A Wise Lady

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.

Hot, Hot, Hot

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!

Recall Class

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.

Class Last Night & Play Today

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!

Happy Birthday #2 Shout Out

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

-----

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!

Jeannie Surprise

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.

Sanction Match and Visiting

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.

Missing the Duo

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?

Had to Post

Father and son reading the ipad together.

WE have another update below.

Happy Father's Day Everyone!

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.

Falling Down on Job

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

Two Washed Today

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!

Many Faces of Levon

Got these photos from Shannon of Levon and they are so cute I wanted to share!

Tricks Class

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?

Update on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 6:26PM by 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

Missing the Trio

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

Fun Filled Day

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. :-)

Suns Out

Well it's almost night and it FINALLY came out. Nathan is off to a meeting. It's just Dennis and I and the dogs. I did some weeding. The dogs watched with interest but I really didn't do hardly anything in the scheme of things. The thought of nonstop for a year may get this garden in shape. Dennsi keeps saying you didn't do this and you didn't do that and I say who has time?

When we groom they all stand in the hallway waiting their turn. This was today and boy they needed something. :-)

Logan enjoyed playing with the pups.

Raylan for some strange reason wasn't interested today. The pups tried and tried and he just wanted out so that's where he sat watching. I think he was more interested in watching.

I was weeding to the right of Pepper and guess who was under the deck? Scruffy went under to get a toy Dennis threw the wrong way and Pepper just stared intently as if to say you are too big for that now? Scruffy found he could have his toy under the deck, lay there and no one would try to take it. Smart boy. Not even Pepper tried. She just watched and watched waiting till he came out to pounce on him and finally she got the opportunity but I didn't catch it with the camera.

This was a plant that we wintered inside and it needs to be cut back. Monty finds it to be a curious thing. I am not sure he knows what it is and in the state it is in I am not sure I do either. My excuse is I am waiting for the rain to stop and then I will start gardening - yeah right! Okay I am waiting for 36 hour days? We will get there.

Dogs were happy that they got some time outdoors today for walks, for play. We had some rain but nothing like it has been and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and warm. Looking forward to what we can do tomorrow and tonight!

It's All About the Rain

Well, we started playing at 7am. Some are now chillin' watching TV with Dennis and Nathan while I have the pups and some of the dogs here. My camera batteries are charging. I really need to get more than two as I use 2 at a time.

We had a lot of dancing today...

We had a number of meeting of the minds. No one wanted to hang outside or play as its truly been raining most of the day so its been inside creative play other than the number of times they go out. Dennis started walks but they came back so saturated I said let's expel their energy inside or I will be grooming all night. So, we did!

We did do grooming cause why not. Steven and My's 3 already know the routine. Brush, comb - TREAT!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I meant the explanation points.

Mac wants the treats forget about the brushing - do you really have to do THAT? Let's make a deal. You can ignore that and well I will give you long cuddles. hmmm it's an interesting proposition. How about I do the snuggles, still brush and you get a treat? Mac is great on the table. I just think he thinks the process is silly. Where Raylan wants to be rolling and messing himself 2 minutes after the fact. No matter what I do with the front of his hair - well he looks like Raylan.  I think Monty is the most tolerant will all this silly cleanup.

It's been a terribly wet day. The sheets will be soaked tonight and muddy if I don't muster the energy to clean feet and legs yet again before bed. Realize we go out at 10pm so that would mean as they come in I would be cleaning before bed. Clean the sheets, wash all the feet and undersides - well even if I opted to clean only the sheets the dogs come morning would still need a cleanup so what would YOU do?

Such a silly thing to be pondering. I think I will try out that mat Steven and My brought us. hmmmmm

Stay tuned tomorrow. I forgot about that. Silly me!

PS: Lori and Roger's duo could care less if I try to groom them morning noon or night. She must be doing a lot of conditioning. But oh boy Scruffy should be both of their names. But that means they are having oh so much fun so truly deep down we don't mind.

I am Tired

Abigail says it all about how I feel.

Boo had a bath and went home. He is a party dog and will be missed. Gracie who never visited before played her heart out and is probably snoozing at home. Darcy came to visit for a few hours and played with her sister Pepper.

