Goodbye Rules, Welcome Grandparents

Tilde seems to know that once a year, when the grandparents make the long trip to Denmark for a visit, it signals the return of a window of opportunity in which everything once again is allowed. It will mean a short break from her mature life, maybe even a return to puppy-hood. For her, and just maybe, for all the involved too.

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.

The Paradise Of Senses

I am thoroughly enjoying some of our last hikes in which it will be just Tilde and me before Zerline will join our family. Tilde has become such a great hike buddy over time. We're such a good team now, both on the threshold of the next chapter, holding a new adventure for us all.

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.

We Match! It Will Be Zerline

Zerline, 4 weeks

Zerline, "the searching one", has found her home. With us!

Visiting The Puppies

Zerline "uit de Groetpolder"

After one and a half year of searching, waiting, and hoping, the day was finally there. I was about to lay my eyes on our new aspiring family member for the first time. Tilde's upcoming little sister.

Conversations With A Hovawart #3: Mission Puppy

The line seems to have died. "Hello Tilde, are you there?"

After a long pause, Tilde answers. "It depends... Remind me again, what place are you visiting today in your attempts to ignore me?"

My Territory

Tilde takes her responsibility to expel any intruders from her property quite seriously.

Snake Encounters, A Narrow Escape

Nobody got hurt and Tilde is fine.

Our latest encounter with a viper, the only venomous snake in Denmark, almost went terribly wrong. I hadn't noticed the snake until it already was too late. It was warming itself in the morning sun, still sluggish, and didn't move out of our way in time, what it normally would have done.

Having Fun Is Not Optional

Last Saturday, Emil was our guest. It was a lot to take in for him, being away from his "mom" and caretaker, Dina, for a whole day.