Having stayed overnight in Kings Lynn, Norwich, we all went to see Eve to decide which of the puppies we were going to have.
Eve had already conducted a full FDTCB Aptitude test on all the puppies and had scored them all accordingly. She had also consulted with another breeder to identify which of the puppies would be most suited to Georgie for showing purposes and going to bigger and better things. As result of this, she had identified 2 male puppies, Sarchie, who was nicknamed ‘Heinz’ and ‘Blackjack’.
They were easily identified by their coloured beads that Eve had put on their collars and both scored top marks on the aptitude test, together with appearance. The only difference between the two was their temperament.
It wasn’t long before Georgie, Angie and myself agreed that Sarchie was to be the one. He had excellent appearance that could not be faulted in any way. He was however slightly livelier, but we were sure that this would assist in the show ring and when going hunting. Sarchie it was!
Eve then ran through everything that we needed to know, including a full diet sheet and information guide. She provided us with a collar, lead, dog food and a square of the bedding that they had been sleeping on since birth, to provide familiarity during his long journey home. She really looked after us well.
He was smaller than Katy the cat in size and could easily sit on Geogie’s lap in the back of the car. We made him comfortable and he soon settled. As we drove away, he surprised us all by his temperament. Apart from making a few ‘squeeks’ he was very quiet considering he had just been taken away from his mother and brothers and sister for the first time.
We were ‘armed’ with puppy pads and everything else you could think of for the long journey home (approx 180 miles). He was brilliant in the car and Georgie did an excellent job looking after him. We left when it was light around 2pm.
We stopped a couple of times on the way home to try and allow him to have a pee and whatever else he wanted to do, but nothing! He was more than happy to just sleep and play with a new teddy. Angie took over looking after him in the front of the car whilst I drove but again, no misshaps, nothing.
It was a long journey and following a couple of more stops we eventually arrived at home around 8pm in the dark.
Katy the cat was about to meet a new 4 legged ‘friend’ for the first time. We really didn’t know how she would react, having had the house to herself up to now. The reaction was, Katy did not like him and ‘hissed’ whenever he came close to her. Sarchie would quickly run back but then go back and try to make friends with Katy, but she would have none of it.
The easiest thing was for both to be kept apart, Katy showing she was the boss and Sarchie exploring the front room of his new home.
He quickly took to going for a pee and his business on the puppy pads or in the garden, and after being played with gently by Georgie, Sarchie. He was introduced to his new ‘bedroom’ his new dog crate, it is excellent for keeping him in and when travelling in the car. It would become a safe environment for him but he was unsure about it at first. He soon accepted it as a safe environment, away from Katy, when she could walk up to him but he was protected inside.
Within a short period of time he crashed and burned, and it was time to try his first night of sleeping. Angie decided the best plan was to allow him to sleep in his dog crate in the front room, with the door open. The puppy guard on the door to the front room with Katy on the other side. Angie would sleep on the sofa and ensure that he could go and use the puppy pads, or outside in the back garden when he woke up. This should be around 12am, 2am, 4am and 6am.
Pete & Georgie left the room and Angie looked after Sarchie.
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