Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 6:01PM We had Logan, Panda and Levon here. It's mighty quiet around here.
Goldie drops in for the day tomorrow and I get to wash 10 pups and 1 Spicy mom. Today I groomed 1 here and there as I felt like it and by 4pm everyone was done. Usually I like to just do it in the morning.
No matter which way I do it if someone comes the ones Nathan want to take to the door are always the ones not brushed. Now what's that about?
Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 8:22PM 
Kat is no longer reacting to Fiona - hooray! Sanity is back. Levon comes tomorrow. Goldie comes later this week and so does Scruffy and Pepper. We are hoping for a sunny weekend so we can get puppy visits in.
Time to get the pool covered but still hoping for one hot day so we can get the pups in. We shall see. If not its an excuse to get all of them back to swim next summer. :-)
Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at 3:56PM 
Fiona returns. Yesterday I spent the day combing her all out. Today she got a bath. Silly boy Kat thinks she is still in heat. I want to shoot him - well not literally but throwing him in the pool comes to mind. Get over it, Kat!
It's cloudy today. Everyone seems to be in a funk. Not much playing. Lots of cuddling and napping including Nathan.
I finally put Terra's beds and bowl away. Losing the uncle yesterday was well difficult - still is. Nathan has been sleeping off and on all day mumbling too many losses. This too shall pass.
Me, I have been doing things with the dogs but I have to admit I only picked up the camera a few times so photos are not plentiful.
Today Logan and Panda gave me a massive hug. Now that's what days are for - those moments!
Darlah
We will be in Ottawa for a funeral from early morning to late at night. I am not sure how updates will work but expect them to be short.
Monday, September 2, 2013 at 5:14PM 
Grace is a fun dog. At times she is a going concern and others she is a gentle fun soul. She's still a puppy I think. She's not one of ours so I don't know when she was born but she has been amazing with the pups. She also can be mischievous as ever. Helen and Suzie fell in love with her yesterday. We love her too!
The pups will miss her but tomorrow we get to see Levon and we will see how he does with the pups.
It's quiet this month and that's usual. I actually wish it was busy. But I could use the downtime - well downtime such as it is.
Gracie had a bath. Miss Fiona came home and I am waiting a day before she gets a bath and gets combed out. Yvonne is amazing that she took her but she set me a note saying you know me I am not great grooming sorry. So, Fiona gets a reprieve tomorrow and then a comb out and if I finish the comb-out a bath. If not she gets bathed the next day.
Get this - Kat thinks she is still in heat and oh boy I have a headache listening to Kat cry. It's well over 21 days but we are keeping them separate. Will we survive? Maybe a bath will help but not up to a dematting today. Tomorrow yes.
Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 7:18PM 
I got this photo from Lynda this morning. Panda was chipmunk hunting - can you play with me? It's so cute just seeing the Panda Bear's back end!
We had Helen and Suzy over. Pepper and Scruffy departed at noon. I got everyone groomed. I didn't sleep so much last night but that too shall pass.
We did have a great distraction with the dogs - no extra except Gracie and Helen and Suzie brought Milo and Hugo over. It's a quiet house but tomorrow Miss Fiona comes home.
Here are a few photos from today.
Now I feel like Wasabi does in this photo - a need to chill out and stay distracted. It's too quiet. :-)
Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 3:51PM We had to put down Terra today. She had a fast growing cancer. Originally we had thought that she was having issues with her hips as she had bad hips as she stopped walking for the most part the last couple of days and stopped eating. Goldens never stop eating. Havanese do. A golden is a food hound to the max. She refused steak.
When we arrived at the vet she walked in the door and hadn't been. I had great hope they would put her on Metacam and then that was it. She walked - of course she was fine. But her gums were ashen, her breathing labored. I attributed the breathing to the walk but even after an hour it was labored as she stayed on the floor. Her heart rate was racing. She was very ill and testing revealed she was bleeding out fast. This was a fast spreading cancer as it began to effect her lungs as well. Denial is a wonderful thing I suppose at times but this was so fast - well I am shocked.
Removing the spleen was no longer an option and this happened in days. Removing the spleen can buy you up to 6 months. It is a silent killer in dogs like goldens.
It's a crime as she was an amazing dog - yes with bad hips but she never complained. She loved the pups. Was a gentle soul and never demanded anything but a little love. She played with the Spice pups just last week. She was always a great big dog socializer.
I love all my dogs more than you can ever know. I stayed with her to the end. Nathan cried in the car. We both cried all the way home. We each grieve differently. Poor Dennis is deeply sad. But I will tell you my heart feels like it is broken beyond repair.
Yes, good that it was quick but you are in shock. No time to think. No time to say goodbye truly. I am glad that we do so much with our dogs every single day even when I am sick. I have many memories but for now I am in shock and deeply, deeply sad.
We came home, took out the pups into the grass and clicked and played.
So forgive me if I share a few photos of Terra over the years. It's the ones I could find without searching.
Terra and Shoshi. She played flicking snow games with her and was famous for always getting down to the puppies level to engage them in play.
