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Swiss Silhouette Kennel's Litter "D" |
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Swiss Silhouette's Ariel x
CH Windraider Zuppke's Flea Flicker RN (aka "Zea") Whelped on 1/25/2009 (Disney Theme) |
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Tritan male OFA: HIPS/GOOD, BOTH ELBOWS NORMAL      Roya and Triton just snuggled down for the trip home  Romeo meeting Triton  Triton meets Titus     
Too much time spent hanging with the Corgi! What a great action photo!  We understand he loves the water...but he seems to love a good shake as well! 
10 mo. and what a beautiful head! Almost a duplicate of daddy!    I just pulled back in from a whirl wind trip to AZ to see my Brother. NEEDED to get "out of Dodge" for a while, and am on full time in a couple of days until after the New Year, so I seized the moment. Took Triton, who has turned out to be the PERFECT travel companion. What GREAT dogs you breed!!!    Triton is starting classes for conformation. He is still growing so he can't really be evaluated for what he will be in 1-2 years, but we think he is heading in the right direction! He looks like he is enjoying his work, and so is his owner...that is half the battle:)! 
Tritan on right playing a morning ritual of tug of war with Roya.
Handsome man:)! Whoo hooo! Look at that boy go:)  
I guess we like each other a little:) 
Sessi and Tritan play day after the show! 
Tritan on left, Sessi on rightCo  1/30/12:He is 3 years old now 
 
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8 Wks: 21.4 lbs. Tritan has found a home in Prineville, OR. He will get to share his life with some very special Andalusian horses and their owner/Breeder/trainer. We hope to see Tritan in the show/working ring as he matures as well. 14 weeks: 38 lbs |
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Eric (AKA Brutus) male  
   We wanted to thank you Shelly. I don’t know if I can share with you enough how thankful we are to have Brutus in our lives. He has been a ray of sunshine for us each and every day. It is so odd how a simple look at this little creature creates this happy feeling. He just makes me smile when I look at him, whether he is wading in his “kiddy pool” or running towards me at full speed so eager to receive hugs and pets…his presence creates such a happy atmosphere…it’s hard to describe. I know you know what I am talking about! Needless to say, with Brutus around, there is never a dull moment!! Simply put, he is an amazing friend!! Jan. 2010 update: Hello Shelly, It has been a while since I connected and I wanted to share some photos of our beautiful boy!!! Brutus is so great!! Happy, healthy, handsome!! I have attached some photos of a walk we took the other day! He is in heaven with the snow- on fresh snow mornings, he happily burrows his head and body in the snow and pops up (I think he literally has a smile on his face!) We are excited to celebrate his one year birthday!! His presents are all wrapped up! Life is good here! We are looking forward to more snow and fun, Brutus is a hit at the doggie ski trail) this is our version of a dog park! (Oh, I also had to include one photo of Brutus after the doggie walk!!) 
  Hello Shelly!! Thanks for your quick response-- I feel awful that it has been so long since I last connected with you -- We have been keeping busy, it looks like you and Bill have been too, looking at the adorable new litters!!! Aww, I am such a sucker, but I must share just a quick sidebar, as I just sat down to start typing, a large black head appeared and gently rested it on my leg :-) Can it get any better??! Speaking of the "Prince" or so he thinks :-) Brutus is better than ever! Gosh, I cannot even describe his demeanor, what a ham!! he is truly a wonderfully unique dog!!! He has so much love to give, and he never fails to remind me of his loyalty. We just returned home from a hike, although this is a daily routine, the entertainment never stops between the dogs, playing, running like crazy-- and now, snow!! We need more of the fluffy white stuff. However, the days have been sunny and beautiful so I can't really complain! at all! I am working on a little slideshow so you can see the big guy in action! However, I was shocked when I opened the "Brutus" file on my computer and realized just how many pictures I have of this guy!! So, its taking a bit longer than intended! However, this is just a short and sweet message to say hello to you. Ned and I are so grateful for another year full of adventures, laughter, good health, and lots of love among our little family-- (little family being Ned, myself, and the furry kiddos, Brutus, Toby and Hoppy) I will have more to write later, Marry Christmas once again, here are a few pictures in the meantime!! 
