Sunday, July 31, 2016

a puppy picnic


It looked like "lab ville" around the farm today... for someone who raises cocker spaniels.. seems the labs have taken over!!! Actually it was picnic day for the NEADS puppy raisers council. Last spring something was said about getting some of the raiser together to get to know each other, and I happily volunteered a day at the farm. We are one of the very few full time puppy raisers, most are weekender's .. so we don't totally understand what they do and they don't understand what we do.. and thus sometime together to see....
There were a few golden thrown into the bunch, but overall NEADS basically uses labs now... and my goodness, when they saw the dog yard and everyone was let loose to play.. it was a grand time...


But the day wasn't just about the puppies... I thought it would be fun to have a lobster bake... so we got some lobsters from our friend Gardner, and supplied those.. everyone else brought things to go with them.. and as you can imagine, there was enough to feed a small village....

The deck was put to good use... the day was so pretty, and there was plenty of room for everyone to sit and enjoy and talk.....
It was good training for the pups as well... who had to lay quietly while all the humans ate.... There were a total of 12 dogs that came to visit.. some service puppies in training, some "flunkies" and some pets.... everyone got along perfectly and had such fun together...
And look who has returned... this is Bella!!!!! She was with us two winters ago when we had Danny. Bella didn't make it threw as a service dog and was adopted out. But her family volunteers for NEADS so she is still around the service dogs. She is very happy to be someone's beloved pet and so, in fact, has found her perfect job. She wasn't here that long, just a few months, and she seemed happy to be here, but really loves her family so  much that she was pretty happy to stick close to them......
After we ate, we took the puppies up to the barn... some used it for some training work, others just wanted to see the horses.. and then we went for a group photo.... the puppies handled this perfectly..
It was actually harder to get the humans to behave than the dogs..... typical I think.....
Bella with her Mom and Dad....
I had hoped to hitch Duke and take people for some carriage rides, but the day went by too fast. Some of the folks had traveled quite a distance, and needed to head for home. I'm thinking this would be a fun even to host each summer and I am planning on making that offer ....
These puppies will sleep well no the ride home for sure. 

I do so enjoy puppy raising, you meet so many great people, travel to all sorts of places and just learn new things all the time. I'm so happy that this came into my life and plan on raising puppies for many years to come. 

Saturday, July 30, 2016

dog and pony show... Act 2

Round two of the dog and pony show... another visit, another day of smiles... Mocha came along with us again today, and I have to wonder if Miss Livy is OK with this. After all she has to share some of the attention with her equine pal.  Looks like Livy might have some words here for her friend, who basically could care less with all that nice grass to eat. 

I can't get over how Mocha is with all of this. We had to do the visit outside of course, and when the children saw her the swamp us. Hugs and kisses and laying over her back, and the whole time, little Mocha just stood still and took it all in 

Livy was thrilled when they remembered to hug her too

About the only thing I worry about with Mocha is that she might step on someone's foot. It's hard to explain to the children especially that if a mini horse steps on your feet, it's not like when a doggie does. Fortunately most everyone had good sneakers on, and Mocha didn't move around that much, but I am always on the watch


This little gal was beyond thrilled when she came outside and saw us. Her laugh was so beautiful and she didn't know what she wanted to do first.... even her teachers were surprised at her reaction. She stayed with Mocha for the longest time and just did this... so very sweet. 

This little guy was pretty puzzled that Mocha ate grass and he just sat and watched her eat for the longest time. 

The the thought that Livy might enjoy some grass... she thought no thank you...

Livy was quite smitten with this little girl, probably because she didn't care much for Mocha and was more interested in her...

Our other friends were there too... Juno again was a huge hit with the kids... 


She is such a pretty girl....
Cash and Angel ... I guess a couple of the kids at first thought these two were piglets.....
Livy looked so sad when the children had to go back to school.. she sat and watched them all head back into the building. I have a feeling that she wished she could have stayed and visited all day.


 And here's our merry group after our visit. We're always hearing how "good it is of us to take the time to come and do these visits".. but the truth is.. the ones that get the most out of them...



are us!!!

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

summer dog class.....

This was the third week of the summer cgc classes.... Livy has the look of "what's up now Mom"... it's been a busy summer for her.....
We met at our local Lowe's store. I do love the fact that they are pet friendly and I send a lot of my students there to practice  their field trips (as I call them).... everyone is so friendly to the dogs as the come in... but again, with all the different breeds that we have in this class..... it's hard not to notice us....
Judy has a knee that gives her trouble and so she took advantage of the cart and not having to stand and walk during the class.... what great training this was for her little dog.. as well as the rest of the group. This is exactly the sort of thing we look for with this class.... anything that might/could or would happen when you are out in public with your dog...
Obedience is number one... and having a dog that will follow threw no matter what the situation is...


