Many ask how my dams react when their puppies leave to their homes. Dance has shown more attachment and concern than any other of my females. She is such a good girl, perhaps tonight after the last pup flies off to Montana with her owner Dance will need to sleep in my room.
Little girl sleeping alone for the first time. Curled up in the rocknbowl with her toy crown and dinosaur.
An early morning trip to the vet showed that Pocket is still a couple of days from being ready to breed. Well, at least hormonally ready. Pocket is a force, aka Mob Boss, and last year intimated a stud so much that he refused to breed. I am trying a different stud this year in the hope that Pocket will like this boy better. Meanwhile I genuinely appreciate her hormones holding off until Dance’s pups have left so I will have the time to devote to driving Ms Boss to meet her suitor.
Six pups have left to their families with 4 going yesterday. Reports back indicate everyone is doing well and having fun with owners actually getting some sleep. Just the 3 here this morning with 2 heading out this afternoon. Travel papers for border crossings and airlines are ready. Tonight, for one night, I will join the ranks of those with puppies adjusting to being without their littermates. Tomorrow it’s off to the airport to meet her family and she flies at their feet til home in Montana.
We often forget that what is a way of life for us is quite unknown to others. It has been suggested that I journal about what it’s like for me having a pack of bird dogs and to plan and raise a litter. As I prepare to send my current litter off to their homes I am also juggling breeding Pocket for my next litter so this seems like a timely topic. This is the first post, more over upcoming weeks.
I have only one or two litters a year, for many reasons. One huge reason for me is that I want a personal connection with the hunters I choose to get my puppies. Guys who are out there gunning over their dog 30-60+ days a year across the continent are the best way to get real-time feedback on the talent I’m producing. They are why I breed. With an average of 10 puppies in each litter, I simply would not be able to maintain good communication with more.
I joke that I’m simply the social director for the puppies. This morning is typical. A hunting buddy and his brother stopped in to visit; his brother had just missed out on a contract to buy his dream up-north house near here and consoled himself by sitting on the porch floor beneath a pile of puppies. As we chatted, a family who is getting one of these pups arrived. They had spent the holiday weekend up at their cabin and as such arrived in two vehicles full of kids and in-laws and joined us on the back porch.
It’s now a couple hours later and quiet here once again as the others head back home. Dogs and puppies are sound asleep. Water bowls are cleaned and filled and it’s almost time for puppy lunch. I think I’ll do the same while I have the time.
