Driving Home

It was a long drive home without Kobe last night.  I guess that is the first time I have made the drive alone without him.  I really missed my driving buddy.  I missed how he would rest his head on my shoulder so that I would pet him.  He was such a love bug, he would just leave his head there and let me hug and kiss him.  The jeep felt so empty without him there.  Everyday I miss him and wish he was still here with me.

The Puppies Are Here

Sport had her puppies this morning! There are 6 of them, 4 boys and 2 girls. They are so cute, and Christine says they are very big and vigorous eaters. I'm not sure that I will get one of these puppies because I think there are 5 other people plus the breeder that want a puppy from this litter. I'm just trying to stay positive and hoping for the best. I'm not sure how she will decide who gets a puppy so for now it's more of a waiting game. At least there are cute pictures to look at while I wait. :)

Sport

I got to meet Sport and Christine today!  I talked to Christine for awhile and found out a lot about Sport and what her personality is like, as well as what William (the dad) is like and why she chose him to breed Sport to.  It sounds like the combination of Sport and William should really improve upon each of them as individuals and that the puppies should have really great temperaments.  Sport was very sweet and seemed to have a very loving and playful personality.  Christine said that she is a really great partner for agility, that she loves the sport and she is very responsive to Christine's direction.  I'm hoping to get involved in agility and field trails whenever I get a puppy.  I wish that I would have gotten involved with more dog stuff with Kobe.  I didn't know that I could do all of that stuff with him.  The golden retriever world seems like one big family.

The repro vet that ultrasounded Sport said that she is carrying ~ 8 puppies.  I'm so excited and I hope that one of them fits what I am looking for.  They are due March 26 and once they are 3.5 weeks old I can start going to visit them once a week.  Christine does temperament testing on the puppies when they are 7.5 weeks old, and then she can figure out which dog fits which owner.  So I guess right now I'm just waiting until the puppies are born.  Once they are born Christine said she would post updates and pictures on her website (that will really help me focus on studying : ) )

The Calm Before the Storm...

that's what i feel life is like right now.  I feel ok for a week or so, and then all of a sudden a wave of sadness hits.  Today it was looking at his bed and thinking about moving it eventually.  I just can't imagine it not here in my room next to me.  Removing it feels like it would be removing him.  For some reason it still provides me comfort, like in a way he is still here with me.

The Beginning

My roommate Alicia suggested that I start a blog about my journey of finding a new puppy and our new life together, so that's what I'm doing.  Those who know me know that my golden retriever, Kobe, who recently passed away was the love of my life.  He was my child and he meant the world to me.  He died very unexpectedly on February 12, 2010 due to hemangiosarcoma in the right auricle of his heart (for all you vet school friends).  It devastated me.  I knew that I couldn't live without a golden in my life though, not after the love and joy that Kobe brought me.  Shortly after he died I contacted his breeder, Cindy,  to see if she knew of any good litters of goldens that might be ready to go home around summer time.  I figured by summer I would be ready to have a new puppy, and then I wouldn't be in school so I would have a lot of time to devote to it.


I contacted one breeder in Wisconsin that was recommended to me, however she wasn't planning to have puppies until fall or winter which was a little bit later than I would've liked.  Then Cindy sent me an email about a great litter that she knew of and highly recommended.  I contacted the breeder, Christine at Tigana Goldens, about the litter and it sounds perfect.  The dam, Sport, does agility, field trials, conformation, etc.  You name it and she seems to excel at it.  And did I mention how beautiful she is. Pictures of Mommy Sport and Daddy William.  

I am going to meet Sport and Christine this Sunday.  The puppies are due at the end of March, so they would be ready to go home around the end of May.  Pretty close to perfect timing.  Hopefully everything works out and there is a perfect little puppy for me.