GOTHCA DAY - RESET & REPEAT!
Selection Day is one for the books but Gotcha Day tops it all by leaps & Bounds!
Families arrive with all the excitement, anticipation, and nervous energy. We attempt to get through the paperwork, review the final details, and make sure everyone is prepared for their new adventure before that gorgeous bundle of fluff comes running full tilt around the corner because at that point all paperwork is thrown to the wind.
Hands are reaching, tails are wagging, smiles stretch from ear to ear, and often there are many tears of pure happiness had by all. The excitement is contagious, the gratitude is abundant, and the realization that this is really happening begins to sink in.
Nerves kick in, quickly followed by another wave of excitement for us all. After all, puppies have a remarkable way of making even the most organized adults forget what they were doing five seconds ago.
Puppies communicate with us in ways we often overlook. They talk and if you just listen, your souls will connect and everything from that point on will be kizmet. Their endearing personalities are perfection, little quirks from each of them and wiggly body language for miles, nothing like it. The more we slow down, observe, and learn to understand them, the stronger our connection becomes. I love hearing about the moment when this CLICK happens. My heart this weekend is full. Each of the ‘Littles’ went to exactly who they were meant to go to. I know without a shadow of a doubt that each family will have this click moment.
This last week was full of tasks, we had field trips, final preparations, vet clearances, baths, paperwork, nail touch-ups, vaccines, outdoor playtime and plenty of last-minute lessons in manners, impulse-control and practice of 3976 ways to be cute.
Our trip out to our vet was a huge success. Every puppy had the opportunity to experience a new environment, meet new people, and receive plenty of attention in the office. Every moment was captured and stored.
Pups were bathed and completely melted as they always do in water. The bond and trust between us that we’ve built is a huge factor but the warm water helps of course.
The final heart to heart words to these babies were simple - "Do the very best you can babies, in the environment you've been placed in, with the information you've been given" Kisses were given – “I will, I promise. You have taught me so much already. I might forget a few things when I get excited, and I reserve the right to occasionally make questionable decisions involving shoes, socks, pinecones, sticks and random things I find on the floor. But I will always do my best. I can't wait to meet my people, I am ready. This is not goodbye, this is See you Later” Such confident little pups that yes, I am incredibly proud to pass along. My job with this litter has been completed, but does not completely end here. Families can contact me at any point asking for guidance, ideas, help or support. I am always just a call away.
I take a breath, just one, spin on one foot and get straight back to work. Supplies get re-stocked, crates are dismantled, washed, and put away. Potty trays are removed, scrubbed, and stored. Toys, beds, and equipment all receive a thorough cleaning before they are tucked away. and my pack gets some extra attention and double scrunches and scratches.
The silence around here is deafening, the fuzz settles and drops from the air. The commotion halts abruptly and, we rest.. but only for a brief moment, because only in a few short weeks -
DRUM ROLL PLEASE...
We will be welcoming more new babies to the Homestead!
Isla has now officially been confirmed prego, and everything we’re seeing so far points towards a lovely, full litter of new amazing squishy squashies!
Needless to say, I am beyond elated to make this announcement. Pups are due Nov. 12th which is SUCH great timing!!! The heavens absolutely had a plan and the perfect timing was presented. Even though for me, I'll have a bushel of busy body 6 wk. old pups to care for over Christmas Day, that means the families who are assigned to these pups get to cruise through Christmas Day, clean up, breathe, reset, reorganize and refocus on their new year chapter by the first week of the New Year when these little ones are due to go home. What a perfect way to start off the 2027 season.
One thing this program continues to teach me is not only the importance of trust and timing but flexibility. We can plan carefully, research extensively, track cycles, make breeding arrangements, and prepare for every anticipated possibility. We can invest enormous amounts of time and thought into creating the best opportunities for our dogs. But biology has its own schedule. Not every plan unfolds exactly as expected, and not every potential breeding results in a pregnancy. Sometimes the timing works beautifully. Other times, the pieces simply don't come together.
When that happens, I do my best to support the dogs, respect and honor their individual needs, and make thoughtful decisions based on the information available to me. I believe in planning well, paying attention, and remaining willing to adjust when circumstances change. I also believe there is great value in recognizing that our dogs are individuals, not simply pieces of a breeding calendar. Their health, development, readiness, and overall well-being matter far more to me than keeping a timeline intact.
