OT - Purple and Blue
 

Here are pictures of our first and second picks, with my daughter K.

Purple or Blue will come home in four weeks! Aren't they cute ???

Cara

Oh my goodness they are both adorable. And K is gorgeous!!

How can you choose? I would probably have to get both. I'm such a softie!

Rachel

Oh my gosh!!! Do we get to vote again?... Take both! Take both!! :D

BTW, your daughter is looking SO grown up. What gorgeous young lady she's turning into! I'm still picturing her as a 9 year old. :rolleyes:

hehehe.... I still have a 10 year old....soon to be 11. This is the big one...K.....age 20 ;). She was about 14 when I hit the forums.

The pups are both cute, but we definitely only have room for one.

Cara

And I almost forgot... this breeder recommends we avoid dog food containing: wheat, eggs, corn, soy, sugar & dyes :D

She also said that recent research indicates booster of the DHPPC are not necessary after the first year.

She also recommends Interceptor heartworm preventor over Heartguard, because Heartguard has been linked to aggression in some dogs.

I guess I better start doing my pet research! Or I could just run this past the good DogtorJ~

Cara

Phew!! Honestly, I thought I was losing my mind a little bit, there! :rolleyes: What I said still goes but more in line with what I was thinking for age group. :D You and your hubby certainly do make beautiful humans.:)

Wow! How did you find someone who seems to know what they're doing so well? That's amazing about the wheat! I had no idea about the Interceptor. Thanks for sharing that... I'll definitely put that one to good use. :)

Kim,

Since we aren't going the route of a rescue dog, we do try to look for a reputable and responsible breeder. We went to a dog show and asked around, and checked up on her a bit more to be sure she is affiliated with the right organizations and such.

Wheaten's are prone to kidney disease (Protein Losing Nephropathy, Protein Loseing Eneteropathy or Renal Dysplasia). While this breeder can't/won't guarantee our dog won't have these, she does test her dogs before breeding (although this is only partially effective, because it usually doesn't develop until they are a bit older), and she is doing everything she can to keep it out of her lines....they keep data on many generations back and won't breed the dog if they know it is in the line. By the way, the sire of our pups is from Canada ;). She said nobody can guarantee a Wheaten will be free of one of these diseases because they are genetically predisposed to it, and they don't really know why some get it and other's don't. [do you think it could be related to the environmental influence of diet???]

It is also requested we do the yearly blood testing, and send copies back to the breeder. IF we do this, and the dog dies within the first five years from one of these diseases, we will get a new puppy at no cost when it becomes available. Nobody wants to think this will happen, but I guess a five year health guarantee is better than the average guarantee :).

We agree if the dog has any major health problems, that we will share the information with the Open Registry sponsored by the National Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America. We also agree to perform an autopsy if the dog dies with what appears to be kidney or protein losing problems or Addison's disease, and submit the specimens to the research project sponsored by the national organization. We also agree to have him neutered.

whew! I wasn't sure whether to be reassured by all this, or run the other direction!!

Cara

Have you seen this about food allergies and soft coated wheaten's?
http://www.spinone.com/AKC_CHF99/22FoodAllergies.htm

this one says some wheatens are gluten sensitive. http://consumer.vetmedcenter.com/Bre...aten%20Terrier

You might have already found this ino.
Anne

Nope...haven't been searching it. Well, at least we are keeping it all in the family. Hope our dog isn't affected, and at least we will provide the allergen free diet.

The second link isn't working for me, but I' ll try to get around that.

Thanks, Anne, as always.. you find good stuff!

Cara

how ironic...
 

is it that you are going to have this dog? How blessed is this animal to have
an understanding owner?

That is just amazing!

Lucky dog!:p

Your daughters are really beautiful. And J looks so tender with the pup.
A good time for her to have this experience I think.

Now, don't spoil him.... I just watched on Sunday several Dog Whisperer
episodes on Nat Geo channel. Most of the people ran into snags by being too nice to their pets (ie.treating them like people) ... But since you had the lovely Ginger, you must know how
to do it right!