As I noted previously, I’ve been considering getting a
puppy for a while now. On January 8,
last Sunday, I went to visit a local breeder and her crew. She warned me upon opening her front door that
I would be jumped by small fluffy creatures and to enter at my own risk. So, I did, enter that is. And, so the barks began. But I wasn’t intimidated; I am still in
fairly good shape and can run, if I need to.
Havanese Land is like no other place I’ve been before. I was guided through the front of the home to
an area in the back with a secure baby gate.
Beyond the limited access entrance is a large combination family room
and kitchen with glass doors looking onto the back yard.
At the time, it seemed like there were dozens of long
haired tiny white, black, gray and parti-colored creatures jumping straight up
in the air just beyond the secure entry pod.
They nearly jumped as high as the four foot gate in an attempt to get my
attention. The breeder instructed me to
scoot in behind her once the access route was open, and to immediately slam the
door once in safely so as to prevent escapes.
I flash back to the brief few years I worked in
Corrections, in training that is, and what it felt like to go through a sally
port and enter a prison. A sally port is
the same as a baby gate, kind of. I had
been given great privilege and responsibility and if I erred, I might allow a
breakout.
There is potential for danger once entering. In Havaneseland, you encounter members of the
dog species who like nothing better than meeting and greeting new visitors to
their world. They really want to get to
know and love you. I was guided to a
couch, safely, as the owner continued to remind me of the hazards of being in
the company of the tiny Havanese dogs, a dog that originates from Havana, Cuba
and is a relative of the Bichon Frise and miniature/toy poodle.
Before I could manage to sit, the dogs were intensely
competing for my attention and lap. As I
sat, I did so with one dog already on my lap and one on my leg trying to get
there. Two or three others were checking out the best
way to get up there too. These creatures
attempted to lick me to pieces. As soon
as I landed and was settled, all of them, at once, were on the couch on top of
me, next to me on both sides, and on top of the couch, to attack me from
behind.
They frantically tried to cover me with kisses and could
barely contain their good fortune and utter joy in having a previously unknown
human in their space. One or another
would take over the primary position of lap dog for a while, and then gaze
down, across or behind them to their brethren as if to announce, “scoot it, I
got here first, and I’m the one in the lap…she’s mine.” Finally, I landed up with two girls in my
lap, a boy at my side, another trying to get up next to me in a strategic
manner and another girl on my shoulder, literally. The girl on my shoulder put her face in my
hair to kiss and taste it, and then worked on kissing the side of my neck.
How could anyone not love these dogs? After 10-15 minutes, they calmed down and
were happy to just take possession of my body parts as their personal chairs or
cushions and gaze at me lovingly. After
a history lesson on the origin, care and feeding of these sweet little dogs,
another visitor arrived. Through the
baby sally port and gate walked the mom of two boy dogs, one who was to be the
marriage partner and father of the female dog ready to become a mother.
The dogs immediately left to greet her and the two new
dog friends, lavishing great attention again on even newer company. Two returned to my lap to reclaim their space
after a few minutes of greetings.
We all retreated outside to let the dogs play and to
introduce the groom and bride in a casual setting. I had to laugh at the antics of two of the
dogs, siblings who hadn’t seen each other in a while, both playing tag and
running gaily around the yard with each other.
All the dogs interacted, took care of business, played and posed sweetly-they
know they are cute. Every few minutes
they checked in with the humans, just to snuggle quickly, say hello, give a kiss
or hang out nearby, before returning to their previous activities and antics
with their pals.
I am sold. I am
dying to get a Havanese puppy. I had
previously filled out the on-line application, giving it great thought. Now I worried that maybe I wouldn’t be
chosen. I was on my very best behavior,
hoping the breeder liked me enough to allow me to pay her a lot of money to be
able to take home one of her precious puppies’ months from now. Mind you, I’d been to local breeders before –
but, not to a “real breeder”. This lady
wants to be very sure you are going to be 100% committed to providing the best
care and most love to her babies, in the future.
When I got home, I immediately shot off a Thank you
e-mail, as I had no appropriate Thank You cards at home. I aim to please. I threw in the fact that I had been a college
valedictorian some 20-30 years ago – as the breeder is a retired teacher and
still has that teacher presence. I
figured maybe that would lock me in.
After all, I hadn’t been a puppy mama before; I’d only had dogs of my
own when I was a mere puppy myself. I
knew that was a weakness. I assured her
I’d been a cat mommy as an adult, many times, but of course…cats are different.
I think I am approved now. We aren’t expecting a puppy baby until March
and they wouldn’t be allowed to go home with their respective new families
until they are at least 10-12 weeks old.
They will go home with a set of instructions and information on how to
continue with their earlier training.
The breeder will be checking my home for puppy hazards and is available
for help…much like a grandmother.
I was given homework and told of a book I needed to get
and read. My puppy library is rapidly
expanding and I now have 100’s of books and articles on raising and caring for
a dog.
I can’t wait to get my puppy…and of course, that’s not
guaranteed. I’m on a wait list and we
have to be sure that there are a sufficient number of healthy puppies
born. So, it will be June or July till I
take my little boy or girl home. You see,
I don’t get to pick the sex or color of my family addition – the breeder bases
these decisions on personalities – the dog and mine. It will be a match made in Heaven.
In the meantime, I made a trip to Petsmart and Petco,
which I have to write an entirely separate entry about. Who knew there were aisles and aisles of
things for puppies and dogs?
I was amazed to find that they sell protective disposable
booties and fashion dog boots for their precious little paws. I am building my puppy dowry, and as of now
have an ottoman that can be opened, with some of the items I’ve already
bought. I just don’t know about clothes,
do I get pink in the hope I’ll have a girl, or get blue and make sure the items
aren’t too butch…or do I get green and prepare myself for both? I don’t know.
I don’t even know for sure if I want a boy or a girl. I hear the boys are lovers and the girls are,
well you know girls are little princesses.
Meanwhile, I’ve found the cutest little toys, teething
bones, a towel for after bath, a comb, hair brush, toothbrush, food and water
bowls, a raincoat in its own pouch (yellow) and some other random items.
Keep your fingers crossed for me. I cannot wait to bring a little fluffy angel
home!
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