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After Pyometra dashed our hopes for a puppy from Puff, Nick and I started looking for "the perfect puppy."  Would a magnificent male or a magnificent female produce this puppy?  We went to some shows, visited some breeders, and haunted the Internet.  We planned to take our time -- touring and visiting -- until our old girl, Lucy had passed.  Four Mastiffs would be too many--right?  Well, "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

One day in the fall of 2005, I was told of an accidental breeding.  The pedigree is a combination of wonderful dogs -- even a touch of Pendragon -- what more could I want?  After I talked with Sue Clinton (the lady who is lucky enough to live at Day Dream Acres) and we agreed to co-own the pick male, I began counting the days to the due date: Halloween!

Daisy Mae delivered naturally before she could be taken in for a c-section.  Each week, Sue sent pictures of the puppies; each week, "brown boy" caught our eyes.  Finally, Carrie Klaiber and I left Nick home to tend Ben, Puff, and Lucy and drove down to Tennessee to get the new puppy.  Our grown up children had helped name him "Great Expectations" and Melody Fuller came up with the call name of Dickens.

Sue had "secretly" also picked Brown Boy and seeing him in person confirmed our choice from the pictures.   This photo captured Sue's look of approval as Nancy makes her final choice.

  
Dickens was a very happy, out-going, active puppy.  We began formal obedience training the first week that he was home.  Since he had not completed his shots his training was one on one at the home of our friend, Helen Massey.  Dickens learned quickly and passed his CGC test at the Mason Dixon Kennel Club just before he was four months old.  He fit right in with the older dogs and has wrapped his paws around our hearts.  Dickens was meant to live with us at Honalee and bring his joy to all our lives.