Friday, June 28, 2013 at 2:32PM 
From Shannon:
I thought I'd send you this photo. I got a fish bed (really, more for the new puppy than for Levon (yay Spice!), although I was hoping he'd like it). Initially he was afraid of it, but I threw a treat inside and managed to get him to investigate it. This is as far as we've gotten, though. Lol.
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From me:
This is so adorable!
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Be sure to also check out the class photos below.
Friday, June 28, 2013 at 10:41AM It was fun. We were there for a long time as we had Bailey's class to do before and I went wow this will be too long but it went by fast and was fun. It was delightful to have Bailey. Check out Fiona's blog for a video and I will be adding a gallery of his pix later. Tricks class ends next week.
Nathan should be able to be at class as his show is first thing in the morning. Hooray!
Here are a few photos. Realize I didn't get photos of everything but in this tricks class everyone is outstanding.They know tricks that aren't even been taught.
The Kona Roll
Teaching Roll Over in the other direction
Even Jeannie Rolled and it was her first time.
Cha Cha on Play Bow - Oh My Gad does she hold it!
Magic doing play bow - wonderful!
Kona total focus sporting a new haircut - a rather nice one!
Jeannie gets award for most exhuberant tug play
Ty Touch so when do we start?
Look at Kona's focus with that distraction - wow!
Another view of Kona's New Haircut
Ty's Perfect Pray
Sibling Pray
Magic's Stand to Twirl wow
Kona excited twirl - wow
Cha Cha Feed me
Ty focused on the treat
Kona paw
Cha Cha perfect stay
I have so many more but they are all fabulous. I took extra of Kona last night as he had his first haircut and it came out quite nice!
It's raining and raining so maybe indoor play today. Desk did get cleaned. heh
Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 8:54AM 
You didn't hear me say it but after a long day out I came home to an office that was a mess. It seems our son took out the computer portable to trash it as he says I never use it and its so old and it is. It allows me to see outside clearly and have more desk space. But now I have clutter to deal with that was sitting behind it. I am a clutter queen due to many losses in my life I tend to treasure and hoard 'things' but I always vow to do better. I am not as bad though as those they show on tv. hahaha I do have a tough time letting go like this portable that sat and wasn't used just in case I do need it.
I said don't trash it as I have photos. He then left me a note on what I need to buy to store bars and cables and as fastidious as he usually is, he put the puppy pad upside down. My desk looks like well Nathan's and I don't like that so if it rains, we will be playing inside in-between my getting this desk back to normal or at least attempting to.
Funny, the kitchen was clean. The outside all picked up and clean. The puppy room all of it. Just my room a bloody nightmare. Okay stop griping. I only care if he takes care of the dogs and not clean but he is my ocd of cleaning the puppy pens etc and it is so funny to have a puppy pad flipped over the wrong way. He will say it wasn't him but he was the only one here. He's now sleeping so I can't test this theory.
Well with these pups departing and Spice having pups a week later it gives me that one week window to truly reorganize this room. Did you see what I did? I just procrastinated 2 weeks from now. Okay, it begins today if it rains but we have Chewy, Riley, Tiger and Rocky to play today and classes tonight with Bailey and Jeannie. What a fun day this will be but a long day at that.
I guess its the long weekend. Without calendars, phones, reminders we would never know around here. One day is the same - fun dawg days!
Where's that lottery ticket as I would indeed have an organized house and still be doing the dawgs just they would have more things. Oh boy... more clutter says she. It never ends but truly it's not as bad as it seems and I am always needing crazy things like towels, blankets, waterproof pads and my to do list keeps growing. I vow if this rain stops to sand our kitchen french doors and stain them. We will see if this is the year it gets done. Last year I accomplished doing the picnic table with a mouse sander and again this year that is all I have. oy... No wonder why the list keeps growing. hahahaha
Well, off to groom dawgs and get the cushions in as rains seem imminent.
PS: Nathan bought a slew of antlers split so if it really rains hard the dogs including visitors will all have a fun chewing treat. My guy always thinking about the dawgs even before me. Yeah I am laughing!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 11:50AM 
We had a visit from Laci and her mom. It's been way too long and it was great to see her.
But if we do it in this heat again then I think we will have to do it inside. I saw Laci panting and all the pups panting. Even though we had cold water and ice in it the dogs were feeling the heat. In case you don't realize dogs pant to regulate their body temperature. If they are nonstop panting then you know they are too hot.