When things align, I am grateful. When they don't, I reassess, make changes if necessary and available, and move forward with the next opportunity in mind. There is no need to force, or can be forced for that matter, every piece into place just because it was written on the calendar. Although, judging by how often I stare at mine, someone should probably remind me of that from time to time!
Speaking of calendars...
Anya gave me a little unexpected excitement recently by showing signs that initially looked like the beginning of a heat cycle. Naturally, I honed right in wondering whether she had decided to reorganize my breeding schedule without consulting me first.
After additional observation and a few tests at the vet to confirm my suspicious, it turns out, the signs did not progress into a confirmed heat cycle. It was a good reminder that early signs can sometimes be misleading and that careful observation and a few tests to confirm, matters more than assumptions. But good news is, we didn’t miss anything, we are just back to our original plans of a Spring breeding for her as I have been planning and anticipating this whole time.
I am actually grateful for the extra breathing room this has given me as I prepare for Isla's upcoming litter and look ahead to the next stages of Anya's development.
Anya is an exceptionally beautiful girl with qualities I am very excited about preserving in my program, and I want her next steps to be thoughtful, well-timed, and in her very best interest.
With Isla's pregnancy confirmed and plans continuing to develop for the seasons ahead, there is so much to look forward to. By the time the weather begins to shift again to tulips and Rhubarb, we not only hope to be prepared for Anya's next chapter but Noni will also have had time to rest, recover, and eventually prepare for another potential litter when the timing is right. With what seems to happen around here often, they will probably sync up by the time the buds emerge and the air turns warmer.
Summer will be back before we know it, and we have some exciting plans developing here for Neema's next litter! For this planned pairing, we intend to use a direct artificial insemination (AI) to help optimize the timing and opportunity for conception.
We will also be using a different Serbian stud for this litter. His information is now briefly listed on Neema's litter page, with more details available as the plans develop.
I am particularly excited about this pairing because it offers promising potential for the future of my program. It gives me the option to hold back a female pup as a new breeding prospect to start here in my program. As my top girls retire out, I bring in new girls to add to my program so this will open up that opportunity. Of course, this brings such a fun chapter to look forward to ahead!
These next 4 litters ahead are going to be phenomenal and you get to be part of it all.
You get to follow the planning, the preparations, the puppy development, and the little milestones that make each litter unique and special. You also get a glimpse into the reality of breeding responsibly, where careful planning meets the unpredictable nature of biology. From the outside, it can look deceptively simple. Two dogs are paired. A couple of months later, puppies arrive. Another couple of months pass, and a fluffy little bundle goes home. And while that is the simplified timeline, it hardly captures the full process. There is so much happening before, during, and after each litter. Some of it is exciting, some of it is challenging, and much of it requires patience, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt. I do my best to share that journey honestly and openly while keeping the focus where it belongs: on the dogs, their well-being, and the wonderful possibilities ahead.
So, as we flip the nursery from Toddlerville, back to Dogville, right back over to Weeville, clean up the last traces of puppy chaos, and begin preparing for Isla’s upcoming pups, I am feeling incredibly hopeful about what lies ahead.
To Isla and her growing little peanuts: keep growing little ones. We are getting ready for you.
This will be Isla’s retirement litter ‘THE QUEEN’S FINAL REIGN’ Litter. The Queens Court will hopefully include – Crown Jewel, Royal Grace, Golden Princess, Royal Pearl, Lasting Evermore, Golden Prince, Royal Duke, Noble Legacy, Royal Knight, Golden Heir, Regal King. Yes with 11, I’m shooting high! WHY NOT!
To Anya: Take your time beautiful girl, your chapter is right around the corner.
To Noni: Enjoy your well-earned break.. even though you made it very clear you do not want one. Maybe your next litter you can raise with your sisters’ babies! Oh, my heart!
To Neema: we have some very exciting plans in the works, and I cannot wait to be by your side as it all unfolds.
And to all the families who have welcomed Noni's Littles into their homes: enjoy every moment of this next adventure.
Be patient with yourselves, give yourselves grace, don’t expect too much too soon, listen to your pups as they speak to you, connect deeply and let them work their magic.
May the heavens continue to grow Isla's peanuts into strong healthy handfuls of wonder. May mother nature grant us with alignment in the plans we have such high hopes for. May the stars shine down upon us as dreams are in the works and hearts are on the line. May we hold faith and high hopes for more beautiful cream puffs ahead.
