Tag Archives: dog friends

The Evolution of Walking a Tight Rope {from Sadie’s perspective}

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Sadie has been having a wonderful fall.

Lots of walks and play time.

We just spent the afternoon with her brother, Marco.  They had so much fun together!  I am so bummed I forgot my camera.  Boo Mom!

Sadie has discovered the fun of ‘people watching’ out the front window.  I moved an ottoman under the window sill to give her a comfortable view. Yeah, Mom?!!  🙂

Sadie has a fun trip to Michigan next week and then we start another dog training class when we return home.  I signed us up for a 6 week class to fix all those pesky behaviors, like jumping.  It’s really Mom training, not dog training.

I am really excited about the trainers we will be working with, they specialize in training for certification as therapy dogs in hospitals.  I hope they can help me shape her behaviors so she will be eligible to be a therapy dog once she is old enough.

We are also on a waiting list for an agility training class.  Yeah, waiting list!  Boo!

I hope to get back into regular postings, now that our summer travels are winding down.  Plus, we have lots of new activities to report on!  😉

Michigan Fun

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Sadie and Gideon had loads of fun playing in my parents’ back yard… but the real fun was going to the lake!

I was very happy that Sadie did not learn to dig with Gideon.  That is one habit I do not want her to start!

The visit to the lake started with the normal “chase me” game that Sadie loves.

Then Gideon pointed out the water…

and the docks…

and the real fun began!

Then my Dad brought out the tennis balls to toss to Gideon.  Gideon likes to jump off the dock to fetch the ball.

Ball in!

Gideon in!

Sadie charges down the dock???

and swims back to Gideon???

and then Sadie swims the ball back to shore.

This happened over and over again.  She just didn’t seem to understand she could jump off the dock too.

What did I do?

I tossed her in after the ball.  🙂  and she loved it!

One encouraging push by me and she was hooked!

As you can see, she really perfected her dive into the lake.

The only problem… I created a water monster!

She loves it so much, I had to leash her to get her to stay on shore and dry off before we left!  🙂

and then, when we got back to my parents’ house, she assumed their fish pond was for her to swim in too!

Learning to Dock Dive

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I forgot the cable that allows me to download pictures to my computer… so I have 2 small pictures taken by my phone. 

I have a ton of great photos to show you all… when I get home.

But, for now, a quick update. 

Sadie learned to dive off a dock into the water!  She loves it!  

Along with running, diving and swimming, Sadie has been relaxing at my parents’ house.  She is having a great summer! 

Off to the cottage later this week for more excitement. 

Walking, Swimming & Sharing

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We had a fun-filled weekend!  I took both Sadie & Gideon on a walk (by myself) Saturday morning.  I was nervous at first, not sure how easy it was going to be with 2 dogs and 2 separate retractable leashes.  I took one quick (and blurry) picture before we left.

The walk was a breeze!  They both walk really well together and it was a great alternative to the busy weekend dog park.

Marcus joined us for 2 more walks over the weekend and they loved the neighborhood strolls!

As you may recall, Sadie has an antler chew.  She has really been into chewing it in the afternoon.  I love it because she can chew for a while with little destruction to the antler and then she walks away satisfied.

Gideon found the antler and really liked it… Sadie did not like sharing at all!  She would walk over to him and take it away from him.  It was really funny to watch considering he is 3 times her size!  Gideon really is a gentle giant.  He is so patient and tolerant of her puppy energy and behaviors.

As a reward to Gideon for his kind behavior with our little monster, I went out a bought Gideon his own (larger) antler.

Sadie took it from him!  Oh the nerve of her!

I took it back and made Sadie chew her antler and gave Gideon his back.

They both stood up, exchanged antlers and then laid back down and chewed away!

By Saturday evening, both Gideon & Sadie were “dog-tired”.

Gideon went into his crate to sleep and Sadie assumed her normal snuggle position with Marcus.  🙂

I give both Sadie & Gideon a chewy once a day.  Sadie enjoys her’s on the family room rug.

Gideon takes his into his crate.  No sharing with the puppy for this treat!

Sunday was another “heat advisory” day… hot and humid and 105.  After our morning walk, we let the pooches cool off in the pool!

Sadie was cautious at first.

And just like learning to swim, she watched Gideon splash around and then followed his lead.

She really loved the “water fountain”.

Along with standing, splashing and laying in the pool, the also dropped their tennis balls in and bobbed them out.  It was really entertaining to watch them play.  They both loved the pool!

Happy Exhaustion!

Two dogs Are Better Than One

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Gideon & Sadie spent a good amount of yesterday playing in the backyard.  Chase & catching tennis balls were the games of choice.  The temperatures were still very warm, so when I brought them inside to cool down, the playing continued.

Tug is their favorite indoor game.

The toy basket is on the other side of this couch.  They played with EVERY toy Sadie has!

What do you want to play with next?!?

Notice Gideon is standing in this picture…

As the evening went on, Gideon laid down while Sadie continued to play with him.  Puppy energy trumps size.  🙂

 

There was ‘ruff’ housing, of course.

For a while, both dogs laid on their backs, biting a toy between them!  They had me laughing all night.

Resting together by the back door.

And, total exhaustion for Gideon.

Today, I took both of them to the dog park.  They had fun running with other dogs and then I spent awhile throwing balls for them to chase & bring back.

Currently, both are fast asleep – for now.  😉

Cottage Country Canine

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This is the life!  Do we have to go home?

Sadie loved the cottage!  Everything about cottage life agreed with Sadie.  Long walks to sniff out wildlife, swimming, running the property, tons of treats and plenty of friends!

My parents and Gideon were the first guests of the season.  Gideon is a black lab and he was a natural in the water.

Sadie watched Gideon retrieve the water toys from the water’s edge.  She would chase him through the property and then stop in the shallow water.  Eventually she walked deeper and deeper until she started swimming on her own.  It was the coolest thing to watch.

She didn’t really need the life jacket, but I put it on her the first few times just to be safe.  She was wearing it when Marcus and I took her out on the fishing boat.  That came in handy… she jumped out of the boat to play in the water and the life jacket made it very easy to lift her back into the boat.  🙂

We really saw the agility genes shine on this trip.  Sadie LOVES to sprint around our property.  She created a course around the cottage that involves circling the large garden, jumping down the small retaining wall, and making various turns around the water’s edge.  She would steal Gideon’s tennis ball to get him to chase her through her course.

And of course they enjoyed plenty of treats from my Mom!

More from our cottage vacation tomorrow.  Today we are trying not to melt… 115 is the predicted high today.

We went to the dog park early this morning but it was still so hot Sadie mostly socialized with the other dogs and did little running.  I tried to buy her a kiddie pool today, but Target only had inflatable pools.  Stay cool, eh?!!