Zona....17 weeks and two days. Soccer game today,3 hours drive there,3 hours drive back,2 hours on field..told to be respectful and watch soccer once,pouring,41 degrees,a wind that never stopped. Made her sit on my lap (in a bag chair) at 30 lbs to keep me warm. She never whined,never fidgeted,never questioned why....I've had dogs all my life which have been wonderful,raised four children (and a husband!) and I just want to yell from the highest mountain,no one can understand what a gift I have in this one-Zona. She even returned home and acted like she was thankful to experience the day. I say it everyday to myself,but today.... to you,thank you Andrea. The Kerwin Klan
Hello Phoebe and Phoenix, Wanted to quick write and tell you how great my life has been with the Kerwin Klan. Thought maybe I could give you some pointers to teach your next litter before they go to new homes! Humans are pretty easy to figure out! I found out that no matter what I crawl into, lie on, ok, or even do, a photo will be taken! I’ve learned the quicker they get a good shot it’s over…. so now I pose. I have taught them how to laugh, smile, walk around the block correctly, how to throw balls where needed, what treats I like, how to scream, and they finally learned (took me three weeks) if they take their arm, hair, finger, or pant leg, out of my mouth and give me a puppy toy I’m just as happy. Gotta chew -teeth are coming in.
There are a number of other items I am training my humans to do also but it takes patience! For instance, I get it-“no table”, but when I’m used to sitting on the fireplace bricks and you building a fire, I need to lie somewhere cool, i.e. table. It’s a given I love them dearly but come on. When I’m told to “snuggle” with TK, Griff, Paige, or “Mama needs lovin”, I will….but 8-10 minutes please. Humans are hot! My humans still have a long way to go in the learning area. For instance, during the endless soccer game and tournament car rides, they need to know I’m fine. Keep your eyes on the road. Let me nap and just worry about running me when we get there! On the soccer note, played a practical joke on my humans (similar to the toilet paper jokes) but this one was funnier. I had a bath the day before an ECNL Soccer Game my 15 year old human plays in and during the game I decided to get a little “sticky” for fun. Well backfired a little J They were so focused on the game I crawled off the blanket (just a bit) to lay on some partially chewed Starburst. AND THEN was stung by a honey bee…..not to worry it didn’t hurt and I ate him. But my humans took me to the vet the next day because of a bump they found. The vet’s fun and I get treats but was misdiagnosed with a hernia. Bump is now gone and my humans have learned to relax a bit. I have decided, other than jumping in the tub whenever anyone showers, I am holding off on the jokes for a while. Gotta run, just heard the word come. Hope all is well there. Regards, Zona
P.S. My human mom tells everybody “she wouldn’t trade me for a million dollars”. Oh and calls me her “little gift”. That’s going to have to change. I’m 16 weeks and 26.3 lbs.
Welcome Home!
It has been 24 hours since we have been home with our puppy from Brewer's and I would like to share our experience.
On our way to your house, due to countless reasons, our 7 hour drive turned into 9.5 hours! We arrived 2 hours later than expected and past bed time. I and 2 of our daughters were greeted by your son and his friend. Looking back, the meeting of us in itself could be considered “strange”. You live in God’s country. The only lights are an occasional porch lamp and 1000 stars and it wowed my girls. We pull up excited, over joyed, exhausted, strangers in the middle of the night, and within minutes we felt like we had known your son and friend for years. Andrea, from a mother’s view point, whatever you have done, wished you would have done, or regret doing with parenting…No worries. You have highly succeeded in the parenting category. Your son was respectful, kind, informative, and genuinely happy with our excitement. We even found out why he didn’t accompany you on vacation, he doesn’t like the beach so much! Wonderful, wonderful, kids. I only wish we had gotten there at 5:00 PM to sit on the patio, drinking lemonade, engaged in a long lazy afternoon conversation. I know it would have been truly enjoyable.
And the puppy? During the car ride home we knew she was a keeper! After a few hours in the car (right around the 2 AM mark) our 15 yr. old asks if I think the puppy will ever be more energetic? Before I can even get a chuckle out, the puppy (from a comatose state) slaps both furry, extra-long, silly puppy paws on her chest and snuggles her snout under the 15 year olds neck and back to sleep. As if to say, “hey kid, you’ll see my energy tomorrow…do you know what time it is?” This puppy has it all. When it hops and runs she occasionally flops, still working on the long leg thing…Cute. She stops eating when full….. This means a bowl of food can be left out for her to control….Smart. She was taken out our side door twice for her bathroom break, and now waddles over to the door when needing to go outside….House broken?! While walking around the block with 6 of us she runs with the pack, then stops until the last person is ahead of her and takes off again….The herder or our guardian angel? Whatever she may grow into no one knows, but right now she is a gift.
I have only one disappointment. I never met the woman who allowed me to stalk her website, who read the endless lists of questions, concerns and “personality needs” in our puppy, replying quickly with information and humor, whose parenting skills shine through her son, and who gave our family this incredible, loving, snuggly, happy, smart, and already much loved puppy! I could not have handpicked a greater experience myself. We have a vet check this week and will share results. THANK YOU Andrea, I hope one day our paths do cross I would love to shake your hand. The Kerwin Klan