The Heartbreak of Loss
Our homestead has not been the same with the passing of Daisy Mae, our 13-week-old puppy. Her life unexpectedly ended. She had brought much joy to our lives.
Puppy loss hit our family hard. We kept expecting to see her playing with her toys. Daisy loved her “Dust Mop” game, being pulled around the hardwood floor while she firmly held the rope toy in her mouth. Those memories helped, but the house felt so empty without her and the sound of her paws on the floor.
The hardest part wasn’t just losing her—it was not knowing exactly why. We had questions that couldn’t be answered. Sometimes with young pups, things can take a turn so fast, you’re left reeling. One moment she was tugging at her toys like nothing was wrong—and just like that, she was gone.
We laid our sweet puppy to rest beside Maple, our old milk cow, on the hill slope in the pasture. It overlooks the lean-to. I can look out the stanchion pen as I milk and see her final resting place. It brought a small bit of comfort, knowing she had been a part of our life, part of our family’s story. The clay paw print the clinic made and the many photos we took became our physical reminders of those three short weeks together.
Time for Reflection and Healing
Almost immediately after all the turmoil, I had an out-of-state business conference, which granted me the time I needed for reflecting and mourning her passing. Sometimes grief needs distance. I remembered the fun of our first puppy.
The conference helped. Away from the house where Daisy Mae had played, I could think about what her brief time had meant to our family. She had given us happy hearts, and I realized that Daisy Mae’s story wasn’t over.
The Nudge Toward New Beginnings
Once I returned home from the trip, a subtle thought nudged me—perhaps we should get a new fur baby. The next day, I was on the internet and tentatively looked at puppies for sale. I wasn’t sure I was ready, but something made me search.
I saw a little puppy that looked amazingly like our Daisy. In fact, her name was Daisy! At first, I thought the breeder had forgotten to take her information down. Upon closer investigation, I discovered this breeder was located in another state. I got excited. We could get a look-alike Daisy!
However, when I saw that just the down payment was the amount we paid for Daisy Mae, I knew that purchasing her was out of the question. However, this “weird coincidence” led me to begin looking in earnest. It also gave me a surety that I wanted another Shih Tzu with plenty of dark brown fur on her body—not black, not white, not even light brown. I quickly learned that the guidelines I wanted are not easy to find, at least in my area of the country.
Finding Our Perfect Match
I located an eight-week-old puppy—named Sadie—about two and a half hours away. She was smaller than Daisy, just under three pounds compared to six pounds. Something about her photos caught my attention.
I emailed the breeder, Miss Sarah, but she didn’t respond. So, I called and left a message and then sent a text for good measure. She finally called me back that afternoon and explained that another family was coming to look at the puppies, and they would have the pick of the litter. There were four females, all unique colors. I was a bit anxious, trying not to get too excited in case the family chose Sadie, but there were three other females to choose from. Maybe they would not want Sadie.
The children and I attended a Shen Yun concert that evening in Kansas City. It was spectacular. When we were returning home late that night, I saw the text that Sadie was still available! The family had taken her pretty, light brown sister, Gabby.
The Journey to Bring Her Home
Contacting the breeder the next morning, she explained that she had a busy weekend. However, if we were able to come today, she could meet us partway, shaving nearly an hour off the trip. Teva and I made a quick decision to go pick her up that day. There was no point in waiting—we both felt that Sadie was meant to be ours.
Making it to the rendezvous point at a convenience store, we hurriedly filled the car up with gas. Miss Sarah was already there and patiently waited for us. As she handed over the tiny, furry bundle, I teared up unexpectedly.
Sadie was so lively and sweet that Teva and I kept smiling all the way home. The two-and-a-half-hour drive felt like minutes, watching her face and her tiny nose twitch as she took in all the new scents.
Early Days with Sadie Rose
Having had Sadie Rose (Teva came up with her middle name) for a week now, we’ve experienced some good potty break times but still plenty of accidents. House training a puppy requires patience, consistency, and a good sense of humor about unexpected messes.
One incident particularly stands out from our first week together. Yesterday, when I gave the cats their raw milk, I saw Sadie lapping away enthusiastically. Realizing she must have drunk most of it the day before, I watched with growing concern as Sadie became lethargic, quiet, and kind of limp. Instantly, I had flashbacks of Daisy, who had similar behavior just hours before we lost her. My mind raced with panic.
I asked my sister Becky to come over immediately, fearing the worst. Just before Becky arrived, Sadie had a bowel movement and then perked back up, returning to her normal playful self. Becky took one look at her and pronounced her healthy, explaining that puppies often have sensitive stomachs and rich milk could easily cause digestive upset.
Lesson learned: no milk for Sadie, at least for the time being, until she acclimates to her new home, food schedules, and environment. It was a stark reminder of how quickly things can change with young animals and how little a symptom can trigger memories of past trauma.
