The Magic of Waiting: Finding Joy in the Journey Before Your Puppy Comes Home
As more and more families move forward with confidence and anticipation and join us on this amazing journey towards a new pup, others find themselves pausing, pondering, and contemplating the wait until that special pup lands in their arms.
You've done your research, made the commitment, have confidence and faith, know all the details and timeliness of litters planned. Understand how mother nature controls the outcome and you accept it all.
I completely understand, this is an emotional journey. Whether you are all in or still pondering..
I'll share a few thoughts from my perspective…
It's truly magical to delve into the world of patience and contentment as you await your new bundle of fluff. The journey begins long before you ever meet your pup, and every day, every moment, becomes part of the story leading up to that unforgettable day when your little 10-pound bundle of wonder comes flying around the corner, full tilt, flopsy mopsey, straight toward you, and crashes into you like a long-lost friend.
There's nothing quite like it.
It's the kind of magic that lives in anticipation, in quiet planning, and in the little daydreams that catch you smiling when you least expect them. It's imagining a furry little puff curled up beside you on the couch, looking into your eyes as if they can see straight into your soul. It's the sound of playful chaos welcomed into your home and the kind of unconditional love that only a puppy can bring.
When you have secured your placement for an upcoming pup, something shifts within.
You can breathe. You can grieve if need be.
You can begin to plan. You can shop for that ridiculously adorable collar you absolutely did not need to buy yet. Order that name tag from Etsy with the name you've saved in your heart since you were 10. You can start imagining where your puppy will sleep, what their personality might be like or how it will mesh with yours. How you are going to control the 'golden glitter' in your home and how that little being will fit into your family.
You can argue with your family about what name will be on that collar tag and still undecided you show up on selection day with 2 tags engraved. You wonder whether your perfect match will be a boy or a girl, and what tag will be used.. will it be Buddy or Maple. Josh, one of my fondest memories. I still wonder if you have Maple's tag.
You catch yourselves looking at every Golden you pass on the street or trail, wondering if yours will have that same magnificent feathery tail, curly cream coat, or ear-to-ear smile. Counting how many creams you see vs. Golden Goldens or reds.
Now’s the time to book those vacations you've been talking about.
Fly to Florida to contemplate residency, Explore India to expand your horizons (go visit Theo!) Wander through Nepal with confidence you didn't think you had or simply huncker down in Tofino in a beach front bungalow in the middle of the winter.
Take that long-awaited trip wherever your heart leads, visit family.. they need you, or enjoy a spontaneous weekend somewhere beautiful.. you deserve it. Embrace those adventures while your schedule is still flexible and before your days begin revolving around potty breaks, nap schedules that don't make sense, socialization outings, and a tiny companion who thinks you are the most perfect human on the planet and demands your attention at every waking moment. You will never pee alone again!
Before you know it, your pup will be home, and your world will take on a whole new meaning, look a little different.. in the very best way.
Before we dive deeper into all that excitement, let me give you some perspective on the waiting itself.
When your heart is ready, but your pup isn't here yet
For some families, the decision to bring a puppy home begins with heartbreak.
You've said goodbye to your most beloved, loyal companion. It was time. Maybe you shared 10-12 years together, or perhaps 14-16 if you were truly lucky. They never live long enough. They may have been there through marriages, babies, loss, career changes, moves, and all the ordinary, and extraordinary moments that make up a life. They were there on your hardest days, your happiest days, and the days when nothing particularly special happened at all. They were simply there, loving you without conditions or hesitation. Your days were calmer, more peaceful, and better because of them.
Then one day, the familiar sounds disappear. The house feels eerily quiet. There's no greeting at the door, no clicking of nails across the floor, no furry face watching you make breakfast and begging you to share your bacon. The dog bed sits empty. The toys remain untouched. You find yourself looking toward the place where they always slept, almost expecting to see them there. The energy in the house is different. It feels empty in a way that's difficult to explain to someone who has never loved a dog quite like that.
And perhaps, in the middle of that grief, you begin to consider opening your heart again.
Or maybe your story looks entirely different.
Perhaps your family has spent months discussing the idea of getting a dog.
Researching breeds and reading how Goldens are a close to the perfect family pet as it gets. You've decided the time is right. Everyone has voted and is on board. The kids are ecstatic, the hubby has agreed, and the family group chat has already been flooded with puppy cream puff photos.
You're ready for the muddy paws, the adventures, the companionship, and all the love, aka 'golden glitter' you know is coming. Your heart is all in.
And then you hear the words: … "There's a wait list."
Oh, I get it. I really do.
When your heart is ready, waiting can feel like a hefty blow. When you're grieving, another stretch of time without that familiar companionship can feel overwhelming. And when your excitement is at its peak, learning that your puppy may not arrive for months can feel like someone has pressed pause on a dream you were ready to begin today. You want to begin healing, start the adventure, or simply welcome this wonderful new chapter into your family's life. I understand the weight behind those feelings because dogs have always been at the center of my world. I live, breathe, walk, talk, and speak dog. Always have, always will. My life revolves around these beautiful dogs, their well-being, their futures, and the families who will love them. I understand the excitement of knowing a puppy is coming, the ache of missing a dog, and the anticipation of a family preparing to welcome someone new.
So, if you're looking at a wait list and wondering how on earth you're going to get through it, let me offer you a different perspective.
What if the waiting isn't simply time standing between you and your future pup?
What if it's part of the magic?
There's something wonderfully reassuring about knowing that a new little life will soon become part of your family. You don't know which pup will be yours, you do not have a photo of that squishy squashy face yet. You don't know whether your little one will be the adventurous explorer, the thoughtful observer, or the snuggly leg leaner. But the possibility is becoming a reality, and you have something beautiful to look forward to.
