Flying The Puppy Home, A Flashback

Atie and me had a lot to talk about during her visit. We also made many trips down memory lane back to the puppy days, and I realized I never shared with her - and with you for that matter - what happened flying back to Denmark with Zerline. I was too preoccupied with my puppy those first couple of days.

Where Did My Puppy Go?

What happened to that innocent little creature I picked up at Schiphol airport three months ago? That tiny fur-ball, who fell asleep while I held her fragile body in my arms, snoring with satisfaction. That small dependent baby dog, who studied me endlessly with her big brown eyes.

Conversations With A Hovawart #5: Puppy Class

"Can we have a word?"

Oh no, I thought, not the union again. Zerline could read my mind.

Rabbit Feet And Jackass Wings

Zerline is thoroughly discovering her disproportionate growing legs. She is trying them out on a daily basis to mark her latest top speed and if she can keep up with Tilde already.

Zerline's Family Tree, Beyond The Berlin Wall

The long-time readers of this blog will have guessed this post was right around the corner. I researched Zerline's roots, like I did with Kenzo and Tilde.

Fake Shepherds

"OMG. She feels so soft!" I hear that a lot. "Will it last?" some ask too.

Shaping Memories

We're well passed three months now. At this age, Zerline reminds me a lot about Kenzo. We first got him home when he was about the age Zerline is now.

The Wild Bunch

Today I tried to take a walk alone with Tilde. Being just the two of us would allow for a longer walk and, with all the time which goes into puppy Zerline, she would appreciate some alone quality time with me.

Hovawart TV: Zerline The Surfer

It was an impressive sight for Zerline. The first time we went to the beach she dared to go up all the way to the shoreline to have a closer look at all that boiling water and listen to the waves roar.

Hovawart TV: Digging A Team

When you dig as a team you can get deeper and move more sand when you work together. Trying to own the pit won't give any progress, and practicing dry breaststroke swims in it won't either. To dig, in itself, is the goal. Tilde seems to get that. But can she teach puppy Zerline to dig in the same direction?

Report From Puppy World

We are almost through the first month of puppy-hood in the blink of an eye. Zerline is 11 weeks old today. She has done a lot of growing. Her legs in particular seem to explode and lift her still fragile body higher and higher up into the air.

Conversations With A Hovawart #4: The Union

"Can we have a word?"

Zerline looked serious. Those big brown puppy eyes told me she had something important to share. I laid down my camera and reporters notebook, both overheated from puppy adventures, to give her my full attention.

"Dit Is Een Goed Stel, Hoor"

It's a sentence each Dutch person recognizes. Spoken by the sports commentator Theo Reitsma as he observed the Dutch national soccer team celebrate their win in the final of the European Soccer Cup in 1988. There is nothing profound about it. It simply means "This is a good team, for sure."

Summer Socialization With A Twist

In the middle of Summer all the rentals are occupied. Although I enjoy the emptiness of the West-coast during Winter, the tourists bring a special vacation atmosphere with them I have come to appreciate. People are happy and wear smiles, they have time and are not busy, or try their best not to be.

Bold and Bolder

It was the moment I had been waiting for. The moment in which I could witness Tilde and Zerline to truly connect. To find each other, enjoy each other's company while forging a bond on the road that leads to a true friendship.

Rediscovering Beauty

The rapidly swelling buzz of hundreds of bird wings made me look up in the air. A flock of Starlings made a fly-over that low, I could have touched them if I would have reached my hand out. Tilde took a sprint after them. Jumping, barking, like a crazed jack-in-a-box. Zerline, who was sitting down, looked up in amazement. Her gaze followed the birds until they disappeared over the horizon. She was mesmerized.

Breaking: Copenhagen Is Secured

Zerline took one look around the premises and knew it. This new place they call her home wasn't up to Hovawart standards at all. It was lacking some essential features. How could she keep her family safe in a place with so many gaping security holes. Zerline wasted no time. There was Hovawart-work to do!

Tilde, Meet Zerline. Zerline, Meet The Wild Thing

The sight of Tilde coming around the corner caught Zerline's eye and immediately aroused her curiosity. She quickly trotted forward to meet that dog, who must have looked a lot like her mother Amber to her.

Countdown To Zerline, Eight More Days

Atie sent me this photo of Zerline getting acquainted with the transport bag which will bring her from Holland to Denmark. The photo captured a moment which stood out from all the other cute puppy photos I received during the last couple of weeks. The photo captured Zerline making a symbolic first step on her path which will lead to us. It signaled how close we are to having her here. How close we are for everything to become real.

Feeling Involved, Puppy Buyer 2.0

Since the puppies were born, I get up at the for me unholy hour of 6:30 am, to turn on the computer and check out Atie's daily blog update about the puppies hoping for a glimpse of Zerline before I even make coffee.