So next time if heat - INSIDE.
Thank you Deb for sharing her with us and I already planted the mandevilla. In this heat it is bound to flourish. Most appreciated and quite nice. I do love the tropicals!
I have a lot going on today between baths for others, grooming my own and a graduation we have to leave for at 330. I don't even know what I am wearing. hahahaha But I do have my cameras ready. One has to have their priorities straight. Seems the air conditioner is fixed but he has to fix something else and do a lube oil whatever so looks like Nathan will be walking in when our guest arrives - of course!
Thank gad for air and hoping this time it stays working as I can't fathom how it would be for the pups and Spice without never mind me. Still cost lots to fix but at least its fixed. Tomorrow a vet bill. hahahaha
Monday, June 24, 2013 at 6:32PM 
Molly came over for a bath and her mom asked if we could test her in the water with the life jacket on and without. Why? They go boating during the summer months and wanted to make sure Molly was able to handle herself in and out of a jacket if an issue presented itself.
We spent a good half hour showing her the stairs, getting her to swim over and over again so she gained her comfort level. At first she was nervous in and out of the jacket but soon gained her confidence in the jacket and was starting to do so without. She was more than fine and I applaud her mom in caring enough to make sure she would be safe if something presented itself in the unexpected sort of way.
Then she had a bath and headed on home. Miss Molly we just adore you and your desire to do it again and again. She never went out (sat on the stairs) but willingly went back in to practice again. Bravo!
Well, it's too hot for human and dogs outside. Here it is going on 7pm and its still too hot. The dogs go out then come back in panting after 5 minutes even with water outside. Be careful and don't let your dogs overheat. I am NOT weeding today!
Nathan went out with the van today and the air conditioning is not working. It was fixed last year. As we have a vet appt on Wednesday with a potentially pregnant gal and pups he is going to try to get it fixed tomorrow morning. If not, I told him to buy a case or two of water bottles so I can freeze and line the crates with them so the pups and Spice can stay cool. Crossing my fingers the air gets fixed for Wednesday.
When it rains, it pours. But we will survive either way.
Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 4:51PM 
I was going to wash all the dogs and let them air dry and then they said rain at 10, then 11, then 2 now 4 and none of it arrived and no one got washed. But Nathan and I got into the pool after Piper departed and we took the dogs out very early for a run down the path and play. It is actually too hot for the dogs to hang outside. I weeded in-between swimming and well doesn't appear that much is done even though I filled 3 lawn bags. Weeds are like that.
Kat went swimming. Roxie went swimming and so did Spice and I brushed no one else out except Piper. I made it my day to swim and to recoup. Tomorrow I have Molly to wash and some others. Molly will get a blow dry. They say hot again tomorrow so we may be taking Molly into the pool at the request of her owner as they go boating and she wants to be sure with and without a life jacket Molly can swim.
Maybe I will was a dog, swim, wash a dog, swim much like I did with weeding today.
What do you think that Spice was thinking when she stuck her tongue out at human Daddy? We are going to get Spice swimming most days so she is in perfect shape for a month from now. Plus it will cool her off. It does us!
Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 5:29PM We did a recall class with Magic and Scruffy and of course with Jeannie. The rest were big dogs with the exception of 1. I liked this class as we are getting Jeannie ready to be around a lot of big dogs so this was part of the conditioning. It all worked. Everyone in that class was able to behave correctly and be off lead.
Here are a few photos of the class. I couldn't take many as the helpers had to be helping.
Magic has never taken any classes except for Tricks class so she did amazing considering that fact. It's easier to do recall if you did the basic classes. She started out slowly doing the recall but improved over the night and that is what the class is truly about - teaching your dog to come.
They do such a wonderful job with Magic!
Scruffy was amazing in class. He loves everyone. Treat, Daddy? Do you see the tongue?
It's as if a light bulb went on for Scruffy and he said oh this is what they want and he was a dawg on a mission. He was great. He even knew when Roger was enthusiastic. Smart dawg!
Now I want to know what Jeannie was smiling at in this photo. I looked but couldn't tell.
Okay, so how can I get those treats? Her mind was thinking but just like Scruffy and Magic they listened to their handlers. Bravo everyone and bravo that they performed with all these strange rambunctious dogs. I was proud of all of them!
