Note to Sheila

I posted this note on the Yahoo Field Spaniel group in reponse to the latest edition of Sheila’s puppy journal:

I’m very sad to see the end of the puppy journal; I’ve looked forward to the wit and the wonderful side stories (like the kids at school and their reactions to the puppies). I hope you’ll take Kathy’s suggestion and update this a few months down the road. Plus I’d really like to hear the end of the washing machine saga…

You said one thing in your journal that I feel compelled to comment on: “…I feel I have done a very good job of getting these guys ready for interesting and active lives."

Miki (whom many readers will know is one of the puppies from your latest litter) is the third field spaniel we’ve gotten from you. He joins Lea and Mo’i (both still going strong), whom we got 7 and 5 years ago, respectively. I don’t know this, but I suspect we’re amongst the most experienced recipients of Sheila Miller’s puppies.

So I think I can speak with some authority on the subject.

Each of the puppies you (Sheila) have raised for us have been simply wonderful; two have grown up to be extraordinary adult dogs — cherished companions, without any health or temperment issues, and even enthusiastic competitors (in agility).

Debbie and I are considerably more ancient than Sheila. We both grew up on farms, surrounded by dogs; we had dogs before discovering field spaniels. Before getting Lea (our first field spaniel), we did a lot of research about breeds — and breeders — before picking Sheila and her litter. Since then, we’ve met lots of field spaniels, especially when we visited Colorado for the nationals a couple of years ago. Our dogs stand out in the field spaniel crowd (we may be just the teensiest bit biased in that assessment), and we are certain that you (Sheila) deserve a good part of the credit for that.

So here’s a hug just for you. And thank you, ever so much, for being the source of so much joy for us…