Romeo saved the day!

 Today I hosted a Showmanship workshop for the local 4H kids and then a Handling workshop for adults followed. The day started off a little rough as one of the 4H kids ended up crying the whole time she was in the ring. Her nice family dog was very scared of the show ring, judge and other kids with their dogs. At one point the poor girl was dragged across the entire ring as if she was on skies behind a sled dog! Romeo to the rescue!!! I had brought Romeo with me so we could practice a little during the adult section, but he had a much more important task today; making this young ladies day! At first she didn't want to use Romeo seeing he was quite a bit bigger than her dog, but a little convincing and watching me take him around the ring once did the trick and before we knew it she was HOOKED!! Getting to practice with a dog who didn't pull her around the ring, stood for the judge to examine and who knew what they were supposed to be doing, did wonders for her self esteem. She tried to convince her mother that they should just keep Romeo and she'll show him from now on. :)  We were thrilled that she ended the day all smiles and having fun.

JR and His Girl

JR sitting on top of his girl, Sky. This is an every night thing in our home!

Yoshi report

 Yoshi has added so much to our little family. She's blended into the zoo at our house and loves her big sisters, Indy (our Weim) and Kairi (our Husky). She is a ball of energy most of the time. We've all decided she's especially cute when she's alseep. She not super excited about visiting the vet and seems sort of tender afterwards. She's also gotten carsick a couple of times (thankfully in Rich's truck!). She's still pretty small, just over 30 lbs. But, she holds her own. And, she could eat constantly.
Her absolute favorite thing to do, besides sleep next her dad and go for walks every day, is to lounge on the back of the loveseat and spy on the neighborhood. Rich is a complete pushover and has promised me a new loveseat when the time comes. He just can't say "no" to his baby girl.  ~ April

Keeping Cinder Busy

I just bought cinder a new toy called a puzzle toy you put treats inside and then she has to figure out how to get them the last one I bought she played with for hours and then she collapsed to sleep got a couple of hours.  ~ Karen

Hunter's looking good

Hunter is from our Romeo x Izza 2010 litter

He is amazing and so much fun to have around.

 ~ Deanna

Jasper's Day In Town

Jasper is from our Romeo x Izza litter born October 2010

We stopped at the vet's office for a couple of minutes.  He weighed in at 54 lbs.  He is really getting to be a big boy.  So much for the cute cuddly puppy that he was just a couple of months ago.  We then made a stop at the quilt shop so the girls could see how big he has gotten and so he could say hello to Reana, the yellow lab of the owner.  Truth be known he likes to steal Reana's treats every chance he can.  They couldn't play on the lawn today, as they had just finished spraying for weeds & moss. Cindy who works there just loves Jasper and is always asking to see him.  He knows that Cindy will give him treats, but she always asks Mom if he can have one first.    So just a short visit today and then back up the hill to home. ~ Ann

Babies on the way

Today was another first for Black Diamond Dalmatians ~ at 4:00pm this afternoon we did a pregnancy ultrasound on Jazz. It has been 30 days since Jazz was surgically implanted, which is the date the reproductive specialist in Grass Valley, CA told us we should have her checked for pregnancy status.  The good news is that Jazz is pregnant and the vet definitely saw at least 3 puppies. The bad news is that our Ortho/Trama vet isn't very skilled with the ultrasound machine and couldn't give us a rough count of puppies, nor could he find the heart beat on the 3 pups that were obvious. So it looks like we'll still need to do an x-ray a week before she is due to get a better head count. At least now I'll be able to convince Adrian to begin construction on a new puppy box! :)

Worn out Cinder

 What a hoot she found my new chair to take a nap on after her puppy lessons and 2 mile hike. ~ Karen

Riley sleeping with cinder

JR Runs with the big dogs

JR has ridden around on the 4 wheeler many times, but he's never been big enough to run beside it very far. He's 5 months old now, so today he went with the big dogs for their run. The big dogs did 9 miles today and JR did about 1 1/2 miles. He road on the 4 wheeler, sitting behind me until we reached the wheat fields, then I put him down to run with the big dogs. He's run for a minute or so, then come back over to me and ask me to let him up again, he'd ride for a few minutes, ketch his breath, then ask to get back down.  He did very well and had a great time. The last 3 miles he layed on the back of the 4 wheeler and slept until we got home.

