So, a little background... We always knew we would get another dog eventually. Paradoxically (at least to non-dog people and most of our extended family), our small and somewhat chaotic household functions much better with the addition of canine companionship. Sibling rivalry diffuses with a puppy to cuddle and care for, and the grown-ups find that stroking that silky-soft fur is a sure balm for quick tempers and frayed nerves. The cat does his part, but he was finding the workload of doing all the family cuddles to be a bit much.
Our years with Winnie sold us on the sighthound temperment - homebodies who are intensely attached to their family and aloof with strangers, gentle with children, quiet, undemanding companions at home, yet lovers of intense exercise at the appointed time, not to mention their athletic beauty, grace and dignity. While our condo was fine for an older wolfhound, it just isn't up to the task of raising a pup, and after some research, we concluded that the issues would be the same for a Scottish deerhound. The more we read about greyhounds, though, the more the breed seemed like an ideal fit. We were sympathetic to the needs of rescue dogs, but with kids and cat and close quarters, not to mention unlimited wilderness full of both large predators and small chase-ables, we thought it best for all concerned to be able to teach and condition our dog from puppyhood.
Now here comes the cool part. We took stock of what we wanted: a purebred greyhound puppy from impeccably hearty, healthy parents and a loving home, a breeder within driving distance whom we could get to know, and (the real kicker) a price we could afford. What were the odds of that? We found two breeders in the Lower Mainland, one with a litter born April 2nd. Stunningly lovely show dogs, but at 3 months, I guessed they were likely all spoken for, and certainly out of our price range. I assumed we'd have to wait and keep searching, but it couldn't hurt to enquire...
It turns out that they had a few high-priced show pups left, and one very special one. It was a litter of 11, and her mom accidentally stepped on her when she was just a week old, fracturing one rear tibia and the tip of her tail. The leg healed perfectly (and no, it was nowhere near the growth plates, we've got full vet records, the leg is clearly developing exactly symmetrically with the other and her strength and gait are perfect), the tail stayed crooked, and she became a little extra dear to them because of that early trauma and her feisty can-do personality. They weren't concerned about more than a fairly nominal price for her, but they really wanted her to have a special home - relatively local, experienced with sighthounds, willing to stay in touch so they could monitor her development and see her every so often.
So yesterday we made the 3 hour trip to Maple Ridge, and spent several hours chatting and hanging out. The facilities are impeccable, the couple is lovely and obviously deeply attached to their dogs (they only breed a litter every seven years or so), the mother is beautiful, gentle, and wonderfully firm with her brood.
And Eowyn came home with us. (For those who aren't LOTR geeks like us, it is pronounced Eh - Oh - Win, with the accent on the first syllable, though when you say it fast as a call name, it becomes more like 2 syllables: Eh-Win.)
Want to see her parents and her puppy videos?
In the newborn puppy video, she's the one with a pink splint (she only wore it for a week), in later videos, you can pick her out as the one with the crooked tail tip. She's also the cover shot for the middle video, and the one who takes a flying leap into the breeder's arms.
Since coming home yesterday, she has been super cuddly, spent a quiet night in her crate, and appears to be essentially fully housebroken, whimpering gently at the door when she needs to relieve herself. She's not real keen on the cold, wet weather though, so I may have to whip up a puppy sweater.
Presently: napping.