It has been raining today. I had a plan to wash everyone and let them air dry after comb out but it aint happening. But they did get groomed - each. We did play retrieve in the house. We also cuddled and played find the treats. But I have to say I am tired of this rain. Kat even came outside and watched me pull weeds and all I got from the son is so when are you going to do the front and you didn't do much. Oh my....
It's a low key day and I am losing the weed battle. I seriously need to dig out plants and thin out the garden but that's on my to do list too. That list grows but the dawgs have my attention big and small and well I think it should be like that. The rest - well I will get to it when I can.
Friday, June 21, 2013 at 4:57PM 
Here is Kona doing the perfect beg.
Ty doing his pray! He does so many tricks including counting much like the Kona!
Magic doing her paw. She also has a slew of tricks she knows.
Plus I want to add another of Magic as the relationship between the human sister Caitlin and Magic is amazing. As Phyllis says she does all the training and wow she is up there giving competition to Ty and Kona. Us, we didn't do any trick training before the class but Jeannie got the beg in oh - minutes. Nathan wasn't going to teach as he is too afraid she will try this stuff in the conformation ring and lose. But a truly trained dog should know you do x in this venue and x in that venue but for pups that is a bit hard to expect but we do. heh
Today we had Levon over and you will see some photos of him on Abigail's blog as he was playing with the pups. Below you will see Truffie and Logan and Panda playing.
This is Panda telling Roxie she's boss.
This is Logan and Truffie full out playing and loving it!
At one moment in time Panda said Logan is MINE but Logan and Truffie ignored her.
They continued to play and Panda observed.
Panda finally engaged Logan in play but only after Truffie and Logan was done. The boys were having fun!
Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 2:25PM 
Stella Her Last Before DepartureStella, Jenkins, Molly, Mia and Murphy so exciting that it is YOUR day today. I couldn't possibly forget this date as our oldest daughter's birthday is today and so is our daughter-in-law. What a special day this is!!
Got this in email from Carrie:
Hi Darlah
Hope you and your family are well!
Since tomorrow is Jenkins' second bday , I wanted to send you some pics to keep you updated ! He's been doing great . Jenkins and Carson get along very well! Ilan and I can't remember what life was like before we got Jenkins. Jenkins certainly is the best match for our growing family :)
Keep well !
Carrie
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From me: Carson is their baby and they are expecting another by the end of the year. How exciting!
Happy Birthday Crew - make sure your Mommy and Daddy's do it up right! You deserve it. You are such a wonderful crew!
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 8:42AM 
Jeannie thought ah grass heaven and was excited to be at the sanction match. It was a welcome start as usually new places, lots of dogs big and small can create a I am not sure reaction. She did under her breath growl at an aussie but so did many other large dogs at this one dog. We took it as an opportunity to correct and she was quite fine with everyone else even a large Dobie.
Jeannie showed well. There were a fair amount of dogs to go up against. The surprise was she won, Best in Show, Best Puppy in Show, Best Puppy in Group and Best in Breed. We were elated and then our adventure began.
Nathan had to be at a club meeting and on the way home rushing like a maniac he stopped at a red light and the van died. We had no cell phone and Nathan had to flag someone down so he could call CAA. People don't want to necessarily stop when you are trying to get them to stop. <sigh> But over 2 hours later with a fixed battery we arrived home. It was some night!
Nathan who NEVER misses a meeting was a ball of mixed emotions. I was still on a high that Jeannie won. She did show well.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 4:00PM 
The Jeannie just had a bath as she is supposed to attend her first sanction match today. Dennis has a really bad migraine so we shall see how that unfolds. At least she is clean for class twice this week - tricks and recall!
Goldie is over too and has been playing nonstop with the pups. They tried that jump in the face thing on her and she didn't like it. They will learn. That's how they learn. Oh my, what did I do wrong? She corrected me.
No galleries, no photos. Too busy without Dennis and had a lot of other stuff on my plate.
Hope everyone is enjoying this wants to sun day but can't make up its mind. It's better than rain.
Monday, June 17, 2013 at 4:13PM 
This is the duo before their baths. We have had a ton of rain so even walking through the grass has given interesting hairdos. I think tomorrow other than washing Jeannie for a sanction match and Logan and Panda I am taking a break on grooming. You could brush yours thoroughly a few times a week but I like to stay on top of things.
This is Scruffy after his bath.
This is Scruffy saying enough already!
