I get asked a lot if my puppy delivery day is the hardest. “I would get so attached to those puppies I wouldn’t be able to let them go” is voiced quite often. Of course, I love the puppies, but that’s almost my favorite day! By then, we’ve got everyone matched up, puppy parents have been anxiously waiting and preparing for their new puppy, and I get to show up and hand them some major cuteness and see the big smiles! 😀

It gets a bit tougher when I have a puppy stay longer, enrolled in the Progressive Puppy program. Because they are just integrated into the family while they’re here, they become a part of it.

But the hardest part of this “job” is placing an adult into a new home. Of course, I have my favorites and some that I’m more attached too. But it doesn’t matter if they’re favorites or not. It’s just not my favorite thing to do.

Some may think it horrible that I place my adult dogs when they retire.

Let me try to explain, if I’m going to continue raising these adorable puppies for potential adopters, I have to raise more adults to be future parents. Obviously, we want our parents to have a nice life and “retire” at a nice age. So we raise some purebred Poodles and Cavaliers occasionally to step in when those current ones are ready to retire. So there are always more dogs around then just the current parents. All those dogs require attention, grooming, love, medical care, and space. And I only have so much of each. My house is small, so I can only fit so many in here with me at one time. If I could reasonably have all the dogs in the house with me I would! (Of course, my husband would probably move out and the kids would never visit! :P) But it’s just not possible when you have more than a few.

So I would much rather have an adult that is no longer being a parent, be spayed and retired into a home where he or she is the center of attention; a place where they will be doted on and spoiled. Where they can sleep on the couch, be part of the family activities and given all the attention they want. And I screen and place the dog into what I think sounds like the best home for that particular dog.

So, as many of you know, Faith went to a wonderful retirement home a couple months ago.

And now another one has found a retirement home. Our little Eli. He has been a great little “man”, but it was time for him to become someone’s couch potato!

After his bath and ready for the final grooming.

His new mom loved him immediately! (And he has a brother and sister waiting at home for him).

One final love❤️

Sometimes the best thing to do is the hardest thing to do. ❤️