Puppy Bliss

I get the most amazing mail from my puppy people.

Everyday my Inbox is filled  with images like this one of Ragnar (yes, he's named after a Viking warrior) and his proud owner Hannah, it's a selfie taken just to show how precious a Viking warrior can be.

Or this letter, from Breanna in Massachusetts, her family are the soon to be proud owners of our sweet Paper Moon, one of the most darling Cavapoo babies you'll ever meet. 

"Hi Terry!

It definitely feels like Christmas Eve here, with all of the kids in brand-new pajamas, the lights twinkling on the tree, and the packages begging to be opened. We can't wait to have PM here! We had the most fun dinner conversation, throwing around names and thinking about how Sweet Briar, Janey, and Kelley & she will all be together. I'll let you know if she develops a Boston accent over time, and bahks rather than barks. : ) 

Yes, we're beyond happy.

Thank you again so much. What a joyful time.

Gratefully,

Breanna

I have the most amazing puppy people, what fun to be part of bringing such puppy bliss to this family.

 I can't wait till Paper Moon makes her entrance, I bet I'll hear the joyful celebration all the way back here in Ohio.

"Ragnar"

Everything is going great!  I think Orange Crush or 'Ragnar' as we now call him has been loved and spoiled to pieces.  He is named after my sons favorite viking warrior.  Seems appropriate don't you think?  (Not)  Ha Ha.    Our cat is not a fan, but she tolerates him.  Luckily Ragnar does not persist when she hisses, and he just leaves her alone.  (;  We are very new to the puppy training thing, and I am trying my hardest to make sure I am doing everything just right.  Your blog his very helpful, and I also ordered the book you suggested.  I have a lot to learn!  He is sitting on my lap right now.  He truly is the sweetest thing.  

Puppy Personality Puzzles Or The Puppy Scout Personified

A puppy scout in the making!

One of my favorite things is matching families with the puppy that best fits their home and lifestyle.  As I watch each new litter of puppy babies begin to mature and grow, I watch for clues to see what each puppy's personality is developing like, subtle and not so subtle clues are sprinkled through each day.

Here's a little puppy drama that was simply bursting with signs that a dog breeder should be on the watch for, little helps to show what baby should go to which particular home, the home that will help him or her bloom into a lovely adult companion.  The rather forlorn little girl puppy in the playpen pictured above was working on her crate training.  Much to her dismay, the other puppies were romping just within view, she was unhappy and it wasn't long before another of her littermates, a little boy puppy with a very soft nature came trotting over to see what the problem was.

This sweetly sympathetic little guy was soon doing his best to entertain his baby sister, see how he lies down close enough to engage her in a game, the rest of the puppies were off exploring but he was quite content to play and calm enough to settle happily.

Other clues where bouncing across the grass, enjoying the early hint of Fall in the air.  This little character, brave and confident though the smallest in the litter, decided a walk to the far reaches of his small world was in order.

Even content to be on his own away from his siblings, he'll be a upstanding little canine citizen, showing a pleasing amount of confidence for such a youngster, he'll make a tiny pocket sized watch dog I'm sure!

Ahhh, but sometimes even in the midst of such scientific pondering one must simply have lie down in the cool grass and enjoy a beautiful late summer day with a furry little friend and leave the musings for another time!

From our Facebook Fans

Lauren Sheppard Hawes > ‎Foxglove Designer Puppies
Not sure if I ever shared this with you, but here is my daughter, Vera and her beloved Hazel (formerly known as Delilah). They are best buds and do everything together.

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Nick Pezzote > ‎Foxglove Designer Puppies
Hi Terry. Hope all is well! Just a quick note for you with a photo about Mayzie. She has brought us so much joy. Here she is sitting across from Amanda and me while we were eating breakfast outside. As you can see, she is a bit spoiled.

The Look

I call it "the look".  See the direct eye contact this darling little boy puppy is making with me? It's amazing, but each time a family comes to visit and decide on a puppy, that puppy seems to know long before the visitors do, exactly who is going home with them. As the family ponders the litter, going back and forth, trying to decide who's the one for them, which puppy is truly the most irresistible. I silently watch for the puppies to tell me who is the family for them.

Once that choice is made, as with this nice gentleman who recently came with his wife to visit Foxglove Farm.  As he's holding his new puppy in his lap, that tiny morsel knows full well that his family has come to take him home.  I've seen it so many times, a puppy will lift her little head and say "This is my family, the perfect family for me, thanks mom for helping them find me".

