Before you start checking my sanity – it’s Zuzu Petals that is expecting. Earlier this Spring she went ‘acourtin’ and met up with a handsome young chocolate named Hank. Hank hails from the same
Laurel Fork Labradors kennel as Zuzu, but from a different bloodline. He has got an impressive
pedigree and he is good looking too. I was sold on their courtship when I saw how he handled a
retrieving dummy. Even with Zuzu around for a date, he had to be pursued to drop the toy! Now
that’s a dedicated retriever!
Zuzu’s first two tri-semesters went by pretty smoothly. She was still playing rambunctiously with
Lucky and Barnabas and wearing out my arm and that of Auntie Thais’ when we played with the
retrieving dummy. Lately, as the due date has inched closer, she’s ballooned to nearly 90 pounds
and slowed down about 90 percent.
The last couple of days, I just could not make her complete the trek to work. I could tell the jumping
into the truck for the ride to the winery and climbing the stairs to my office and back down again to
go out was taking a toll on her. So, she is starting the last stages of the nesting process at home with
Peggy now. Zuzu and I are both suffering a bit of separation anxiety during this period. Peggy sends
me picture messages of her moping at the door. Zuzu was quite a bit displeased when I left her this
morning. It does feel pretty strange to be typing this without her stretched out under my feet.
In fact, by the time you are reading this important bit of CM news, I should be a “grandpuppydad”
or "grandsire” or something. Peggy, Zuzu and I do not know how many young ‘Zuzettes’ to expect.
It looks like about twenty! She will probably be upset by my saying it, but she needs a “Wide Load” sign. I am not very good at estimating grapes out in the vineyard, so my puppy forecasting probably
is not any different. We have started a puppy pool here at the Château with tie breakers for correctly
guessing the number of chocolates and black puppies and for guessing the correct number of boys
and girls. (For the geneticists in the audience, I believe we have an EEBb crossing with an EEbb.
Supposedly that will result in 50% blacks and 50% chocolates). Half of the proceeds from the pool
are going to the Humane Society.
The list of those wanting one of the royal Château Morrisette family is getting pretty long. We will be
taking applications, so dust off your resume and get your vet references in line. If Zuzie and Hank
are any indication, you’ll need room for your Zuzette to run and you need to be prepared to spend
lots of time throwing something for it to retrieve.
Send your application to zuzu@thedogs.com. When Zuzu Petals has time, she’ll look over your
adoption application. It may be your last chance, we are not sure we can put our little girl through
this process again!
Zuzu Petal’s “Dad”,
EVP/GM |