 
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8 Wks: 20.2 lbs "Brutus" now lives in the beautiful mountain of Washington. He is close neighbors with "Little Miss Sunshine" from our "B" litter. The following is some pictures of both them at their first visit! |
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Sebastian (AKA: Benno) male  We LOVE having Sebastian! We named him Benno. He is the best. He is very sweet with the kids and just a joy to have around. He is growing like crazy and is just the best dog we've ever had!    Hi Shelly! Here are pictures of our beloved Benno. He is the best and most beautiful dog we've ever had. He is so sweet with our daughters Lucy (9) and Ada (3), and he is just generally a joy to have around! So far we haven't had any health issues whatsoever. We had him neutered about a month ago and he didn't seem to mind at all- he has become a little calmer since, but not too much. He is pretty energetic and loves to play, but he's not too crazy - he has the best disposition, he has a stubborn side but is always eager to learn. We are so happy to have him. He is fun, friendly, and sweet. He definitely went to a crazy puppy phase, but he has calmed down a lot! Thanks so much- we'll be in touch!   |
8 Wks: 20.4 lbs. Off to the mountains of Salt Lake, Utah. |
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Melody (AKA: Brandy) female OFA Hips/Good, OFA Elbows/ R. Normal, L Grade 1 
Hi Shelly, Melody traveled like a dream. Calm & quiet, pottied at each stop. After about 2 hours her personality started to show through--what a character! She has been "talking" to us quite enthusiastically! WE absolutely love her and are starting to get what she is telling us, she already has a wide variety of tones and pitches paired with facial expressions and mannerisms. Thanks you so much for this great girl!   Brandy continues to be a wonderful addition to our family. Healthy, adventurous and outgoing. 9/29/09: Hi Shelly, thought you might like like an update. Brandy is absolutely fabulous! She is growing and maturing into a beautiful girl. She weighed in at 52 pounds at 6 months, well proportioned and healthy. We like the fact that she seems to have a smaller build overall, but the way she has growth spurts, she may just suddenly catch up with her littermates. We are excited to see what she becomes! She is a very active girl, loves to hike and run thru the bushes, fetches the ball and Frisbee, does great on the boat, and loves to travel in the car and camp. We spent last week-end with some friends and their dogs at the lake, and now she swims like a lab. She wakes up every morning with a big smile and happy wiggles ready for her walk. She never has shown any signs of a shy phase. She is so happy and friendly with people and other animals. She absolutely loves romping in the dog park and is always a favorite with the dogs and humans. She is so smart, training her is so easy! She sits, shakes, lays down, stays, comes, and speaks. We are doing a round of obedience classes mostly to get on the same page with leash walking and calmer greetings. Hope all is well with your household!   
Thanks for sharing guys! She looks beautiful and healthy! And of course we are thrilled that she is beautiful in temperament as well. 4/15/11: Hi Shelly At 2 years Brandy has leveled out at about 98#. Small build but such a nice size for us. She so active and enthusiastic! She is a big cuddly clutz, but oh so beautiful!! She loves to hike- her favorite thing in the world is to run full speed through the brush and then "hide" underneath giant ferns and pounce at us. We moved to a 2 1/2 acre home last year and she is quite the farm dog now. She guards the neighbors horses and brings her toys up to the fence for them to sniff at and play, too. If any of the animals show any distress she come to me and demands that I come and fix it. The only problem is her obsession with the squirrels, and I now believe she thinks they are living squeaky toys. Only fears seem to be the vacuum cleaner and the water hose. Oh, and mud is pure joy for her, makes the irrational fear of the hose a bit of a bummer, but we've found ways around it. She swims in the pond almost daily and the ducks have finally accepted her swimming amongst them. She has a great personality, outgoing, confident, and sweet. I was really surprised at the x-ray results. Brandy is so active and rambunctious. People always seem to comment on what an active Berner we have. Never a limp or any sign of stiffness or abnormal gait in that elbow, even after long or strenuous hikes. Our vet says everything looks great, but it's good to be aware of it and we'll keep an eye on it. She gets her joint supplements regularly and her weight is maintained. If you have any preventative suggestions I would love to know. I really want to keep her healthy and active for a good long time. She is such a wonderful companion. Thank you so much for your careful breeding and the early socialization. It really shows in her interactions with people and other animals. Breeder note: Grade 1 elbows are frequently disputed and resubmitted by veterinarians. Sometimes they are re-evaluated and found to be normal, and sometimes not. Grade one is considered very mild and many dogs are selectively bred with a grade one elbow to a dog with normal elbows. My advice to someone with a grade one elbow result with NO symptoms would be to resubmit new x-rays. Also, to avoid extra stress on the joint just in case it is accurate. This includes jumping from heights, extra weight on the dog, and keeping up with good nutrition. Many dogs with grade one elbows go life long with no symptoms. 