I love what I do, the joy on puppy faces, the happiness on my puppy people's faces as well,,, it's wonderful to be part of helping make that connection, but I'm still amazed at how intuitive these little ones are, and I love it when I see that expression of undiluted puppy JOY on tiny faces.

Lavender & Bergamot Oh My!

How embarrassing!  I've been working for the last year or so to complete the formula for our wonderful new shampoo & conditioner, (SO EXCITED!).  

We've launched our Agatha's Apothecary Advanced Probiotic last year & while that was a lengthy process as well, nothing has compared with the difficulty of  bringing Agatha's Luxury Lather & Healthy Shine Coat Conditioner to the world of pet care.

The process been hair-raising (intended!) to say the least.  Stretching from one coast to the other, beginning in Vermont and then reaching to California to find a company who could both understand my dream (of really fabulous organically based shampoos and coat conditioners for DOGS) and be able to help me manufacture those products and make them available to dog owners everywhere.

We are in the final stages, finally,,, the first shipment of shampoo & conditioner awaits our beautiful new labels,,,, and OH NO!!!  The label is stopped in in tracks because of a typo!  Unbelievable,,, I have to laugh, my delicious lavender and bergamot essential oil blend is the problem, BERGAMOT,,,, not a word we use everyday so it's understandable, but ohhhhh, another delay when I simply cannot wait for my Puppy People to find out what a really great grooming product can do for their dog.  Soon Puppy People, soon...

I Feel Sorry For The Neighbor's Golden Retriever...

Max is such a handsome dog.

I'm sure he's an entirely good natured and kind fellow as almost all of his breed certainly are...

The problem is that Agatha, who's declared herself the matriarch of Foxglove (she'll be nine her next birthday) has decided that he is a potential intruder and threat to the current litter of puppies,

(more likely, she thinks he may be a potential threat to her biscuit tin with it's vast assortment of doggie goodies).

She spends an inordinate amount of time sitting staring out the mudroom window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the interloper (who is the meekest of dogs by the way), I have to laugh at the little drama that unfolds. he seems enthralled with the puppies and anytime they are out for a romp he tries to visit), I see him up on the hill behind our house, gazing wistfully down at the babies...

Suddenly Agatha spies him and launches like a tiny tigress defending her young,,,

"WOOF WOOF WOOF"

goes she, racing up the the dividing fence and sliding to a stop she shouts warnings and threats as Max beats a hasty retreat up to the safety of his back yard where he lies rather mournfully in a sad golden heap.

Max lies in a sad golden heap.

Well satisfied with herself, little miss trots over to the babies (who have watched all this with great interest),.  

She touches noses with them as if to reassure them all is well

(of course they never had any doubt) 

"Yes, you're safe now" say's she "I've dispatched that bad dog from next door". 

Back into the mudroom she trots to resume her vigil.

"One can't ever be too careful" says she.

Ruby loves her new home.

Here is a picture of her in a sweater that is too big.

Oh she is so sweet and smart she has not had any accidents in the house. She knows what to do when I tell her to go potty. She runs around in fast circles. She has so much energy and goes from toy to toy.

She is trying to play with my cockapoo but Lola is a little sad about the new cute puppy. I think they will get along great eventually.

Ruby went to the vet today and did great she is tiny - only 3 1/2 pounds. No wonder her xxsmall coat is a little big. She is eating a ton so she should grow fast. She loves her drops and the vitamin wafers.

A note from Lanetta

Buddy graduated from his puppy class yesterday, can you believe Buddy has been with us for 2 months now?

He is doing great and we love him more every day.  He really is a good boy and perfect match for our family.  I told my husband I don't think he's a lap dog, he's a shoulder dog because he'd rather lay on us with his head over our shoulder than curl up on our lap.

He's still a puppy & has tons of energy, and he & Drew run in the backyard often.  We're only a few blocks from Drew's school, so we walk and Buddy loves to go with us.  He is so well behaved even in the chaos when they all get out in the afternoon.

He tries to say hi to everyone he sees, but will stay focused when walking on a leash.  We still have so many people ask what kind of dog he is and tell us how cute he is. 

Thank you for a wonderful puppy,

Lanetta Rowley

Praise from Kelly

We have Benji!  He is adorable and everyone is in love!  He is so playful and happy.

The girls didn't want to let him go to sleep tonight. We've already been to Petsmart and are official dog owners :)

We've attached a picture of the girls with their new love.

Thanks again.  We love him so!