On May 5th,
2012, we drove with great excitement to a community about an hour and a half north
of where we live. It was Cinco De Mayo,
but the trip had nothing to do with celebrating that traditional Mexican
Holiday.
That
Saturday, we were en-route to meet Finnegan, the dog we saw pictures of on the
Internet, but had never met. He was
named Love Bug by the breeder and I know why now.
When we
met him in person, I knew he was my dog immediately. He knew too.
I had already fallen in love with his picture and when meeting him, I
adored his personality. He was an active,
loving puppy and embraced attention.
When he had enough, he would go spend time under the couch or other
object and watch the goings on with one eye.
Finnegan
was one of four puppies born on February 13, 2012. His brother, now called Beau, is a show
dog. His other brother, Joey, lives with
his parents about a half hour from us.
His sister, Molly, was destined to be a show dog – but although perfect
and beautiful she was too overwhelmed with show life and shy. She is a little, beautiful darling and Finn
loves her.
So, my
husband and I made a commitment to him that very day…although we were terrified
as we felt we didn’t have everything at home a dog should have. We told the breeder and offered to come back,
the next day, a Sunday to pick him up.
She gracefully
offered to keep him another week until the following Saturday, May 12, 2012,
when we could pick him up. I spent the
week shopping, preparing for him and puppy proofing the house and literally
couldn’t wait till I could take him home.
When we
showed up that Saturday he greeted us like old friends…like people he liked and
trusted. He had no problem getting in
the car with us. I had the breeder give
him a good bye kiss.
In the
next two days, it was apparent he was very happy with us and considered us his
home. How lucky we were and are. He chose us and we chose him and sometimes
that it how it works and probably should work.
Joey and
Finn started visiting when the dogs were, I don’t know, maybe 9 months
old. He recognized his brother
immediately and that day, at our home, we watched the two of them play and romp
estatically with each other for three hours straight. They had not forgotten their family.
Since
then, we visit with his brother regularly and his brother has spent many hours
with me and Finn at my house. His
parents live in a more isolated area and so they come to the “big town” to run
errands and I am on the way. No matter
when they call…I gladly welcome Joey over and love to him dropped off with us.
But I
digress. My point in all this is that if
you are looking for the right puppy for you, be patient. Be open and explore options. Be ready when you think that you may have
found the one.
Make sure your dog is from a reputable breeder or if
a rescue, you know something about their background and heritage. We lucked out and found, in our opinion, the
greatest breeder…in Arizona…anywhere.
She
raises her puppies in a pen, with the mother and other doggie Aunts and exposure
to relatives. They aren’t crated. She so clearly loves all her dogs; all are
special to her.
They
learn to pee/poo with a Porto Potty. They
are very well and much loved and fed only the best. We were sent home with a bazillion pictures
marking his birth through the day we adopted him, recommendations for pet
supplies, food and et al, including vaccinations, training and breed
information.
To this
day, when my boy sees his “first mom” the breeder, he rushes to shower her with
kisses and hugs. That says
something.
I am one
lucky puppy mom.