Friday, July 19, 2013

The Fast Times Litter Puppy Party!

The Grayhart Gift Bags
What has evolved into an important event for all our litters, is the Puppy Party. This party, is a celebration and the day the pups go to their new homes. In the week leading up to the party, the pups were very busy.  On Tuesday, took an hour long drive to Gayle Watkin's property, owner of Avidog, and underwent Avidog Temperament Testing, on Friday, were met by a group of experienced breeders and Weim friends for the conformation evaluation, which was also a bagel brunch and on Saturday morning, went to the vet for their health checks.  The new owners were told the day before the party, after all the evaluations were complete and careful thought by me, which pup would be theirs.

Then, finally we had the Puppy Party! All the owners come and enjoy meeting each other, forming great camaraderie, attend the Grayhart Puppy Class, fill out all the necessary paperwork, including AKC Registration, sales agreement and WCA membership and if applicable, WCA Futurity/Maturity Forfeits. We then take family portraits, which will be in a separate post, and after goodbyes, (for now) the pups leave with their families to begin their new lives.

It seems with each litter, the gift bag, almost like the Oscar swag bags, get better and better.  We always include a used toy from the puppy pen, a new toy, treats and puppy books.  This time, KellyAnn, gave all kinds of Natural Balance treats, food samples, coupons and from Petco, poop bags and tennis balls.  Kathy, Reagan's owner, who was unable to attend as she was on vacation in Hawaii, sent a gift bag, color coded by collar color, for each pup with a special treats and an awesome bottle toy!  If all that wasn't enough, our friend, Kim in California, shipped homemade, gourmet dog biscuits for each pup!
A party would not be complete without terrific food and thank you to KellyAnn for bringing these amazing cupcakes with edible Fast Times litter logos!  Her cousin has a gourmet cupcake business and these cupcakes, some chocolate with raspberry filling, others, lemon with raspberry filling, tasted as good as they looked.  There were cupcakes to match every puppy collar color!
We have been suffering from a heat wave in New Jersey so it was way too hot for outdoor activities and even in the house, with the central air blasting.  We took the pups outside for a short play period before we got down to business.
Then the pups were hot and tired....
Always one who likes to sleep in the potty box!

 
While the puppies napped, we got down to business, going over important information from vaccines protocols, feeding guidelines, housebreaking, health and behavior issues. We also demonstrated how to dremel nails, clean ears and stack a pup and how to get a pup used to being handled including checking their bite and touching feet.
 The Grayhart Puppy Manual, with a custom designed logo by KellyAnn Kwiatek, only available to our puppy people, is the how to manual for your Grayhart puppy.
KellyAnn made a beautiful collage of Parker and Savi, the sire and dam of our pups.
 Going over the Grayhart Gift bags...

Momma Savi relaxing from all the partying!
Our friend, Danielle, who's family has a Rockstar pup (Summit x Jam), enjoying the pups.
 
Plenty of food, wine, the Greys of course, and lots of fun!
Savi and Anita
 

Thank you to my friend, Anita, for the beautiful roses!

1 comment:

June said...

What a WONDERFUL experience!! For the past three years of "waiting" for my pbp to produce a pup for me, this journey has been non-stop education, travel to fun and exciting places, and meeting AWESOME new people who become fast friends/family! Being a part of the Grayhart family is more than just buying a pup from a great breeder and to say "thank you" for all of this doesn't even begin to cut it but the best part is... this journey has really only just begun!!! We look forward to sharing all the fun and Fast Times with our "littermates"!!
~Kel, Chris & CeCe