Off to a Show

Tonight mom has to wash the Spice and you don't want to know how she looks. She has a yellow beard from a plant she decided to run her face in and it stained so let's see if I can manage to lift that...gad.

You don't want to see what she looks like but she is a total mess.

Wish me luck. Nathan has to leave at 6am to get there and hang out all day as he is going with others.

I hope it doesn't rain but worse if it has heat like today on an outside show.

It is what it is.

Visits, Runs and Down Time

Spice has a show Monday and Tuesday and boy does she need a bath. Her beard is yellow - yes yellow from trying to eat a plant. At least she isn't eating the berries out back as that stains their hair red and Ms. Wasabi LOVES to do that.

I can see nathan chopping them all down if that happens. But so far, she doesn't love them like her mom.

She always manages to give me a challenge when it comes to getting her back to being presentable for the ring.

But Daddy, I am having so much fun and I can't help myself.

Well, that's what dawgs should be like and if her coat isn't perfect, oh well. It will just take her longer to get her championship and that's okay too.

Chewie Swim

Chewie came over and joined us in the pool.

Since we opened the pool, we have had so many people and dogs come for a swim. It's rather nice.

On Sunday we have the grandkids coming for 2 weeks and they will be hanging out, swimming, helping us with the dogs and probably fighting over my ipad. hahahaha

They may even go on a berry picking venture as we have a ton in our yard and no Wasabi trying to stain her beard and eat them as she is too busy with pups.

Next month we have two more of the grandkids come for a week with the daughter and it's surely going to be a very busy summer.

Exciting but busy times....

Pool Time

Today we had swimming with the boys. No gals allowed and that included me - boys of the canine and human kind only. How sexist is that?

As usual, Kat jumped in as soon as Nathan got on the diving board. Our visitors had to be coaxed into it but did rather well.

In and out of the pool Kat and Nathan went over and over. If Nathan doesn't dive in, Kat doesn't and then....

He did a huge belly flop - ouch! It's as if he knew it as he had this primal scream as if he knew what this meant.

But did it stop him from doing it again? nah!

Can't wait till the gals have a hand at it when the grandkids come Sunday night.

Out of Time

What did I do today? Tried to do a video. I edited photos, I walked and played with dawgs. I washed a dog, I cleaned, I showered. I played. I groomed everyone except Truffie as he gest groomed before class.

I didn't get pool time. I didn't watch tv. I went to the dawgs. So no photpos today - ok?

Poor Kat

With Treasure being in heat and being bred to Phantom, let's just say it's more than this boy can handle.

He needs long walks, lots of swims and being kept separate. It's not fun for him.

But Daddy, she's supposed to be mine but okay I will go swimming and swimming and swimming so I forget.

Are we doing it all tomorrow too?

Mommy says if I whine for the gal anymore she will throw me in the pool - just kidding!

Fiona Gets Wet

Oh she doesn't go into the pool most days but she loves to stand where the splashes occur so she does get wet from safe ground.

One would think she's not doing it on purpose but if you watch her day in and day out she really is.

It's a real gamed to find the splashes.

Sunday the grandkids will be here for 2 weeks so she will find lots of splashes to stand under. Let's see how soaked she gets.

Is it Swimming Time?

 It was a fabulous day today weather wise.

The pool was warm. The weather was HOT and Fiona and Kat couldn't wait to get into the pool but then at the last minute Fiona said, nah not me!

So instead the Treasured one went for a swim and who will it be tomorrow?

Swimming Times

It's rather nice to have 2 swimming dawgs in the house - well they all swim but these two relish the swim. It's as if they hit the jackpot.

I also noticed that Truffie watches Kat and learns fast.

I am actually amazed at how fast he watched then takes it into consideration then puts the Truffie spin on it.

Kat rather likes Truffie but Kat likes Truffie's Daddy too when he comes to visit.

So, as they stood on the mat, Truffie took the initiative to dive in ahead of Kat and then instead of Kat jumping in, he decided to let Daddy push the raft to the stairs.

Such a life.

By the way, Truffie already 'gets' where the stairs are.

I am glad.

Hoping we have another pool day tomorrow. Off to do some major grooming!

Sophie's Mom Shares a Moment

Sophie......Momma said don't squeeze the Charmin, but she never said not to chew it!!

Morning mischief.  While I am in the shower, she is decorating the hallway with toilet paper!!  It's a good thing she's so darn cute.  : )

Best of Winners Gal

Well Spice is just in for today and got Best of Winners and Best Puppy in Breed. Bravo, Spice and Nathan. Grass was long. It was hot but they did okay!

Now they are coming back on that long drive and should be back at 7pmish tonight. Though the gps doesn't work so who knows if he will make it home.

Now the Spice has a break for a few more weeks and then another show. Here and there cause we have pups and we can't do a marathon but this way is okay too. She'll get her championship.

Looking forward to them coming home soon!

Spice Cleaned Up

Well, Nathan and Spice are off to a show and won't be back till late tomorrow night. He's all the way in Sarnia. Well, actually he is all the way sitting in the parking lot of the 401, I am told.

Fat chance he will make it to Sarnia at 730pm as he once thought.

