Growing fast

When I brought Fen home, he weighed 2.8 kilos. 

Yesterday when he went for his second set of injections, he had shot up to 6.7 kilos!  He has outgrown his first puppy collar.  It's like he has outgrown the newborn sized clothes.

He has a new red collar. 

He still fits in his crate. . . I expect that at some point, I'll have to get a larger crate for him.

This is him at 10 weeks!  Growing so fast!

He likes sleeping in his crate.  He takes himself off to it for naps.  He only woke up once last night to be let out for a pee.  It is exactly like having a baby in the house again. . . except this is a baby dog rather than a baby human.   We are all falling in love with this little cutie.

Fenrir

Near the house and the day before my birthday unbeknown to us, a litter of puppies was born.

We didn't know it then, but one of those puppies was destined to be ours.

I had been visiting Dull near Aberfeldy playing with my friends in a house rented by them.  While I was there, I made the acquaintance of Scout, a handsome black Labrador.

It was Scout that convinced me that I've been without a dog for long enough.

When I got home I searched the Kennel Club for Assured breeders.  Scout was healthy and active.  He had no hip, elbow or eye problems and none of the tell tale signs of a badly bred dog.  I wanted a healthy dog.  I knew that it was going to cost me a lot more than a dog off Gumtree but I wanted to avoid unscrupulous breeders.

It turned out that there was a gold star assured breeder near the house - seriously - less than 10 minutes drive away.  Not only was this breeder near, she had the above mentioned litter of puppies and we share the same vet!

The litter she had when I contacted her was larger than she had planned.  The breeder had a waiting list but because the bitch had produced 10 puppies instead of the expected four, everyone on her list was satisfied plus a couple extra puppies.  When I phone asking about puppies she had some that were available!  I went over to the breeder's house about an hour later and plunked a deposit down on one of the black male pups. His eyes were just opening so I couldn't really get a good fix on what he would be like. . . but I already had puppy on the brain.

A few weeks later The Man of the Place went with me to see the pup.  His eyes were open by then but he was still very small.

Yesterday was the big day. The pup whose pedigree name is Exelby Weaver and his pet name is Fenrir (Fen for short) came to to live with us.

He had a very big day yesterday.

A car journey that he didn't like much.  There is a new house with new smells and new routines.  His mum and litter mates aren't here but he seems to be settling in okay.

I am delighted with him. He is a beautiful dog.

Coming soon. . . a new addition

Over the years I have welcomed rescue dogs into my home.  Some were not a good fit.  Some were fantastic!

We had Barney the basset hound who was with us for two years.  He was so handsome and mostly good natured. He had the best ears and the deepest bark of all the dogs.  He developed bloat or GVD and did not survive.  I was heartbroken and cried for ages when he left us.

I researched the next breed carefully and decided that a Staffordshire Bull Terrier would be a good match for us.  I had to wait a bit before the right dog came along.  We got Polly as a small pup.

She was a terrific dog.  We had her for many years.  She died at the age of eleven.

I've tried another rescue dog almost immediately after Polly died.  It was too odd to not have a dog in the house.  We had Xena for a while another very good natured Staffordshire Bull Terrier.  She was older (about seven) when we got her.   I really tried with her but when she jumped over the fence to start chasing sheep, her number was up.  With that breed, I really need to start with a pup that can be trained and don't come with bad habits  She couldn't stay.  I am not put off that breed at all.  They make wonderful, loyal pets.

Last week I was up in the highlands, on the banks of the Tay in a very nice house.  When the ghillie showed up with his dog Scout, I was smitten!  Scout was a well behaved black Labrador.  He had a glossy coat that was almost blue and so affectionate!

The day I got home, I started looking into getting a dog just like Scout! Here's what I knew about Scout.  He was a working dog and had a formidable pedigree.  You just don't find dogs like him in rescue situations.  One quick look on the Kennel Club website for reputable breeders told me that there is a breeder near me!  I mean not far at all!!

Not only was this breeder close, she had a two week old litter with a few pups available.   The breeder had been expecting a litter of four pups.  Those pups had been spoken for.  When Saffron, her bitch whelped, she produced 10 puppies!  There were three black lab dog pups available and one yellow dog pup available.   I dashed across to see them and put a deposit down on one.

They have good hips and elbows and have been tested (and passed) for other painful diseases associated with pure breed labs.  Bred for temperament and obedience, this will be a brilliant match for us.

SO. . . .in the beginning of September our new piddling, chewing lab pup will be here.