“Things may be different, but a puppy will still steal your heart...”
Acquiring a puppy during a pandemic gives a whole new meaning to ‘the new normal’. Alison Gallagher-Hughes shares a very different experience.
Ipicked my pandemic puppy from pictures. Now, before you shake your head and take a sharp intake of breath, let me qualify that statement.
My decision to acquire another dog wasn’t a whim or a well-being panacea, but the happy outcome of an 18-month plan. My circumstances are a little different to most: I didn’t have to tiptoe through the minefield of finding a reputable breeder — I had one already and know the ‘pawrents’ personally. In fact, Dad is sitting at my side as I write this, gently snoring while his scamp of a son is causing mayhem.
However, what I share with many others is an experience of choosing and collecting a new pup in strange times… a momentous moment, filled with joy and excitement, but edged with trepidation. Things needed to be done differently, within the rules and mindful of the safety of all parties.
My story starts with a loss — the death of my beautiful Jasmine, a tricoloured Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a retired breeding bitch whom we had rehomed. She was companion to Rufus, our first dog, who we have had since he was a pup. Both were from the same trusted breeders. When I broke the news of her loss to Pauline and Roger Sysum, I was in pieces. They immediately suggested something to ease my pain. When I felt ready to take on a new dog, they said, I could use Rufus as the sire to one of their girls and have first choice from the litter.
THE RIGHT MATCH
However, ill-health and a house move meant that they had scaled down their business and it would be necessary to wait until the remaining females reached the right maturity for breeding, and a match could be found that was suitably coefficient to prevent inbreeding.
In the meantime, we had Rufus health checked and supplied the test results to the Sysums so that they could select a suitable female. Then the world changed…
We had been through two lockdowns and were enjoying a relaxation of restrictions when the time came to progress ‘Operation Pupster’. Autumn, a stunning Ruby Cavalier, was chosen. We had met her before and found her to be a lively dog who was a good match in size for Rufus. As they were both newbies to breeding, we agreed to have her stay with us to provide a quieter environment to allow the magic to happen at the optimum time. When we returned Autumn, we were full of hope that she was cooking up some puppies.
We kept in touch with Pauline via Messenger to check on progress and were delighted to receive a report of a definite puppy bulge a few weeks later. Of course, it would have been lovely to see the expectant mum but the COVID situation was changing.
We were moving through the rapidly changing tiered stage of the pandemic that restricted travel. Instead, we kept in touch with updates of Autumn’s impending motherhood. Her due date was mid-December… we were like expectant relatives as she went into labour, and anxiously awaited news of the arrivals through the night and early into the next morning. I reacted like Pavlov’s dog to each ‘ting’ of the phone. The next day we were rewarded with a photo of the proud mum and four puppies — two boys and two girls: three Blenheims and a Ruby.
Christmas came and went with regular pupdates — weigh-ins and photos charting their progress and development. They were moved from the nursery to the living room where, with newly opened eyes, they could begin to experience their wider environment. Videos followed as the pups became more active, playful, and confident and began socialising with the older dogs. By this time, we were in lockdown three, abiding by the rules and staying at home.
Then I was asked if I had a preference as to which of the pups I wanted. I had imagined being able to see them all and allowing the pup to choose us — this is what happened with Rufus and it was the perfect match. I had also visited him at five and seven weeks and began developing a bond with him. Clearly this
“I had imagined being able to see them all and allowing the pup to choose us...”
wasn’t possible this time around.
All the advice around choosing a pup — select a ‘middle one’, not the most dominant or the most reserved — was difficult to apply. Instead, I used both head and heart.
I would have loved another female but toyed with the practicalities around maturity. Most experts recommend that a female has her first season before being neutered and the idea of keeping a young female away from an amorous father steered me instead to consider another boy.
Of the two boys, one was slightly larger. Rufus is bigger than the breed standard and was a chunky pup so this swayed me. I also liked the pattern in this pup’s fur which was distinctly different from that of Rufus. So, on that basis, I made my choice. Knowing the health and lineage of both parents, and the effort put in by the breeders to nurture and socialise, I am sure that every one of the pups will grow into a wonderful dog.
We decided on a name soon after — Pauline actively uses their pet names when handling them so that they become responsive to the sound — and soon it was time for Montague Henry (or Monty) to move to his forever home.
The advice given by the Kennel Club for puppy collection in England recommended that the breeder should deliver the pup,
“Clearly, he was lulling us into a false sense of security!”
which was allowable in the course of their business, but that “where this is not possible, and it is reasonably necessary for the pet’s welfare, a new owner may collect the puppy… by appointment only.”
I asked the breeder if I could be the first to collect, to allow me my one and only opportunity to see the pups together and give a ‘well done’ snuggle to Mum. Between us, we managed to orchestrate a socially distanced, PPE covered hand-over. Pauline had already prepared the documentation, went through some of the key points as outlined by the KC Assured Breeder Scheme, and had a final cuddle with Monty before he went into the carrier for the journey home.
She had even produced her own bound advice book with photos of Autumn and Rufus in the back as a keepsake for the new owners.
We took Rufus with us to see his pups and meet Monty away from home territory. Monty cried a little in the car but with another dog on the back seat, soon settled and snoozed the rest of the journey.
Back at home, we allowed the cats to investigate the small bundle in the carrier. They have got used to Rufus but had not had the pleasure of a ‘small thing’ for a while. They were cautiously welcoming. Monty it seemed was exhausted by the radical change in circumstances and seemed a little subdued — perhaps not a bad thing for introductions.
This was the calm before the storm. Clearly, he was lulling us into a false sense of security! The next day his confidence was evident and now he is an excitable little fella, full of boundless energy.
The other ‘different’ was Monty’s vet check a couple of days later. The traditional advice is to diffuse this new situation with a reassuring and calming presence in the consulting room. However, this too was impractical. The protocol operated by our vets was to call the reception on your mobile on arrival and someone from the practice would meet you outside your car and take the animal in.
Following the examination, Nick the vet returned him to the car park and declared Monty to have a clean bill of health. “He is very cute,” he enthused. Yes, things may be different but one thing is certain… a puppy will steal your heart every time!