That leaves Dennis and I to hold down the fort.

I hope the sun stays as I want to swim when he comes back home.

I would have loved to today but I had dogs to groom, play with, puppies to handle and I had to pack supplies for Nathan and wash the Spice.

Now let's hope that she stays clean enough for him to show tomorrow as I forgot to give him the dryer - oh my!

Do you think she looks like her dad Katsura or her mom, Wasabi?

Update on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 8:57PM by Darlah

Nathan arrived and he says the restaurant was closed so he ended up with a Timmy's sandwich.

He also told me Spice jumped up on the bed and got way comfie. She rather likes this road trip.

I think Nathan will get more sleep than I tonight. Want to make a bet?

Well, You Are Early

 Treasure came into heat oh 2 months too early.

She's getting together with that chocolate boy Phantom who has been winning tons of ribbons at the shows.

Crazy times...I tell ya!

Shoshi Lives for the Summer

Why is that?

Well, when the pool is open the ducks come and Shoshi thinks she chases the ducks away.

It's a great job for her. She doesn't realize that if any of us get close enough they fly away.

But it's the Shoshi's job and all dawgs needs roles and jobs, at least I think so.

It builds self esteem and it gives them a purpose.

All we have to do is say 'duck, Shoshi' and it doesn't matter what bird, she gets excited, runs after them and stands on her back legs as if she conquered the world.

She gets WAY frustrated if they go to the middle of the pool to say nah, nah, nah so the pack gets that and they too start barking at them in the pool and off they fly away.

Still, Shoshi thinks she did it herself and she prances around all excited as if she won the lottery.

It's moments like this that make me ever so happy as Shoshi knows she counts and she is a productive being in this world. All it takes is something so very simple.

We all need to count!

Finally Sun

 Now that we have sun, are we going to swim?

With pups and mom being alone, I bet you not though she does have that swimming suit on.

I could use a swim. How about you?

Green Feet

We had family show up to help me weed so I got the front mowed, Nathan did the back and then I helped weed but I am fading very fast - silly me but it does look better. Nathan is out helping now as I type and will go lay down as I need it unfortunately.

I haven't groomed the dawgs yet but Spicy found fresh mowed lawn too delightful to skip so she is prancing around with green feet.

Daddy is saying, will it disappear before she shows this week? Well maybe so, maybe not. hahahahaha

Don't you think the judges should accept a dawg natural enjoying life? I do but it won't happen.

Puppy Snuggles

I am bringing up this photo from quite sometime ago. These are Wasabi's pups. Other than it is cold in the environment, I was looking past notes I make and noticing just how striking her pups look in snow.

It's easier when it is not snowing as pups can only go out for short spurts when old enough when it is cold but there is nothing like pups jumping in and out of snow.

Pups born in winter look for a patch of snow to go on and are confused as to where that white stuff went when spring melt comes. They make the transition just fine but you do notice the confusion.

Pups born in warmer times look for that grass and aren't too sure about this white stuff where some just think it's the best thing ever.

Personally, I hate shovelling but a white draping of snow is quite pleasing with black and white pups scrambling through the drifts.

That's my memory moment.... sorry... but we are doing well. I have Abigail left to groom and Wasabi is stylin.

Moms are now relaxed enough to feed and come out of the whelping box and peer in allowing them to stay cool but be attentive. First time mothers rarely leave even though they are just there. Relaxed is a 'good' thing.

Weeds, Weeds Everywhere

Got any idea how to get rid of weeds fast between the stones? Please send tips this way. The dawgs are our priority and that means the weeds due to the rain may be 2 feet high soon. HELP

Risa doesn't mind. She figures its natural - yeah right.

But with all this rain and pups no swimming for the dawgs. They say this is summer?

This year will be known as the Canada Post no mail year and the rainiest year. Rather drab and here they swore it would be the hottest one yet.

Shoshi still hates the wet grass and oh yeah we need the grass to dry so it can be mowed. Does it ever end? How do we handle it with Shoshi? We pick her up and put her in the middle making her deal. But Mommy it tickles my tummy!

Where's the Treat?

The dawgs look forward to getting groomed - seriously. They don't run away. They stand in line and say 'my turn'. Why?

Well most of it is conditioning. Another part is the yummy treat at the end. It also must be that nice head massage I give.

I can't imagine if they were giving me a hard time how I would feel about long hair. But even if you like short hair, it makes sense to condition the dogs.

Sometimes, if they are really feisty or they scream to get you to stop, yes they can and will try anything especially if it works, it pays to persist and hold them in place and just do it. I wait till they actually relax before I let them go.

None of my dogs need a noose and they will all lay on their back to allow me to do their tummies. It's simply conditioning in a positive way and one day they actually will look forward to it. Can you imagine that? I am so glad that mine do.

PS: Truffie we are still working on doing 'on his back' but that will come. He's no longer complaining with the daily combing and brushing. Progress!

What Can I Say?

Not much. I am fading but I did play retrieve. I did groom. The son walked the dogs and each time I had to nap they all surrounded me and slept with me. That was heaven.

It was rather funny when Gidget slept on my head.

If you are going to be sick, do it surrounded by dawgs.