If you're grieving, this time gives you permission to move at your own pace. You don't have to rush your heart or pretend you're ready before you are. You can miss the dog you lost, honor the life you shared, and gradually make room for the next companion that you will share your space and life with. A new puppy will never replace the dog who came before. They aren't meant to.
They'll write their own story with you, create their own memories, and leave their own paw prints on your heart. I believe it's about allowing both truths to exist together: you can deeply miss one dog while looking forward to loving another. Because once you've had a dog in your life, I know, at least for me, there's no way I can imagine being without one.
If you're welcoming your very first dog, the waiting period offers something equally valuable: time to learn, ask questions, and build confidence before your puppy ever crosses your threshold. You don't need to have everything figured out on day one. But you can give yourself the gift of feeling a little more prepared for the adventure ahead. Because puppies are no joke!
And if you already have dogs, you have an opportunity to prepare, shift and shuffle your home and routines for the newest addition to your furry family. You can even have a little chat with your existing dogs about the tiny troublemaker who's coming to invade their space, steal their beds, and pull their tails—but who will also look to them for guidance, become their steady companion, and eventually claim a spot as their favorite bed warmer. This is an opportunity to prepare your home, your heart, and your family for a wonderful new beginning.
You can begin to Nest
One minute, you're casually looking at dog beds that they'll probably never use because we all know goldens prefer your hard kitchen floor. The next, you're comparing crate dimensions, researching enrichment toys, debating collar colors, and deciding that your puppy needs just about everything in the puppy isle.
Suddenly, you have an entire binder bursting at the seams, dedicated to your future pup. And I LOVE it when families come to pick up their new puppy with full binders!
It tells me they've been thinking, learning, preparing, and investing themselves in this little being before they ever bring them home. This is your time to channel all that excitement into something meaningful.
Here are a few ways to make the waiting period a genuinely enjoyable part of your puppy journey:
Prepare Your Home
Decide where your puppy will sleep, where their playpen & crate will go, and whether you'll have one or two designated puppy zones. Think about where meals will happen, how you'll manage potty breaks, and how and whom in your family will take on what tasks. Puppy-proofing ahead of time is much easier than discovering on the spot that your beautifully manicured gardens have become a five-course meal.
Remember, Golden pups EAT EVERYTHING!
Learn Before You Need to Know
Read about trust, bonding, canine body language, positive-reinforcement training,
appropriate socialization, bite inhibition, and how puppies learn best.
Understanding normal puppy behavior before it happens can make those first few weeks feel much less overwhelming. You'll have a better idea of what to expect, what requires patience, and when you might need a little extra guidance. You don't have to become a canine behavior expert before your puppy arrives. But a little knowledge can go a long way toward building a confident, happy relationship from the beginning.
Enjoy the Freedom You Have Right Now
Remember that you don't have to spend every day preparing for your puppy. Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply enjoy the stage you're in. Yes, spend time with family. Take that fun trip. Enjoy a quiet morning with your coffee. Go for a walk without having to coordinate potty breaks or wonder what your little explorer might be chewing on next. And perhaps most importantly, give yourself permission to enjoy the anticipation without feeling that you must constantly do something to make your puppy's arrival happen faster. This is out of our control as mother nature has a plan and we have to let it play out.
Bringing a dog into your family is a very important decision. Take your time, do it right, and prepare for the commitment ahead. This little pup will hopefully be part of your life for many, many years to come, God willing, of course.
A Little About the Responsibility Behind the Wait
I know that waiting can sometimes be the hardest part of the entire process. I also know that bringing puppies into the world is a responsibility that begins long before a family ever receives that first photograph or brings their puppy home. The health and well-being of my dogs, the careful planning behind each pairing, the care given to every mother and litter, and the early experiences that help shape each puppy's beginning are things I take very seriously. Because of all this, I am indeed blessed with quite a wait list. There's a great deal happening behind the scenes while families wait, and my hope is that you feel confident, informed, and supported throughout your own journey. I promise with every ounce of my being, once that cream puff is in your arms you will realize the wait was a small price to pay for a lifetime of love. While you're preparing your home and imagining the little life that's coming, we're working hard on our end to give that little life the best possible start it deserves.
As cliché as it is, time flies and the wait will be over in a flash. Your puppy's journey has already begun, whether it be in Isla’s upcoming litter, Anya or Noni’s Spring litters or Neema’s very special litter in the fall.
The wait is just part of the story.
Speaking of Isla-
She is doing incredibly well. She is happy, sometimes hoppy and always smiling bright and wide. We limit her ball time to only ball catches and not long distance huck and retrieve sessions. We leave that up to the other 3 girls while of course Tonka observes … right under my hand or respectfully asking to crawl into my lap.
With 18ish days still left for these jumping beans to grow, she is popp’n mighty beautifully already. I’m not sure she’ll have 12 pups like she did last litter but she certainly isn’t having only a few. I am always grateful for any pup I am blessed with that is healthy and strong of course, but a full sized litter is always nice when you have quite a list of families eagerly waiting for that love bug to arrive. Before we know it these babies from ‘The Queen’s Final Reign’ litter will be marching confidently off to their new homes at the beginning of the year and in the next breath, Anya and Noni will hopefully be shifting and 2 new batches of bouncing beans will start their journey for more of you all.
For the families that get the opportunity to be part of this upcoming litter, the wait is almost over! The ‘Queen’s Court’ will arrive in style, healthy, happy and hoppy.
