Puppy Power!

 Callie upon her arrival at the farmhouse in what will become her most famous pose.

When it was evident that our dream of moving to the country was about to become reality so did the opportunity for getting a dog. No sooner had we signed the dotted line when my internet search for a dog kicked into full gear. I scoured want ads on Kijiji, newspaper ads and every SPCA or Humane Society website within a 100km radius. I was addicted. I would search all of them, each and every day, sometimes twice. I can't tell you how many adorable faces I e-mailed to my husband hoping to woo him with all the cuteness I came across during my daily searches. It wasn't all puppies either, there was a black lab cross named Corky whose eyes just drew me in and there was also an older three legged dog who was to be euthanized if a home wasn't found soon but alas he was in the US. Most days were an act of self torture, but I couldn't stop.

My husband, being the one with more logic and common sense, or the ability to hold onto those traits longer than I, prevailed, for the time being. Upon first moving into the old farmhouse, there were some minor renovations that had to be done, leaving little time required for a puppy. Once we were settled in, so had winter, and my husband wasn't anxious to train a dog with two feet of snow outside so next we decided to wait until spring. I tried to argue that it was better to train in snow than mud but I lost that argument too but I continued searching. All winter long.

We had already decided that the best choice for us would be a puppy. Some day, when retirement arrives, I hope to adopt an older dog or two who deserve a forever home for their final days but, for now, we wanted the twins to experience the responsibility of raising and training a puppy. We knew we wanted a mixed breed but predominantly a border collie; a good companion around the old farmhouse property and lastly, my husbands only stipulation was that it be a female. Yes, he's a sexist, he feels females make better pets and are more loyal. I'm not sure I buy into that theory but I was willing to compromise.

All of this time spent searching, did have it's advantages. I soon noticed which ads were placed over and over by the same people selling all different kinds of dogs. I wasn't going down that road or supporting anyone pedaling dogs for a living and I also learned there was a wide price range but in this case more  money definitely does not always mean better. One day in mid March with a strong scent of spring in the air, my husband said the words I was longing to hear. "You may as well start looking seriously now, I think this would be a good time to bring home a pup." So I ran to the nearest computer and searched, and searched, and suddenly there was nothing. I panicked a little, gee for a whole week I couldn't find any puppies that fit our criteria. I was certain after letting so many opportunities pass by we had missed the boat. Naive? Probably. Over anxious? Definitely.

Then we found it, an ad for a border collie lab cross, nine weeks old, no photo. I went to see her the next day on my lunch break. She didn't match the mental image I had created in my mind over the previous twelve months, but she was cute, healthy, good tempered and was living in an apartment with five cats and a little girl who was allergic to dogs. This puppy was going nowhere fast. Driving back to work, the man called and wanted to know if I could take her home with me that night. He wanted her gone before his daughter came home from school. I really, really wanted to sleep on it, but she was healthy, my husband trusted my judgement and if I didn't take her someone else would, someone else in the city. She NEEDED to be in the country.

So what else can a girl do?  I brought her home.

The first pic taken of Callie when I went to meet her.

I planned on showing this to my husband that night.

My best friend and coworker came with me, to provide a second opinion and to make sure I didn't do anything rash!

Stay tuned for life with the new puppy once she arrived at the old farmhouse.

This post is dedicated to my sweet friend Misha at From My Front Porch in the Mountains, be sure to visit her and read about the newest member of her family. Thanks for being so patient Misha!