I mentioned before, I've had two fruitloops inquire on her but my gut said to run away, I am so thankful I did. They ended up being personalities I didn't want to work with. Life is too short to deal with loonie puppy buyers LOL

A few months ago, a lovely lady I met on line inquired about GIbbs, she fell in love with blacks. . but i told her he was way too much dog for her, just NOT the right dog for her. He's too busy, too speed ahead, that he needed a home where he'd have a job other than holding down a couch. Unfortunately all the homes who've been interested in him are people who want 'just a pet'. . there's nothing wrong with that, if the dog will fit the home. . .Gibbs needs a home that'll job with him, do Obediance work withh im, something that'll keep him busy, he is not a sedate dog, not unlike his father. She thanked me for my time and my honesty, and we have become friends

I could've easily've sold him to her, but again, I don't want my puppies coming back barring the owner's death. I think Gibbs would've driven her nuts and then some LOL. Hell, he drives ME nuts somedays. . .and I would've had to figure out how to get him back from California, no thanks. . .so I helped her get one of the Pickle Hill dogs, and she's in love with little Nikki.

Unbeknownst to me until recently, she fell in love with Aurora, but as a person who's only had rescues, she had the mindset (not a bad one, as she's not anti breeder) that made her feel slightly guilty about buying a dog, so she thought of adopting another one of the Pickle Hill dogs. Unfortunately the California borzoi owner who was supposed to bring back another PH dog for her got into a horrid accident and that trip has been postponed indefinitely.

She talked to someone I know about adopting their foster, but backed out after hearing someone else really wanted her,and there were Pickle Hill dogs in california needing homes. Problem with them was their custodial owner is. . well .. no nice way to say it, so we'll go with Odd. .. the custodial owner blew up when rescue got their hands on the unregistered dogs that were on the farm, saying it would destroy the Pickle Hill heritage, that even tho they were paperless, they could still be bred, and you could make money doing it, because Borzoi went for $1200 in California. If that's true, I'm sure those are registered pups from champion parents! Not unregistered unknonwn pedigree puppies!

She had an unregistered male that Nikki's mom wanted to take, but kept jerking her chain about wanting to place him, but not wanting him neutered, (yes, it is a soap opera! LOL) and finally Nikki's mom gave up and one thing lead to another, and she came back and asked if Aurora was still available.

Back and forth conversation with her using me as a soundboard whether she should go ahead and push for the rescue out in California or buy Aurora. . she kept asking for advice, I kept telling her "go with your heart." I'd love to place Aurora, but I'm not going to push someone one way or another. It's their decision, and if they really want the puppy so be it, but if they can't make up their mind, I have no desire to place said puppy with them.

At which point she demanded why couldn't I be a pushier seller LOL. I'm not a good salesman, that's why Aurora's still here LOL I could've promised the one buyer YES she'd be a top quality show bitch, YES she'd definitely finish, and had her sold back in August if I was a better salesman LOL

Her hubby told her they had extra money now that they'd quit smoking, to get her if she wanted to LOL That it would be nice to have a dog without baggage that rescue dogs come with

Another home I wasn't looking for specifically, but I knew the right home would come along. This nice lady's been in love with Aurora since her pictures first went up, but poor Aurora's had home after home fall through or be denied by me. . .she told me if she'd known I had no problem placing what she considered a gorgeous dog in a pet home, she'd've gotten Aurora instead of Nikki, LOL that's ok, Aurora'll have someone her age if this sale goes through.

Until the contract and deposit is in hand, I've learned not to consider a dog sold. . .if it works out, I know AUrora'll be in a wonderful home, if it doesn't, she'll stick with me and enjoy placing with her sister's and running when it gets warmer. She is pretty enough to be shown, or pretty enough to be a couch ornament, her future in that way doesn't matter to me, only thing that does matter is a great home

Thoughts

Kani's in season. . . And it's so tempting to breed her to Grins. She's never going to carry enough coat to show, since she's in season every 5.5-6 months, and goes down almost as naked as Kyra and only has good coat maybe 12 wks a year (6 wks at a time). She's young(3), she's probably more fertile than the other dogs we've been talking about breeding to him (all not due back in to next spring at least). The breedings we've had lined up either didn't happen or were cancelled. She's a lovely little girl, 27 inches tall, nice body, could use a prettier head(it's a Dutch head, not something I'm keen on on a bitch), lovely temperament, isn't as keen on running as I'd like to see her, but also haven't worked with her much. The times I've taken her, wasn't sure if she was running the squawker or running to me(tho Bob did say he thought she was chasing the squawker). What she doesn't have is confidence to do it(something Grins doesn't lack)

Thinking thinking thinking. . .

Nice damn weekend

Whahoo.

Unfortunately I let my cell die last night LOL (I was busy introducing Mr Wiz to his lady to be) Otherwise I know Ms Nancy would’ve called me with this WONDERFUL news

Sammy, a Kyra grandpuppy, my pick puppy out of Nancy’s B litter in fact, picked up a BIF win this weekend. I know his owner is flying on cloud 9. She’s wanted a great running dog since Wings retired, and she’s got one. I am so glad I was able to connect those two(nancy & Robin) when I couldn’t take Mr Sammy-man

I told his future wife to be(Kani), she didn’t care LOL. She’s in that young(2.5) teenager brain stage, what EVER LOL

Mr River went coursing and picked up some more points towards his FCH. I can’t wait to see what his puppies are like, if they have his silly goofy temperament, I know the breeder will be ecstatic! And she was able to see the LIE that was spread about him running dirty was just that, and since she’s been doing this quite a long time, I think she knows what the hell she’s talking about.

And Ms Gossip continues to heal. She actually PLAYED with Mr Wizard last night, or at least, tried to get him to play LOL HE was exhausted after his first full weekend of coursing. She spent most of the weekend in the big yards playing, came up a little lame, but seems to be fine this morning. Every boy seems to be interested in her butt, I wish she’d come into season damnit!! My luck, she’ll wait til the middle of the spring racing.

ARGH.