Dear Past And Future Puppy Owners,

I loved your puppy first. I thought of you years before you even realized. I planned for and cared about your baby long before you started thinking of adding to your family. I worried about your future with that puppy before you knew there would be one.

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There were hours upon hours spent researching lines for the parents of your puppy. Going over breeder after breeder, choosing not only my pet but looking for a dog that would make you your pet. Worrying if you’d be happy, if I had chosen correctly, and if your puppy would grow up healthy and happy. Going over puppy after puppy with fellow breeders, running over my program with as many knowledgeable breeders as I could, determined to not miss anything. Tracing lines back as far as I could, learning the ins and outs not only for my knowledge but so that I was informed, prepared to go over every detail with you, to answer the questions that sometimes you don’t even ask.

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Then there’s years of watching your puppy’s mother grow. Loving her and enjoying her as part of my family. Taking her everywhere I could, training her, socializing her, watching how she filled out. Asking myself I had made the right choice. Scrutinizing her conformation, how she moved, and her temperament. There was the stress of health testing; praying not only that my future mama dog was healthy but that she had the genes to make your baby healthy. Then all that was repeated in choosing the best dog to be your puppy’s father.

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Finally came the time to put your puppy’s parents together. For the next 63 days I worried, I obsessed, I grew excited. I watched your puppy’s mom like a hawk. Making sure my baby was ok, monitoring her diet better than I do my own. Concerned that she was getting enough of the right nutrients so your growing baby was getting the best start possible. I spent hours on the couch, floor, and dog bed with her watching her tummy grow and anxiously waiting. As your baby and mine grew, I laid my hands on her tummy and felt the first movements of your puppy. As the time grew close I spent most nights in the nursery with her making sure she didn’t go into labor without my knowing, in case something went wrong and one of our babies needed help. When labor started my whole life stopped. I spent every second with her. Your baby was born into my hands and I held my breath as I cleaned them up, watching for movement and breathing, cleaning them up, checking them over, and wondering if you’d love them as much as I already did. I helped your baby’s brother when mom got tired and he was stuck. I cried when your baby’s sister didn’t make it.

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For the first 8 weeks most of my life was filled with puppies. I was the first person they saw when they opened their eyes. I watched them grow and made sure I was doing everything possible to ensure that they started their lives the right way. I made sure each one was getting enough to eat, enough socialization time. I took them to be de-wormed and to get their shots. I spent those weeks playing with them and keeping them safe.

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I searched for you and interviewed you. As you spoke I tried to read your character. Would you love them as much as I do? Would you bring them in as part of your family? Would you care for this tiny life that I brought into this world that I am responsible for? Some of you were turned away but some of you were welcomed into our family. The day you took your baby home was harder than I’d ever let on. I was excited for you but I was also terrified. Had I chosen correctly? Were you who you seemed to be?

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My love and worry didn’t end there. I thought about your baby regularly, saddened when I didn’t get updates, ecstatic when I did. I hoped you were caring for your baby the way I care for mine. I answered your questions happily and answered them again just as happily to your baby’s siblings’ new parents. When your puppy’s sister ate a couch I stayed up that night she was at the vets, waiting to hear that she was ok. When your puppy’s brother’s parents decided he no longer fit in their life I welcomed him home, sorry that I had chosen wrong for him and promised him it wouldn’t happen again.

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I loved your baby first and I will never stop.

 

Signed,

A responsible breeder of dogs