Mick Has Crossed the Rainbow Bridge

What a grand dog he was...

Right from the beginning, he was just a funny big goof.... so in love with attention and petting and just in love with people. A sweet, gentle Golden Retriever with that beautiful strength...

And kindness. Mick was a kindly dog and an easy-going old man as he aged.

He's been part of the family from the time we brought him back from Minnesota in 2007 and as we cried and said goodbye today, it was with no regrets.

We loved him.

He loved us.

And there is something so wonderfully special about that relationship of trust and joy and hope. As a young dog he raced through the fields. As an old dog, he loped through the yard... and then he couldn't lope, so he walked... and when he couldn't climb the steps anymore, he'd come around the front of Paul and Mandy's house to come in the easier way.

But there comes a time when illness and pain raise their ugly heads and you know... you just know... that it's not fair to him to go on.

Tonight was that night.

He was beautiful. Old. Gentle. And in pain, but never a squawk or peep.

And now he's been laid to rest here on the farm. Next to Maddie's spot... and where we can plant flowers and put remembrances when the weather goes soft.

We hate saying goodbye, but we loved saying hello... and every day in between.

We'll miss you, Mick.... but we're so very glad to have known you.

Rest easy, old fellow.

You've earned it.

Puppies All Have Homes...

"Jeter" is here with us...

and the other puppies from our final litter are now safely in their new homes!

Jeter, 9 weeks old...

And here's a picture of Jeter, thinking to grab a bit of lunch from Mom...

She gave him about five seconds worth... and nudged him away!

Libby with her summer hair-cut looking quite shabby chic!!!

She's such a good girl.

Thank you to all of you who inquired about puppies. We know this is a big decision, a decision that affects families, homes and bank accounts. And huge thanks and best wishes to our new puppy owners! God bless you!

Oh, and here's something brand new on the farm:

How stinkin' cute are they????

Puppies Going to Homes!!!

News Flash!!!!!

TWO PUPPIES REMAINING!  "Queenie" and "Jorge" are still waiting for homes as of 5/23/2013.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled post!!!



Oh my stars, it's an amazing thing.... wonderful and sad all at once, but the Goldendoodles are nearly 8 weeks old... and it's time for them to go to their new homes!

We have three gorgeous puppies remaining...

This is "Queenie".... She's gorgeous, Mom and Dad are AKC registered, she's vet-checked and has a great disposition. Queenie is a large female puppy so I'm guessing she'll be a full-sized Golden Retriever type dog.

Queenie is still available.

Notice that she's "hamming" it up for the camera!

Here's another one of Queenie:

And this is "Toby"...

Of course, a kiss!!!!

Sorry! This little boy has his new home!

Toby is a large male puppy with a great nature... he's got the beginnings of a white "goatee" on his chin and a white star on his chest. He's sweet and loving, a great dog from two outstanding parents.

And here is "Jorge" named in honor of Yankee catcher Jorge Posada, one of my favorite Yankees...

"Jorge" (yes, we're Yankee lovers!!!!" is still available!

Jorge is all black, curly, has a great nature and loves being around people, but that's true of all of these puppies. Good-natured parents usually result in good-natured children.... And these guys are all that!

Here is a picture of "Mom" Hearthside's Lady Liberty:

And here is a picture of "Dad" Hearthside's McDreamy:

Price is $600 cash on pick-up. Puppies are vet-checked, weaned, de-wormed, treated with Revolution to guard against fleas, ticks, mites, etc.  and ready to go to their new homes. They've been around children, dogs, cats, kittens, chickens and are accustomed to noise, fun and confusion but they're not opposed (I know because I asked them, LOL!) to a little peace and quiet.

Please call me at 585-392-2763 with questions. We have just posted a newspaper ad for these two puppies.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this... to consider us as your breeder... and for loving puppies and dogs like we do!

Ruth

Puppy Picking Time!!!

Oh my stars, this is going to be a fun couple of weeks... Puppies were 5 weeks old on Friday... which means it's time to "Pick That Puppy!!!"

:)

This is actually a file pic of "Rosie" at 6 1/2 weeks... The computer with the current litter is back home.
But if you go to facebook you can see their funny videos... I can't wait to see how much they've grown in 5 days away!

I've been in Nebraska for a few days on a writing retreat.... Dave and Beth have been tending puppies and babies (and dishes???? Maybe?????)

Let's hope!!!

