04Sep10
We have Ollie back with us. We are so happy to have him here and are enjoying every minute. He, and his brothers, were 14 weeks old yesterday. We are pleased that he has learned 'sit', 'down', and even to 'stay' for a short time. I've had him on the grooming table trimming his feet and nails and as long as the treats hold out, he's fine with it. He's having a blast playing with his mom and sister, hasn't had any accidents in the house, is a good eater and good in his crate and sleeps all night. Tonight Jack & I let him stay up with us (the other dogs went to bed) and he played with Apple's favorite big tug rope and chewed on the Nylabones that littered the living room rug. (Apple always takes them ALL out of the toy box then decides which one she wants. Guess I need to teach her to put them back when she's done!) He played tug with Jack and we cuddled him on our laps. So nice to have a puppy in the house :) I'll try to get some photos taken of him and get them on the website in the next couple days. He is looking for a new home, so if you have a space in your heart and home for a sweet, smart, beautiful Welshie puppy, give us a call.
I spoke with Jamie on Friday, and Trooper is staying with a field trainer and on his way to being a Master Hunter - well, he will be a Master Hunter someday! The trainer has Boykin Spaniels that are a couple months older than he is and he is training with them. Jamie speaks to the trainer every couple days for updates and is pleased with how well he's doing.
Jack & I went to see Toy Story 3 today. Good movie! Our theater didn't show it in 3D, but it was still wonderful. Can't wait to see it again when it comes out on the TV. We used a free pass I was given for my birthday - thank you, Robin & Greg!!
Our Turtle Pond is completely dry and grass is starting to grow around the edges, filling it in. I hope all the turtles found their way to the back Duck Pond. We saw a lot of ducks on that pond today. They are starting to congregate early this year - that must mean winter weather is nearer than we'd like! We've had some good rains this week, but not enough to help the ponds. Our Swimming Pond is about 7' low - and it was originally 11' deep at the deep end. We're going to need a LOT of snow for it to be filled by Spring. I'm not hoping for that much snow!!
29Aug10
Ollie (Spangle) had his second set of shots yesterday and weighed 18#. He also got a bath after having fun in a pond on their walk.
Plenty hot here. I washed a few windows and vacuumed screens. I also filled the wading pool for the dogs. Apple likes to put her whole head underwater and to get as wet as possible. The other 3 usually just get their feet wet and have a drink at the same time.
28Aug10
I stewarded at CDTC's agility/obedience trial held today in Grand Blanc. It was fun and hard work and I'm glad I was able to be there. Several folks finished their Utility and Open titles - quite an achievement. It was a nice surprise to see Lisa Sinke there with Ripley. I missed their agility runs each time because I was working at the Utility/Open ring.
As I was leaving the trial, Jamie called to tell me that Archer not only got the major today in GA, he also got is first Rally Novice leg. They are hoping for the same tomorrow! They had several people ask about their new puppy, Trooper :)
Server is still down. Jase is working on the problems.
26Aug10
We've had 3 days of cooler weather. Very nice.
Last night I helped unload obedience trial equipment from CDTC to Genesee Fieldhouse where the club is hosting a trial this weekend. I am stewarding at one of the rings on Saturday.
Birch was neutered yesterday and had his teeth cleaned. He has 5 days of restricted activity - he's not going to be happy about that. Birch loves to run at top speed across the property after rabbits, birds, the neighbors' barn cats, whatever catches his eye. I can take him for walks, so that will be something for him to do.
Evan & Laurel's two cats are visiting this week while they are on their vacation. Last Sunday was their 1st wedding anniversary. (wedding photo 1 & 2)
Oliver (Banner) weighed 18 pounds at his vet visit last week. He gets a LOT of exercise playing with Joetta & Tom's grandsons. He will soon be starting 6 weeks of obedience training. In the meantime, they have been using clicker training and he is doing well with that. I put some new photos on his page.
Ollie (Spangle) is struggling with housebreaking. He lives in a 3 story townhouse and the living area in on the 2nd and 3rd floors so it's going to be challenging. He is also having an issue with barking and they are continuing to work on that. His owners have been taking him an obedience class.
Trooper (Star) is now staying home during the day and no longer spending it at doggie daycare. He weighed 16.4 pounds at his last vet visit. His owners have their other Welshie entered in a dog show and rally trial this weekend. We wish them good luck!
There is a good article about chocolate poisioning in dogs here: http://www.finedarkchocolate.com/Chocolate_Food/Dogs_Chocolate.asp Be sure to keep any chocolate chip cookies, etc, put away in a place the dogs can't get to, and never feed them anything with a chocolate 'flavor' because when they smell it they will want some (they love it like we do) and will search it out. Clover nearly lost her life from getting into a bag of chocolate chips.
