What A Puppy!

Keanani came to live with us two weeks ago. Her name means white beautiful flower among other things and the meanings for the parts of her name are white for Kea and beautiful, pretty, glorious, splendid, and beautiful flower for Nani. For me, she filled a large hole in my heart that was labeled “big white dog”.

I had lived with Great Pyrenees for twenty years, when I lost the last three within four months in 2003. Pele and Maddie succumbed to the ravages of old age at almost fourteen. Karlo left too early at eleven with bone cancer. I decided to be practical and not get another. There were none to be had in Hawaii. Importing them was at best time consuming and loaded with paper work and at worst a long drawn out process that wouldn't bring in a puppy. Also the heavy coat was not fun to deal with in our wet, wet East Hawaii climate. No I'd be practical and get a short haired dog.

So Hoku, Rotweiller – German Shepherd mix, and Kip, who knows what mix, entered my life. They came with some traits that I would rather not live with but that can happen with a mixed breed. In general they have been great dogs and they add to my life. But they are not big white dogs nor are they livestock guardian dogs. And when you've lived with a livestock guardian dog, nothing else quite fills the bill.

Then in mid November, I received an e-mail. There was a litter of Maremma puppies about an hour and a half north of me. Puppies! Here on the island! LGD puppies here on the island! I immediately e-mailed the breeder. Yes, I want one. Please. Then the waiting began, and I counted the days until two weeks ago when she arrived.

Now I remember why one should think before one takes on a puppy – sleepless nights, piddles on floors, holes in clothing. But I also know why one wants a puppy – puppy breath and puppy kisses. The grin when you walk into their sight. The total delight on finding some thing new in the yard to pounce on. The joy as a ball of fluff comes racing to you full tilt and skids into you as they try to stop but not soon enough.

Keanani requires all the work of a new puppy. But what a delight she is as she learns and loves and totally becomes part of our lives. Last week she went visiting at the Dojo where I train in Aikido. We walked in the door and she was at once surrounded with six children, six adults, and two Bichons who were telling her that it was their territory. She sat back next to my legs and surveyed the situation. I gave her a couple pets and she walked over to Sensei Tina who was sitting on the floor and sat next to her with her head on Tina's leg. After receiving some pets from Tina, she decided she was ready and she began to work the room. She went from child to child and adult to adult. She tried to convince the Bichons that she was OK, but they were having none of it. Everyone commented on how calm and mellow she was. She was totally curious about everything and everyone. She was confident and ready to face whatever came her way. She was everything that a Livestock Guardian puppy should be. Next week she starts puppy class in the local park. I am expecting her to do well. In the meantime, she keeps me on my toes and delights my days. And she is letting me sleep all night now.

What a puppy!