 
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8 Wks: 17.6 lbs Melody has moved to the west coast of Washington. |
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Louis (AKA King) OFA Prelim: Excellent Hips/Grade 1 right elbow, clear left elbow male  Louie and I are safely home. He is a great traveler and a love-bug. We saw Dr. Jacobson, DVM, on Monday who pronounced Louie as a "perfect Berner." The neighbors are swarming to greet the new kid on the block.    King is the joy of the neighborhood. He still has a very serious demeanor but full of play. He was 40 lbs at 3.5 months. He has no fat just BIG!!! Hi, all you wonderful people at Swiss Silhouette! Wanted to check in, after a long period of illness and relocation silence. We picked up Louis in March and three weeks later, my macula ripped a hole--requiring two surgical procedures and many weeks of inmobility while healing was to have taken place. During this three month period, Louis did not get the training he deserved, although friends were good enough to love him. Then, as luck would have it my ocean front home in Brookings sold, so the next flurry of activity was getting my things packed, the necessary paper work that surrounds sale of home, moving, and purchase of new home rather than to be living in a rental. Anyway, Louis and I have survived. We now have a home in a suburb near my kids and my grandkids. So often I think of you and your kindness to me as I came to get my puppy. Now, about Louis. He is, as you know, past his 9 month birthday, weighs 94#, and is only now beginning to mellow out. Although we are behind in his obedience due to my unexpected temporary disability, he is progressing nicely. Louie loves every human and every dog he meets--some times too ardantly. Wanted to let you know how Louie is doing, lest you think he and I have disappeared off the face of the earth. I thank you and your family for enabling me to have yet another of this very special breed. Hi Shelly, Louise continue to be a very serious character. He loves all humans, all dogs, even some cats! But, he hasn't cozied up to squirrels. Here are some 1 year birthday pictures!  
