A Baileys and Hot Cocoa Kind of Night

Topper wants to get Rosa's Rope Toy, Ranger could care less!





Topper really wants that toy!





Rosa loves
"Keep Away"





Topper won't take no for an answer!



December 5th and it's snowing here in NH. It is beautiful! Just the kind of night for a good movies and a Baileys with hot cocoa. Have periodically heard from all puppy families and all the "kids" seem to be healthy, enjoying life and learning the basics in obedience.
Soon we will know all the "registered" names and I'll post them.
It's fun to watch Topper in his first snow. He has tried to catch the flakes, chew them off the ground and roll over in what's accumulated. He, Rosa and Ranger were out playing for two hours, then came in to dry off. I was able to find my camera late in the afternoon and I caught "Christmas Tree Picture", but will keep trying.
Happy Holidays to all.
Pam

Great Information from Alice and Harley

Just got this from Alice..a great reminder for those of us who train pups, and great information for those who are just starting!

4-8 months
puppy will test its wings
may challenge owner to resolve the question of leadership
may not come when called
may not play fetch, even though it once did (Harley?)
he'll be uncomfortable because his adult teeth are coming in
Be prepared with enough chew bones (make sure they're large enough so pup doesn't choke) to help with your pup's need to chew. Use a long line in the park if the pup isn't coming when called....and bring your puppy to an obedience class.

Alice and I are lucky as we have some wonderful training places to go to with great trainers..we have choices of place and time, so we there are no excuses for our dogs! Actually both pups are smart and happy to do what we ask (ok-there are times when selective hearing comes into play) and we are continuing on with the classes we've started.
Pam

Grand Reunion

Seven IWS get together. Left to right upper, Ranger, Emma, Kayla, Rosa. Lower are Topper, Ava and Harley. Oh yes, and Emily.




Harley sporting a pink collar, plays with Ava (on the bottom) and Topper.






Florence, Greg, Alice and Kathleen.






Marion (in red coat) watches from the chair.





Yesterday, November 7Th, was a bright sunny cold day up here in NH. Florence Blecher, an Irish Water Spaniel women from California, had come to the east coast for a conference, so it was the perfect excuse for Marion to have a get-together and invite some of the recent Kayla/Seamus pups to come and play. Greg Siner, from NJ was happy to bring Florence up to NH (as he was returning my big male, Ranger, who was bred to Greg's beautiful lady, Maude). Greg brought Maude with him along with his 10 month old pup Eta, she is lovely! Marion has been feeling better recently, so we invited Emily with Ava, Emily's mom Kathleen, Alice with Harley and the pups' mom, Kayla, and of course Topper was there with his "aunt" Rosa. We ended up with 9 Irish Water Spaniels. Some of the dogs elected to stay in their cars, but all were played with and enjoyed. Everyone got to Bradford around 1pm and we spent about an hour playing with the pups in the backyard, evaluating their movement, temperaments and coats. Then it was inside for soup, salad, great bread called "The Healthiest Bread in the World" brought by Alice, and a wonderful cranberry pie baked by Kathleen. Apple cider and lots of talk ate up the rest of the afternoon...but as IWS folks will do, we put the pups up on the grooming table and Emily and Greg trimmed them up. Sporting new looks all pups went home happy and tired! It was a great day! I have posted some of the pictures I took, but there are a lot more, as everyone had a camera. If I get any, I'll post them.
Talk to you soon.
Pam

Hope Halloween was BOOOOtiful

Topper and His Bat




Topper is not sure about this trick or treat thing!





Gillis sports his Halloween Bandanna




Ava and Sachmo at the Pet Expo




Ava is all Dolled up for AKCs Meet the Breed



Hope all of you had a wonderfully "scary" Halloween! Topper spent it chewing on his new "Bat" and barking at the "Trick or Treaters". We had around 75 people come by and we were giving out a handful of candy to everyone towards the end of the evening (don't want that candy on my hips!)

Topper is doing nicely with his training, but due to some time problems I've had to miss two of his classes. We'll see this Tuesday night if he can pay attention. I have found that any of my dogs will do anything I ask of them, until we get in the setting where there is more distraction than at home...it's then that the repetition pays off, so I work with each one 5-10 mins in the morning and 10-15 mins in the evening. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm including bits of some of the updates I've received, along with a photo or two.

Yvonne writes "Gillis had his last class on Wednesday and he did graduate. He did much better last week in that he lasted almost the whole hour before plopping down and refusing to do anything. He also didn't chase after other dogs as they walked around him during our "circle" exercise. That is where we all get in a circle with the dogs sitting at "heel" position and one by one the dogs weave in and out around each of the other dogs. The dogs that are sitting are expected to stay there and not react to the dogs that are walking--a lot to expect from a 4-month old who is very social. I think that we will continue to practice the exercises (this time with treats) until he gets a bit older and then try class again if necessary. He is really good about staying when I put his food down. I tell him to sit, and stay, and then I put his food down and don't let him eat it until I say "OK." As much as he loves food, that is quite an achievement for him!
He also had his first grooming with a Halloween bandanna to complete the look. Charles said it was quite traumatic for him but that the women were wonderful with him and gave him lots of treats to get him through the ordeal. Hopefully next time it will be easier. We are off to Deerfield, MA to visit Charles' son and his family and stay with friends--two more dogs to try to play with. We will see how this goes."

