Though we are taking applications now, puppies will not be released until 10 weeks of age.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3688435,00.html

Don’t tell me, I know all about it. You took one gander at Stelae’s pictures and you are flat on the floor in full swoon. GET THE SMELLING SALTS, PEOPLE! IT’S PUPPY TIME!

Stelae was born in foster care to our pregnant foster Frenchie Daizy Mae. When she was born she had an abnormal and ruptured hernia. She had surgery to correct it on 9/1/09. She’s doing very well and we are hopeful that all will be right as rain with her recovery.

Though she is still a tiny babe and her personality will continue to emerge, we can already tell these things about Stelae: she likes kids, medium-aged people and older folks, too, and has enjoyed being held by those as young as five and as old as 75. She likes dogs and her favorite thing to do is play with her littermates (though she has had to be closely supervised due to her sutures.) She hasn’t been around cats but studies show that young pups raised with well socialized cats generally adjust well to their company, so if you have a tolerant, gentle kitty you should go ahead and apply.

Stelae is a gentle, loving bundle of roly-poly. She is sweet and mellow. She was slower to take to eating “real” food than her sibs, preferring the cozy time spent nursing. But if you take a look at her waistline you’ll see that she hasn’t missed out on any meals either! Stelae loves to be held and cooed over and she enjoys pouncing on other puppies. What a life!

Stelae is too young to have had any crate or house training, but she does occasionally whimper when she needs to go, and her foster family does their best to get her to a pad to help reinforce her excellent instincts in this regard. Her forever family will need to be prepared to give her the loving, patient training every puppy needs to grow into a good canine citizen and beloved pet.

Young puppies need a lot of care, so it will be important for Stelae to have a lot of company. Someone who can stay at home most of the day would be best for her, especially in the first several months. She is a mellow girl and would probably be a good take to work girl, too, as soon as she is housetrained.

A house, apartment or town home would all suit Stelae fine. If in a house she’ll need a fenced yard, and if in an apartment some other safe outdoor place for her to play and exercise will suffice. Puppies need exercise and fresh air, but they also should be protected from places where lots of strange dogs go until their full series of vaccinations kicks in. So no dog parks until the vet says OK!

Here are a few words from Stelae’s foster mom:

“Stelae is a fawn Frenchie dream both inside and out. She is so easygoing, you just want to treat her like a princess. My children love to play with her and she loves it, too. You can see her on the doll bed and she was happy to just lay there and allow herself to be all dressed up, just like a sweet chubby doll.”

Soon Stelae will be ready to pack up her little satchel and make her way in the world. If you want to be part of that world, you better pick yourself up off the floor, dust yourself off, and send in an application. Oh, and plan to come pick up Stelae in Southern California. This princess doesn’t travel unaccompanied.