Because I have now decided that I will eventually get a new dog, I alternate sadness for Ella with thoughts on buying a puppy and what I will think is important in raising a puppy this time. Ella is the first puppy I raised, and hopefully I've learned something in the ten years we've been together, which is worth bringing to a new dog.
One of those things I'm wondering if this is about bringing the puppy home. There is only one active breeder of Estrela in Sweden, and they live on Gotland. I don't live on Gotland, so it will be quite an adventure for both me and puppy to meet and go to our house. There are also a couple of different options that I have considered. The fastest and probably most time efficient is to fly. But it is quite expensive, and then there was that thing with the environment.
So I'm thinking actually taking the ferry across. Also, I'm thinking about not driving. Partly because I don't have one right now anyway, But also – and this is the main reason; because I think that a journey home by bus, train, ferry and so on, gives me and my puppy the world's opportunity to socialize and environmental training, and also get to know each other. I think it's a good way for me to establish myself as a safe point in all the unknown.
But no matter how I choose to do, it is time-consuming and cumbersome. I will need someone to stop by the house at least a couple of times to keep an eye on the cats. Then there is the issue of a non-room clean puppy on a ferry – I have no idea what options there are for a kiss- or poopy puppy. But it is possible to find out.
Because Estrela is a completely different kind of dog than a German shepherd bred for the armed forces, I will have to change my whole approach to raising and handling my dog. I've never had a Molosser before, but that's the type of dog I'm incredibly attracted to, so it will be more interesting than I can express in words. I can honestly say that one thing I am looking forward to is having a dog that does not have the energy level Ella has had in her entire life.
On the whole I think it will be great to raise and have an Estrela. There are a couple of things I think I will need help with. The one and most obvious is that Estrela is a watchdog after all, and it will bark a lot. I know there are ways to exercise.. maybe don't train the barking out, but at least limit it. I haven't been able to do that with Ella (which in and of itself I largely put down to her high energy and inability to stop a behavior when she was overjoyed and hysterical), so I think I will need some tips and advice on that particular matter. Men – I have and will continue to have contact with the breed club, and most likely the breeder as well.
Things I think are super important are socialization and environmental training. I will mainly go by bus, but also trains, with my dog – solely for environmental training. We will go to places where there are a lot of people and other dogs. Dog meetings feel important that they work, especially when you have a large dog breed.
Then I would like to teach my dog to guard things. I would, just because it's fun, able to put my mobile with all the cards and stuff in it, by my dog, and be able to walk away without someone coming and snatching it away.
Oh, and another thing I'm thinking about is getting a reflective blanket with text; Do not disturb, we train. Something that is really annoying is when you train to teach your puppy/young dog something, and then people come and want to pet the puppy/dog.
So yes, there is plans and thoughts, even though I have a hard time letting go of my thoughts, and the grief over Ella.