Puppy breath: Great cure, or greatest cure?
By Christie Keith
November 23, 2009
So, I’ve had the worst year of my life this year. So bad that not for ten million dollars would I live through it again. And in addition to all the things that made it pure hell, I lost my last deerhound, Rebel, a month before my mother died.
Oh, gratuitously cruel world.
But listen! I’m on the waiting list for a deerhound puppy with a friend of mine who is the breeder I most respect in all the Scottish Deerhound world, and I heard from her today and she thinks the bitch is pregnant!
She doesn’t know for sure yet, but the signs are good, and I’m choosing to believe because, well… I need something bright to think about right now.
PUPPY BREATH!
You have more than earned a puppy. May the puppy gods smile upon you.
Comment by Susan Fox — November 23, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
I’m so happy for you. Keeping my finger crossed.
My two Greyhound puppies saved me after the terrible loss of my brother in a car accident. They gave me hope again.
Comment by Sarah Regan Snavely — November 23, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
That would be *fingers* crossed. Sheesh…
Comment by Sarah Regan Snavely — November 23, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
We were in the same boat last year at this time. Just when we thought it was never going to happen and we were nuts for hoping, the pup the breeder was going to keep suddenly became ours… Of all people, you need a puppy right about now …and I hope the same puppy gods that smiled on us will smile on you, too!
Comment by jo — November 23, 2009 @ 9:09 pm
Wow. I’ve had the year from hell and not lost a pup or a parent. I feel for you and hope you get your pup soon.
Comment by mare — November 23, 2009 @ 9:27 pm
Wonderful! *crosses fingers*
Kitten breath helps too. I got my Cueball after a year in Hell. The little ones, they make it better just by being. Even when they’re aggravating. Maybe especially then.
Comment by Eucritta — November 23, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
hoping for the best for mom and the developing wee ones!
Comment by EmilyS — November 23, 2009 @ 10:13 pm
I’m so excited for you, Christie! Knock on wood! Fingers crossed! Prayers said!
Comment by Liz Palika — November 23, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
Puppy, puppy, puppy, puppy, Christie needs a puppy, Christie shall HAVE a puppy, make it so!
Comment by Susan — November 24, 2009 @ 4:53 am
May you be covered in puppy breath and sloppy kisses soon! It is definitely what you need going into the new year!!!
Comment by Carol V — November 24, 2009 @ 5:29 am
A puppy for Christie! I hope you’ll be holding your new pup at the earliest possible second!
Comment by Lis — November 24, 2009 @ 5:58 am
ooh a new Pet Connection Puppy…paws crossed. I’ve never seen a deerhound puppy.
Comment by Original Lori — November 24, 2009 @ 6:08 am
Here’s hoping that the light at the end of the tunnel comes from the sparkle of (fingers crossed) your new puppy’s eyes.
Comment by Rori — November 24, 2009 @ 7:02 am
Ooh, a puppy is special gift, and what a great way to start your new year! And such a perfect Valentine’s Day (guessing you’ll get the puppy near that time?) present, for someone who has lots of love to share. I envy you all the puppy breath!
Comment by KateH — November 24, 2009 @ 7:45 am
My guess is more like March — but I’m not sure of the whelping date yet. I ideally like to get a puppy somewhere between 12-14 weeks. If the puppies come around a month from now, that means March.
Comment by Christie Keith — November 24, 2009 @ 7:55 am
I can’t wait! I’ll be done there for a visit with my camera the weekend s/he comes home!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — November 24, 2009 @ 8:18 am
Is it too early to pick out a name?
Comment by YesBiscuit — November 24, 2009 @ 8:50 am
No pressure…
:)
Comment by Paula Pascoe — November 24, 2009 @ 8:54 am
No, none at all, Paula. Get our Christie a puppy!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — November 24, 2009 @ 9:07 am
I hope you get your puppy Christie. Some years are like that just too terrible to think about and a new puppy can give hope as Sarah said. I know when my Snoopy died, now at the one year anniversary, having my new Dobie made life better. So, me and my family wish you the very best with a soon to be new Deerhound puppy.
Comment by Snoopys Friend — November 24, 2009 @ 9:34 am
As for names, if I would were into deerhounds, I’d name him Robbie or Bob— for Robert Burns.
