Ready for Adoption!

Thursday, February 5, 2009
The time is there, pups are old enough to leave the nest, we have a reasonable good sense of what their characters and temperaments will be. We are confident we can match them with the right person/couple/family.

It's with a heavy heart that I will let them go, they are the most lovable pups that I have ever had, not destructive, not whiny, easy going, relaxed when we relax, nap when we nap, sleep when we sleep, as long as they can be with their pack everything is alright with them. That will be one of our adoption terms, they will need to be part of the pack, sleep with their family and someone needs to be home during their puppyhood. Pups can not be left alone for a full work day, of course it's alright to leave a pup alone for short while for shopping or otherwise while being crated, but adopters who work full time and plan to leave a pup alone do not need to apply.

I have put together a website, listing a short bio of each pup and the adoption terms.

BorderValley Rescue in Oregon


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Their Fifth Week

Monday, February 2, 2009
The 5th week just started but we're going to try to blog every other day, or as much as possible because they change so much in these weeks.

This weekend a visit to the pet store was planned and a visit to the vet for the first round of vaccinations and the second dewormer.
The pet store because they needed a little harness and a leash, they are too big to be carried in a crate to the vets. That was fun, they got to sit in the shopping cart at our local PetSmart and got oooohhhed and aaaaahed all over by all the shoppers. Good for socialization ;-) We found nice little harnesses, a red one for Fynn and a blue one for Lass. They looked pretty smart in it and we have the photo's to proof it! ;-)
Now walking with those things on is a whole different story. ;-)
Although both did alright for their first time! We walked into the vet office without having to carry them. That's a major progress! What good little puppies!

Lass was a bit shy and wanted to see who these people were, as usual, before drooling all over them and giving puppy kisses. Fynn however was outgoing as ever and gave everyone who wanted puppy kisses and asked for belly rubs.

Below:
Lass getting loads of attention from desk person at the vet's office



We left Lass with the desk person who took her to the back to show her off to other vet techs and vets to socialize and get loads cuddles and attention and we took Fynn into the room to be weighed and to get a shot.



Fynn weighs 9 pound and 4 ounces! He more than doubled in size since the last time we were here! They cleverly distracted him with a treat while they took temp and gave a shot. He than got an extra special treat with the Drontal and he was done, it was now his turn to get extra love from the vet techs in the back and we switched pups.

Lass wasn't too sure about all this and she made her most pitiful 'I'm scared face' I have ever seen ;-)



Lass weighs 11 pounds and 2 ounces and although Fynn looks sturdier than Lass, Lass is actually heavier and bigger. I guess that extra week older is showing through. ;-)

She also ate her treats, I was worry for a moment she would refuse them but she came trough as a tough little Border Collie. She also got her shot and the Drontal and after some more cuddles and puppy kisses we said goodbye, see you in 3 weeks and went home.

This was a vet tech appointment, we did not see the vet this time. It's handy it saves some money.

They both slept for a few hours after all this excitement but had no noticeable problem with the shots, they were chasing each other like there was no tomorrow again after a few hours of sleep.

I have put the links to the all photo albums on the right side under 'Photo's' please click there to see more photo's of the visit to the vet clinic.

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Their Fourth Week

Week 4! Pups are now 8 and 9 weeks old, Fynn is 8 and Lass is 9 weeks and are really at that funny learning age. We have been practicing with the clicker and a treat to ‘sit’ just for fun. But everything they see outside and every new sound is new to them and either scary or curious. The neighbor with an electric saw outside, the garbage haulers, the postman, the poop-a-scoop lady, it all a new adventure to them.

The week started when we woke up to a new layer of fresh snow. What fun! Outside we went, Waldo had already fed them and worked from home because our house is build on a small hill and even with chains it’s difficult to get out of the drive way. Luckily his job allows him to work from home.

When the pups arrived here on New Years Day we also had snow, lots of it and they have been out in the snow before but I think they didn’t remember that. This was a whole new experience to them. They run around like little madmen and chased each other kicking up the snow, it was a joy to see ;-)

Below are a few pics I tried to make when they were chasing each other. They run so fast it's difficult to get a good shot ;-) Please click on them to see a bigger version.





I almost got them!



Here Lass spots a garden butterfly ornament. It was there for ages but she acts like she sees it for the first time. Carefully approaching it with her hind legs stretched out, and being bold taking another step...... She's a very careful, little dog who doesn't rush into things. ;-)



Fynn, daring his sister to play ;-) I love the bit of snow on is nose and his little pink feet.



After an hour of snow play it's good to sleep on on your comfy bed and snoooooooooze



The week went by without much exciting things happening. Aunt Vicki came by(again! yeah!) to see the pups a after she picked up 2 other rescue Border Collies in Troutdale from Baker City. The 2 of us took the opportunity to trim the pups nails, they were sharp little spikes that make nasty scratches on your face or hands. Holding one wiggly puppy yourself and than clip his nails is nearly impossible but 2 clever adults got the job done. ;-) They all look presentable again.

We decided that next weekend would be a good time to list the pups for adoption, they will be 9 and 10 weeks old by than. We have given them time to recover from their infections, we know their personalities a bit better now and they have had their first round of shots.

It will be exciting to see who will think these pups are as gorgeous and wonderful as we think they are. I hope everyone will realize that taking in a pup is a 14 - 16 year commitment and you have to be serious about providing care and activities for these little guys and know that Border Collie age slowly, they stay pups and teens for a very long time. (2 years) before reaching adult hood. That can be a loooong time ;-) I'm convinced they all will make wonderful loving well behaved companions to whomever is going to have the joy of sharing their life with them.

Below:
a slide show of our snow photo's




Would you like to see the snow photo's album with full size photo's? Click here!

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