Discovering Sadie’s Unique Personality
Sadie Rose is so fun to play with. She definitely has a stubborn side, and let’s just say puppy training is going to take some perseverance. But despite the challenges, she has brought much joy back into our lives—and plenty of laughs with her silly antics. Every day brings new discoveries about her personality and preferences.
Some vast differences between the two puppy personalities have quickly become apparent. Sadie does not like to sit still to have her fur or nails trimmed. I wait until she runs her laps or chases her toys full-on for about 20 minutes before collapsing from exertion. She literally drops wherever she is, sometimes making it to her little bed and cushion, sometimes not. Once she has exhausted her energy completely, I have Joey and Teva hold her still while I try trimming the fur around her face so she can see again.
The similarities between Daisy and Sadie are touching reminders of their shared breed characteristics. Both tried playing with the cats, though their approaches differed slightly. Sadie barks. Daisy would sit there, tail wagging, waiting for them to invite her to play. However, once the cats made a run for it, both puppies would chase full steam ahead. Sadie’s teeth are very sharp, and she tends to bite during play, requiring gentle correction. When outside on our walks, she will grab the leash in her mouth and start to play tug of war, or maybe it is her way of saying she is in charge and walking herself.
The Voice of Our Home
Sadie is decidedly more vocal than Daisy ever was. Sadie’s loud, high bark. I am learning to understand her different tones and what they mean. When she sees a cat she wants to play with, she barks with excitement. When she gets impatient with me not throwing a toy for her to chase, she barks with demand. When she is just in an excitable mood, she barks with pure joy. Each bark communicates something, and I am slowly learning her language.
At 13 weeks old now, Sadie weighs four pounds compared to Daisy’s six pounds at the same age. Her petite size makes her seem even more precious and fragile. Sadie loves to play and chew on her yak cheese, which has become her favorite distraction and training reward. She prefers to sleep nearby, especially in her bed, unlike Daisy, who would lie down wherever and often was not even in the same room. Sadie likes to grab the corner of her bed and not only chew on it but also drag it around the house like a security blanket.
Her mischievous side emerged quickly. We had some plumbing pieces on the floor from a sink project, and I noticed a growing pile of small items on the rug. Sadie was quietly finding small nuts, fittings, and washers from the plumbing pieces and claiming them as her own treasures. Watching her carefully select each piece and carry it to her special collection spot was amusing and a little concerning.
Social Butterfly and Outdoor Explorer
Sadie is not shy and has always been a people-lover. The moment someone steps through the door, she’s right there with her wagging tail, trying to sneak in a few licks before I gently steer her away. I’m not the biggest fan of slobbery greetings, so I usually keep a yak cheese treat handy to give her something better to focus on. Thankfully, most people enjoy her affection.
With warmer weather, Sadie enjoys outdoor time. She’s curious about her surroundings and likes to explore the yard. Like most puppies, she shows enthusiasm for new sights and smells, though her approach is uniquely hers.
A Season of Renewal
Just as spring has given the earth new hope and reawakening to the plants, our Sadie Rose has given us hope for new beginnings. She showed up right when the world was turning green again—even the seasons seemed to nudge us forward, saying it was okay to try again.
A new puppy doesn’t take the pain away, but somehow, she softens it. Sadie Rose isn’t a replacement for Daisy Mae—we wouldn’t want her to be—but she’s found her own little corner in our hearts. She’s taught us that love doesn’t run out—it stretches, grows, and makes room without letting go of what came before.
Every day with Sadie has excitement and discouragement. Potty training keeps us on our toes, but she’s getting there. Teaching her how to play nice with others takes time, but her sweet nature makes it easier. And while training takes work, her quick little mind gives us plenty of opportunities for creative redirection. Socialization and training demand consistency, but her friendly nature and intelligence make it enjoyable.
Having Sadie around has given our days a rhythm again—walks to take when the weather’s nice, times when she wants to play fetch or tug-of-war, constant vigilance on potty training, and those peaceful moments when she finally crashes for a nap. The house feels alive again with all her little sounds: those tiny paws romping across the hardwood, her toys squeaking as she tosses them around, and her sharp little bark when she gets excited about something (which happens more often than I’d like, but it means she is happy and healthy).
Sadie has been a focal point for our family. We all take turns walking her and share in the delight of her latest antics.
A Message of Hope
When we said goodbye to Daisy Mae, it was extremely difficult for me to comprehend that she was gone. Likewise, when Sadie came into my life unexpectedly, I was ready and did not even realize it until that moment.
We are still getting used to each other, figuring things out day by day. But already, she has filled the house with energy and happiness. Every day, she does something that makes us smile—even when she’s being a little troublemaker. She is teaching us patience (lots of patience), but more than that, she reminds us why we fell in love with having a puppy in the first place.
When you find the right one—and you’ll know when you do—all that waiting will suddenly make sense.
