Liz,
we originally wanted to keep a girl but there were only 2 with 5 excellent homes available for girls so we made the difficult decision not to keep one. Sigh. We're still not sure.

One of the buyer couples flew in today from New Hampshire to see both the girls (they're taking one) and the boys (they're also taking one) and they fell in love with all of them. Right now, it looks like they'll get Ms Yellow and her diad brother, Professor Plum. But since they've agreed to show them both, that could change after the puppy evaluations. They are wonderful people who spend their summers in New Hampshire and their winters in Vero Beach, Florida. They have owned several Rotties but never a boy. Today, they met Rowdy and Sundance. They are now very comfortable getting a boy.

We always breed for ourselves so not taking a puppy is very difficult for us. But we already have 7 and with luck, nobody is leaving us soon. So, it really is better to let the puppies go somewhere they will get more attention.

We will, of course, co-own several from this litter so that we retain breeding rights should they turn out to be wonderful phenotypically. And several could.

After Cassidy finishes her CH (needs one more major), she'll be spayed and will not be bred again so we don't own a breedable girl. Maybe we'll get one from breeding Sundance's sister, Juneau but that won't be for at least a year. So, for a while at least, we'll be without puppies.

We'll be able to spend more time with our seniors and the older puppies that need our attention and training. And that's fine. I'll feel less guilty .

Jim