Excitement over new baby
Posted by: EileenW1
3rd Jul 2015 09:47am
We vowed we would never get another dog after our last beloved Norwegian Elkhound died aged 14. We were blessed to have owned two but our gorgeous, brave Britte developed lymphoma and we spent a fortune on chemo for a year to give us that important extra time. When she died Elke grieved so badly as did our two cats. Then when she too died the sorrowing was too great. We also felt as seniors, we did not want an animal to outlive us. However after five years of emptiness we both found ourselves aching for another dog. My husband became ill and depressed and just three weeks ago I took the plunge and looked up Elkhound breeders. I contacted the only one I found in Queensland and - yes - a litter had just been born and - yes - a girl was available for sale. Oh what a change that news has already made to our lives, including our daughters and grandsons. We can't wait to welcome another gorgeous ball of fur and fun into our lives. The family are already lining up to 'babysit'. As Elkhound owners know - once you have owned one you become an incurable Elkoholic. We can visit our new baby soon and bring her home in a month.
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Comments 5
jules06
I can only imagine the pang of emptiness without a pet in the household. I am so thrilled you took the step to get another dog. As i was reading i was too going to suggest that you visit the rspca or animal welfare league and make a senior adoption. As you obviously had a soft spot for the elkhound and desired to quell the elkoholism i am really excited for you.
my parents considered themselves in a similar position in that they were wanting another dog but didn't want to have it outlive them. So when i had my new puppy stolen from my car in the 3 mins my partner left her in the car with the elderly staffie while he went inside the store to return videos i was shattered to say the least. Shattered that she was gone but shattered with my faith in humanity realising how a person took a liking she was a tenterfield. Terrier 10wks and fit in the palm of your hand. The runt of a litter and an attitude that proved she was a feisty little fighter. All i cld think was that a person who cared so little for the feelings of another and really didn't care between what was right and wrong would probably not be very nice people. They took her in a moment of 'oh how cute' like seeing a puppy in the pet shop window but when they got her home and realised she had attitude that honestly needed dealing with correctly at this age they would have ended up with quite a feisty or nasty dog on their hands. Or. They just got themselves a new bait dog for their fighting ring! I hate to think of it really anyway off topic there, mum and dad found d a litter of tenterfield terriers 4,sale. My dad also loved this breed. He grew up with a fox terrier as his best mate! Tenterfields are a mini fox terrier x Manchester black & tan x Chihuahua x Italian greyhound. Later named the mini fox terrier and later still being named Tenterfield terriers after an early use of them in Tenterfield in wld for going rabbit hunting. Mum & dad took me to get my new baby, i had wanted a girl. Dad was saying on the way if they had a boy he would be very tempted but they are too old now to start again. We arrived to find there were 2 pups' left. A girl & a boy. I purchased the girl and we left. Not more than 5 mins down the road and dad pulls over. In angst he didn't want to drive away without the little boy too.
i promised dad i would take his dog 'onslo' if they died. He would leave me the dog in his will. & i had my little girl who came to me at a very dark time she was aptly named 'hope' the dogs are best friends now 11yrs and every visit dogs must go too. They go berserk when they see ea other.
it turned out onslo was the laid back slower one and hope was the 1 wound like a top. On the go all the tine. She comes for a cuddle because but she is off again in less than a minute. She loves being on my property where she hunts the mice in the feed shed. They are gorgeous
All the best with your new bundle of fur. You will never look back. As a hearing dog trainer for 6 yrs i trained and delivered dogs all over Australia to many deaf clients who like a lot of us have health issues one common 1 high blood pressure. After a clue t received their dog it was so common to get an email within the first 3 -4 months saying they have returned to the dr for a check up and have come home with a clean bill of health. I truly hope your new pup has the same effect on your husbands health. I am sure there will be a difference also to his health.
EileenW1
I have changed my profile photo to that of our new baby Elkhound. She is called Sheba and already proving she has the intelligence, determination and super smelling -out skills of her breed.
EileenW1
I know we have made the right decision and already the Elkhound community has welcomed us and we have made many new online friends. I will keep you all posted with photos when we bring her home. Bless you Eileen
catlady
Hi, Eileen
as an animal lover of many years I have been down the same path many times. It never ceases to amaze how often a replacement fur kid turns up with his/her unique characteristics, to work their magic all over again. As a volunteer at our local R.S.P.C.A, I see many lovely older pets looking for comfort and love, and so don,t worry over much about ever being too old myself. Good luck to you and your family with the new baby.
cheers, catlady
EileenW1
Thank you for your supportive words. We are also preparing our 15 year old cat and hoping she will think the new Elkhound is her beloved Elke returned. When Elke died poor Bijou almost pined to death herself.