Bow and Lilly Reunite

Bow is doing great. He is a great runner. I love having him run with me. He keeps me going on my longer runs. You are correct in that he loves his toys and especially balls. He is chomping on one right now and making it squeak. But when he sees anyone at the park playing baseball or soccer, he wants their ball. I think he really enjoys having a doggie door. It works out great when we are at work. But no matter how tired I am when I get home from work, he is ready to go. That is okay. He gets me out the door and then it is fun to run or walk with him. We had something exciting happen on our walk today. Bow saw Lilly. A man pulled over in his van and asked me if my dog's name was Bow. It was Jeff who got Lilly from you. He had Lilly with him and Bow and Lilly really enjoyed saying hi to each other. He works in Vancouver at times and just happened to be driving by and stopped to say hi. What a small world and it sure was neat to talk with him and let the dogs see each other.

Bow has really fit into our family well. We are so happy that we made him part of our family. ~Cindy



Obedience & Rally workshop

Today Izza and I spent the day at the Walla Walla Kennel Club Obedience and Rally workshop. I learned several great new training tips that will help improve our future obedience endeavors. It was a great turn out and everyone seemed to have fun. The above photo was Izza and I "center stage" practicing a technique the instructor was teaching us.

Romeo's a Grandfather!!!

This photo is of Bella, mom of 10 new babies. Their daddy is Chaplin, who is Romeo's son from his 2nd litter. Bella, the babies and Chaplin live in Southern California.

Lilly's song

Hi debbie Lilly is doing great and is fitting in great with the family.I don't know if any of your other dals do this but we kept hearing strange noises from time to time while she was playing with her toys and now we know what it is lol (see attached video) thanks again. ~ Jeff

Chip hits the beach

 Chip likes the beach, but you should have seen him run when the ocean wave rolled in and got his foot wet.  Guess he thought he was about to get a bath. It was beautiful down here - 85 and sunny and not too humid. Great day for the beach, which is where we went for the afternoon.


 ~ Homer

(Chip now travels the USA and Canada with my parent's, in their motorhome).

Cinder's Puppy Class

Jack in the sun

This picture is from our morning walk the other day. It was beautiful and sunny!


~ Stephanie

Weekend trip

This weekend Jazz and I took a little drive, down to Grass Valley California (just across the state line from Reno). We decided to breed Jazz one last time (she's 6 yrs old now). The male we have chosen is traveling the nation pursuing his show career, so for the first time at Black Diamond Dals we did a Surgical Implant A.I.  Seeing we live in the boonies, we had to drive to a location that has a reproductive specialist, so we decided to drive down to California to the one the male dog's owner has used several times with great success. Jazz and I drove down on Friday, Saturday morning she had surgery, we then got back in the van and drove home, arriving at 3:30am Sunday morning (thanks to the weather and roads). This photo was in Southern Oregon on Friday, click on the photo so it gets bigger and you'll see some of the approximately 200 antelope that were in this location (Jazz is in the lower right hand side of the photo).

Wet Jack

Hi Deb

Just had to send you this picture. Yesterday is was raining so hard that he had to come and snuggle under the blankets with me after our walk. My Dalmatian "lap dog" doesn't quite fit in my lap anymore. :)
Stephanie

Happy Valentines Day from Samantha & Olive

Dear Deb, Adrian, and all the Dals,

Olive and I wanted to send you all some Valentine's Day love, and share a picture of the perfectly heart-shaped spot on her hip. She has another one on her shoulder, but the one on her hip almost looks like a tattoo it's so perfect.

Mom, Dad, Ringo and Mozart are driving back from New Mexico right now, and the puppies should have a reunion sometime late tomorrow afternoon. We'll send you pictures then of the cute spottiness.

Hope all is well! Izza's Lotto pictures are wonderful. I'd definitely buy a ticket if I lived in Oregon.
~Samantha and Olive

JR's first time in the BIG Dog Park

 Jr got to see the dog park the day his brother Hunter went to his new home, but the two boys only got to play in the 'little dog' area and sniff the big dogs through the fence line. Today Jr graduated to the Big section, and boy did he enjoy it! There was a 5 month old Bassett hound puppy, a wolf, great Dane, Newfie and lots of mixed dogs. When we arrived there was close to 30 dogs in the park, but he did a great job meeting and greeting each of them. He clearly had some favorites, but found each and everyone of them interesting.

News from New Hampshire

Ti is doing well and has been joining me on my snowshoe excursions this winter. I've taken him up a small mountain (1200ft elevation gain) a couple of times but we mostly go on flat to rolling terrain. He enjoys it and it's great exercise in freshly fallen snow. We have gone through a ton of Musher's Secret. I put bag balm on his paws afterward and it has worked out very well. He's only had one cut so far and it wasn't serious.