Hi, Shelly, I am ecstatic at the amazing progress Louis has made in terms of ...umh everything. He has become the gentle giant of Mill Creek. We go to the playground so he can be with the very little people (at 115#). He visits some elderly disabled people in the neighborhood in a way that they call to ask when Louie can visit again. This seems to have happened almost overnight. This wild man has turned into a presence that needs to be utilized for good work. 1/30/12: Hi Shelly, Louie (and I) thank you for the birthday wish. The 21 year old has achieved most of the adult behavioral characteristics, although he still thinks all people and dogs love him and want to be close. We've a little yapper or two in the neighborhood who are aggressive toward him and I dread the day he decides to take them on. At 125 pounds he would surely win. He is by nature not aggressive, but he doesn't put up with nonsense. He is a favorite at Doggy Haven, the local day care place where I take him once a week to get his play fix. He needs a buddy, but I just don't have the outdoor space for one, let alone two. Am hoping to sell my home and get something in the country with lots of play space. If (when) this happens, you will hear from me for a place on the puppy waiting list. Yours are wonderful Berners! Anyway, thanks for the greeting. I will mail a picture soon. Still haven't come into the 21st century with the camera |
8 Wks: 18.4 lbs. Louis has moved to the Oregon Coast! |
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Flounder
(AKA Caleb) male Caleb was hit by a car in 2010 and is sadly no longer with us.   Hi Shelly, Just thought we would give you an update on Caleb. Our ride home was smooth as can be, no accidents in the car at all. Made it home and introduced Caleb to Bear and they are starting to get along just fine now. Bear is still a little tentative but he is getting more and more used to the idea of having a second dog in the house. They will play outside now, and Bear tolerates Caleb climbing or snuggling with him inside. He seems much more at ease when they are outside though. Bear will let Caleb know when he has had enough rough housing. We are still working on the house breaking but it is getting better. He is down to only one outburst per night now as well, typically around 4 am (unfortunately for us). We thoroughly love him and are enjoying his personality and spirit. Can't wait to see him grow into a big dog. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body, we have had many friends drop in for visits and he warms up quickly to all of them. He is definitely a homebody though, if we walk outside together he won't let us get far away, though he will occasionally go for a romp in the bushes for fun. He is eating like a horse, we started him out at 3/4 of a cup at each meal and found Caleb searching for more as soon as he was done. We upped it to one full cup at each meal and he still devours it in a little over a minute and is still looking for more. We can still feel ribs though so I'm thinking he's not gaining weight too quickly, we weighed him today and he is up to ~21 lbs on our bathroom scale. The earliest our vet could see him is this coming Wednesday, we will give you a vet update when we talk with Sharon, our vet. Here are some pictures of Caleb, Bear and us too.    Here, Caleb is meeting his great uncle..Shyla's brother. How fun that they get to live together!          Sorry we are late with these but we have been a little busy with the discovery of our 2nd addition to our growing family. We were expecting our first human baby and have been wrapped up in getting ready. But, in the mean time we have kept up with our "first child" and here are the pics to prove it. As for how Caleb is doing, he can now sit, come (when he wants to or we have treats), lay down, and shake with both paws all on command. We are trying very hard right now to control his alpha personality. He definitely likes to be in charge but with my wife expecting we need to get him to stop jumping. He was up to 42.2 lbs when we last had him on the vet's scale about two weeks ago. The vet believes if he continues at this rate he could hit the high 120's-130's in weight. We are very excited about this prospect. He is going in again for his last shots this coming Thursday. He is a sweet boy but challenging as well. We have enrolled him in obedience classes that start on the 17th. Hopefully this will help us and him to come to an understanding of who is in charge. Beyond that we are enjoying his companionship very much and he is really helping to get us ready for parenthood. Thanks so much for working with us to get him. Hope you enjoy the pictures and congratulations on your new litter. Just thought we would give you a quick update on Caleb. We just took him to the vet for his last shots today and he is up to 57.6 lbs and the vet says it's all in proportion. She wants us to start blending the puppy food with the adult now and by 9 months have him on adult food full time. He was very good for the vet today and did all his tricks for the assistant. He is losing teeth now too, just pulled one that was hanging on by a thread last night. The teething will be a few more months I guess. Oh well other than that everything is great. Thanks for posting the pics. Talk to you later. |
8 Wks: 20 lbs. Flounder is actually staying close by. He will be within 2.5 hrs of us! We hope to get to see him frequently as he establishes his new home in north east Washington. |
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Jodi (AKA Sesi) female OFA Hips: Good, OFA Elbows: Left: Grade 1, Right: Normal Sesi had all of her other clearances done as well: OFA Thyroid: Normal, CERF Clear, OFA Cardiac Normal She will not be bred due to the elbow, but will continue to live a wonderful life! Thanks to her family for providing such a beautiful home for this special girl. 
