Dogs can't count

Yesterday was the day that Andy and I have been "anticipating" for a while. The first 4 of our Pups left us to join their new families. It was with leaden feet that I dragged myself from bed in the morning to give them their last breakfast together. It was always a wonderful feeling when 7 expectant puppies came charging across to greet you in a morning and yesterday was even more wonderful than usual, as Andy and I both knew it would be the last time. So we fed them all and then got them all out of their puppy house and let them have a mad charge round for an hour to wear themselves out. A final play time for the 7 of them. As always we had some great fun and Jess came down to play tug of war with them.

Lily would be the first to leave us, and always a special favourite of mine, I was particulary dreading her going. We took her upstairs for an hour to get her used to being on her own. It was as if she could sense the anticipation in the air, the little monkey just refused to have a sleep and you could tell she was almost fit to drop.

Eventually, the time came when her new owners arrived to take her away. Rae, Neil, 4 daughters and their assorted menagerie of pets, were our first approved owners and therefore had the pick of the litter. They made a good choice as Lily has a lovely pretty face, and a great personality, but she can be a little grot bag when she wants to be. I did warn them that she would be a  handful.

Rae and their eldest daughter Bryony arrived and brought me a beautiful bouquet of Lilies, such a lovely thought -( but not a fair swap lol). As Rae and Bry left to escort Lily to her new home,  Jess consoled me while I cried.

One down three to go............

As Lily left we brought the next leaver upstairs for some time away from the litter. Elwood would be leaving for Northumberland to join Ian, Cath and their family just by the sea. A Newfoundlands dream. Andy settled Elwood in the car and said that Elwood was very relaxed as he set off for his new home.

Jess consoled me with a cuddle but I managed not to cry this time.

Feed the rest of the pups , quick trip to Tesco for supplies (Vodka is an absolute necessity after a day like this) and then back to pack Rufus off. Once again we spent the last hour with Rufus, playing with us and Jess before Paul , Jane and their gorgeous Retriever Keegan, arrived to collect him. For me this goodbye was a lot easier as Jane and Paul are friends of ours and whilst they live an hour and a half away, I know that we will be in constant touch with them and always be able to see  Rufus.

I still needed a cuddle off Jess though as they drove away.

And finally, for yesterday anyway, it would be time for Betty to leave us. Betty spent her last couple of hours charging around our kitchen/dining/living room with Nemo. The pair of them had a ball, and when Betty's new owners arrived for her, they were both fast asleep, under a stool in the window sill. Bless. And so, Betty took her leave. I am really pleased that Betty has gone to a family who live very local to us and who very recently lost their much loved 12 year old Brown Newfie who was called Molly. Such a coincidence - particularly as Betty's new owner is also called Andy! Betty will fill a special place for Kim, Andrew and the boys. She is a wonderful pup, full of character, she loves having her tummy tickled! It was a difficult decision for Andy and I not to keep her - we would have kept all of them if we could, but being realistic the choice for us was always either Betty or Nemo. The circumstances of Kim and Andrew coming to us just made it feel so right for them to take Betty.

Isn't this the most amazing photo! All our owners were excited to take their puppies home but not quite this excited!

Jess got lots of cuddles yesterday - but then she does everyday!

I was worried about Jess' reaction to the pups leaving, I needn't have been. She watched everyone walk away with her babies and didn't bother at all. She just got on with the business of being Jess, whilst taking advantage of the excess cuddles coming her way and licking the tears off my face.

I wondered what she would think when she went downstairs and saw only the three remaining pups - would she fret about where her babies had gone to? No, not at all. And as Andy so very kindly pointed out - Dog's can't count!

We wish all of our owners the best of luck with their new pups. We hope you have as much love and happiness from them as we had in the short time they spent with us. And we hope you have plenty of poo bags!