Puppies

5-1-17

After lots of uncertainty and months of discussing and looking at Peggy's young adults/retired dogs, it's really looks like there will be a dog in our lives. A puppy! A baby, too! Am  ready? Emotionally...mostly. Puppy proofed....no. Puppy rules discussed with Xander...not yet. Peggy asked about levels in the house and emphasized how we must not let the pup charge up and down stairs, and must put down some thick mats at the bottom of stairs to offset hard landings. Looks like puppy will be on a short leash for a while, literally and figuratively.
I am anxious about X and the pup. He's so excited about the pink-collared female and will be disappointed if she's not available. He also has been saying he's going to take the dog everywhere but I've told him that just won't be practical most of the time. His best friend, Lachlan, who lives nearby, doesn't even like dogs. I picture myself following him in the car or making arrangements to pick up the dog. What it comes down to is that I don't yet trust him and maybe never will with my dog. Is it possible that the pup will be a family dog?? Xander says he wants the pup to sleep in his room but is he going to deal with the whining and crying that is likely early on?
I admit I'm concerned about sharing my new dog with someone else. I'm not great at sharing anyway, and I want an amazing bond with this puppy/dog. Like my Cupid. Like my Eli. Dogs that I never really had to share with other dogs or people. I can reassure myself with knowing that I'll be the one doing beginning obedience and spending more time feeding, sleeping next to, walking, and socializing my pup.

11-21-17  Update

Well, I can't believe that the whole deal fell through. So disappointed. I was at Peggy's place, ready to take a puppy home. At the time, I wasn't sure if it would be the brown-collared sable, the likely long-coat, or Peanut the runt. Peggy said that another buyer came out and had a really nice immediate bond with the stand-offish, brown-collared female. Peggy said I have first choice, but that was enough to help me narrow down my decision. I was concerned about health issues with Peanut, even though most everything I'd read said that runts typically grow up fine. That left the coat, which I wasn't in love with but had shown some potentially nice working ability. I was satisfied, though not thril