And the Winner is...

Maple!  

I did make that trip to SC to meet with Helen Holbrook.  And it was well worth the 3.5 hours one way.  I admit, after the accident with things even more chaotic than usual as we navigated insurance and being down a car with a holiday and family coming the following week, not to mention prepping puppies to head to new homes… I was feeling like such a long trip in the midst of all that was just too much.  However, I was also really interested in what Helen could share with me and I felt like it could be very valuable information for myself as I continued to breed.  I decided to bite the bullet, close my eyes to the state of disrepair my home had fallen into, and push aside the “bad mom” thoughts that always plagued my mind as I prepared to leave my kids for any length of time. 

Despite leaving detailed instructions on food, chores, and schoolwork, I knew after many years of experience that my expectations usually had to be lowered significantly as to what I would find when I returned home.  Sometimes I was pleasantly surprised, other times children were grounded for deliberately ignoring everything, most of the time I had to accept the fact that leaving 4-6 children ages 6-13 or 16 alone for an entire day usually meant I came home to chaos as they all survived each other.  After all, I can hardly expect children to accomplish what some days is nearly impossible for myself, an experienced mother of 20 years.  If people have eaten food, everyone in one piece, the house still standing, and maybe some reading and/or math done, it’s a win.  

But I was intrigued by Helen’s knowledge of the breed.  I had sent her a photo of each puppy a week earlier, explaining my dilemma in choosing a female to succeed Lucy.  And what she got out of a single photograph was phenomenal.  I was almost set on keeping the tri-color, Candy, and she said outright she would keep the sable (Maple) or neither. 

Adorable markings but Helen pointed out the tipped up ears and the reserved, aloof posture.

Maple, on the other hand, looked like she could hardly restrain herself from coming to me during the split second the photo took and the ears are on their way back to demonstrate that "eager to please" posture.

Clearly, I had no idea what I was doing.  I would make a decision and then second guess it almost immediately.  My family was split down the middle - my husband and girls thinking that we should keep Candy and my boys begging for Maple. I had always envisioned the whole family falling in love with THE puppy and the choice would be easy. Clearly that wasn't happening. And, to make matters worse, Candy’s response after the accident really impressed me, which further led me to believe that maybe I really should keep her after all.

I really needed some clarity that I was hoping Helen might be able to offer and her lickety-split photo reading impressed me enough to think that it was worth a 3.5 hour drive and suffer through the mom-guilt for abandoning my kids for the day.  

And so this time I took our 15 passenger van and left BEFORE morning traffic and headed south.  I stopped for gas once and apparently ended up in the “hood”.  Not only was it the dirtiest bathroom I’ve ever used, the station was vibrating with rap music and there was a rather disturbing van similar to mine at the next gas pump. Only this one had the windows spray painted black and there were obviously several heads silhouetted in the back seats… I made my exit quickly.  

       After passing several pecan farms, Helen lived way down a sandy SC road on a stretch of pasture housing several horses.  I was eager to see what she would do to “test” the puppies.  I was already fairly certain I should keep Candy.  For one, she was the pretty one.  Symmetrical markings and beautiful color compared to Maple's sweet but rather lopsided appearance.  Personality-wise I was a bit torn.  They both seemed very similar in temperament from what I had observed.  Affectionate at times but could both be somewhat distant as well.  Sometimes one was more responsive than the other, more calm than the other, I had talked myself in circles.  But Candy had stood out to me after the accident.  Both were of course terrified, yelping, worked up, trembling.  But within a few moments Candy seemed like herself and settled into my lap while everything was going on.  Maple trembled in a corner long after the ordeal was behind us and wasn't as interested in being with me.  So I was leaning towards Candy, the tri.  

     I set up my x pen, but it wasn't needed.  Helen just watched.  We walked around the farm, at times stopping to get down at the pups level and interact and just talked for 2 hours.  She pointed out observances she made here and there.  Maple stayed close to us, at times wandering out a bit to check this or that, and then returning to check in on us, wagging her tail if we stopped to pet her.  Neither puppy was afraid but Candy strayed farther and farther, not even looking back if we called or made a noise.  Helen warned me that over confident dogs can be difficult to train - they don't think they need you, sometimes becoming bull-headed as adults. Maple was also demonstrating a preference for human companionship. Candy returned once or twice but her tail never wagged quite as fiercely as Maple's and her ears were always perked up.  Maple's entire butt would wag when we returned our attention to her, and she pinned her ears back which, combined with the wagging tail, indicated an eagerness to please. A trait that is essential for easy to train dogs.  Candy never spooked once.  Maple startled a few times but recovered quickly and would move or look towards Helen and I.  Needing humans, looking to humans, is something you want to see.  

It helped immensely to have both girls away from home, Lucy and their littermates to really allow their personalities to shine through.  And with Helen there to point out things I hadn’t learned to look for yet, it became clear that Maple was the one that carried the more biddable, eager to please, attentive behaviors of the OTSC breed.  Candy was still beautiful, sweet, confident, stable and intelligent, but when it came down to it, Maple had the stronger traits we would want to breed into our dogs.  Maple may not be as symmetrically beautiful as Candy, but we want to breed those that resemble the best of the breed in temperament above all.  Helen also pointed out their differing coats. Candy's was sleek and full, beautiful. Maple's was light and fluffy like a ball of cotton candy, which should be more like Lucy's soft and silky "Teflon" coat that I love so much.

And so that was that!  Finally a decision made that I felt really confident about, thanks to Helen’s willingness to share from her many years of experience.  Not only that but even meeting her pups and her recent adult dogs really helped me to feel more confident about my own adult dogs.  All in all, it was a very beneficial trip.  I enjoyed meeting Helen’s kids and her beautiful horses.  I have no idea how she manages all of it alongside 4 kids and homeschooling.  She has built a beautiful life for her family and farm.  If you're interested in checking out her farm she has a beautiful site and some of the best of the breed. I should know - Lucy has been a wonderful dog! https://www.holbrookhomestead.com

The boys were very excited they had chosen the "right" dog.

All right, back home to send the puppies off!  Harvest was the first to head out to his new person out in the Raleigh area.  She was a former border collie breeder who used to show dogs and she came with a friend who had helped her to choose the puppy.  This woman had over 30+ years of experience in breeding and showing dogs internationally so she was a wealth of information and spoke of all kinds of things I had little knowledge of.  I felt honored they had chosen a Brambly Mountain puppy and, if Harvest (now Clarke) measures up, he may win a title or two someday!  It will be fun to watch him over the next few years.  

Cinnamon Roll (now Findley) went to a couple in the Charlotte area who owns the Pampered Pet Inn.  Check out their wonderful place! https://www.pamperedpetsinn.com

Candy Apple (now Holly) went to Redwood’s family!  One of Lucy’s National Parks litter from last year.  It’s always so neat to see one of our puppies grown up and doing so well!

Jack O’Lantern (now Duke) went to a sweet family local to Asheville who run Fore Saw Farm! Check out their sweet local farm here! https://www.foresawsfarm.com

Cider (now Oswald) went the farthest - all the way to Florida with one of Tim’s school mates from high school ages ago in NY state.  It’s a small world!  

And of course, you know that Maple stayed right here on Brambly Mountain farm where she is snuggling right in. We’ll see how she turns out over the next few years!

We were able to relax and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with my aunt and uncle from PA and one of my cousins and her husband. They were always the hosts when I was growing up and it's been many years since we celebrated the holiday together. It was fun to return the favor and catch up!