I am going to assume that letting go of children when they are off to college is breathtakingly painful. I have three years before I have to go through this task,but I think it will be very hard.
I am experiencing that pain with my puppies. I have become the weird dog lady. I know crazy. I have had friends tell me that when they die, they want to come back as one of my puppies because I am so obsessive about them. Obsessive may not be strong enough of a word, compulsive and neurotic might fit better.
When my puppies are born, I weigh them, and warm them. I keep track of every progress. I keep a heating bad in their little swimming pool so that they are nice and snuggly warm. I weigh them daily to ensure that everyone is growing. I chart this information. (I know I might need to seek some help).
Then they head off to their new homes. It is like each one of them is a child that I have worked with and I am sending them off to do their part. I hope they will become great dogs, great workers, and all around do a darn good job. I worry and stress about how they are doing, If they are doing okay for their owners. I email or text every now and then just to see how things are working out. It warms my heart to hear that things are going good.
Recently one of my first owners contacted me that the female they had gotten had become an issue. They lived close to a busy highway and they could not keep her from chasing cars. They were devastated and worried that they would eventually be going to scoop her up after getting hit. I immediately offered to take her back. It is so heartbreaking to me when something doesn’t work out.
I have been working this dog daily on our 4H steers and she is doing amazing. I found a home for her on a ranch north of Thermopolis and I am excited for her next adventure. I think she will be great. Plus the owners know our dogs and were really wanting the dad. She is as close to his personality as I think I have seen. She is wanting to please and ready to go wherever you are.
Dogs are just like kids you never know from pup to pup the personality or the desire to work or listen. These pups seem to be close to the mom ( a hot worker who lives and breathes to chase chows) and the dad (an all around amazing dog who listens intently and has an eye for working).
The spectrum is broad in what these pups are like.
Our pup has the personality of her dad, but then when she is chasing a rabbit, Steve (our 13 year old house Antelope, whom she is not to chase), or one of the older dogs the ears seem to be turned off. Now she is only 5 months. and we are working on everything, but I can see she is falling in between.
With this I am taking my dog Jipsey in this morning to be spayed. Two litters was plenty and we have our pup. I just get to attached to my pups and too worried when things don’t work out. It might be best to let others have pups and I will take one of theirs.
One of the dogs from my first litter actually had pups 4 weeks ago and they are the cutest little black and white borders I have ever seen. Such color. Some are almost all white, and some are almost all black. If we weren’t overrun with dogs, I would be getting one of those little furry balls.
So here is to a great morning and to no more whelping puppies!!
The Modern Ranch Wife 