*runs around in happy circles*

Okay, so there's this breeder I've been in contact with for about a week now.  I started writing to her with general questions about Aussies, and what questions I should ask other breeders.  We kind of clicked, and when the landlord gave us the okay to get a dog, I wrote her first and expressed interest in one of her pups (at the time she'd been expecting a litter -- the pups were born today).  However, her prices were... well, a bit steep. 

Very steep.  About $200 more than we were prepared to pay.  I was heartbroken, because I really liked this woman, and was really impressed with her dogs and the series of health checks she puts the puppies through, and -- just everything.

So, today I was out and about, and decided to come home and write Tora-kun, and tell him that I'd be more than willing to make some sort of sacrifice to make up the difference -- even taking a few temp jobs to help pay for the puppy.  When I sat down at the computer, there was an email from L, the breeder.  She was writing to tell me that one of the pups had a "mismark," which had no negative effect on his health, sight, or hearing, and she would let us have him with the stipulation that he'd be "fixed" and never bred (which is totally okay with us).

She's offering the puppy to us for $300 less than she normally charges, and $100 less than the lowest price we were prepared to pay.

From the email she sent:

Well, Angel has finished having her pups...I think :)  We have 7 babies!  We expected only 5 so it was a surprise :)  One of the pups is a mis mark..meaning it has too much white on its head.  It has no effect on health or sight or hearing, as a pup with similar markings might have from a merle to merle breeding.  This was a merle to tri breeding and is not a problem situation.  He is a beautiful red merle with a big white collar and blaze, but the blaze goes too wide and surrounds the eye on one side. Our breed standard says that white should not predominate on the head. Some breeders put a pup that is mismarked down, but if a pup is healthy I can see no reason to do so.  I will place it in a pet home with the stipulation that it must be spayed or neutered.  If you would like to consider this pup, I would let you have him for X.   When I can get him away from Mom for a moment, I will take a picture.

I have no idea if the puppy is male or female (I don't even know if SHE knows, since the litter was just born TODAY), but I don't think it really matters.  It's a red merle Aussie -- and I love the merles.  And the blaze surrounding the eye on one side sounds too damned adorable for words.

And I'm just really excited right now. 

I'm totally sharing pics when she sends them.

EDIT: OHMYGOD, IT'S AN EXPLOSION OF CUTE! I HAVE CUTE ALL OVER ME!

( Picture behind the cut! )