Let the Preparations Begin

I have just arranged a time to pick Pink up. I'm going to take Friday the 12th off work and drive up to Edmond to get her. Then she'll have a whole weekend to cry, pout, and adjust to her new home. I realize that her crying, pouting, and adjusting will take longer than a weekend...

I am really missing the puppies since our visit, so I guess that means I'm ready for one. At the very least, it's a good sign that I'm ready to move on. A part of me feels guilty for seeking out a purebred when there are so many shelter dogs in need of rescue. But I want a Terv, and a Terv rescue can be really hard to come by. We have two Heinz 57 rescue dogs in the house, so theoretically we have already taken on two good deeds...or two irresponsible pet owners' dogs.

What I love about Tervs is that they're all the same. I mean, they're all a little different in looks and personality, but their characteristics are the same. I like knowing what to expect in a dog and having a history behind its behaviors. I've also found that "wanted" dogs -- those that have come from solid homes -- are easier to understand and live with because they've always been loved and have never suffered. There's something comforting about welcoming a born-privileged pet into your home.

And now the preparations for my privileged little Pink will begin. The breeder told me that an exercise pen, or ex pen, will save my sanity. An ex pen is the equivalent of a baby play pen. Rather than have a puppy in a crate when you can't watch her, the ex pen allows her to have a little freedom while still being contained and safe. I think I'll be spending my weekend at PetsMart in preparation for Pink.

I know that I keep calling her Pink, and it would be cute to name her that, but my significant other and I have come up with another name. The breeder has set some restrictions on the registered name, which is common and helps breed enthusiasts keep track of different litters. Legan's litter had a gambling theme, and all of the puppies had gambling names, but obviously I didn't stick with that theme for her call name. Pink's litter is following this format: Tacara's (Kennel Name) + D_____ D_____. That's a tough one, but we've come up with Tacara's Denali Dream for the registered name. We can call her anything we please, but I really like to have a call name that ties into the registered name. We're currently tossing "Dreamer" around for consideration. If you have any suggestions that tie into the mountain Denali or the word Dream, please leave a comment! There's a part of me that wants to call her Pinky, but my honey informed me that "Pinky" basically means "dead rat" in the animal research world. I think I'll pass on Pinky.