Lucky Number 7 & the Secret Fernandezlopez Treaty of 2009

Team Fernandezlopez is welcoming lucky dog number 7 this weekend! Surprised? So was I! When Esteban told me that Gayle (Gypsy’s breeder) had the perfect puppy for him, I basically said – “well too bad – there’s no way we’re getting a 7th dog”.

Let’s take a few steps back. There are some key background points to this story.

Key Background Point #1: It was only last year that we went from 4 dogs to 6. Though it seemed a bit crazy at the time – this was a pretty reasonable move for an agility household. I was definitely due for a pup. My last pup had been 8 years earlier. Esteban had Rook (6 at the time) and Sammie (who was definitely nearing retirement). So even there – 6 years between puppies in quite a bit. So – though 6 dogs was alot – it was reasonable given that we both compete and both our competition dogs were getting over the hill. However, at the time – we said “6 was not the new 4″ meaning that as we lost our older dogs to the great dogbone in the sky – they would not “open up a spot” for a new youngster!

Key Background Point #2: Esteban has been keeping his eyes open for a great high-drive Golden. It’s one of his three possible breeds (seems we’ve finally settled!): Golden, Rottie, BC. There’ve been some possibilities out there, and we’ve been keeping our eye on a few specific Goldens and Breeders; but we love Gayle and Gaylan’s Goldens so much – we kept coming back and watching her litters. YEARS ago – after checking a few of her breeding, Esteban told Gayle (or maybe Gayle told Esteban) that she knows what he’s looking for and the level at which he wants to compete; and to give him a call if she had a pup or litter that she thought was the perfect match for him.

Back to the present day. Years and litters have gone by. We’ve added Raph. We’ve added Gitta. Oh, and by the way, we’re pregnant with our second child!!! Esteban is in the last year of Residency (FINALLY!) with Board Exams and Licensing still to go. Gayle has the perfect puppy (Ms Black – they are distinguished by the color of their collar); and I have just told Esteban “well too bad – there’s no way we’re getting a 7th dog”.

Serious negotiations begin. These are NOT little favors like doing the dishes for a week. These are big negotiations. I cannot reveal the details of the treaty (thus the SECRET Fernandezlopez Treaty of 2009); but I basically went from “there’s no way in h***” to “well – that would be ok then!”. I told Esteban that I was going to have to at least admit there was a treaty – because there was no other rational explanation for why we would add a 7th dog at this time!

The pup does sound amazing. The litter is bred against field lines resulting in nice size (for us – we prefer less bone for agility) and great drive. While we were still deciding, this email was posted to the Gaylan’s Newsgroup: “I was lucky to get up to Gayle’s today to see the pups one last time before they start going home. What a beautiful litter this is. Miss Black is all of that and a bag of chips! I wanted to put her in my truck and drive away! She will make someone VERY happy.” I accused Gayle of paying someone off to write that note – but apparently it was all on the up & up!

So – Saturday I fly to NY to pick up lucky number seven: Gaylan’s American Revolution; callname: Lexi (short for Lexington) born: 7/4/2009. Esteban gets his high drive golden. And I get unspecified, but adequate compensation.