This is Pepper after a bath.
This is Pepper doing whatever it takes to get the treat. :-)
The duo is a pleasure to groom. I mean that sincerely. Lori and Roger invests a lot into this process and it shows.
This is Levon before he was brushed out. I forgot to click him after. He didn't have a bath. I just brush and 'comb' him out. If you don't use a comb you won't find any knots starting. I tell you this as I hear time and time again but I brush him when I say x has knots. The brush only does the surface unless you have a long tined brush and even then it misses knots. Levon doesn't come with knots. This isn't about Levon but a general informative - use a comb tip.
Levon is a happy, happy boy. I have photos of him that I will be posting later with the pups. I have been busy today so I have not got to it.
I took out all the dead vines in one of my pots today and found all my morning glories (blue) are growing. I do not have to buy anew this year - bravo. It may be August before I see full growth but that's okay.
Our friends also got me two plant pots from Costco - cheap. We do not have a Costco membership so I was thrilled. I have to get them to get me 2 more. They were cheap and I didn't mind paying the little cost for annuals that only last one season and they are beautiful so now you all have a source. Just don't buy them all. Leave 2 for me. hahahahaha
Even though its not raining (hooray) I had the crew playing retreive in the kitchen and they were ALL after Scruffy and the toy. He gleefully carried it here and there proud that they couldn't get it from them. I had to laugh as it was a game to him. They all loved it too.
When Pepper managed to get it from Scruffy she would drop it at my feet so I could throw it again and so it continued.
Pepper was smitten by Levon and well Scruffy said - HEY!
The day is not over but it's turned into a truly fun one. Even Risa was playing retrieve like she was back to being 2.
PS: Lori Nathan couldn't figure out the harness when your dad was here so I looked at the hair that I carefully groomed and went yikes. He had to do it twice to get it right.
This was Roxie saying, can I play with the puppies too?
Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 8:37PM 
Father and son reading the ipad together.
WE have another update below.
Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 5:32PM 
Shady and Nora sent this photo and said Happy Father's Day to Nathan and Phantom!
This gives me the opportunity to say happy father's day to all the dad's that love the pups the way you do. Thank you for being you!
This is the Simba. He just had a spruce up. :-) I just adore him as he is yet another play monkey!
This is the wet duo. We had rain and more rain and luckily its been sunny this afternoon. Go figure. If we had known the pups would have been seen in all their glory running around like banshees. Oh well, next time.
Pepper and Scruffy get their baths tomorrow. Lori and Roger get to snuggle with the freshly bathed, not sopping wet duo as long as it doesn't rain but maybe we will dress them in rain suits. They say rain again tomorrow.
I have really got used to having 2 Spice's around and what I mean is oh my gad are they alike. Scruffy oh my gad his hugs are like out of this world so they will be missed but I understand Mommy and Daddy are counting the minutes. I guess Nathan's line - what dogs won't work in this case. :-0
Levon gets to tucker Scruffs out before he goes. Pepper will do that on her own with this dog and that dog and...
Then Tuesday its a quiet day without a soul so maybe I will knock down some of my 'to do' list but we shall see.
Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 9:26PM Life is so crazy busy the last few days so I am falling down on galleries and photos but its life. We had friends over and they swam. I had Abigail and the 4 pups to wash and I have a dog to demat but won't get to him anymore till tomorrow.
I tried to get Pepper and Scruffy in the pool but I admit I didn't try overly hard as Abigail jumped in AFTER I did her bath - yes Abigail, Roxie, Kat so I had a lot of blow drying and brushing to do and I was out of steam. I had already groomed everyone. But still I kept asking and they kept running away much like Fiona when we asked her. They were simply not in the mood and that's okay too. Monday is supposed to be warm so I will take them in before they get their baths. They are knot free so I do not have to worry about it.
This is Roxie and Hugo and Milo and I will tell you they too are smitten with her and she looks away so disinterested in Milo. I have to laugh at that face!
Here Roxie is launching herself off the side. She has learned a kick to the side gets her further.
Pepper and Scruffy got to play with Bailey. Check out this cutie patootie on the Fiona page. She was so excited to see him it was unreal. I have to do a gallery of them playing together. It was priceless!
We had a lot of snuggles time. Scruffy is FASCINATED with Dennis hand-held game machine. He often hangs his head on his shoulder to watch.