Panda adored the Terra - well visitors and our own all did. She was a dawg magnet.
Wasabi, Terra and SpiceShe is greatly missed.
Friday, August 30, 2013 at 7:16PM Gracie is not one of our dogs but she comes to visit and today she got to see how she was with the pups.
She was also playing with them in the grass and was really great with them. It was a great experience for her and for them and as Spice knows her she didn't mind.
Hoping it doesn't rain this weekend but it surely is looking that way. We need pool time!
Tomorrow night Scruffy and Pepper come to visit overnight. Let the fun games continue. Looking forward to it!!!!
Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 7:34PM Well, it was still a groom day. I did Cooper, Logan and Panda but I decided to take the day off from doing my crew. I had a gallery I had to do for a dog club and I have a gallery I have to get done for the 2 daughters so after 2 days of doing the dog club gallery, I needed a break.
It's quiet around here - just our dogs. It feels funny after such a busy summer.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 7:28PM Well as promised we got the Cooper in to swim. Roxie kept showing him how to dive in but he's not quite ready for that yet but swim - no problem.
Getting priorities right - kisses first!
Everything is done so gently with confidence.
As you can see Cooper has no problem!
Okay, Coops try it this way!
Roxie gets so excited to dive.
Cooper barks not me! I have some common sense you know... not like Roxie... I will swim but dive in - are you crazy? Rather normal for first time exposure. Can't wait to try it with him again. He was such a natural swimmer!
Roxie has really lost her marbles - er brains as she has taken to literally swimming under water near the surface. First time I thought oh a mistake but she does it on purpose and comes out laughing. Like I said she either embraces life or well she's a water dog!
You can tell these 2 are related.
As it is Anne and Russell's anniversary I decided to wash the guy up as a present to help them celebrate.
I tried to get a great photo of him just washed (he was just washed) but he kept saying just give me the treats!
We also had Ty over but he was not wanting to swim so he snuggled up to me and looked at Nathan cross-eyed.
Hope we have more swimming days. It was great to get out there!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 7:20PM 
Christine wrote:
Can you stand this picture? I was making the bed and this is what I found on the other side!!
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It was a hot and cloudy but a humid day. Dogs wanted to play inside more than outside. Outside they just laid around and when you look at the gallery of the puppies you will see they too had their tongues hanging out. But they played crazy inside I tell you.
I didn't click inside much as they played in such a way that all my photos would have been blurs. Bet you they will sleep tonight! I know I will as I was doing the slide on the floor and run game. What is that? You run and slide out of the way and they keep on going. About the 5th time they got what I was doing.
Monday, August 26, 2013 at 4:55PM 
The pups had a bath. So did Spice, Roxie, Adele and Dusty. Next is Abigail and Kat. Cooper had a mud run and I say a mud run as it start pouring in such a way that it was like someone was pouring buckets over you and instead of running up the walkways in he went the opposite way running in the grass kicking up mud. I didn't give him a bath. I instead cleaned his undersides, his feet, brushed and combed him out and said Coops if you do that again we are swimming mud and all and I am joining you. hahahahaha
He had good company as he had Kat following him getting even more muddier than the Coops so much so that it makes NO sense to clean his undersides and feet as he is mostly mud unlike the Coops. There are advantages to being taller.
Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 6:13PM 
Before they had a bath, Colby was out running through the grass, into the dirt and getting to be a total mess. Brie didn't - can you believe. They depart shortly and I am crashing today. I think I am tired from the week long festivities plus all the rest that I normally do and I have to wash the pups tomorrow. They were also mucking it up and well it is time. If it doesn't rain, I may just wash and let them air dry. We shall see.
Tomorrow the Coops comes and Dusty departs. If weather is good we will finally get him into the pool. Only issue with the pool is you must comb them out before and then brush and comb out after and blow dry so we usually do it just before they go home. But we owe the Coops a swim and besides I want to see him shake. :-) Might have to invite Steven over for some slow motion video but its not the weekend - sigh.
Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 10:21PM 
Look at Harper laughing!
Sibling Dance in Motion
Brie adores the puppies...
They were exhausted last night and started in again this morning. Harper was even starting to tell Adele you just think you are the boss. Well, I am top dog sometimes too. It was good for Adele!
Here's the gallery of Harper, Adele and some of the other dogs like Brie, Colby, Truffie, Roxie, Abigail etc.
Sorry had a really late night.
Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 1:39PM 
Not sure if I will get photos up but plan on taking them. I heard Colby was full out playing with Truffie. Oreo is about to have a bath and Harper is coming overnight - Adele's brother. Dusty also just arrived.
Exciting times but a bath must be done and Nathan better click photos and then back to even festivities.
Tuesday will be quiet...
Working on a gallery with Harper, Adele, Brie and some of the others joined in. May not get that up till late tonight. We shall see.
Friday, August 23, 2013 at 6:45PM 
This is early morning after we set everything up. Each day we take it all in, wash it and set it up again the next day. Can you believe?