This is decision week. Once I'm home I'll contact all the folks on our interest list, in the order in which they contacted me...

And we'll pick puppies!!!!

I LOVE THIS PART, IT'S SO STINKIN' FUN!

I'm not sure how many we have left (males/females) but I think we'll have three beautiful Golden Doodles remaining... maybe four.... once these picks are complete. So if you're thinking about a puppy and know that the time is right for you...

Call me. I won't be home until tomorrow, but you can leave a message... or just call me tomorrow.

These puppies are all beautiful... sweet, funny and good-natured. They're accustomed to kids, noise, food (they love food! Who doesn't????) and they're very social because they're raised in the house with us.

And a few cats and kittens.

:)

Puppy cost is $600 cash only. We will take a $100 non-refundable deposit once you've picked a puppy. At that point, no one else will get to see your puppy in the "mix"...

You guys know that most breeders are well over a $1000 for Doodles... that just seemed excessive to us, we wanted beautiful healthy Doodles that an average family can afford.

The balance is due on puppy pick up day.... Puppies go to the vet (Apple Country Veterinary in Hilton) on Monday May 13th.... and we'll schedule a pick up at your convenience after that date.

Mom is an AKC  registered Standard Poodle "Hearthside's Lady Liberty".

Dad is an AKC registered Golden Retriever "Hearthside's McDreamy".

Give us a call at 585-392-2763... We'd love to talk to you!

Ruthy

Golden Doodle Puppies are Thriving!

A-stinkin'-dorable!

That's what these guys are. They're funny, sweet, and they've all more than doubled their birth weight at 14 days old, and that's wonderful!  We have puppies that are over 2 pounds now....

Libby is such a good mom, so attentive, so thorough. She takes a break to hang with me now and again, but for long.

We have four puppies sold but we're not sure on male/female. Some folks want the puppy to pick THEM and we fully support that here!

We have a fifth potential buyer who is coming next week to do an "allergy" check with her daughter. We know that these Doodles tend to be more hypoallergenic than a regular dog, but it never hurts to test the waters, right?

If all five people choose females, then we'll have five males remaining...

And that's so funny because we've had several litters where the boys all went first!

This is Riley, one of our grown-up Doodles... Note that his "black" has faded on the legs and the mature "gold/red" points are there around his muzzle. Riley's got the flash of white that some of the pups have... and some already have white "goatee" whiskers, like Libby!

And here's a picture of one of our first Doodles "Yogi Berra"!

Look at that face!

:)

If you're interested in learning more about the remaining puppies, please call me at 585-392-2763...

Or contact me through Facebook... or e-mail me at hearthsidekennels@gmail.com

Puppies will be vet-checked by Apple Country Veterinary here in Hilton... they will be dewormed, first shots, weaned and hugged a LOT before going to new homes. Born and raised in our big old farmhouse, these puppies will be accustomed to kids, kittens, cats, chickens and noise and confusion will be second nature to them.

We recommend the book "Golden Retrievers" to people because even though these guys don't LOOK like Golden Retrievers, their dad is from a great Midwestern line of champion field dogs... and like all Golden Retriever puppies, these guys will like to play and frolic... and possibly chew leather shoes.

:)

The book will help you stay "TOP DOG" in your kennel... while your puppy grows to love and respect you!

Ruthy

Good News and Bad News

We have puppies....

And they're beautiful!

TEN LITTLE BLACK "GOLDEN DOODLES" ENTERED THE WORLD ON GOOD FRIDAY AND HOLY SATURDAY!

Five males.... five females.

But our joy was tempered by great sorrow.

Our beautiful Maddie was laid to rest yesterday. I've spent the last ten days loving her, caring for her and keeping her by my side.

Maddie had cancer. It was a fat-cell malignancy that attacked her spleen and spread. We found it accidentally, which is often the case with splenatic cancers.

Maddie is buried here, on the farm. We will plant flowers on her grave...  We will miss her every day because she was part of the family. Part of my heart. She gave us far more than we ever could have given her. A dog's true love and devotion is an amazing thing. Totally inspiring.

We'll keep you posted on the pups.

They're gorgeous.

They make me smile.

And they're a promise of new life, life renewed, a new spring.

And in all honesty, coming home to them, to their neediness and innocence (they're small so they haven't chewed anyone's shoes or underwear yet!) lightened my heart.

God bless each and every one of them.

Ruthy