T-Minus 3 Hours!

March 19/2011

We were off! Back to Norwood for the fourth time. This was it. The wait is over and we were embarking on a brand new adventure just 3 hours away.  I brought along a few bone-shaped shortbread cookies in celebration.

I anxiously reflected on the separation from the girls whom had stayed together the longest.  The boys were long gone and now our little pup was leaving a family she knew for the family she didn't.  I hoped the first few days/nights wouldn't be too traumatic.

We arrived at the farm where the pups were frolicking in the driveway having a grand time!

I thanked Liz for a wonderful experience.  I felt so fortunate to have found a breeder that had such obvious affection for their animals and true dedication to her clients, making them feel like part of the family.  Their continued support is truly unmeasurable. 

Thirty minutes into Clover's serenade, the sweet sigh of defeat gave us a peaceful sleepy ride the rest of the journey back.  We stopped to pick up a another collar since the size small was too big!  We quickly settled into a lovely afternoon.   

What's in a name?

March 12/11 the third visit. And the pick of the litter is...

YELLOW

It was cause for celebration because not only did we know exactly which girl was the new addition to the family, her name had been decided after serious debate.

The post even made it to Facebook because none of us could agree, and I feared this little dog would be nameless.  Then I recalled a conversation that first visit to the farm.  Liz and I chatted about the CKC registration and she shared a story about finding herself in the same predicament with one of her own V girls.   Somewhere that 2 minute discussion was filed away until one such name struck a chord in my heart.

CLOVER; "to be (live) in clover" meaning to live a carefree life of ease, comfort, or prosperity  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clover

Fields of red clover

I couldn't think of a better name for our viszla.  It was a bit unusual, playful, meaningful, and besides, I would always claim luck nearby.  The quatrefoil or four-leaf clover has captivated me forever in architectural design and this symbolic shape is all over my home.  It was like finding a small piece of destiny.

Kris bangs the kitchen pot with a wooden spoon 

as Liz prepares the little noses for working with a cup of kibble 

One of the highlights of this visit was watching the litter of scrambling pups search for food treats in their pen!  They were being desensitized to loud startling sounds and receiving positive reinforements. Very clever!

Our Second Visit

February 26/11

A quick stop at the local butcher for sausages (a treat for Liz & Kris) and we left town for the second visit to the farm.

Bouncing puppies everywhere! They were five weeks old, fast and curious.  William was a little overwhelmed by the nipping.  Liz (bless her) was excellent in helping to find balance among the chaos so we could bond with a puppy or two.

Green was the first to greet us and quickly follow by all the boys.  Then the girls one by one romped about our feet and crawled into our laps pleading to play.  White was the most independent choosing to hover around her siblings as the observer.  Orange swapped his ribbon for a red one after a short chase as he seemed to prefer to lose the collar idea altogether!  He cajoled his brothers and sisters into the pen with a comical howl.  Had I reserved a male he would have been my pick despite the obvious desire to be coercive.  We relied on Liz to provide us with the objective direction and personality evaluations. 

"Green"

Getting to know "Yellow"

"White" taking advantage of the heat lamp sibling free!

"Purple" will be taking the cross country trip to B.C.

William was intimidated by "Pink's"  highly excitable spirit.

Drive-by drink

"White"  

 We did favour "Yellow" at this point due to her sheer size (I leaned toward a taller/larger female) and relaxed approach to her litter mates.  She was complacent while "Green" borrowed that round belly for a quick snooze.  I noticed a trend was developing since the first week, as yellow appeared confident in a fairly submissive position.  

Sleepy Yellow

Loving Little Boy Blue

Tender Moments

Ok, I got em'.  Let's go!

In the end, despite her aloof connection, independent White and middle of the pack rolly polly Yellow were the considered the more likely candidates for us.  And so the wait began...to see how the other families interacted and how the personalities of the individual girls emerged.


The winning photos is...

Video of William & The Litter of Vizsla Puppies

Well almost, the picture claimed second place, separated by only four votes, in the local newspaper! I have to completely credit Liz for this photo op because she recognized the exhaustion level in William and convinced me to just let him be with the sleepy pups.  Naturally they were tired after 2 hours of play.

Pointblank Updates!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVzKZ_L85NI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpOA1-HLPp0

Nesting

It's February.  Time to get to work preparing for the puppy's homecoming.  I had been collecting dog items for a while, years actually, yet another topic to add to the list of crazy things I do.  After careful evaluation, the "To Do" and "To Get" list was growing.  Eventually I lost my buffet amongst the boxes.

The efforts continue...

1. The house was rearranged to accommodate the crate, play yard, extra dishes/containers.   
2. Puppy-proofed the main floor.  
3. Decisions made regarding the outdoor set up as Spring will arrive with additional obstacles & safety concerns.  
4. The two existing geriatric cats have a comfortable dog-free zone especially during the critical period of introductions. 
5. The five year old is reminded of the changes to come and the new "rules" being implemented in hopes that the transition would be a little easier.
6. I've  met and interviewed a couple of certified trainers
7. I've enlisted the help of dear friends for visits and socialization
8. I've read and reviewed more than a dozen books on animal behaviour
9. The vehicles are equipped with emergency K9 gear
10. I continue to pray I haven't forgotten anything

On February 16th we made a trip to Costco.  Low and behold, trumpets sounded and a halo of light gleamed from the stunning AKC pro-breeder outdoor kennel displayed centre aisle.  OK, a little dramatic, but realistically it's how the scene played like a visual script in my head.  A few hours later I was equipped with tether straps and braving a 15 minute white knuckle drive home with several hundred pounds of powder-coated steel on the roof.  God, I love my Jeep!

Then miraculously listed on Kijiji was the crate.  The "one" I wanted and in the process of arranging transport across the border.  It was a mad rush to the city's west end to meet an exceptionally sweet couple and return with my treasure! 

All the necessities checked off!  I could finally tackle the task of sorting and putting everything in it's place.  At this point I was reminded of the experience waiting for my son to be born. Puppies definitely incite the nesting instinct.