Because Robert Burns wrote this poem with this perfect deerhound chorus:
My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here;
My heart’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;
A-chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands wherever I go.
Comment by retrieverman — November 24, 2009 @ 9:44 am
Deerhounds were often kept with retrievers, as this painting by Van der Weyde.
http://www.grca.org/images/his.....rigin3.jpg
The “Yellow Retriever” is named Robin, while the deerhound is called Wallace (another good name for Scottish dog).
Comment by retrieverman — November 24, 2009 @ 9:49 am
Christie’s Deerhounds are always Too Cool For School. They look down their long, elegant noses at my ‘Trievies.
Deerhounds = Gentry
Retrievers = Estate staff
Comment by Gina Spadafori — November 24, 2009 @ 9:52 am
The famous photo of Nous, the first golden retriever, also depicts a deerhound with the Guisachan gamekeeper:
http://www.goldenretriever-fra.....ncanml.jpg
Comment by retrieverman — November 24, 2009 @ 9:53 am
Exactly. The Deerhound is sitting where he can keep the “help” out of the house. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — November 24, 2009 @ 9:55 am
Retrievers— definitely estate staff.
The deerhounds always remind me of Sherlock Holmes.
Why?
Because Sherlock Holmes always wore a deerstalker cap. http://www.beaconsociety.com/B.....er%202.jpg
Deerstalkers with hounds: http://images.easyart.com/i/pr.....-35716.jpg
Comment by retrieverman — November 24, 2009 @ 9:57 am
Deerhounds make me think of Vicki Hearne’s story “A Distinct Impression of Diamonds”.
Fingers double double crossed for puppy luck, Christie. I’ve whiled away many an hour sitting outside, watching the puppies romp through tall grass. It can almost always lower my blood pressure.
Comment by FrogDogz — November 24, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
This Fall, a woman brought her deerhound puppy to our LGRA club to start learning the sport of straight racing. The pup was maybe 8-9 months, far too young to do anything serious, but old enough to start. She wasn’t muzzled or boxed, just hand slipped and raced maybe 100 yds. Her owner was thrilled because her girl is keen as a knife blade, tackling the lure with gusto! I’d not seen deerhounds running before. Beautiful. Their power and grace is awesome, so unlike their larger heffalump cousins. :)
I hope you get your puppy! May you and she/he have a long and bright future together!
Comment by Anne T — November 24, 2009 @ 3:28 pm
Yay! I hope you have a puppy very soon. I can think of few things better for healing a hurt heart.
If Deerhounds are gentry and retrievers are estate staff, what are Cavaliers?
I am getting a cat fix here at my mother’s. She has three very nice cats.
Comment by Kim Thornton — November 24, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
Oh, yes. Wishing a lovely, healthy puppy for you in the near future.
Comment by Cate — November 24, 2009 @ 7:49 pm
I’m very happy for you Christie, it’s about time your luck changed for the better. Next year HAS to be better than this one for you.
Have you told the lovely Kyrie yet ?
Comment by Alison — November 24, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
I know the puppy belonged to Gina but whose tail was it in the beautiful picture above?
My guess is it might be a cat’s tail, but I can’t be sure.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — November 24, 2009 @ 8:52 pm
Colorado, that’s a deerhound puppy lying on his mommy’s paw, not a Flat coat. :)
Comment by Christie Keith — November 24, 2009 @ 10:25 pm
Alison, I have told Kyrie. She said she’s very experienced at
beating upraising deerhound puppies toworshipget along well with her.Comment by Christie Keith — November 24, 2009 @ 10:25 pm
The Cavaliers are in the nursery with the nanny, the nurse, and the three beautiful daughters of the lord of the manor.
Comment by Martha M. — November 24, 2009 @ 10:35 pm
May you be blessed with wonderful puppy breath, Christie, to keep you and Kyrie good company this springtime in sunny California with a rainbow or two once in a while when it rains.
You will be busy, though, with the training, and that is a good busy, I think.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — November 25, 2009 @ 6:20 am
I am crossing my fingers that she is pregnant and you are blessed with a puppy. My best wishes and good luck! If your Huntly pup is half as nice as our Huntly baby, you will be thrilled and over the moon!
I hope my link works. This is Bailiewick:
http://www.facebook.com/home.p.....6677140800
Comment by Cynthia — November 25, 2009 @ 6:53 pm