D. 09.10.26 kom dagen hvor vi kunne hente vores nye familiemedlem hjem. Den dag havde vi alle set frem imod, og selvom alt det praktiske var bragt i orden, så er et jo det – noget andet hvordan ville Nova tage imod det hele? Det var både, det at komme til et nyt hjem, nye dufte, nye vaner, og ikke mindst nye lyde.
Selve hjemturen tog Nova i ophøjet pote, for hun sov det meste af vejen. Hjemturen varede lidt over en time, fordi vi valgte at tage landevejene hjem, af hensyn til Nova. Men hun opførte sig som om hun aldrig havde bestilt andet end at være i en bil – så det lover godt for fremtiden.
Hjemme og i sikkerhed bag hegn og låger – blev Nova sat ned så hun lige kunne kigge lidt på haven. Hun var lidt agtpågivende, for haven er noget helt andet end der hvor hun kom fra. Vi har temmelig store træer og buske – og da det er efterår en hel masse visne blade fra birketræet, som står midt i haven. Birketræet har altid været vores beaglers ynglings sted at være, når det var varmt og de kunne søge skygge. Så mon ikke Nova vil syntes om det, når vi når dertil?
Nova fik lige tisset – hun er så dygtig og forstår allerede “tisse” kommandoen.
Bagefter blev hun bragt ind i huset. Vi har to trin op fra den nederste del og op til døren ind til stuen. Her ventede den ældste søn på at komme til at se Nova. Nova blev sat ned og så fik hun bare lov at støve rundt i bedste beagle stil. Der er slet ingen tvivl om at hun kunne dufte at der havde været hund (beagle) før – det var ret tydeligt.
Efter at havde været lidt rundt meldte trætheden sig og den lur Nova fik tilbragte hun i “mors” arme. Efter luren var det tid til at spise. Som den beagle hun er, så kastede hun sig over måltidet. Jeg har købt nogle hvalpe skåle på stativer og de har lige den helt rigtige højde. Senere skal de udvides med en større model.
Selve den første aften, var Nova agtpågivende. Her er jo en masse nye lyde også udefra. Så hun blev lidt nervøs hvis en af os hostede/rømmede sig og lignende.
Vi prøvede at se fjernsyn, men det tv program – blev Nova desværre bange for, så hun for ind under “fars” lænestol. Hun kom dog hurtigt frem igen og blev placeret mellem mine ben i sin donutskurv. Og her sad hun og så Peter Plys og hundrede mil skoven – det var straks bedre.
Senere gik vi op ovenpå. Da gitterlågen var lukket i, fik Nova lov at undersøge soveværelset, og derefter kom hun op i sit sovebur, som nu indeholdt donut kurven og den hjertehund hun gnaskede i på vejen hjem.
En hjerte hund er en stor blød bamse hund, som indeholder en rund anordning man sætter batterier i og har en efterligning af hundes hjerteslag.
Den første nat forløb uden problemer. Nova sov til ca 04:30 hvor vi tog hende ud og tisse. Hun fik også lavet stort. Så gik turen direkte op i seng igen. Nova faldt hurtigt i søvn og så sov vi faktisk til 8:30. Her skulle hun også ud ret hurtigt og så var hun frisk og klar til mad og nye løjer.
Dag 2. her var Nova ude og tisse/pølle ved 4 tiden – op i seng igen, og så var hun klar kl 8:30 – hvor jeg gik ned med hende – ud og tisse/pølle og så stod hun ellers i køkkenet og ventede utålmodig på sin morgenmad.
På dag 2 virker hun allerede lidt mere rolig. Hun snakker meget – og i sær hvis hun vil noget – så både “snak” og søgen rundt så ved vi at hun skal noget.
Nova har fået nye bide ting i dag, da hendes trang til at bide/gnave er taget til – så vi har købt bidehjerter (de er et hit) og en hvalpe kong wubba. Udover det har vi fået lavet et hundetegn til hende og købt en blød mesh sele – selvfølgelig i lysegrå med hjerter og lyserøde kanter.
10.10.26 was the day we could finally bring our new family member home. We had all been looking forward to this day, and although all the practical arrangements were in place, there was still the big question: how would Nova take it all in? There was the new home, new scents, new routines, and—not least—new sounds.
Nova took the journey home in stride, sleeping for most of the way. The trip took a little over an hour, as we chose to take the back roads for Nova’s sake. She acted as if she had done nothing but ride in cars her whole life—which bodes well for the future.
Once home and safe behind fences and gates, we set Nova down so she could take a look around the garden. She was a bit cautious, as the garden is quite different from where she came from. We have fairly large trees and shrubs—and, since it is autumn, a great many withered leaves from the birch tree standing in the middle of the garden. The birch tree has always been our Beagles’ favorite spot when the weather is warm and they need some shade. I wonder if Nova will come to enjoy it there, too, once the time is right?
Nova managed to relieve herself—she is such a clever girl and already understands the command to “pee.”
Afterward, she was brought into the house. There are two steps leading up from the lower level to the door into the living room. Our eldest son was waiting there, eager to meet Nova. We set her down, and she was free to sniff around and explore—in true Beagle fashion. There is absolutely no doubt that she could smell that a dog (a Beagle) had been there before—it was quite obvious.
After moving around a bit, fatigue set in, and Nova spent her nap in “Mom’s” arms. After the nap, it was time to eat. Being a Beagle, she dove right into her meal. I bought some puppy bowls on stands, and they are exactly the right height. Later on, we’ll need to upgrade to a larger size.
On that first evening, Nova was very alert. There were lots of new sounds, including some coming from outside, so she would get a bit nervous if one of us coughed, cleared our throat, or made similar noises.
We tried watching television, but the program scared Nova, so she scurried underneath “Dad’s” armchair. She soon came back out, though, and settled between my legs in her donut-shaped bed. There, she sat watching *Winnie the Pooh*—that was much better.
Later, we went upstairs. Once the safety gate was closed, Nova was allowed to explore the bedroom; afterwards, she went into her sleeping crate, which contained her donut bed and the “heartbeat dog” she had been chewing on during the drive home.
A “heartbeat dog” is a large, soft plush toy containing a round device—powered by batteries—that mimics the sound of a dog’s heartbeat.
The first night went smoothly. Nova slept until about 4:30 AM, at which point we took her outside to pee. She also did her business. Then, it was straight back to bed. Nova fell asleep quickly, and we actually managed to sleep until 8:30 AM. She also needed to go out quite quickly here, and afterwards, she was bright-eyed and ready for food and some new antics.
Day 2: Nova went out to pee and poop around 4 o’clock, then back to bed. She was ready to go again at 8:30, so I took her downstairs—out to pee and poop—and then she stood in the kitchen, waiting impatiently for her breakfast.
By day 2, she already seems a bit calmer. She’s quite vocal—especially when she wants something—so between her “talking” and wandering around, we know she needs something.
Nova got some new chew toys today, as her urge to bite and gnaw has increased. We bought some chewable hearts (they’re a big hit) and a puppy Kong Wubba. On top of that, we had an ID tag made for her and bought a soft mesh harness—naturally in light grey with hearts and pink trim.