Hotel Sutor

 Last night we had 3 house guests. A GSP, Brittney Spaniel and a 10 month old Newfie/lab mix. All three dogs were being sent from a rescue in Salt Lake City to Seattle where they would be heading to their new homes. The trip requires the dogs to be in a vehicle for 2 days, so they really enjoyed their stay at Hotel Sutor where they got to run and play in our backyard, then when we got to cold to stay outside any longer they continued the fun indoors. Most of our dogs tolerated their presents, but JR thought it was Christmas! The GSP in particular, was fantastic about playing with him and put up with being bit with puppy teeth every time he stopped playing. JR was very good about sharing his toys with our house guests.

Adrian really enjoyed the GSP Davie; Davie seemed to like Adrian pretty well too!

JR's 4 mth Birthday photos

 We spent the day having fun with the boy today. First we went to L&G in Walla Walla where he met lots of excited people, then to handling class (JR is enrolled into an obedience handling class for socialization) and then we went to the park where we snapped these photos while he was having a good time hunting rabbits. It was a fun and long day for a 4 month old.

Photos arrived

 Our photos from January 20th arrived today. These are of Bow after winning his final point for his Champion title and Romeo won Best of Breed the same day. Bow is one of Romeo's sons and is 1 1/2 years old. We're very proud of both of these boys!

Jewel and Cinder having a good time.

Bow heads back down The Gorge

January 20th Bow won his final point at the Portland Rose Classic and became a Champion at 1 1/2 years of age. Today he started the second faze of his life by heading back down The Gorge to Vancouver, WA where he'll get to have a wonderfully active life with his new parents. His family has had Dals in the past and enjoy jogging and hiking with their spotted partners. Bow holds a very special spot in my heart, and with a little time I'm sure he'll work his way into that same spot with his new mom Cynthia and dad Roch. Take care my sweet, sweet boy.

Little Lexie - OUR PILLOW girl

Okay-so I am busy in the bedroom and I come out to find this-rotflmao.

THIS IS "OUR" blanket and pillow girl.

I was getting ready to get this back in the store bag

and take it back b/c it washed up horribly.

Lori

Bow's reward

Now that Bow's a Champion, he got to get neutered today. Everything went well and he seems to be recovering very well. Once Bow is completely recovered he will be ready to head to a new pet home, so if you are one of the homes that has had an eye on him waiting until we were ready to let him leave, contact us now so we can make a decision as to which home he'll be heading to.

Mini Me

Bow and his little brother Jr had a nice nap together today. Jr is really enjoying being part of the pack of big dogs. He's only had one accident in the house (in his whole life) and that was today, I didn't believe him when he told me he needed to go and by time I got to him (through the pack of dogs) he had sprung a leak. Poor baby.
His big brother Bow has been a great sport about playing ball with him, sharing the dog bed and just being his big bro. They are so much alike in personality and looks, Jr is a very fitting name for Bow's "mini-me". (Although Bow's blue eye is on the left and Jr's is on his right).

Yesterday the show ring... today the muddy creek!

Romeo (who was Best Of Breed on Thursday)

Bow (in the creek - who became a new Champion on Thursday) and Romeo heading back in.

Quick dip

On our way home from the Portland Rose Classic we stopped to let the dogs run and play some. I never imagined they would go swimming in the Columbia River today seeing it was in the 40's. The cold water didn't seem to bother them at all and they had a great time.

Bow's a Champion!!

For Adrian's birthday today, Bow won Winners Dog for his final point needed to complete his Champion Title. He's now Ch. Black Diamond He's Bonafide and Romeo's 2nd son to become a champion. To top the day off, Romeo won Best of Breed and Willow was Select Bitch. We couldn't ask for much better! Once the show photos arrive I'll get them posted, but that usually takes a couple of weeks to arrive.

Sky's first go with a Pro

Today was Sky's very first time in the ring with a Pro Handler, she won Best Senior in Sweeps, then went back in for Best of Winners. Scott Price is doing a great job with her, she looks very happy and almost looks like a 'show dog'!  Sky will be shown by Scott all week, through Sunday the 23rd, then she'll be catching a ride home with our friend Pam and her Whippets as we are heading home Friday morning.

Our Keno Girl Izza

 I was SOOOO EXCITED to open my e-mail today and see these photos of Izza. These are the posters that are going to print today. Oregon Lottery said they will be putting these posters everywhere across the whole state - anywhere lotto is sold. So look for Izza "in a store near you" sometime in the near future (I have no idea how long it will be before they are actually in stores).

