A couple weeks from now we'll have a new family member.
We're still missing Beorn a lot. Grieving.
Personally, I'm a bit down and tired, with little interest in doing much of anything, though I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Could be a freight train, I don't know.
The Missus and I often talked about what kind of dog we'd get when Beorn was gone. We both agreed it was her turn to pick.
The last pup was mine to choose, and I got Hudson. And aside from the thousands of dollars he's cost me in vet bills – so far– I'm pretty happy with the knucklehead.
She is in love with Bernese Mountain Dogs. She loves everything about 'em. So do I, to be honest.
We've got specific requirements for every dog we get.
- It's got to be large. There are a lot of critters out here, and a large dog has a better chance of surviving. It's not a guarantee, but size counts for a lot in this neck of the woods.
- It's got to be male. With large dogs, we wait nearly two years before getting them fixed. This allows for bones and ligaments to mature. Since we don't have fences, two years is a long time to keep a female "on the farm" and there's a lot of unfixed dogs in the area. We don't want to have to deal with an unplanned litter. Getting males is the only solution for us.
Ordinarily, we'd wait a few more months before getting a pup. It's hard to find Bernese Mountain Dogs in the size we like (100+ lbs.). As it happens, The Missus found a litter nearby with the mother kind of small, but the sire is 130+ lbs. We figured we better jump on it rather than wait. There's no telling how long before we'd find a suitable litter again.
Plus, I think The Missus is really heartbroken and wants a puppy for healing and cuddles. Apparently, when it comes to cuddling, I'm no longer cutting the mustard… just the cheese.
So we're going to pick up our new addition in a couple weeks. Right now, we're working on a list of possible names:
- Oberon
- Konig
- Beren
- Argus
- Stanley
- Winslow
I'm leaning towards Winslow. But it's The Missus' decision.
Let me know your favorite in the comments, if you like.
He's 6 weeks old and quite the charmer! Looks like a Winslow to me.