I have a ton of photos but to be realistic, I can't do them tonight. I am TOO TIRED. Its a half hour before bed and I have not had down time at all today so I am being proactive to me and finishing this blog then taking 10 minutes for me before bed. ROFL
Friday, June 14, 2013 at 7:48PM These were two of the pups I washed today. Washed more but... these I clicked. This one is Zoe.
This is Magic...
Two more updates today so look below!
Friday, June 14, 2013 at 6:40PM Got these photos from Shannon of Levon and they are so cute I wanted to share!
Friday, June 14, 2013 at 9:19AM 
Thank you to Ty, Kona, Magic and Cha Cha's parents for taking them to Tricks class with us. It seems Jeannie is the only one that has never learned a trick. I guess we have been concentrating on handling stuff. How boring!
She has a lot of practice to do. You all were stars and well Jeannie was playing massive catchup looking around going hmmm all of you already know all of this?
Darlah
Short updates today - no more. I am exhausted I had about 4 hours sleep, lots of grooming and baths today so too tired tonight. I apologize but thank you Lynda for making Nathan's father's day special tonight.
Scruffy and Pepper are delicious. Face baths and all they make my day. I promose I will do better tomorrow though I have puppy baths then. heh
Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 3:22PM We are already missing Steven and My's trio. Here are a few photos after their bath today.
The Ray Ray Boy!
Mac - he was the easiest to get to pose - the other two were so excited it was funny trying to capture them.
Monty doing a dance with Nathan. He is such a character!
Dusty was also here for a bath. Simone got to help socialize the pups.
Be sure to check out the video on Fiona's blog where Griffin conquers the fish.
It suddenly got really quiet here. Jeannie starts Tricks class tonight. Not sure who else is in the class but it is bound to be fun.
I am already too tired for it. ROFL
Everyone is knot free and taking a nap with Nathan in bed. Can you believe? Only Abigail is downstairs with me.
Haven't taken a photo of Pepper or Scruffy as I was too busy washing, grooming and playing with pups. Still, they are their usual sociable selves playing their hearts out so much so that they are catching zzzs with Nathan. I believe I got Pepper playing with the pups earlier but none of Scruffy. I will make sure tomorrow I do better.
I tell you Nathan and the dawgs have the life. heh
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 7:25PM 
I will start with an endearing slideshow of Monty and Nathan. Some are out of focus as I was clicking so fast I was not paying attention to the focus and I am learning my camera and was in full manual mode. It's about time I play and truly learn the camera. I left the blurry ones in as it tells a story and I am sure you will get that!
Roxie and Kat also went swimming and I did a gallery of that as Roxie jumped in repeatedly. Bravo, Roxie. I tried to get everyone else swimming but no one was interested but these two. I decided it wasn't worth trying to coax them. Maybe they were simply not in the mood. After all they did get brushed and combed this morning and a swim would have meant another brush out. Still, I tried extra hard to convince Steven and My's crew as they go home tomorrow. They will be getting baths tomorrow morning as they are simply too dirty from the weather we have had. If they had swam I just would have shampood them tonight and be done with it. Better to do it tomorrow morning so they look extra clean. :-)
Still we managed to have an event-filled day. Everyone is sniffing up Roxie and she's about had it. We had hoped when she went into the pool it would stop but they are all in love with the gal. Raylan to an even bigger degree. I wish I knew what it was. They used to react to Abigail like this before pups.
Here is Raylan and Monty staring at Roxie. We almost thought she was coming into heat again but she is not. Is this doggie attraction perfume of sorts?
Monty and Mac went squirrel hunting. They didn't full out chase but they watched and followed and had him stuck under the deck for a bit. Then Wasabi went under the deck and chased it out. She can catch squirrels but only grabs their tail and lets them go. It's a curious game that she delights in.
When I had Panda around the pool and tried to get her in she went up on the deck and remained. No pool for me! Maybe if I hadn't brushed them all this morning they may have been willing? There have been days in the past that they do this. They are either in the mood or not. Even Abigail who adores getting wet said NO WAY! Okay - that meant only Kat and Roxie to brush out and dry.
The day can't be complete without a little ipad chillin' that Nathan is famous for.
I believe Scruffy thinks this is the life!
The day is not over but they are all in the tv room cuddled up to Dennis and Nathan. Me, I am typing. I am mulling over if I should wash Mac tonight or wait till morning. I think morning will do. :-)