BLAZE
Bach Von Scotlynburgh
living in South Carolina
Our relationship with Valerie and the Von Scotlynburgh Kennel has been seamless from the beginning. When we found them we already had a beautiful 2-year old female, Harley, and had planned on getting a male from the same breeder. Our previous breeder reassured us her litter would be ready around Thanksgiving. When the pregnancy didn't take, however, she failed to tell us until early November. Because of our lifestyle we have a very limited time every year that we can devote to a new puppy. This was it. We saw our plans for another puppy slipping away. Out of desperation my husband, Ross, took to the internet and stumbled across the Von Scotlynburgh website and fell in love with "Blue Boy". Living in Charlotte we were unsure if we it was feasible to deal with a kennel so far away. Valerie reassured us that many of their puppies traveled long distances to be with their new families. But first, she needed to know a little bit more about us... Ross was so nervous he actually wrote out rough drafts before replying to Valerie. It turns out he worried for nothing; Valerie felt she'd found the perfect home for "Blue Boy". And so, one cold November morning she loaded him in his crate, said goodbye and put him on a plane to us.
Ross and I found ourselves at the cargo building at the airport. It was after midnight and we were excited but certain we'd be greeted by a shell-shocked, anxious and tired puppy. We couldn't have been more mistaken. After spending the day in the cargo hold of 2 airplanes (he had a lay-over in Atlanta) our little 10- week old puppy bounded out of his kennel into our arms and said hello with excited licks and yips, with absolute faith that we would love him as much as he already loved us.
Blaze has fit perfectly into our home and lives. Harley and he are constant companions and the cat, Jax, has actually accepted him now too. He's playful and sweet, loving and fearless; he's had no qualms about taking Harley on even when she drastically out-weighed him. He's 6-months now and we couldn't imagine ourselves without him. We wonder what we did with all the extra room in bed when it was just Harley and us. We laugh as he sits and drools while he waits for his food. We've collected and labeled his baby teeth as he's lost them and picked up what feels like endless amounts of toy stuffing. He's nearly 60 lbs. now and just growing into his feet. His collar needs to be adjusted nearly every week. We've bored our friends to sleep with the piles of pictures we've taken. We thought ourselves so lucky to have found Harley because she was so quick to learn and such a good dog from day one. Blaze has been just as easy. We love him with all our hearts and are so thankful Valerie felt we'd make a good home. We couldn't have hoped for a better dog, one that fit into our lives so well or one that would find a spot in our hearts so easily.
11 November 2008
Valerie,
I'm sure you long ago gave up on me! While these aren't the most recent pics, here are several of Blaze. I'm sooo technologically challenged. Literally have over 1200 pics on my camera card because I didn't know how to upload them to the computer.
Anyway, Blaze is doing just fine. He is happy and healthy though and still our "gentle giant". He is THE sweetest dog I've ever come across. He just loves everyone and is always ready to be affectionate and say hello- even with other dogs. I took them to the dog park this summer and Harley wanted to be in the water but Blaze would be off down the beach making friends with whoever. He's got this cute, high-pitched bark when he's playing, which is comical given his size. Both he and Harley are my constant companions... he follows me around everywhere. Right now I'm up because I can't sleep and he's followed me out and is asleep on the couch nearby.
He has such a gentle, loving temperament; one little word is all it takes to correct him and he stops whatever he's doing (chewing, for instance). Ross says he should be a therapy dog for the elderly or sick children. He really would be brilliant at it!
He loves tug-a-war when we play but kind of on his own terms... he really only wants you to hold the other end of the rope, then he keeps one eye on Harley the whole time and growls. There's basically no resistance on his part:-) And the growling is something he mimics because we've done it or Harley does it. It's funny.
He loves ice cubes as treats... they both do. But you almost have to place it in his mouth, he takes it so gently. We've introduced him to the water here and there and he'll go in to cool off but won't leave his feet. Harley, on the other hand, loves to play fetch in the water.
We're expecting our first baby this Christmas (due Christmas Eve) and have no doubts that he'll be wonderful with the baby. The only thing we'll have to watch is the dogs' size compared to the baby the first few years. Have any suggestions on how best to introduce everyone when we bring the baby home?
I hope you like the pictures. I tried to pick several that really showed his face because that's where all his personality is. Every time I look at him I see the sweetness; there isn't a mean bone in this dog's body. He's all love. Does that show in the
pics? We love him very much and are thankful you matched us so well; we couldn't have asked for a better dog.
I'll send more pictures when I have some.
Hope all is well there!
Betsy
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