Jodi's" trip home was awesome! She is an AHHHHHHHMAZING pup... Sooooooo good! We left your place and did not arrive back to Cathy's "Rancho de Baile Luz" until after midnight. THAT was something... The puppy meeting Cathy's "other" babies...including her six-month old Berner Girl, "Roya". It was a TOTAL LOVE FEST! The three Big Boys and the Little Lady were just wonderful in the car...all cuddled together and snoozing. Just a couple of "piddle stops" along the way but other than that they just snoozed all the way back to Cathy's. The next day "Jodi" woke me early after a quiet night...we got up, ate, walked, did our "duties" and hit the road again! It was a stunning morning...driving through Bend with the mountains gleaming white with snow and morning light...up through Diamond Lake...along the upper Rogue River...and into Eagle Point! We stopped along the way... walked... played... but other than that she was curled up in the back with Denali and Kodiak! The homecoming was fun! She is quite adventurous and The Beasts seemed happy to show her around. My Hubby, Mark, and Son, Dustin, were out but were soooooooo thrilled when they finally got to meet her! The two of them are still "arguing" over what her name should be. I'M STAYING OUT OF IT. It's a "guy thing". I figure I got what I wanted...the pup...I'll let them take "ownership" by naming her! We've set up her "sleeping place" downstairs in Dustin's apartment and the two of them are bonding like crazy! He can barely walk across the room without her wiggling between his legs!         Hi Shelly… Just thought I’d give you a big HOWDY and let you know how our Sesi-girl is doing! Well… SHE’S GREAT! I just can’t get over her! She is so smart… and has a real “sense of humor”! My prediction was correct… this little girl definitely is the BOSS! She LOVES everybody… and Kodiak and Denali truly look out for her! We’ve had some really fun romps… and she has been my “gardening partner” this last week. The boys just lie in the grass and watch me… but she has her nose in everything! Very curious! She sleeps well through the night… is completely house broken… is doing excellent on leash… and eats like a little piggy! I swear I can watch her grow! Don’t know if I told you… but she went to the Vet the Monday after we got home… and they are all fell in love with her too! Of course they already loved my boys… but my Vet (and his girls) said this is truly the MOST beautiful girl they’ve ever seen! We knew that already, eh? So all is well… “puppy classes” start for us soon! Hope all is well with you and yours! I’ve told your story so many times… you are one amazing woman! I’m hoping I can get away soon to visit Cathy once she has Tritan home. I know she is really looking forward to it! Warm Regards… and BIG BERNER HUGS! 9/10/09: it's all good here! Sesi-bug is growing daily... and such a clown! She is funny though... with her training. If she doesn't want to do something she won't even LOOK at me! Just puts her head down... like if she can't see me she can't hear me! Smart little bugger!  
 
  HOWDY GALS… Hope you are both surviving Christmas mania! We are… barely!! Thought you would enjoy this picture! The “kids” were a hit at the mall last night… a crowd developed watching them with Santa. It was tooooo freakin funny!! BE WELL… ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS… I’M THINKING OF YOU AND YOURS!! MERRY CHRISTMAS….   Look as her go too:)! 
  Triton and Sesi blowing off steam after the show:) 2 years old:    Sesi and Kodiak     Fall 2011:  |
8 Wks: 18.6 lbs. Jodi is off to Southern Oregon to live with two other Berners! We look forward to watching Jodi grow and hopefully enter the show/working world as well. |
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Carlotta (AKA Maile) female  My wife and daughter love the pup, as we all do. She is very sweet, seems above average in intelligence (of course we would think that!), and very confident. She is friendly and confident with all the neighborhood children, and likes playing with the other dogs, too, without being overtly submissive. She is just what we wanted. Vet thinks she will be big, which you already told us.   Just an update on Carlotta. She's doing great, getting big fast. She had her second vet appointment yesterday to get her vaccination updated. She's on heartworm and Frontline (since she already picked up a nice fat tick on one of our hikes). She's 31 pounds, has a lot of energy and personality, and then she sleeps a lot. She is very good about going outside to do her business, and she loves everyone, people and animal alike. She is a bit of a chewer, but she's getting a lot better. We love her, and she settled into the routine here so quickly and easily. Never seemed to miss her littermates. She's sleeping through the night, eating well, and everything is going so well. Of course, when we take her for walks, we can hardly go 10 feet without someone petting her and telling her how pretty she is. And she expects it!   Maile loves her hikes, and she seems to enjoy the agility stuff my daughter has her do on logs. Thanks for her! Maile and Kanoe have seemed to bond. Maile follows Kanoe along logs, up rocks, and almost anywhere. They both seem to love the adventure. Maile is named for a lei made on the island of Kauai. http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/hawaii/maile/ 7 Months:Hi Shelly, Hope all is well. Maile has recovered very nicely from her spaying. She was quiet for about a day and then went right back to being her normal exuberant self. A couple of pictures of her. Her and my daughter have quite a bond. If kanoe climbs a rock, Maile climbs a rock. If Kanoe walks across a log, Maile walks across a log. My only worry is that she can be rough in her exuberance, and she still plays like she is a little puppy and doesn’t realize that she is a 65 pound dog. We love her. Thanks! 
