Breaking in the new toy

 

Today the two boys got to go to Walla Walla with us. While Adrian talked with the boat repair guy, the boys and I walked around their parking lot checking out everything we could in the 10 degree weather. Then we headed over to Petco which was supposed to have a Puppy Playtime at 5:00pm to 5:30pm.  Well our boys were the only two puppies who showed up, but we made the best of it. We walked the whole store, checked out each isle and met all every stranger who walked in. They also got to meet two older dogs who were in the store shopping. The toy in the photo is the one both boys agreed on and felt they Had to have - luckily it was on the after Christmas sale rack, so they proved themselves to be excellent bargain shoppers too!

Puppy play

We currently have two boy puppies still at our home, Brown and Blue. Brown will be going to his new show home soon, but meanwhile he's here to play with Blue. This morning we woke up to blizzard like conditions, which luckily only lasted until mid-morning. The boys found the fresh snow to be very fun this afternoon once the sun came out.

Jack and his girls

 So we went to my in-laws for Christmas. While we were there Jack played with an English Bulldog, a Pomeranian and a Springer Spaniel. He also got lots of love from 11 children and a bunch of adults. He was fantastic and everyone just loved him! Oh and he also met the horses in which he was not to sure what they were. We have 3 minis and 1 Arabian. Well just have to say that Santa was good to Jack as well, new toys and a yummy bone. The girls also dressed him up in some doll clothes, that did not last long but he was a good sport. Well just had to send you a little note on how he is doing. He starts puppy class on the 6th and we have been teaching him sit, stay, down and off. We are still working on him coming when called and actually paying attention when you say his name, a little selective hearing.  Stephanie

Post Christmas Run

Today was sunny and warm at our house, right up until the dogs and I headed out for our run anyhow! It ended up raining, hailing, windy and cold. Luckily my mother gave me a wonderful set of water proof, insulated coveralls which I had worn despite the weather being so nice before we left. The only bad part was the hail on my nose and in my eyes - I'll start wearing a hat with a visor from here on out! :)

Olive all ready for Christmas

Olive has started some training with the clicker and treats. I think the clicker helps reinforce when she does well because of her left-sided deafness. She already knows watch me, sit, jump, to go in her travel crate and hand touch. We're still working on laying down and not biting me as much (work in progress).


Mom bought her a little Christmas collar with jingle bells on it (which, while cute, also helps us keep track of where she is running around to).

Hope you and the rest of the dals had a great holiday.    Samantha and Olive

Black gets a home

"Black" (Black Diamond Sleepy Hollow) got to go to his home today. Black will be living in Tillamook, OR with his new mom Ann. Hopefully he doesn't ever lock her out of their home like he did their vehicle! Another lucky boy off to a fantastic home.

Santa knows Jack!

Jack had a chance to give Santa his wish list before Christmas. We've heard he's been a good boy, so hopefully all his holiday wishes will come true.

Snow babies

At about 4pm today it started snowing. All four boys headed outback to check it out. I had hoped to get video but was unsuccessful; they were leaping in the air biting the snowflakes as the snow was coming down. They chased each other around and had a great time playing in the snow. They were even more happy to come back into the house to take a nice long nap by the heater.

Angels

Our four remaining angles looked so sweet I couldn't resist taking this shot. Too bad that when they wake up they are a rowdy obnoxious bunch of boys!

Lap Dogs

Mozart's dad would like all of our newest puppy owners to see what their future looks like. Those cute little bundles sitting in your lap tonight will be turning into 40-60lb lap dogs very soon!!

Black Diamond Autumn Harvest - "Orange"

Tonight's blog are photos of the four boys we still have at our house. Orange will be heading to Florida on the 22nd, but the rest of the boys are still looking for homes. These photos were taken last night and the boys are now 9 weeks old.

Black Diamond Full Moon - "Brown"

Black Diamond Foggy Night - "Blue"

Black Diamond Sleepy Hollow - "Black"

Cinder update

Cinder is doing great - she is the most inquisitive puppy I have ever had - nothing is scary to her - I have a built in vacuum system and I hit the switch and she stuck her nose in the opening in the wall while it was running - our other dogs always run from it when it is running.

