Posts Tagged ‘northwest farm terriers’

Midwife for a Day (or night, as the case was)

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

jessie_pups_layout1I had the privilege to assist our Northwest Farm Terrier deliver her pups last night.

New life is an awesome experience.  I have helped birth the goats, but this was the first time I got to assist our precious “Jessie”

She is truly one in a million. Never growled or snapped at me (as other dogs have been known to do), or anything. She willingly accepted my assistance and she actually cried for me to come close as she was having contractions.

This is her 3rd and final litter. We want to keep her healthy for years to come, and let her play and work hard here on the farm.

How does she “work hard”?

  • She keeps the chickens and turkeys in their part of the “yard”
  • She patrols and kills any varmint (like the weasel, skunk and rats that she has saved our chickens from).
  • She keeps the birds out of our blueberries
  • She keeps our boys safe (and entertained).
  • She is a wonderful companion.

In return, she has our endless love and all the praise we can muster for her. If it hadn’t been for Jessie, we probably would have lost chickens, berries and other things growing on the farm to all types of critters.

And to see the babies come out and have to break the sac and watch them start breathing for the first time…

How incredibly rich our lives are -  here on this little farm of ours…

–Pat

Hard to say Goodbye

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

We truly love our dogs. We have a pair of NorthWest Farm Terriers – a relatively new breed comprised of a specified blending of 5 different breeds. The Welsh Corgi, Irish Terrier, Airedale, Jack Russell Terrier and the Border Collie. This combination makes for the perfect farm dog – loyal, good protector, good herder, obedient, quick-witted, fast learner, task oriented, playful and full of love.

We were asked to breed our dogs in order to help perpetuate the breed. We have bred Jessie twice, and each time, we all go through “puppy withdrawal” as the last one leaves our home.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Marilyn had called me to say that someone was coming to look at the last puppy. When I arrived home, two teenagers were carrying out the puppy as the mother was completing “the transaction” – getting shot info, bags of puppy food for transitioning to other food, last minute information on the dog, etc.,.

I was pleasant as the ladies chatted, smiling on the outside – but inside, I was feeling the same thing my two sons, ages 9 & 11, were feeling – empty nest syndrome…

They took Nathan’s email address, promising to send him pictures.  It is always hardest on Nathan – he loves every creature born on the farm, and I think he loves the puppies the most. He plays with all of them, gives them all their “temporary names” and just plain snuggles with them. I know the loss he feels as each one goes to their new owner, and I share his pain. But deep inside, I know that he still loves his Buddy and his Jessie.

And I know that Buddy’s big hugs will heal his wounds…

Our NorthWest Farm Terriers can be seen here

For more information on the breed, please go to:

www.northwestfarmterrier.com/info.php

– Pat