Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Dog Accessories on Pinterest and You Tube

Bon Bon has been born and will be old enough to take home BEFORE Christmas! Yahoo!!! His dam and sire produced three pups and all are male.

I've got most of the basics that will be needed. The harness I purchased is pink, but there is a chance that he will outgrow it quickly. To store his things, I got an inexpensive plastic dresser.

 I've been sewing a few things to make his arrival go a bit more smoothly. I hit a sale at the fabric store and got a bunch of polar fleece. I made a dog bed using a basket I purchased for $6.00.


I also made a couple of crate pads and a flat, rectangular bed. Hey, it's not rocket science.

Bon Bon will also need clothing. The Farmer's Almanac (and the caterpillars) are predicting a rough winter. By mid December, I am expecting it to be cold. I found a You Tube video on turning a sock into a dog sweater. Bon Bon will be coming home in a sock. Not an ordinary sock, one of the thick and woolly ones used for hunters. I don't really want to spend lots of money on XXS dog clothing for a puppy and have him out grow the clothing in a matter of weeks.

 I've been playing with patterns that I found ideas for on Pinterest. My challenge has been to create clothing for a tiny puppy that I have no idea what size it will be, other than 'really, really small.'  So far, I've made one sock-sweater, one sweatshirt sleeve sweater, and two out of polar fleece. I also made a few bows for his top knot that are masculine. The directions are on You Tube, but I used several different videos to determine what to do.

Hubster thinks the black one is for the opera and the black and blue one is for a wedding. I don't care, I just don't want Bon Bon to have pink and floofy bows.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Dog Happiness

I have been communicating with a breeder and will be (I hope!!!) taking a puppy home between Christmas and New Year's. Bon Bon will be a pure bred Yorkshire Terrier, and she will be registered with the AKC. I want to be able to see my dog interacting with her dam, sire, and siblings before I take her home.

I have decided to follow the advice of a single dog trainer, Cesar Millan, as well as the advice from the breeder and my vet. I've been watching old episodes of Cesar's TV shows, reading and listening  to his books and slowly getting ready to have my own puppy.

Why do I want a puppy?

  • My husband travels for up to 10 days at a time away from the house. I want some company.
  • I need a daily schedule that is consistent and motivation to keep to that schedule. 
  • I need a reason to get out of the house, and goals to complete while I am out.
  • I need a way to connect to other residents of this town. 
  • I don't want to have to correct behavior learned from a previous owner.
  • I want the responsibility of helping a puppy grow up into the dog I want her to be. 


I'm having a lot of fun preparing for Bon Bon's arrival. I get to shop, I get to make things, I get to do lots and lots of research, learn new things, identify, and solve problems. All of these things make me happy.

Reality check.  Bon Bon's dam is going to whelp around October 24, 2017. Bon Bon hasn't even been born yet! I have a deposit on file with the breeder. I have requested a female puppy. Bon Bon is still a hope and not a reality at this time.