She is also Miss Queen Bee in the house - my Mother In Law's dogs are terrified of her - the moment she heads for them they are heading away from her. My old black lab is being pretty tolerant of her when she climbs all over her except she has informed the puppy that her tail is off limits. All in all the four dogs are doing great.

We have her pretty well house broken except when I let my husband and son watch her then all bets are off. But she is starting to whine when she needs to go (once) and out the door we go.

She is sleeping in her crate in our room at night from about 10:30 pm to about 3 am when she whines - I take her out and then back in the crate she goes - she then sleeps until about 4:30 am when my husband and I get up to get ready for work. Then my Mother In Law takes over.

We also use a playpen for when we want to confine her for a short period of time during the day - cleaning up things we don't want her in, if she is getting out of control (rambuctious) and it is easier for my Mother In Law to put her in the playpen instead of the crate.

She is very smart - she always shows us where her food is kept when it is time to eat.

We have had so much fun with her and yes her little needle sharp teeth are out in force. We are working on getting her to quit using us as chew toys.

She is getting her next series of shots on Monday and everyone at the vet office just loves her. She has met both of our neighbors and all of Riley's friends and girlfriend. They are always coming over and trying to steal her.

I brought out Spooky's tunnel and oh boy have we had fun with that - she races thru it then races around the house to race back through it again. She does it about 4 times before she flops down exhausted. Tonight we were in hysterics. My 6 ft 2 in son crawled in the tunnel and Cinder shot in it after him - then he starts yelling for help because she is all over him and he is trapped - the tunnel is rolling through the living room with all of us laughing so hard.

Cinder is such a love bug (when she isn't trying to chew us to death) - every since the first day we brought her home she is a couch dog - when she wants to nap she goes over to the couch and puts her front feet up on it then turns and looks at us - yips once and waits for us to boost her up - she loves sleeping next to our black lab who is also napping.

My husband is particularly happy with her - he loved our other dalmation and he has spent alot of time with her. Our partner in our Christmas tree farm asked Jim why he would want to raise another puppy and he answered because she is a Dal and we love her. It was too cold last weekend to take her down to our little tree house to do tree sales but this weekend the weather looks pretty good so the playpen, toys and Cinder will hopefully be going down to help sell trees.

I think she is going to fit in just fine with us. As soon as she has had all her shots - I am going to sign her up for the puppy social group I found.

Take care and thank you again for allowing us to get Cinder from you.

Uncle Mozart

Photo of Mozart and Ringo enjoying some down time together. Their family wrote and said "They are getting along so well, and Mozart really enjoys having a buddy to play with." Adding a new puppy to your home when your first dog is 3 to 5 years of age is almost perfect; they are young enough to actually play with and tolerate the puppy, yet old enough that they can actually help you train the pup to be the dog you want them to be. I think this family is going to be very happy together for many years to come.

Update from Olive

(Light Blue is now called Olive and lives in Washington state.) Everything is going wonderfully here with Olive. We went to the vet yesterday to get her second round of shots and to get de-wormed. We have her next round of boosters in three weeks. She was the belle of the ball at the vet, everyone wanted to come meet her and pet her.

She's been coming to my swim practices in order to meet lots and lots of people. I'm especially happy because there are so many little kids there who want to come meet her. My swimmers have been fighting over who will get to puppy sit for me if I ever need it. We also had a puppy play date over at a friend's place where she got to meet two older beagles and a miniature mutt. She slept so well that night.

She's getting very good about going outside, even though she HATES the cold wet weather. She'll start to cry as soon as I open the door. I'm pretty sure that's why she's been so good; she wants it over with and to be back inside asap!

Toni flying high!

Toni (On The Spot's Princess Antonia Rose, RN) has started her obedience work with flying colors, going High In Trial! Toni is one of Romeo's puppies and her mom is Zinda (owned by Bonnie Rose).