Lilly and the holidays

Lilly has been doing great and settling into her new home. She met ALL of the family including the dogs over the holiday's and enjoyed all the new sites and smells the holiday season had to offer. She has been welcome by all and has been super sweet even with the kids, laying in bed with them while we read books (of course, we have to take turns).
Jeff has been taking her to work with him and she is really bonding with us all. She has gotten to play at the dog park as well as meet several of the neighbor dogs on walks as well had a few play dates in the back yard. She has finally explored her entire back yard and knows all the places to run like the wind when she is excited and feeling playful, including around and under the pool deck, around the boat, behind the shed, etc. Although I am sure she can't wait until the rainy season is over as she is very particular at times with NOT wanting to walk in muddy wet grass (or in the rain in general). Several times on our morning walks, she has put her foot down (or more literally her butt) and stopped to say, "I don't want to walk in the rain anymore", looking up at me with her puppy dog eyes. She has a new purple rain coat that has helped with this situation but thinking a hat is in order or something as she doesn't like her velvety ears to get wet. ;-)
The kids continue to be reminded that she is still a puppy. We have had a few shoe and toy casualties but it is a good lesson for them to learn to keep their things put away or doors closed to their bedrooms while we are out of the house. Lilly really enjoys breakfast and dinner time, as well as playing with her new toys. She has been very inquisitive with all food in the house but has been getting better with her counter surfing.
Holiday photo of our family with Lilly, attached. She still is a nibble kisser but we love that about her. We are looking forward to starting obedience class with her next week with the whole family but overall she is doing great and we are so happy to have found her!
Maybe we'll see you next weekend at the dog show in Portland.
Cheers,
Shelly, Jeff, Rylie, and Logan Mix

Update from "Black"

We named him Jasper. He is growing like a weed. Tonight he managed to find a roll of paper towels I had apparently left down too low. Needless to say we had a huge snow storm in our formal dining and living room. He was having a blast shredding all the paper. He and our Siamese cat play together a lot. Jasper’s favorite toy right now belongs to the cat. It’s a scratching pad with the little ball that goes around the outside in a track. Needless to say our cat watches real close when Jasper is playing with his toy. It is such a joy to have a Dal in the house again. He does play with Sophie our other dog, but right now he likes playing with Ossie. I had it so that he wouldn’t chase the cats, then I noticed that the cat was going and getting Jasper to play with him. Ossie has never thought he was a cat though. He has always played with the dogs. Ann

Jack and his new toy

JR joins the pack

JR, as well as his entire litter have been around our entire pack since they were a couple of weeks old, but they've always been 'behind bars' so they couldn't get hurt is someone panicked about the puppies. Once they got older we moved them to their box in our dinning room, so all the big dogs could reach in and lick the faces of the pups and vice versa, but they were still protected. Once they were 8 weeks old we allowed them to be loose in the house with certain big dogs while being supervised. First their mom, then big brother Bow, then daddy Romeo. Now that we are down to just JR, he no longer has a dog to play with so I decided tonight was the night. Adrian was at the neighbor's house watching a football game, so I could control the energy in the room without his influence. It went great! Everyone was excellent with JR. Bow, Sky and Izza took turns playing with him. Anytime he needed to go potty he would run over to his box and try to jump in (which he's not capable of yet), so I would place him back in his box, he would go potty in his litter box, get a drink of water, then ask to get back out for more play. It was a fun evening and everyone is sleeping soundly now. I took lots of photos so I could show Adrian how great everyone was with him. Tomorrow night we might allow him to be present for playtime. ;)

Hunter heads to Pomeroy

"Brown", who we called "Chubs" is now going to be "Hunter" and has headed off to his new mommy Deanna. He'll be sharing his home with an 11 year old beautiful female Dalmatian, a 1 year old Shepherd, a couple of Manchester Terriers and a Jack Russel. Hunter will be hitting the dog show ring in April with his new mommy, which we are really looking forward to seeing!

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Once again I sent Izza's photos to a dog talent agent, this time 6 dog's photos were sent to the Oregon Lottery and they chose Izza! At 10:30am we started our photo shoot in Portland, OR and didn't finish until 4:30pm. It was a long hard day, but it was fun too! Fun because Izza did a great job. She didn't mind all the flashes going off and sounding like gun shots, having to be manipulated by me as well as strangers, the having to be 'on' for hours and hours or being asked to do things no normal dog would ever do! She was an amazing trooper and by this summer will be on posters and billboards across the entire state of Oregon. These photos are a couple that the talent agent took on my camera while the photographer was reviewing photos that he had taken. The photo above is of us on the $3,000 of real money they had Izza rolling around in.