Surprised and Sad...My Weekend.

[Lindsey]

Well, I posted about getting my father a sheepadoodle (old english sheepdog/std. poodle mix) last Wednesday.  Our plans (dad and I's) was for me to keep the pup for a few weeks, get her house trained and crate trained.  Dad hasn't had a dog, much less a puppy in years.  So he was uncertain of how to handle/raise a baby puppy.  I woke up at 2:30am on Wednesday night to a crying pup.  On Thursday night I woke up at 1:30am to a crying pup.  During the days and evenings, I soothed a sometimes crying pup and spent my time chasing the pup around, making sure she wasn't chewing anything, using the potty in the house or getting into something that could hurt her.  On Friday my parents called to tell me they were thinking about coming for a visit for the weekend, Dad was pretty eager to meet his new pup.  I was nervous, I just knew the crying while in her crate, would frustrate my dad.  However, I was also excited for them to meet her.  So I told them to come for the visit.

Dad really liked her from the start.  So did my mom.  They both decided on naming the pup "Cubby" because they say she looks just like a little bear cub, which she totally does.  On Friday night she fell asleep pretty easily in her crate, around 11pm.  She woke me up crying at 5:30am, I rushed downstairs to soothe her and to see if she needed to use the bathroom.  Just like every other early morning wake ups, she didn't need to use the bathroom, she just wanted water and to play.  I let her drink a little water and then I put her back in her crate and sat beside her crate saying "shhhh shhh" and letting her lick my fingers until she fell back asleep.  I went back to bed and we all woke up around 8am.  We spent the morning in the backyard with all of the dogs (my Molly doodle, Ali and Cubby).  Later on we decided to brave the Saturday morning crowd at Petsmart while DH took my Doodle to the dog park.  We had managed to fill a buggy full of supplies and were looking at the dog bowls when I looked over and saw a dog I just KNEW that I knew from somewhere.  I kept thinking "How do I know that dog?!" a few seconds later, it hit me!  "That's Jack! from DK!!".  I'm sure I looked like a nut, rushing over to Jennifer and sputtering "hey...do you go on the forum doodle kisses?! I know your dog!" haha.  Thankfully, Jennifer didn't treat me like a nut and said "yes!".  What a small world!!  I was so excited to meet a Dker.  Jack was precious and I was sad my Molly doodle wasn't there to meet him.  We continued shopping and ended the experience with a pile of puppy supplies.  

It was sooooo much fun!! I enjoyed every second of the shopping day.  I'm a big daddy's girl and I LOVE my dogs...so hanging with my dad and talking "dog" was beyond fun for me.  We talked dog food, shampoo, toys, chews...etc. etc.  I def. passed on all of the knowledge I've learned from DK.  We ended the day grilling on the back porch, with the dogs playing at our feet.  Saturday night (last night) I fell asleep around 10pm, expecting to wake up in the middle of the night to a crying pup.  I sat up straight in the bed at 7:30 this morning...no crying...nothing...silence.  I had been asleep since I had fallen asleep and nothing had woken me up.  I sat back and thought about going back to sleep...maybe I was just so exhausted that when Cubby started to whine I didn't hear her and my mother had gotten up with her.  I started to feel bad, thinking that I had failed my job of being the one to help take care of her during this puppy stage.  Then I started thinking...no, even if I didn't hear her whine, Ali would have heard her whine and Ali sleeps in my room and he has barked everytime she has begun to cry every other night...I would have heard him bark for sure!  So then I decided that she was still sleeping, I was a little bit excited and smiling to myself when not two seconds later...my crazy mind decided, maybe she was dead! Why hadn't a 7 week old puppy cried in the middle of the night!?  

hahaha...my imagination can get crazy at times.

I flew downstairs and flung open her crate, she was sound asleep.

I took her outside and let her potty. I sat on the back porch steps and played with her until everyone else began to wake up. I cuddled her and fussed over her. My parents ate breakfast with us, it was my dads birthday, and then after breakfast my parents began to pack for their return trip home. Dad told me he had decided to go ahead and take Cubby with him. He had already become attached and wanted to bond with her. I was excited, but part of me was really sad....more so than I expected! I helped them load all of the puppy supplies into their truck. I carried Cubby around with me and told my parents to take the blankets she had been sleeping on, so she would have a familiar scent in yet another unfamiliar house. I kept hoping this was the right decision and that Cubby wouldn't be even more confused, I'm sure she is. I hugged her goodbye and put her in my dads arms. I hugged my parents goodbye and walked back into the house. DH was already walking through the sun room and on his way out the back door, talking to me about who knows what- my mind was just not there. I walked into the sun room after him, I bent down to pick up some dog toys on the floor and glanced over to where the cubbys crate had been while she was with me. I lost it!! I started crying and mumbling craziness. DH rushed over and hugged me, poor guy, he didn't know what had happened. I'm a nut!! I couldn't believe how attached I had already gotten to that little pup! I called my parents a few (hundred) times over the course of their drive home, right when they got home and before they went to bed. I know that little puppy is going to make the best "side kick" for my dad. She really is a great dog, already, I can tell. I'm so excited to watch her grow through pictures and my parents only live a little over an hour away...so I'll see her often. I'm excited she will bond with my dad and is already spoiled rotten.
Funny how such little time, with such a furry little thing, can make you loose your mind for a second, lol.
SO that was my weekend adventure :-)
I'll post pictures later!!

 

[Lori]

Glad it all worked out! Your story made me cry!!!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

What a sweet story.

[Linda and Murphy]

Pictures please!!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Wow, I'm so happy for your dad and so sad for you. You did a very good job with the pup and your story had me thinking something awful happened to the puppy. All transitions will be hard at first but an hour isn't that far. I sure hope your parents are computer savy have web cams??? You had a nice weekend together so  that was great!

[Holly St Pierre]

It sure doesn't take long to get attached.  I can't imagine life without Gunner.  I don't even like to be home without him when he is at the groomers.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

First congratulations on the transition from you to him....Second, I can not tell you how many times if my DD slept through the nite how I was sure she died of SIDS or something (freak).

I am sure I would be a failure at fostering, I would end up with too many dogs.

Can't wait for pictures and so happy your Dad loves Cubby already.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm really glad your Dad was excited to take Cubby when he came this weekend. If you had had her any longer you would be a two doodle family and he would have had to find his own pup. I love the relationship you have with your dad. You are a dear to find this special pup for him.

[Camilla and Darwin]

This story is unbelievably sweet, I think Cubby is going to love her new home!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Lindsey, you are a special daughter, I hope your dad realizes that. It's hard not to become attached to the little furballs, I have no idea how people who breed puppies can let them go, I guess it's because they take good care of them but don't bond with them in the same way.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Great story, what a fantastic gift you have given your parents by finding her for them and getting her off to a good start. I agree with your parents wanting to take her and have this time to bond. Lots of changes in her little life, but maybe it's best that she hasn't gotten too attached to you and Molly. We always kept our new new puppies by the side of the bed in their crate and had a hand free to dangle down infront of it whenever they whined. It wasn't often. Also used a ticking clock wrapped up to muffle sound, just outside the crate for heartbeat sounds.

7 weeks is young, so she may have a few more weeks of missing her pack and mommy, so I hope those ideas helped if you haven't already heard them. Nice story and I can't wait for the pictures. Got one with your dad and cubby?