I never knew how heart wrenching it was to have a puppy until today.

About a week ago I learned from a friend that I attend church service with, that a client of her husband was offering him an australian shepherd puppy. My mom, thinking I loved those dogs, asked if I could have it. After she told me I went nuts! But I didn't really expect to get it. I went along joking to myself about what if I did get it, and what I'd name her (I just imagined a girl pup).

All the while I still never thought of all that could happen if I did get one.

Yesterday night while on our way to get stuff at wal-mart and deliver a tv for some friends for school, we got a call (or we called him) about the puppy. A white australian shepherd, female. I flipped out, I was so excited, especially seeing as my day hadn't been the best... I texted my best friend and told our friends we delivered the tv to. Little did I know the trouble I would be getting myself into.

Right when I got home I decided to research about the breed. I had read a little before, but not much. Thats when I saw an article on wikipedia.

Double Merle
Double merling or homozygous merle occurs when the resulting offspring of two merled parents inherit two copies of the dominant merle gene. Double merles are often mostly white and can have resulting hearing and vision problems as a result of having two copies of the merle gene. Homozygous merles can be deaf, blind, express iris colobomas and microphthalmia. Not all homozygous merles are affected, but most are, making the breeding of two merles a very touch subject. Breeders will either euthanize mostly white pups or in the case of poorly qualified breeders, sell them as "rare" white Aussies without disclosing the potential for health defects. A large percentage of homozygous merles sold eventually end up in rescue and shelters as the average family is ill prepared to take on a deaf and/or blind pet. However, deaf and/or blind Australian Shepherds can make wonderful pets given a home prepared for their special needs.


I nearly died.

I decided to look around more, because wikipedia isn't always the most accurate place for researching, and I found that it was true.

I told my parents, and this morning they called our friend and asked him to check her out for me, but he told us that he thought she looked fine. I was worried most the day, and to make matters worse I had to go to the social security office. But I still bought things for her, in hopes she was fine.


I now have a 12 week old, white australian shepherd. She isn't completly white, she is partially light red. I named her Nadia, a suggestion my best friend made, which means Hope. I liked it because I hope she is fine, and he liked it because he thinks she'll be my hope.

Only thing is, she doesn't like our cats, which is to be expected right now, and she doesn't listen, which is also to be expected. But due to these, and the fact my parents do not allow animals in our house, we have to keep her in a pet carrier overnight, until we can get a pen set up. I hate leaving her out there, I've had to leave kittens out like that before (due to how small they were) but its never hurt me like this T___T I can't take it! Hearing her whine brings tears to my eyes..... I've never had a puppy, I've never even had to take care of one, at least not overnight.


What have I gotten myself into?!


Any links for training and care would be very appreciated!


Also, she has some gunk in her eye(s), I heard the breeders put medication on it, but I wonder if I should get medicine to take care of it too.








Edit2: A little more research and I think I know what all is wrong. Her eyes are not fully devoloped and the starburst effect is causeing her to squint because of sunlight (and possibly all the wind we've been having) oddly enough I have problems with sunlight and wind myself.... I don't know what to really do for her, but hopefully the vets will. Other than this, she's doing great.