I groomed everyone all morning and bathed up legs of a few boys and bathed Boo and dematted a dog. I have done a tremendous amount of baths, brushouts and maintenence grooming since Thursday. I go crazy before events as people want their dogs to look beautiful and I don't blame them.

Throw in that the pups are in that transition stage to get them to be without mom and sleep through the night - oh boy!

I was crabby this morning. When Nathan told me off for getting up and then told me it was my responsibility and my fault the phone was stolen I reminded him that when he dropped his ipad I didn't blame him. Crabby I was but get some caffeine in me and I am better. Still, the phone thing is really still *&^%$ me off!

Despite all that I enjoyed the dogs today.

Chewey and Riley dropped in but I was so tired I forgot to click photos. Thank you for bringing them. Chewey is a Wasabi and Kat pup and Riley is a Coton.

Here are a few more photos I clicked today.

Raylan is overly smitten with Jeannie. It's funny to watch and well Scruffy has his Pepper but it seems he has his Roxie back.

I call this the blonde moment!

Scruffy the cheater was giving kisses to Darcy. Should Pepper and Roxie get jealous?

I had all 4 of the Kat crew in a photo at the door but Monty was doing something we can't post. Use your imagination. They didn't cooperate so I couldn't get another. Tomorrow is a new day.

Interesting enough Monty was way unhappy about our son Tal's hat. Tal is off to New York for a couple of months so we won't get anymore conditioning in but no matter how old the dogs are there is always something that they find different and may react to. At least I think it was his hat. When they tell you to do scavenger lists to expose them to silly stuff its impossible to expose them to everything they will encounter. He is not the only one that has reacted to him. He is also into all this natural smells on him so maybe that may be strange too. It certainly makes the dogs sneeze. <sigh> It's too bad he is gone as I can't explore it.

Jeannie thought today she would tell some of the other dogs what to do.  We stopped that immediately. Miss Bossy pants, I don't think so. That's not YOUR job. Oh she played wonderful too but we had a lot of visitors today and she thought she could try this out for size. Good thing she listened.

Okay, it's been a day but we had a lot of fun too. WE had play. We had snuggles and we had a lot of work. Tomorrow will be an easier day as I am not washing a soul. Can you believe?

Can't wait till snuggling time in bed. Till then its caffeine.

Wait till you see the Goldfish that Darcy passed on to the pups that she doesn't use anymore. It's sooooooooooooo cute! Thank you!

What a Day

Crazy day and hardly any photos that didn't have the pups in it. I did get one of Gracie who is literally having the time of her life:

I did get photos of Woofstock but I have to sift through those. I had my iphone stolen so unfortunately I am dealing with that changing passwords and all that fun that comes with it. It was wonderful to see the dogs that we did. We missed Kobe, it seems. Never saw Molly. We missed others, I am told.  I never got to see Kim as I think my mind was on my iphone. Then Nathan topped it up with well it is YOUR responsibility to make sure no one steals anything from you in a crowd. Is that an insult to injury statement or what? I had my phone in the side slot of my purse as I was trying to connect with Bailey's mom. Luckily she found us anyway. So, photos of Woofstock will have to wait. Photos of the other dogs will have to wait except check out Abigail's blog as I will be uploading Raylan and the pups. Mac thought they were Martians and well Monty was highly curious but not enough to play but only to sniff them all up. Raylan played and played.

Cha Cha who has since gone home was in-between Raylan and Monty with the pups if you know what I mean.

We got to visit with Stella and Val and she was such a gracious host. It was GREAT fun to see the dogs together. I think someone was hugging Roxie and Roxie was loving it! Woofstock was fun despite the issues of crowds and the phone and I will go through the photos.

I hear tell we will see Darcy, Scruffy and Pepper tomorrow. Pepper and Darcy are littermates. I do have a photo of one of their other littermates from Woofstock but as I said I think I am emotionally spent. I worked really hard to get to be able to get everything setup so I could go for a morning and someone said - silly woman... Oh well enough whining!

We did get a ton of treats and we brought home Maxine for a play session and she will be departing first thing in the morning. Not enough time for me.