17Aug10
Jack & I spent a few days at the cabin. It was lovely! Temps in the 70s, breezy, sunny, even Lake Huron was warm - the warmest it's been in the 28 years we've been going up there. We took the Jeep all the way to the Fossil Beds, something we've tried before and never made it all the way there. There are only lumber trails which are very rocky and bumpy and sometimes wet. It was an adventure we were glad we accomplished! I took a few photos of Apple in the water and I have put them on her webpage.
Star has a new name: Trooper! He got to spend the weekend with Jamie, Randy, and their friends and dogs in the mountains in Georgia. He had a blast in the creek, didn't care for the cattails around the pond, and followed after Archer who was quartering the property which really tired him out! Sounds like a great weekend for a busy puppy.
11Aug10
Star had a blast on his first day at daycare. They have a webcam, so I sat and watched him for a half hour playing non-stop with a Beagle puppy. Jamie said he fell asleep in the car on the ride home which is only 2 miles. I'm not surprised, because he never stopped moving. Yesterday was his second day at daycare. I checked the webcam about 2pm and he was sleeping in the middle of the floor. I put a photo of him, belly up, sound asleep on his page. I also put a photo of Jamie and Randy's other Welshie, Archer (Stufield's Captain Of The Enterprise) on the puppy page. Susan Willingham took the photo of Archer. She is a talented photographer and has wonderful photos at her website.
07Aug10
Star flew home with Jamie to Atlanta today. He found a perfect home. Jamie and Randy have 2 middle-aged Cockers and a Welshie, named Archer, who they show and do obedience and field work with. Susan Willingham knew that they were looking for another Welsh and put them in touch with me. They fell for Star as soon as they saw his cute face in the photos. Thank you to Susan and to Jamie and Randy for wanting this puppy.
03Aug10
Star's family has heard back on most of the allergy results and the results aren't what we were hoping for. So, Star needs a home. He should have a show home and I'm going to try hard to find him one. If you think you might be interested, please call me. I will help you through the process. He's a really nice puppy who should do well in the ring.
Meanwhile, I am doing all the puppy stuff a new owner would be doing - I'm taking him everywhere with me and we're working on house training. He's really doing well walking on the leash, and he has a fun personality.
31Jul10
While I drank my coffee on the porch early this day, I let Apple, Plum, and Star outside to run around. I wish I had had my camera to record the fun Plum & Star had. They were jousting, juking, running in figure eights, jumping and rolling - it was so cute to see Mother & Son having such fun together.
I left with Star about 10am and drove to Lapeer for socializing. The farmers market had lots of people and families walking around near the Court House, so I walked him around and he was admired and petted and held. He's starting to get the hang of the leash. Then we stopped at Tractor Supply to buy dog food. I walked him in and he was an attraction in the doorway. We finally got a chance to get a cart, and for his safety I put him in it and went to get the dog food. He sat down and didn't fuss a bit. I had to move him to the back so I could put the dog food in the front, and he still didn't mind. We got lots more attention in the check-out line. A couple different people asked if I had business cards, which I handed out. I stayed until Diane, Lapeer TSC's finest employee, had a break with the customer she was with so that she could see Star. She took a moment to hold him, too. On the way home, I stopped at Robin & Greg's so Star could meet their big, black, friendly dogs. I wanted him to be sure to know that not all dogs look like the ones he has been living with and because he's only had the one vaccine I had to be sure he met healthy, vaccinated dogs. They sniffed him and he rolled over on his back, totally unafraid but submissive as he should have been. He was out socializing for about 3 hours today along with nearly an hour in the van.
I fed him his lunch when we got home. He ate every bite and fell asleep. Such a good boy!
30Jul10
Jack helped me get some stacked photos of Star last night. I put one on his page . He is really a character and we're having fun with him while we wait to see if his family can take him.
Lily's family sent photos of her enjoying their vacation at the lake.
27Jul10
I took Star up to the Senior Center today to meet lots of people and to be around wheel chairs, etc. He was very mellow and quiet - I woke him up when I got home from an appointment. Maybe I should have let him wake up some more! He was perfect for them, though, nice and still when they petted and fussed over him. Then I took him over to the hardware store. There were no customers, but the owners fussed over him a bit before I took him home to eat lunch and to get us out of the heat. Looks like another day for the wading pool!
24Jul10
The old News page was full, so we're starting another.
The boys were 8 weeks old yesterday. Banner has gone to his new home outside Indianapolis and is now called Oliver Garth. Spangle has gone to his home outside Chicago and is now called Ollie. Amazing that each family chose such similar names!
Star's family was told last week that a daughter had to have allergy tests before they could think about bringing a puppy home, so she's had the tests and they are waiting for the results. I just took Star up to the local baseball field and the little league tournament for leash training and socializing. He got held and petted by lots and lots of people. He does well on the leash most of the time, but sometimes he'll still balk and back up. Everyone thought he was beautiful and no one had any idea that he is a Welsh Springer Spaniel. It is very very humid and hot today, and when his tongue was hanging out we headed home. He fell right asleep!
