#newdog2016

Omie went to the vet yesterday, and she is healthy all around. I counted wrong, though - she’s actually 10 weeks old. Currently weighs almost 15 lbs. 

Took Omie to the vet for her first shots today. Due to a scheduling misunderstanding (she thought I was coming the next week, though we’d confirmed the date), my pup hadn’t had her first set of shots. Which was making me nervous, even though I’m not taking her out in public. They reassured me about somethings, told me I was about the right level of paranoid. Her ears were fairly dirty, but they checked and she didn’t have an ear infection, just dirty ears from growing up on a farm. She had picked up a tick since she got here. We have heartworm and flea/tick prevention meds for her now. Generally a healthy pup, though! 

It was stressful and kinda scary for her, being new and probe-y, but now she is conked out beside me on the couch. She wanted to cuddle with J on the car ride, more than with me. :(

I’m still trying to figure out the best way to balance not-fully-vaccinated caution against the need for socialization during the critical window. I can get her to meet friends, my parents’ dog, and my nieces pretty safely. I’d love to take her to the river and in the woods, and out to the farm, but I think those need to wait until after the next set of shots. By which time she’ll likely already be becoming less open to new things. Sigh. It’s a conundrum. What do people do about this?

The breeder-didn’t-give-shots thing sounds sketchy on the outside, but it feels like a genuine misunderstanding to me. She even refused to take the full amount I owed her, insisting that I keep $100 of it to make up for her mistake - which is way more than shots cost. So I still feel pretty good about her, and about my choice. This seems like one of those things that points out the flaws in hard-and-fast rules about what makes a “good” breeder. Should they give shots? Yes, or have their vet do it. But people make mistakes, and there are reasons. Or like how some people say you absolutely must meet both parents, and I do like to, while others say that it’s actually a bad sign if the sire is on site (because everyone must use outside studs at all times...or something). Either, really, is good.

Many pictures, obviously, will be forthcoming. She is adorable and people-oriented and I miiiiight love her a little bit already, which is fast because I remember thinking as I drove away with her, “I don’t feel much for this animal; it’s just an animal. I expect that will change soon.” WEll the 5 hour drive, plus several breaks, appears to have been enough to change that.

Introductions to our other dogs went well, though our emotional dog is moping. This was expected, and (hopehopehope) will pass. As-yet-nameless puppy is currently in her crate, possibly eating her dinner. She drank little and ate nothing all day. Actually, I better go take her out now.