Thank you for the kind thoughts. It's amazing how this high-strung, crazy dog will lay down and let me put hot compresses on her belly (I put them on my arm first... but they're pretty warm!) And she's almost getting used to being under tight supervision for pee and pooh. She'll pick up a toy in the yard and look at me like... "wanna play? Huh? Huh? Can we play now?" But she seems to have learned the rules and is settling down.
RD is an EIC carrier, so that was a big part of our decision to spay. The breeder was very responsible, and knew that the male was a carrier... but he so admired FC AFC Riverrun's True North (Pete) that he decided to go for it. He had all the pups tested and all the buyers knew what they were getting. But, hey. I'm going slowly and just enjoying the ride. I don't expect a brilliant early career and people beating a path to our door asking for puppies.
Frustrating to have to remain on the shelf for 3 weeks. Has she been regularly coming in at 6 month intervals? At least now you'll know how to map out your campaign going forward.
When the staples are out and we get the all clear from the vet, RD is going to the pro near here to get her line manners screwed down a little tighter. I think it's time to get a professional assessment of where we are and how we're going to proceed. I was at a HT in Medford OR and was chatting with a gal with a hot little golden. She was running senior and the dog was nailing her marks. But she was a wild-child on line. The gal said "we've really worked on steadiness but I just decided to relax about the whole thing." It was like saying "you know, steadying a dog is a lot of work and I'd rather have the gratification of watching her pick up birds."
I don't have to tell you how fun it is to cut a fast dog loose and let her rip on a mark that you know they've watched all the way to the ground. It's a hoot. BAM! Scooping it up on the run and beating feet back to the line to hand it to you. Love it. But, I just can't let her do that right now. I have to delay her gratification and mine!
And you have to delay gratification for 3 weeks. It must be frustrating!