Emily sent this "Here is a pretty picture of Ava that Debbie Bilardi took at the meet the breeds." Emily and Ava were in NYC for the AKC Meet the Breeds and then she took Ava to the Pet Expo in Hartford Conn. Ava is as solid as they come, not to mention a beautiful girl, so she won a lot of Fans for the Irish Water Spaniels those two events.

The Tracys wrote that they got together with the Marass family and had Sophie play with Marley..they didn't elaborate, but I gather that the two female pups were not all that happy to see each other, or maybe it was that they were too busy racing around to enjoy the visit? The Tracys did mention that Sophie would be going to classes soon. Guess that says it all.

Well, I will keep you all up to date with any news as I hear it. We are getting into that crazy season, so the posts might be short or just a few photos. I'd love to see any holiday pictures that you take. I promise to post them!
Talk to you soon.
Pam

Snow!! Snow!! Snow!!

Marion's Maine Coon Cat, Miss P, before her shampoo.





Harley, Topper and Kayla romp at the ocean.








You got it, it's snowing today here in NH. Can't believe it..the good part is that it is not accumulating! Mike and I watched the NH Patriots (football team for those not into the sport) play in heavy snow down in Massachusetts. It's just a preview of what's to come. We've been splitting and stacking wood all this week-joy oh joy!
Today was filled with other sports too. How's washing a Maine Coon Cat sound to you rugged friends out there? Poor Miss P (Marion's Maine Coon Cat) was ill last night and yes, she had "loose bowels", so today we had to wash her long beautiful coat until it was clean. Did I mention her long beautiful nails (lol)! It was an adventure as always.
Harley and Topper have spent the week with Alice and Paul. With my Rosa and Marion's Emma both in heat, and Ranger going nuts (literally), it was wonderful of Alice and Paul to extend the boys stay with them. Alice took them to the ocean for their first romp on the sand. They loved it. Topper found clam shells and carried them all around. Harley found out that the "kelp" I have been putting on his food actually can be found at the edge of that big ocean after the waves wash it in...and it tastes pretty good too!
I will go to puppy class tomorrow night and get Topper. The screaming and howling you'll hear tomorrow night will be the boys letting both homes know that they miss each other. Harley (or Hunter as he might be called) will be with Alice and Paul and Topper will be with Mike and me or with Marion depending on the needs or schedules.
We are hoping to be down at the Pet Expo next Sunday, so we'll have a bunch of pictures to post after that. I'm working this week at a local school. Ranger will go down to visit "Uncle Greg" in NJ for a bit. Rosa will not be going to classes this week as she is in heat (mid part) and her attention span has shrunk to the size of a dime.
I'll post pictures and stories after the pet expo.
Talk to you then.
Pam

Fall Foliage in New Hampshire

Gillis enjoys the falling leaves.





What a tough life Gillis leads!






Ranger, Rosa, Topper and Harley really want to come out to play.






Poor Topper--does this scar give him the sexy look?






What beautiful colors--and it isn't even the peak of the season.



What a beautiful time of year. The colors here in NH are exquisite! The "boys", Harley and Topper, are enjoying the cooler weather. They love chasing the leaves around the yard. It's like a wonderful game made just for them. Rosa joins in frequently, while Ranger just does the "eye roll"! Poor Topper, he is now sporting a "scar" on his nose, as he stuck it where it wasn't welcomed. He did learn tho, that you don't put your nose into a crate when an older dog has a meaty bone. We are hoping it heals without the "bald look"!
Both Harley and Topper are enjoying their puppy classes. They both sit and we are working on stay. They both go "down", although the stay part is iffy - they both just roll onto their backs and grin! Walking on a lead is coming along, and they seem to get it, but I don't think they like it! They are spoiled (of course), but are happy to try...that's all I ask of them. Time, consistency and repetition will do the trick..they are smart and I know that they will be happy, trained, well socialized little 4 footed members of the family. (I hope you noticed I didn't say well trained, nor did I mention a time frame--lol).

