I started to search for a family dog around summer time. I was not sure which breed to get. I had limited experience with dogs (some mixed breeds) but I knew that I would love to have one for the the family, especially kids. I just felt in love with Cardigan Welsh Corgi because they don't seem too big and yet behave like a big dog. Especially, I loved the short legs. They look so cute.
Zena arrived to my family a week before Thanksgiving 2009. It was also one day before my birthday.
Well, I did not think that I would get her. I put my name on a waiting list of the breeder near where I live. I got an e-mail form the breeder saying that puppies were born and should be ready around the first week of Jan 2010. A breeder was supposed to pick one or two best matching puppies for me but I knew that I would get either brindle or black. Then I found Zena on the internet. One breeder from MN. I did not think about Blue but I just fell in love. I exchanged a lot of e-mails with a breeder in MN. I was little worried about the fact that I had not personally seen the puppy, mommy or a breeder but I felt that I already reached the point where I could not return. I put down my deposit and 2 weeks later, Nov 19th, a day before my birthday, Zena arrived at the airport. I was so nervous about having my own puppy (supposed to be a family dog but I would be the main person who would take care of her.) Honestly, I was more nervous about getting a puppy than becoming a father of my two kids.
The big date; I was supposed to go to the airport. Cargo facility to pick her up. I don't know anyone actually remember but 19th Nov, 2009, there was a big delay with almost every flight due to FAA main server shutdown. My little puppy was stuck in the MN airport for 2 hours and arrived around 5PM. As soon as I picked her up, I tried to give her some water but she did not want to drink. I put the crate in the back seat but she would not stop whining. So I moved a crate to the trunk (SUV) and she became quiet. Then another 1 hour from the airport to my house. So, she was stuck in the travel crate for about 12 hours.
I really wanted to take her before my kids (3 and 4 years old) came home but due to this flight delay, we literally arrived together. So my big plan to take her walk before entering the house or to let her familiarize with a new place before kids did not work out at all. Obviously, the kids were very excited, "A PUPPY!!" But I became the bad guy not letting them near Zena for a hour. That's all I could get. While kids were eating dinner, I let her roam around the kitchen and the foyer area. We placed her crate near the entrance from the garage. We turned TV on so that kids would not pay attention to Zena too much and this plan partially worked. Surprisingly, Zena ate the dinner and my breeder was quite surprised to hear that. My breeder sent dry food she gave her puppies. It was more than enough for a week supply. Kids went to bed around 8PM. Now my wife and I sat on the floor to see Zena's behavior in this completely new environment.