I hope my canine in-laws are not snobs, because their bloodlines are a lot nobler than mine. Meet (not yet born) Zinnia’s probable father, he is a pretty handsome Lab and his name is just as fancy: Chucklebrook’s Imaging Dragon, call name Thunder.

Zinnia is the name of the Yellow Lab pup, the child of Thunder and the mother, Garnett, below. I say probably because (Stonewall Aquarius)  Garnett is pregnant, Braxton is the sire, the due date is September 20.

This is what I would call a pretty handsome couple, and I’m eager to see what the litter looks like and if there is a sweet, smallish female in it who might be Zinnia (“Zin”) for short.

I am getting ahead of myself, of course, lots of things can happen between now and Thanksgiving, when the puppies would be going home, assuming they are all okay, and there there is even a female in the litter.

I sent my deposit off on Friday, and it’s up to Lenore to decide where the puppies go.

I’m pretty confident about the quality of these dogs.

These are two healthy, award-winning dogs bred for health and bone structure and temperament. Ultra-sound images suggest at least seven pups on the way. But there are no certainties when it comes to breeding.

Garnett, is co-owned by Lenore Servini and Dr. Kathy Sneider, a veterinarian and breeder.   I love the looks of Braxton and Thunder, two strong, even-tempered, alert and very healthy dogs.

I’m good with waiting a bit. I waited six months for Gus to get over his many health issues down in Arkansas and two months is really not that long. Assuming the pups are healthy and I am chosen to take one of them home, I’ll start thinking about a training program and what we will need in the way of crates, and things to chew on.

Labs need a lot of things to chew on, and if they don’t get theirs, they will chew on ours. I’m thinking two crates, one downstairs, one upstairs. Zin – her tentative name will be Zinnia, after Maria’s favorite flower –  will sleep in a crate at night for at least six months, we do not have a big enough bed for a Lab.

Sue Silverstein the art and theology teacher at Bishop Maginn and a good friend, announced that this will be her dog, just as Red was. I’ve agreed. I’ve asked Sue to be deputy socializing director for Zinnia when I visit Bishop Maginn High School (I’m teaching an eight-week writing workshop there in the Fall) Zinnia will be coming with me, and I’ll park her in Sue’s class, where she will be loved and socialized beyond imagination.

The staff at the dentist has already demanded she come with me there. She will most likely get a lot of socializing from the Mansion staff and residents. The people working the Moses  Farm Stand have also seen Stonewall Farm’s puppy pictures on the blog, and have asked for quality time with her.

If she turns out to exist, and I get to buy her I have little doubt she will be instantly and thoroughly socialized, not to mention Maria, who is puppy-deprived. I don’t wish to be grim about it, but I put a lot of thought into choosing a dog and training a dog.

If I do my job, I will have the dog Maria and I want, and many other people will benefit from her. So it’s up to me not to screw it up.

Seeing these photos of Garnet and Thunder, I feel better and better about Zinnia every day. This breeder knows her stuff. The dogs have been cleared for bone and other health issues.

This will be a test of Mother Nature and my patience.