My day started with setup and then I started grooming. First Cooper then Truffie and Brie and Colby and then the rest. Then one bath and we played hard. I cleaned the puppy pen, took them out and snuggled on the furniture outside.
Tomorrow we have a bat mitzvah early and then we come home, I wash Oreo and then we head out for a party. Oreo heads home tomorrow.
We had amazing play sessions early morning. As the day went by they grew sluggish I suppose. Me too.
I call this running of the dogs...
Now you understand why they were sluggish later in the day. This went on for oh about 2 hours. I want their energy.
Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 6:46PM Rafi departed, Cooper, Brie and Colby arrived. So where are the photos? Well Nathan had the camera for the dog show. He was helping not showing. :-) I spent much of my time grooming. Rafi managed to get muddy 10 minutes before he was to depart. Good thing they came about 5 minutes late as I just had enough time to clean his feet back up. Being white it took a shampoo and conditioner to get him back to white. :-)
But everyone is having fun. Nathan is back at the show but I will be taking photos with my camera now that he is leaving it at home. He will take just his own.
PS: Cooper scared the Adele. It's the first dog she has had that reaction to but he is larger and was so rambunctious and barking as he was excited. But get this, they are now snuggling. Conditioning does work.
Just got this in the mail. It loks like Brewer is sporting a shorter 'do.
Courtney wrote:
I dropped a potato on the floor this evening and guess who appeared (and disappeared) faster than a speeding bullet?? Here he is showing off his "prize".
Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 12:10PM 
There are some dogs that can't get enough of the pool and that's Roxie. She doesn't even care if you are swimming so we are working on her reminding her that without us she is NOT allowed. Ohm we are always out there and I suppose she does know how to get out as we do train them to but its always wise to have rules and guidelines.
I love my Roxie but she is so full of something.
Today Simba and Griffin depart.
By the time his humans show up he will have to be brushed up again. He just got done playing with Adele and is now resting with Dennis. Yes, Dennis is still up and Nathan is still at the show. Me, I need a nap. hehe
PS: I don't care how I look for tonight rehearsals. Can I get away with it?
Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 8:14PM 
Today we had a lot of time outside. It wasn't too hot and it was a great day to have pups outside and the older dogs so we did. I have to say it was QUIET. Dennis is still not home. I hope he's having a blast. Nathan took his usual nap. I groomed dogs, cleaned puppy pens, washing, snuggling. I swam. Pepper walked up and down my body as I lay out there. Scruffy thought that was fun and did that too.
We had a ton of play. Levon went into the pool. Roxie jumped in without an invite. Scruffy we tried to get in and he wanted to be with Roxie but not that bad.
Where are you Roxie - are you coming back? She just adores swimming. Nathan brushed her. I gave him a hint.
Levon went swimming and it was a perfect day as he departed today. He is such a strong swimmer.
Then Roxie played the chase game with him.
It was a good day. Tomorrow Simba departs then Griffin and then Rafi.
Tomorrow we have a rehearsal. Nathan is setting up a dog show in Markham. It's a crazy busy weekend. Family is still in. Celebrations are still going on. I am editing videos for the events - but its great to see everyone. Clean up - well is interesting. I feel there is so much preparation and so much cleanup after everyone goes. Family is back here on Thursday unless it rains. Then we are all down the daughter's house Friday fixing the tents, the tables and all the things that got wet - you wait... Yes, it's an outside party starting Saturday night. Nathan is showing Jeannie Sunday morning. Are we laughing? I am... or trying.
Monday, August 19, 2013 at 8:25PM 
I think Oreo was in his element today with so many people around. He is so fond of Jonathan and was caught kissing his ears. But Oreo was also with everyone loving them all up. I think he enjoys parties.
Family just left. I am dead tired so the blog will be short. I will get back to normalcy tomorrow. I was also up late last night washing 4 dogs and then again this morning. I also stayed up late till 1am so Dennis could get sleep last night then I was up again at 6am.
Dogs had a ton of fun, visitors and our own. These were all dog friendly people who hugged, snuggled and played with all.
We have another event on Saturday. It's all so crazy time intensive and I did get everyone groomed, the house cleaned, dogs played with, and set everything up. The pool remained busy till 45 minutes ago all day long - wow! But I didn't swim nor did any of the dogs but they sure hung out with all the humans. It was so nice to see. Adele was one of the most sociable beings out there too and she is dead asleep!
Family asked me to go to the CNE. We are sending Dennis instead. I need downtime and he needs to have some fun!
Sunday, August 18, 2013 at 12:10PM 
Miss PandaDennis is here. We will be back around 6-7 and then I wash dogs to go home tomorrow first thing and tomorrow morning wash dogs going home in the afternoon. Family comes over tomorrow so I will try to get photos of them with the dogs and pups. But will I get them up Monday? Not sure. Let's see how the next 2 days go.
Dennis plans while we are away is to hang outside with them and play games. He's so great for doing this and missing this even but at least he will get to see everyone tomorrow well mostly everyone.
Swimming with family tomorow and we will see if any of the dogs want to come in too.
What to feed the masses? Who knows. How is that craziness.