The honeymoon... was over.

Balto's first day at his new home was the day after Christmas, 2011. He came home happy, and social. Or so we thought. He checked out his new environment, and the 4 of us (5 with kitty Salem) that were going to make up his new home. Pictures were taken, posts were made. All seemed incredibly wonderful. Then, the honeymoon ended.  I don't remember exactly when, if it was after his first night here, or maybe a day later, but he then started being spooked in his environment. His breeder has a huge yard, fantastically large areas for the dogs, but they are surrounded by 8 foot wooden fences. This world he was in now had a LOT of new things, even something as simple as a car...was new to him.

He slowly got worse. To the point of only me being able to pet him, and that was as he scooted past me on his way to his safe place by my office chair. The kids and Rhonda would beg... plead...and nothing. He trusted no one but me, and even that was stretching it. Outside terrified him, unless it was dark. He'd wait 24 hours for darkness to come to go outside and potty. No kidding... he could hold it that long, for a dog who'd only had a day of formal house breaking. He'd pace, in circles around our small house. Drooling as he went. Tail tucked..tongue hanging. And he'd sleep. He at least seemed to do that peacefully.  If he was home alone with Rhonda, he'd be in what ever room she wasn't. If he did want out, she'd have to open the slider, leave the room..and wait for him to go outside.  He was terrified, most all the time. Unless he was being loved on by me.

This all caused us great worry. Yes,  it was ME who chose him, ME who wanted him...but I was heart broken fearing he was going to be a ME only dog. Our last fellow had become that way...and I let it happen. I didn't want to be the only one here enjoying this new pupster.

We were at a complete loss. Nothing seemed to make Balto comfortable. He got better...and his recovery times from scarey things got shorter...but he just wasn't a happy dog. We were besides ourselves. We contacted the breeder wondering if perhaps a 2nd pup from his litter would ease his worries. She recommended against it. That was probably a good call.

During all this time, we'd just started in to the facebook world of malamute people. It was then we started seeing other pups, 'meeting' other northern breed lovers, and getting advice. All of it good.
It seemed perhaps another dog would be best, an alpha perhaps.
I was good with the idea of dog 2. Only rules I had were... 1. No females. 2.No huskies and 3. Bi-eyed dogs weirded me out...so they were out.

Now.. to find that perfect match...

Tic Toc Tic Toc Com'on Christmas, hurry up and get here!!

Christmas is a joyous time, full of family and laughter, presents and fun. My job makes it a end goal, and it's one of the few parts I regret. But I'm learning to work past that.

So now I had my new BFF picked out, he was to be neutered (sorry bud.. it's my rule) and we'd pick him up 'sometime' after the holidays. Dec 26th, 2011 to be exact, and that's only because I'm fairly certain the breeder was not going to meet me after Christmas dinner!

We'd already met the mother, father, and other pups at the breeders so this was going to be a quick process.  We arrived and they brought Balto out to us. His name had been tic toc and only as I write this now do I realize the irony of me waiting ...and waiting, for a pup named tic toc. Balto, was a name given to me by a friend in Alaska. I'd messaged him and asked him for an authentic malamute name. He suggested I look Balto up on wikipedia. I did, and decided it was the perfect name. Good phonetics, unique, and meaningful. I had no idea there was a movie, and a cartoon named Balto. I swear!

So we pick up Balto, and get him in the minivan. It's at this moment that Pat, Katie, and I realize he's HUGE. In the yard he looked big, but when we got him someplace our last dog often was, we realized he was MUCH bigger... I giggled I think, as I had wanted a big fuzzy friend. The kids too were excited. So was Rhonda, but she was home preparing for his arrival.

One of the drawbacks to this breeder is the dogs are kept outside, all the time. They have large areas to live and play in, but potty training is never really worked upon. So when we got Balto home we took him immediately into his new back yard. We were all so excited, and he sniffed around and got love and kisses from us all. Pictures were being snapped faster than at a fashion show, and he took it all in stride. He was HOME!  We were all so excited, he was what we'd all hoped for...and more!  Potty training turned out to be a non issue, as he'd pace when he needed to go and we'd let him out. This was turning out better than expected... what could possibly go wrong??.....

And it started with a song.....

My first malamute mix Dakota, was a rescue and his true genetics unknown. He was a malamute in size and attitude, and that's what we called him. He had to be put down at 15, and it was indeed one of lifes harder moments. But he's why we're northern breed people, and I love him for that.

Shortly before Dakota's last Christmas, we discovered a local breeder of malamutes.  Their site was awesome to look at, and we fell in love with the woolie looking ones. That's when I, in musical whimsy that I swear I got from my mother, came up with the song 'I want a woolie malamute for Christmas'. Sung to the more popular tune 'I want a hippopotamus for Christmas'. My stepdaughter and I would sing this, to taunt and tease my wife who was holding strong on the 'no more dogs right now' mantra.  She would win out, but not without being tortured for a bit. :)

Summer 2011 was Dakota's last. With failing hind legs and spinal degeneration, the decision was hard, tough, and makes me tear up to this day. But it was best, and I owed him that. For the first time in 10 years we were without a dog. With kids getting older, we toyed with the idea of being a no dog family, allowing Rhonda and I the freedom of travel without a dog in tow. Maybe only I toyed with that idea, since I was in denial. Rhonda left the decision and choice of a next dog up to me.... only helping me decide if or when asked. She's a smart lady, she knew I needed a buddy...even though I hadn't admitted it yet.

I spent the next few months visiting shelters wherever my work took me across the state. But I never found that 'connection'. I hadn't resolved the type of dog, just big, furry, and fun. I met a lot of great pups, but never the 'one'. I then contacted the breeder who's site we'd loved. I'd had contact with her earlier that summer when some of her pups escaped, and had helped to find a very wooly dog named Chaos. After some conversations, the breeder came up with a possible match from her older puppies. Rhonda had hoped to avoid the chewing potty training days so we went with an older pup.

This, is what we met that day......

So on 11/19/2011 we met and fell in love with this malamute.  With my busy work schedule and the holidays we agreed to wait to pick him up. 

But, it was finally happening......

I was getting a wooly malamute for Christmas!! (Because only a wooly malamute will do...)

Who are you and why do I want to read this?

Above (I think...this is all new to me) are two pups named Balto and Reba. I honestly think most people can figure out who is who, but for the record Balto is the black and white Alaskan Malamute and Reba is the red and white Siberian Husky. Both of them are what you'd call 'woolies'. Woolies are outside the breed standard and considered a poor quality for a working dog.  Since their only job is making us happy, it's an added quality and makes them super snuggly.

This blog started as I began to show a friend some blog ideas. Being a techie, people expect me to know this stuff. I don't. I did in 1993, but a lot has changed since I first mastered the internet in the 90's! <insert laughter>

So, you've met the dogs. I'm going to relive our story a bit. I have facebooked about these two a LOT (that should be in a HUGE font) and every time I feel I'm going overboard I get a message from an old friend or a new one saying how they love the stories about them. I'm told I tell a good tale. We'll see if that's so soon.

Thanks for stopping by, when I finish with all my work today I'll try and get this thing rolling.

The Beginning..... of the blog.