Sadly these were all the photos I got of the training... my little camera battery died part way threw... but it's sort of how the whole day has gone...






Tomorrow little Camille goes in for her dental appointment... and because she is high risk (due to her heart issues).. I am a nervous wreck over the whole thing.... then, I ended up dropping my phone and that crashed to the floor and it was all done...

so, Ed is staying home from work while Camille is at the hospital.. and we'll go for the phone and just get threw the day....

but it was nice to have the classes tonite to keep my mind on other (good) things...

Sunday, July 24, 2016

an afternoon of friends......


Logan is all loaded up and ready to go.... it's also her first ride in the beetle.. with the top down. I always try to give my puppies in training a little topless beetle ride.... today we are heading down to the beach house to meet up with Lee and Tom... people we met threw needs and a cookout that we try to do each summer...
We stopped by and pickup Kathleen and away we went... and for the record.. Logan thought the car ride was just great.
Several of us were able to go.. Kelli and Rick with Attitcus .. Bernice with Zuzu.. Kathleen and I with Logan, and of course Lee and Tom. It was so much fun to all be together and of course the puppies always think it's great. 


I brought Camille along as well.. she's having some dental surgery done this upcoming week, so I thought she might like a day out. She may not be feeling so great for a little while after surgery...she liked hanging out with the humans and left the puppies to play their own games...



Logan enjoying the views of the ocean while we ate lobster and clams and caught up on a year's worth of news...
good friends, a house by the sea... lobster and clams... and summer... what could be any better.....

the dog and pony show.. act 1

Her name is Little Bits.... she's six months old!!! and belongs to my friend Belinda....

"Bits" came to play the other afternoon while her Mom was at work...and for a big puppy, who is still in the clumsy stage.. she can move...
She had the grandest time with Logan and with Lexi... and I think they really enjoyed her company...
It's so  nice to have dogs that "just get along"... these puppies ran all afternoon and by the time Belinda came to get her.... she was one tired girl... so were the other two...
We had a saint when I was a little girl. Probably one of the reasons I got into dogs..... 

Bits and Logan.....
So.... it's time for Mocha to make her summer debut.... but before we do that.. she needed a very good grooming. Including a bath and a good brush out. Here's the "before".....
and the after!!!.. This little gal cleans up good....

Annabelle taking it all in.... I was thinking about "Annie"... and it's hard to believe we have had this little cat eight years. She was the first one who lived in the barn...and was a year old when we got her. After losing her two winters ago, I thought that was the end, but here she is and doing well.... 
So, Friday morning, we loaded up the dog and pony show and headed out. Logan I think was rather surprised to see Mocha on this outing... (she rode in the trailer... Logan in the truck)... 
While we waited for everyone to arrived, Mocha had a little snack. Logan watched her with the most interest, like she couldn't figure out what Mocha found in all that green grass....
Mocha is so good around dogs... and she just continued to munch while Logan still tried to figure it all out...
And then decided that dog cookies were really much better...
Today's therapy visit... part of the group... Logan , Juno, Mocha and Attitcus...
This young man is a long time friend, and once he came out to say hello... Mocha headed right over to greet him. They all know how much he likes them, and so there is no fear of his equipment.... they just need to get by that to say hello....
Livy wasn't about to let Mocha have all the attention and she made sure that she got her greeting too....
Mocha is always the star of the show when we make this visit... everyone wants their picture taken with her.... she happy to do so.


It's kind of funny, because once Livy realized that everyone liked Mocha so much... she began to (dare I say) get a little jealous and really pushed her way in when people came to visit....
No way was Mocha going to get all that attention!!!!

This young man hadn't been here before when we visited. He liked the dogs, but was rather unsure of Mocha... it took him some time a bit of courage to approach her. She was very quiet and calm and in time, he even managed to touch her... not pat... just touch.. which was huge for him ....

but that's what the visits are all about.. just learning about each other...
Course the question of the day was... "who's bigger the dog or the pony"... I think this photo pretty much answers that question...
and the dog and pony crew... Bernice with Logan.. Livy (me taking the photo)  Sarah and her pug.. Tina and Juno.. Mocha and Attitcus and Rick...

Mocha tell Juno that she has nothing on her...
and a bit of puppy play at the end of a very nice visit. With promises that we will be back and friends who will look forward to seeing us. 
Since the day was turning off to be another hot one... Kass packed up the boys and headed to camp. Mandi and Braydon came as well... so, an afternoon of swimming after such a fun morning...
Abi..... this is what summer looks like!!!!
doesn't take kiddos long to jump in a lake...
and this summer, Abi does as much underwater swimming as she does above water swimming.... 

It will be fun to watch these two grow up on the lake., I remember when Abi was like this, and now she's our fishie.....
She's working on handstands underwater and summer salts.... she almost has them mastered....
Summer skies........



and I am reminded that we are very very blessed.....