I found a breeder! Now I need some sage guidance please.

[MrsGrace]

Originally Posted by milles2@rpi.edu

When I got Tucker I went to a rummage sale and bought a number of soft baby blankets. I think I paid about $2 for a bag full of them and although they have been thru the wash a million times and are faded, they still get used in the back of the station wagon, to dry off wet dogs, etc.

That is a GREAT suggestion!! And with my daughter having just outgrown most of them, I now have a new use for the older burpie cloth blankies!! I hadn't thought of that!

I always go to the dollar store locally for coloring books for the kiddo, they have a lot of stuffed toys that will be more than adequate for a puppy to maul! Another great idea!

Dilly, I will shoot you a personal email today.

Bayou, thank you! I love my avatar as well. But, who's the fat gal in the photo?! And when did she move in to my body?!

Corgimom, the babble ball sounds great! I love toys that make dogs think. I have a feeling I will need a "budget adjustment" for the puppy stuff... *grins*

Okay, so now I have to add web shopping, old navy, dollar store etc to my list. I hope my hubby never finds this site...

[Fluffypants]

Originally Posted by Dillydoodle

That's a tough one, i was always worried that i was being too anxious and that i would be a pest to the breeder, but my enthusiasm actually was fine with the breeder i was dealing with- she realized quickly that i was just a type A- and super exicted for the puppy - i dont think it is wrong to call back - but maybe the breeders out there could weigh in on this thread... Peggy? Debbie? I know you are so excited... but yes the breeders do get busy and sometimes take a day or two to check emails or return calls...

Emilie

OMG Em! Poor Ellen must have been going crazy, with both of us calling her about our puppies!!!!

[corgimom]

Originally Posted by Chip's Mom

The babble balls are $5.79 each at Jeffer Pets and I buy the 2 inch ones for my boys. They are hard plastic and say silly things. I just ordered 3 more of them - They do love them. It must have been the fairies because there is no hide nor hair to be found.

Bonnie, do you have the new generation ones where you can get new batteries? - The batteries are so expensive, I think I will just order the older models and replace as needed.

[Fluffypants]

Hey hey Linda! Are you trying to say that The Princess Warrior Miss Jackie Fluffypants is spoiled? I resemble that remark!

Grace - you are getting lots of great ideas from people here, and you already had the basics down yourself. I have heavy ceramic bowls for Jackie, because the stainless ones she originally had were way too easy to tip over . . . and she enjoyed that immensely . . . let's watch mommy clean the floor! Kongs are a good idea, but they are not interesting (at least to my dog) at all unless they are stuffed with something yummy, so make sure you have a good stock of yogurt, peanut butter, etc. for that. Will you want to get her a separate bed for laying on when he's not in his crate? My personal feeling on toys . . . you can never have too many! Shop to your heart's content!!!! Also, I made sure to have a brush, toothbrush and toothpaste before I brought Jackie home, so I could get her used to that "fun" grooming stuff right away. I would love to correspond with you regularly and help in any way I can. Wish I lived closer so I could come shopping with you - SO EXCITING!!!!

And you simply MUST buy . . . lots of batteries, film, and/or memory cards because we MUST. SEE. PICTURES.

ps - that picture of your daughter and her possible puppy is so darn cute I can't stand it!

[milles2]

What is it about Kong toys that if there isn't food in them, dogs don't want any part of them? I have regular Kongs, a Kong Ball, a Kong Bone and my two won't play with them. They'd rather scare me out of 10 years of my life chewing on sticks out in the yard and even my woodwork.

I will say I bought the Kong Frisbee and Lulu managed to chew the sides off it.

They do like those yellow (tennis ball covering material) Air Kong toys. Unfortunately, they can distroy them and they are pretty pricey. Air Kong float so I buy them for the lake and only bring them out in summer.

[Fluffypants]

Just keep an eye on him the first time you give him something with the tennis ball fuzz on it. Jackie will not play with anything that has that yellow fuzz on it . . . she just uses her little front teeth to shave the fuzz off and eat it! She did it every time I gave her one . . . so, no more of those for my little nutball.

If you watch him and he shows no signs of this strange habit, then he's normal and you're in the clear.

[milles2]

Yes, fuzzy yellow poo......

[MrsGrace]

Breeder update:

Okay... so I really love the puppies I saw yesterday. I want one NOW.

But I got an email from the other breeder that I originally talked to (Em, the one with the GORGEOUS line!) and I think I will be sticking with her.

Which means waiting for a puppy to bring home in June/July... instead of early May, but... what's 4 more weeks really?

*sigh* The puppy yesterday had perfect markings though, red and white, great disposition....

What do you guys think?

[MrsGrace]

Originally Posted by milles2@rpi.edu

Yes, fuzzy yellow poo......

Better than tinsel butt... cats seem to get it every year around the holidays...

[Chip's Mom]

Linda:

I think it was an older model. Honestly, it disappeared so quick that I didn't really get to look at it very well. I only ordered one because I wasn't sure if my dogs would like it and three would have been alot if they were never used. The day it arrived, I had that darn virus and was really sick so I just rolled it on the floor and let them have a go at it. Dale was a little afraid of it but Chip loved it and so did Maybelle. Well, they played with it all evening while I laid around feeling sorry for myself so when I went to bed early, I put the pups on the bed with me and their babble ball and they were still playing with the crazy thing when I went to sleep. The next morning it had disappeared. We have searched the house and yard over and over to no avail. I think Miss Maybelle took it outside at some point in the night, and it got lost. So anyway, three more are coming. One for each. It is hilarious to watch them play with it. I am thinking about buying the giggle balls too.

[Jespah]

Grace - it's very difficult waiting - you have to go with your gut feeling here. If they were both sitting on a pillow right now - which one would you take???
You are right, what's a few more weeks. You will be better prepared, the weather will be nicer, etc. I know the agony of waiting believe me!!!!!