Helloooo! I am over-excited and ever-so-slightly tired
, because this adorable little person entered our household on Sunday afternoon. She is a Jack-a-Doodle - her mum is a smooth-haired tan coloured Jack Russell and her dad is a black Toy Poodle.
My ever-so-talented (and Slightly Devious) daughter has pulled off the coup of the century by convincing me that I really, really need a small dog in my life, because I have been Without Pets for seven years and that is just Not Natural. The fact that the Gorgeous Grandchildren have been pining for a pooch for ages but can't have one because there are two venerable moggies in their house has nothing (no, really) to do with it.
Anyway, here's Maisie. She's only just 9 weeks old and has been a little cold, lonely and vocal at night, but during the day she is utterly well-behaved, intelligent, loving and quick on the uptake. She already knows what to do when I take her to the little bit of grass by our back door (it's okay, no other dogs have been there, I know she doesn't go on the ground where dogs have been until her next vaccination) and obligingly 'does potty' for me. The Grandchildren are assiduously helping her to Socialise - an essential part of any puppy's upbringing! In fact I believe we're due a visit after school today - who'd have thought grandparents could be so popular? She didn't eat much for the first day, but she has a much better appetite today, and is more confident. It is certainly easier looking after a new puppy when you're retired and can spend all day with one eye on her needs and desires - you have less 'oops' moments, and I think housetraining will go more quickly if I can catch her and take her to the right place on the majority of occasions. I'll keep you posted!
Jess will be home from school in the next 10 minutes or so and I am going to show her this post. I suspect the response from your other grandchild will be to get wildly excited about next week's visit. Maisie is veeeeeeery cute...
Posted by: Ardbeg Dashper-Hughes | 12/02/2013 at 03:30 PM