One of the hard things about being a breeder…

Most people on our High Jump FaceBook Group already know this, but I thought I needed to add a blog post about it here too, just to bring Nutmeg’s story at High Jump to a close.

In the months that this little munchkin had been living with us, she had wormed her way into our hearts. She is a delightful puppy, and perfect in so many ways. She is smart as a whip, absolutely adorable, super cuddly, and able to talk ANYONE into a belly rub before she gets up in the morning!

However, as time went on, I became concerned that her bite might be “going off”. And by mid-March, it was becoming clear that Nutmeg had a very mild underbite. While this is not something that is a problem at all for a pet puppy, (and hers is so mild that you can’t even see it unless you go looking for it) it is disqualifying in a show dog or as a breeding dog. And as much as we have fallen in love with her, she came to High Jump to do a job… To be an outcross female that I could breed to Ducky. With her underbite, this was not a possibility.

It broke my heart, but I had to contact her co-breeders, Diane Moshe and Sandi Kubler about finding her a new, wonderful pet home. They were as upset as I was, of course, but they also completely understood, as they are breeders too. And then… it seemed like Kismet!

A family who had gotten a wonderful dog from Diane many years ago called her up looking for a puppy, as their old dog had recently passed away. Diane had had to tell them that she did not have any room on her waiting list. And then I called! She called them right back, and they jumped at the chance to take a little bit older, beautifully trained puppy!

So in just a few days, a plan was made for Nutmeg-Clementine to go to her new home in New Jersey. Her new family asked if I would trim her top knot, so that they would not have to try to put it up every day. I have to say, she looks adorable this way!

Then the plan was for her new family to meet me at the dog shows in Syracuse to pick her up. So off she went to the dog shows with me. To stay in the hotel, in a suite, for the first time in her little life. Where she was a super star! Pottying on her potty pad with 100% accuracy, playing with her toys, going up and down the elevator with the “big dogs” on her leash, and hanging out in the trolley at the shows. She made me love her even more!!!

When her new family arrived to meet her and take her home, we had a lovely time getting to know each other, exchanging information, and exchanging hugs and puppy kisses. Sandi, her co-breeder who she actually lived with from birth through 8 weeks was there to see her off along with me. Her new family has reported in and they tell us that she is doing wonderfully and they love her to pieces! They are on the High Jump FB group, and I’ve told them what a beloved member of the High Jump family that Nutmeg-Clementine became in her brief time with us. I’ve asked them to share updates and photos of her with us all from time to time!

That is Sandi on my left, and she is holding Ember, Nutmeg-Clementine’s sister! Nutmeg-Clementine’s new family are just thrilled with her, as you can see from the photo!

So there it is. One of the hard things of being a breeder. In a way, this was harder than placing the puppies I breed, because I know from the beginning that most of those puppies are leaving. But this puppy was supposed to be staying. She was supposed to be part of the High Jump family. And she made it so darned EASY to love her! But it was the right decision for our program to place her with a loving pet home, and find a different breeding girl for Ducky. And so, our search will continue!