“Sometimes, the dog you didn’t plan for becomes the one who changes your life forever.”
Before we became pawrents, we knew one thing for certain—we wanted to welcome a Pembroke Welsh Corgi into our family.
Like many first-time dog lovers, we spent countless hours scrolling through Instagram, admiring adorable Corgi puppies and imagining what life might be like with one of our own. Eventually, one puppy completely stole our hearts. Without hesitation, we contacted the breeder, hoping he was still available.
Unfortunately, we were too late.
The puppy we had fallen in love with had already found a new family.
From that litter of four puppies, only one remained.
His name was Hazelnut.
Although he wasn’t the puppy we had originally chosen, something told us not to make a decision based on photos alone. Instead, we decided to drive from Jakarta to Bandung and meet him in person.
Sometimes, the best decisions begin with a simple visit.
A Journey That Changed Everything
When we arrived at the breeder’s home, we expected to meet just one puppy.
Instead, the breeder brought out two.
One was Hazelnut.
The other was another adorable little Corgi puppy who would later become Caramel.
Although they came from different parents, they had been raised together in the same kennel from a very young age. They played together, slept together, and seemed completely comfortable in each other’s company.
The more we watched them, the harder it became to imagine separating them.
We had come to Bandung planning to adopt one puppy.
That afternoon, we left as the proud pawrents of two.
Looking back, it was one of the easiest—and best—decisions we’ve ever made.
The Long Ride Home
Our trip from Jakarta to Bandung had been smooth and relaxing.
The journey home was anything but.
Heavy traffic turned the drive into nearly six long hours.
For two tiny puppies experiencing their very first car ride, it must have been overwhelming.
Somewhere along the way, they couldn’t hold it anymore.
They peed.
They pooped.
Right there in the car.
Today, we laugh whenever we remember that moment.
Back then, though, all we could think about was whether they were okay.
It was their first time away from everything they had ever known.
Their first time away from the breeder.
Their first long journey.
Their first day with us.
Caramel looked unusually quiet during the trip, and we became convinced she might be getting sick.
Little did we know…
The puppy we weren’t worried about would soon become the one who frightened us the most.
Our First Lesson as New Pawrents
After finally arriving home, our first instinct was simple.
They must be hungry.
So we gave them food and water, believing it was the best thing we could do after such a long journey.
Looking back, we realized it became our very first lesson as first-time pawrents.
The next morning, Hazelnut became seriously ill.
He started vomiting.
His stool became soft.
His tiny body looked weak and exhausted.
We panicked.
Later, we learned something every new pawrent should know.
When a puppy experiences major changes—leaving familiar surroundings, traveling for hours, and adjusting to a completely new environment—its body needs time to recover. Feeding immediately after such a stressful journey isn’t always the best idea.
Combined with the long trip and the difference between the cool weather of Bandung and the warmer climate of Jakarta, Hazelnut’s little stomach simply wasn’t ready.
While we had spent the entire journey worrying about Caramel, she quickly settled into her new home. Hazelnut, on the other hand, struggled much more than we expected.
The Ride We’ll Never Forget
Those days were some of the scariest we’ve experienced as pawrents.
We didn’t know whether Hazelnut would recover.
We took him to two different veterinary clinics, hoping someone could help.
One memory from that time still makes us smile.
Wanting to get him to the veterinarian as quickly as possible, I wrapped tiny Hazelnut in a thick blanket and booked an online motorcycle taxi.
Looking back, it must have looked rather unusual.
A tiny Corgi puppy, wrapped like a little burrito, riding through Jakarta on the back of a motorcycle.
The funniest part?
The moment the motorcycle started moving, Hazelnut suddenly looked happy.
His ears perked up.
His eyes became bright.
He looked around with excitement, almost as if nothing had happened.
But every time we arrived at the veterinary clinic, he became weak again.
Even today, we still laugh about that motorcycle ride.
Maybe…
He had already fallen in love with adventures.
A Little Fighter
The veterinarians performed several examinations, including tests for Parvovirus.
Waiting for the results felt endless.
We prayed.
We hoped.
We prepared ourselves for the worst.
Thankfully, Hazelnut proved to be much stronger than we had imagined.
Little by little, he recovered.
His energy returned.
His smile returned.
And so did ours.
The Gentle Leader of Our Pack
Today, Hazelnut has grown into a healthy, handsome Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
He has a gentle heart, but he’s also the natural alpha of our little pack.
Around unfamiliar male dogs, he can sometimes be protective and a little bossy.
At home, however, he’s calm, affectionate, and always happiest when he’s close to his family.
One thing has never changed since he was a puppy.
His love for traveling.
Whether it’s a short drive or a weekend adventure, Hazelnut is always the first one ready to jump into the car.
Perhaps that joyful motorcycle ride to the veterinarian was our first clue.
Adventure has always been part of who he is.
Looking Back
It’s funny how life unfolds.
We went to Bandung hoping to bring home one Corgi. Instead, we came home with two—and our lives have never been the same since.
Hazelnut wasn’t the puppy we had originally chosen.
But somehow…
He became the one who chose us.
Looking back today, we can’t imagine our family—or Corgi Coffeelatte—without him.
Everything we have today began with one unexpected little Corgi named Hazelnut.
“Our story began with the puppy we never expected to bring home.” 🐾
— Hazelnut