Got a nice note from Laurie (in Maine -she and Nelson have "Dawn" who is now Marley)
She writes: Nelson and I got married Oct. 3. Now that life is calming back down a little, I should be able to update you more often on Marley! We've been going to puppy Star classes, week 4 tonight. Marley can pretty reliably sit (well the smart girl learned that the first day!), down, and up. She'll walk nicely without the leash but we're still working with it on. We've been hiking, meets lots of people--lots coming and going this past weekend!, found a GREAT pet sitter for midday visits when we both work, go to puppy play group occasionally--although there is a 25lb weight limit that I think she'll outgrow soon!, visited the vet a couple times for shots (she's a star there too "soo soft" "she's so sweet"), walked around Portland a few times, including on a Saturday to see lots of various people just coming and going, been to work at some of the assisted living places I work at (she's makes her greetings then lays nicely at my feet and naps), and just trying to incorporate new things for our happy puppy. Marley is well liked by all!--and once someone says her name is happy to flop for a belly rub!
We also received a note from Yvonne, who has Gillis (another Maine pup. She wrote:
Hello Ladies--I thought you'd like some new Gillis pictures. He has been going to obedience class, but is not impressed. He loves seeing the other dogs and would rather romp with them than heel. In fact, when he thinks he's had enough "obedience" he just lies down on the floor and won't get up or move--passive aggressive. The instructor says he is strong-willed, but we knew that before going there! Otherwise he is happy and healthy. He loves going in the car, thank goodness, and loves chasing leaves and eating apples off the lawn. It's hard to keep him away from the mushrooms that spring up in our woods this time of year. Since I don't know what they are and whether or not they are poisonous, I don't let him eat them. I have to do mushroom patrol each day otherwise he gets mad at me when I beat him to them and destroy his chances of eating them. He loves to play and has to be near one of us, usually me. He and Charles were playing the other day and Gillis had gotten hold of a towel. Charles tried to get it away from him and, of course, he started pulling and "growling" so Charles did the same and showed him his teeth. Gillis dropped the towel. Charles thought that was great! Maybe a new way of disciplining? Ha!

It's so good to hear how the "children" are doing, but I do know that it is hard to find the time these days to write, let alone get a few pictures together. Our congratulations to Laurie and Nelson, Marley is a lucky pup!

I'll post more pictures as I receive them.
Pam

Blessing of the Animals

Gillis on Cadillac Mt.







Satchmo enjoying a bone.







Ava's song "I'm so pretty, oh so pretty"!




Well, today was Blessing of the Animals at our Church in Hopkinton, NH. I ended up taking pictures of all our animals, as the Boys were with Alice, and Ranger is always too much for me when we socialize. Rosa was all set to stay home with a large raw bone so she and Ranger could have "brunch" with Dad while he read the paper, but she "decided" that we should go so she could see CATS. Of course once she saw the cats, she was a maniac, so spent the time in the car! I did bring pictures of all of our animals and had them "blessed" in abstentia. It was a fun morning.
We have had reports on most of the pups, so I'll post a few of the notes today.
Ava, our NJ girl, has moved in with Emily in Mass. She is wonderfully social, very smart and "Knows" she is Queen! We are all trying to go to the Pet Expo Oct 25th..if you want info, email Emily at pickle8505@yahoo.com , and she will give you the particulars.

This is from Gillis's mom (Bar Harbour, ME) "As I said, he is getting bigger. He now is able to stand on his hind legs and see what is on counters and tables. Last weekend he wasn't right in the room with us (he always needs to be with "the folks") so I went looking for him. There he was, on the dining room table. When he saw me, he ran to the other end, snatched a bunch of napkins out of the napkin holder as he whipped by, and dove off the end of the table and hid behind my chair. I was laughing so hard I couldn't discipline him! He is very good about going into his crate at night and in the morning we now have a routine. I open the door and he comes out and sits between my feet so that I can pet him and tell him how wonderful he is. Then he needs three belly rubs (He stops at the same three places every morning) before he will go downstairs to go out."

Satchmo, in Mass, has really settled in. He is a big boy, and just loves life. He has a large extended family who adore him. He is learning "manners" and loves walks. According to his Dad "He now weighs close to 28 lbs more or less as I was holding a squirming IWS, so who really knows. He is doing well with training, walking on his leash (treats really did trick). We think that he finally figured out that rocks are not worth eating and mushrooms can make you ill..(he is just so smart). He sits, stays briefly, does down, paw and comes when he feels like it (I am working on that). During the summer he found that he loved the beach and ocean, and running in and out of the waves, he was really good about coming on call out of the surf. As you can tell from our comments we like him a lot we just can't wait for him to get over chewing what he should not (we are working on that also)."

We have heard from Sophie's parents, in Maine, and she continues to delight her family! Our California Dude caused the comment from his "Dad", "I had forgotten how much energy a pup has and how much you need to keep up with him!".

Harley is enjoying life, he is laid back, happy to do everything or nothing, what ever suits the moment. Topper on the other hand loves "a job"! He enjoys our classes, as he sees what his job is and does it happily. He brings back the ball, the bumper and looks for the praise. One really funny moment happened this week up at Marion's. Ranger has a "lady friend" in for breeding and I had gone up with all the dogs to see about the "wedding". Topper and Harley sat at the fence and watched as Ranger licked his lady from stem to stern and then back again. So having watched this they both started licking each other and then turning back to watch "Grandpa" do his thing...it was like they were in "class" and had to take notes. I just laughed and laughed!

All in all, this group of brothers and sisters are a wonderfully happy energetic bunch. I'll post comments as they come in.
Talk to you soon.
Pam