IT'S A BITTERSWEET MORNING

I'm kind of a bag of mixed emotions this morning.....  Happy for JayZee, our green collar little girl ----that she went to what seems to be an amazinly outstanding home in Fairbanks, Alaska.  But.....Sad and missing her terribly. 

She occupied a huge footprint in this place....and has done so ever since she figured out at about 4 weeks old that she loved life, people, other dogs and was just the happiest most joyful puppy I've seen in many years.  Her two sisters don't seem to give a hoot that she's gone. (I can't say that....I miss her like crazy and cried half way home after leaving her with Mike, her new Dad)   People are so much more emotional that dogs.....I suppose in so many ways, animals are lucky to just "live in the moment" and then they move on.  No lasting sadness to speak of, no grudges or revenge that occupies their every waking moment like so many humans.  They just take it in stride and get on with their lives.  We could learn a lot from them and if we did, this planet would probably be in a whole lot better shape than it is.  sigh.....

Mike flew down from Fairbanks and we met him half way between SeaTac Airport in Seattle and where we live, so he wouldn't have to sit in the airport for 6 hours, and so it would be a smoother transition for the puppy to him.  He sat in our van with her for some time with her getting to know him.....she relaxed VERY quickly and was soon planting those precious little puppy kisses on his cheek and ears.  One little chicken treat and she was hooked by him.....and he also by her I suspect.

Here she is waiting with us for him to arrive, in Keith's lap.....
She's all decked out in her new Christmastime sweater, groomed to the max, and spending some last quality time with the one who has actually taken her leaveing the hardest.  Keith spends a lot of time on the floor playing with puppies and is our "resident social director" for them all, if the truth be known.

Her two sisters went along with us and were patiently waiting in the back of the van for the whole proceeding to be done and over with so they could go home and take over the house without JayZee showing them up in the lovey department.

Mike and his wife Peggy live in Fairbanks, where he told us it was 35-degrees BELOW ZERO when he left there yesterday morning to fly down here.  God.  {{{Brrr...}}  That makes two of our kids that are up in Fairbanks now.  Pam Watson has our Tanya from our boy Jaz's last litter.  Sure wish they both lived closer.  Both of them better send LOTS of pictures or I'll have to save up more AirMiles and go terrorize them personally.

Mike called us at 1am to let us know they arrived home in Alaska safely and that Peggy was delighted with JayZee......who I'm told waltzed right in and let the other two resident canines  (MinPin and Miniature Aussie) that she was indeed there and was planning on kissing them both while in the process of taking over the whole household.  I'm waiting for a mornning-after report as we speak.  I have a feeling she slept in bed with Peggy and Mike last night, since it was pretty late and other arrangmements would have kept everyone up for a bit longer.  Won't know till one of them gets hold of me today.

Busy day today.....four shows in a row starting tomorrow and need to groom and bathe Jaz and Rowdy, get clothes ready for all four days, clean house, do laundry, run to town (25miles one way), and get everything ready for four busy, busy days.  Did I forget to mention I have a new lead on the bench (SERENGHETTI), that the owner would love to have me bring to the shows for her on Saturday.....and it's only braided down about 6" right now.  So get busy, Judy......get off this bloody computer and get your booty in motion. 

It's just after 7am and I feel like the day is half over already......and I've been up since shortly past 5am.  Puppies have a really rotten schedule I've trained them to....breakfast at 5:30.

I have to wonder how that went over in Fairbanks this morning.   <snicker>

PUPPIES, NITPICKING and STUFF

Long, busy, kinda strange month so far .....and the month is about over with.  I think this is a good thing.

Didn't make it to the Whidbey Island Kennel Club dog shows because of a Parvo alert and we have puppies here who had not had their first shots at the time.  So lost the entries for Jaz and Rowdy there.
Not making it to the 3 days of shows over Thanksgiving weekend up in BC Canada, either - because of a variety of circumstances, so lost the entries for Jaz there, as well.

Dollars down the tube are such fun....don't'cha think?

TANYA [Skylocke's I'm A Tuffy Two] has gone to Fairbanks and is doing amazingly well, according to regular reports from Pam Watson, her new mom.  That makes Tanya and Tangle (the two puppies from the litter between our TFTs Jaz and Miley) WELL-PLACED kids in happy homes. TANGLE [Skylocke's Too Tuff  To Tangle]  is in Calgary with his mom, Sheila Morgan.....and getting ready for his first show in a week or so. 
Love it when plans work out and everyone is exactly where they should be....and all involved are happy and content.

• • •

The three 8 week old puppy girls we have here sired by Jaz out of our Ch Zoey are quite exceptional.  And for those of you who know me, you know how anally nitpicky I am about quality in puppies.
NOTE: If you click on the Jaz-Zoey link, it will take you to our LitterBox with updated pics.

Jazlyn on Left, JayZee on Top, Jenna at the Right

Best PLAY and LOVEY temperament seems to be emerging in JayZee....our #1 little girl with the Green collar.  She hates the table, hates to be structurally confined (hunches like a turtle), but loves to snuggle, play, bounce around and ADORES people.  She also thinks Kenzie, our Doberman, is the greatest thing in the world.  Kenzie's not so totally in agreement with her all the time.  (Especially when she has a treasured bone in her mouth and JayZee thinks she needs to help her lick it.)  Kenzie is teaching her what dog corrections are all about....trust me.  And interestingly enough, the puppy is learning to respect them.  Goooood girl....!

Our prime pick puppy right now is #3 purple collar, Jazlyn.  She is her dad all over again....both structurally and in her attitude.  Loves the table, loves to show off, loves people, other dogs and ATTENTION.

Her sister, Jenna - #2 Orange collar girl is coming in a close second (or almost an equal) to her in many ways.  She's not quite as structurally eyecatching - yet - , but  her temperament is very similar.  She is a serious  FOOD SHARK, however, that I can tell you. She gets so excited over food when we're using the table, that it's kind of a wear-her-down thing before we can get her to slow down enough to work with her.  (Reminds me of a Dober-Shark by the name of Kenzie. LOLOL)  

Jazlyn is much calmer and "together" emotionally on the table, and also loves her goodies.  ANY goodies.  It's going to be fun to watch these two girls progress....hopefully to the point where  we will know who to actually keep and plan a future with.  One? Both?  Who knows at this point.  They're still babies and I'm taking lots of gentle time with them.

We actually managed to get them outside for a few minutes yesterday during one of the SHORT breaks between rain and wind storms we've been plagued with for the last few days.  Everything was soaked and cold, so I was quite surprised when they took it all in stride and separated to go EXPLORING.  Love that. Wet cold feet and legs finally drove them back to the steps and inside to the heat lamp and W-A-R-M.  When push comes to shove, they still ARE just babies.

All in all, I'm so very pleased with the result of breeding Jaz and Zoey.  They did good, and the quality of the bloodlines is ABSOLUTELY showing in these three girls.  All three are different, unique, are developing into their own selves......but when I SERIOUSLY grade them closely.....they are such nice puppies that I'm quite impressed with them.  Now we just wait and see.....