Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Sadie The Retriever

Sadie's first night home gave us some entertainment and little sleep. Not being familiar with each other, she found places to "Den", peeking out to observe the situation. As the evening went on she would sneak out from behind the chair and pick up one toy at a time. The first piece of furniture to become initiated by her tiny, SHARP teeth. Electric and computer cords have seemed to become automatic chew toys for her.

This puppy has one absolutely challenging habit at this age. Chew! Chew!! Chewing!!! Oh YES, Did I say C-H-E-W-I-N-G?!? Diverting her attention has been one thing. Holding her little mouth closed and telling her "NO" firmly, short time outs in the kennel, have been other methods of getting her attention. Another suggestion I have also read about is to place a bitter-taste on the focus of the teeth puncture wounds or ripping. Patience and being consistent will bring positive results. The first full day of being home,with trips outside every two hours, there weren't any potty problems...Soon to change in the next couple of days. I am getting to see what her cues are for us to be getting on our way out the door.

Particular noises around the house are becoming less of an anxiety trigger as we reach almost a week together come tomorrow evening.

At 9 weeks of age she is most definitely a sniffer ; catching the scents in the neighborhood.

-Some Good Things she has learned-

1.Going up and down three deck steps on her own. 2.Learning her name in a very short amount of time. 3.A free foot warmer while sitting at the computer. Sadie found a stick on one of our early morning excursions,on her second day home,and carried it very proudly like any "Retriever" would...

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Sadie's Saga

In the beginning Daffy and Charlie decided to have a family together at Countryside Kennels in Madison,S.D. On Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 , Daffy gave birth to the litter from which a very special puppy to me would come to be. The thought of becoming a dog owner began late last summer. So began the search for the "Right" one. For a while I tried to put the need down. Trying to convince myself that it wouldn't be a beneficial decision. Reasoning away why it wasn't something I should do. In February, being stuck inside with some not so nice weather, the puppy looking began again. Found some possibilities in all four directions from central Iowa, but with them already being 9 weeks or so old already, not knowing when the weather would be conducive to retrieve them. The goal for a Spring puppy was set. Locating Sadie using the website Puppyfind.com it worked out just great to make our initial visit on our way to another commitment. The excitement of becoming the owner of a sweet puppy came to a fever pitch come May 15th. After a restless early morning I headed out the drive at 5:25 A.M. to make my way up I-35 north to I-90 west. Stopping at one of my favorite Rest Stops, just a beautiful location overlooking the West Branch of the Des Moines River. The headwaters of one of our major rivers here in the State of Iowa. The arrangement was made to meet Dorothy Sanborn at the Pilot Travel Center off N. Cliff. Ave.,in Sioux Falls, SD. , since she had a trip into town that day making my leg of the trip a little bit shorter. Our transfer concluded,I was back on the road with Sadie by 12:33P.M., reaching home about 5:15 P.M.. Almost a 12 hour day for the total trip. So begins the continuing story of"Lady's Timber Life Sadie"...