Gotcha Day for the HAY babies & Rehoming Leia Girl

There’s something about going home week that always carries a mix of joy, pride, and just a tiny ache in the heart—and this week was no exception. Gotcha Day was soon approaching and I felt my time ticking passed way too quickly.  

We spent our days getting every puff ready for their big transitions, making sure each puppy felt confident, clean, and oh-so-loved before heading off to their forever families. Bath time was a huge highlight and every so fun. Every single one of them handled it beautifully and enjoyed their individual spa time—soaking, sudsing, and bluffing up like little pros. Everyone got a full clean bill of health at the vet which is always wonderful. Vaccines, last deworming and extra probiotics and dehydrated carrots to combat any stress and reactions from our outing.

In between all the preparations, I made sure to steal those last quiet moments—the extra snuggles, the lingering cuddles, the pauses where time slows down just enough to really take it all in. These are the moments I tuck away and carry with me long after they’re gone.

Gotcha day brought the kind of energy that fills the air thick with tickled pick eagerness. Families arrived full of excitement, anticipation, and love already pouring out for their new little ones. Watching those first connections never gets old—it’s something truly priceless to witness. These pups are so deeply wanted and their new families have hands so filled with love for them that letting them go is easier. The stories I get to be part of is why I do what I do and why gotcha Day is so much more to me than the day I have to let go. It's just the beginning of a love story just waiting to be created.  

A few of our darling Hay pups—Timothy (Cashew), Rye (Ryley), and Barley (Gimli)—will be staying on for one more week. Extra training, extra snuggles. I’m extremely grateful for the extra time with them even though they have told me they are crazy eager to be with their forever after families. Soon babies soon.  

Training continues strong, especially with impulse work, which is really starting to click. Working with 3 pups is so much easier from a training perspective than 12! 

It’s amazing to see their little minds at work at this age as they grow in confidence by leaps and bounds and understanding more and more each day.

Our Berry Babies also have one more week here before they begin their own next chapters. The house is still full for now—still busy, still joyful—but I can already feel the shift coming.

Soon, the puppies will all be settled into their new homes, and I’ll find myself an empty nester once again for the summer. It’s a season I’ve come to know well—quieter, slower, a time to reset, reflect and assess each dog for the future. But for now, I’m soaking in these final days, holding onto every wag, every nuzzle, every fleeting puppy moment that makes this life so incredibly meaningful.

Speaking of assessing each dog for the future - I have made the hard but necessary decision to wrap up Leia's time here with us and retire her out. For many reasons it is just her time to move on. She has blessed us with some wonderful pups whom I am very proud of and will always cherish the time I had here with her. I will continue to follow her pups stories and be ever so proud of the exception dogs they are growing up to be. My Leia girl just turned 4 and is perfection in every way possible. She is my small tufty fuzz eared shadow of a sweetheart. I will be extremely choosy where she goes next and will take all the time this summer if need be to find her the perfect placement. She wouldn't mind another dog to play with but would really love just to be pampered and spoiled by someone for the rest of her days. Feel free to contact me about her if you think you'd be a good fit. 

So as we shift around here over to the Berry pups last week, my time will also shift so I will pop in from time to time but not necessarily every week as we are in hiatus mode for awhile.  Fall litters are planned and I will keep everyone updated on the timing of these as soon as mother nature allows.  

Thank you to all the HAY Families for inviting me into their lives and giving me the opportunity to give them a piece of my heart.