Our favorite picture! There is nothing better than
seeing a child in love with their dog!! Glad we could
be a part of making her happy. Thanks.  Thank you guys for the pictures! It is amazing to see how big and beautiful she is already. She looks very healthy! Great job! Bill and Shelly 
11/10/11:  Maile is a beautiful dog, with a great personality (mostly sweet, but with some kolohe mixed in). We love her. Thanks so much for her! |
8 Wks: 20.6 lbs. Colorado...here she comes! 12 weeks: 31 lbs. |
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Grimsby (AKA Taavi) male OFA Hips/Good, OFA Elbows/Normal  .jpg)  .JPG) Dear Mama Shelly, WOW! What a week! I cried for about one half hour when I left you but then I took a five hour nap. My new Mom and Dad/Best Friends love me to pieces and I don’t feel lonely any more. At my new home, there is still lots of snow and I LOVE the snow! For a treat I get to play in it after I do “my business”. I already know my name; I know how to “come”; I know how to “sit” and “lie down”; I know how to tell my new Mom and Dad when I need to go “outside”; I know what “off” means and I know how to lead on a leash (I was getting too heavy to carry!). I am VERY smart!! I try really hard to hold my bladder but I’m not too good at it yet. I haven’t “messed” in the house since the first day though! I have met about twenty people, ridden in the car A LOT and I have met my new Doctor (I weigh 20.6 lbs. now). I am REALLY excited about my new brothers although they make a funny noise (meow) and they won’t come play with me yet. I will continue to try to “corral” them. So I think it is nap time now and right after that it’s LUNCH TIME! Thank you for my new best friends. Love and kisses, Taavi   
 This is Taavi and his full brother Murphy from Litter "C" Aren't they a handsome pair! 
   We think you were all warned that these dogs have LOTS of fur:) Dear Mama Shelly, I went to see my doctor’s office the other day and I now weigh 74.2 pounds! I play with a red Frisbee now and I am solid muscle! I love my new dog food and my Mom gives me treats of apples, broccoli, sweet potatoes, bananas, green beans, cantaloupe and I get a small bedtime treat she calls “my chewie”. I get very excited for bedtime. My chewie is made of sweet potato and venison. I have to stay up late to play because it is so hot here. Sometimes my Mom and Dad and I just go for a walk. When my Mom comes home from work we play hide and go seek around the island in the kitchen. I have a very deep bark now. It sometimes surprises even me. I peed on the carpet last week. I forgot where I was. I was very sad because my Mom just cleaned the carpet. My brothers are getting more used to me. I sometimes play a little with the older one. He likes to hit me with his paw. I like to chase the little one but Mom gets mad. Murphy was going to come for a visit but now he isn’t. I’d like to play with him again. Mom and Dad are going to work on rebuilding the fence around my yard. I keep the deer away. h Boy! It’s almost dinner! Mom cut back on my food and I’m REALLY hungry! Licks and kisses, .jpg)
Above: Zea and Taavi at the lake house. Taavi %20(Small).jpg)
87 lbs & 9 mo
Serious Side
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Having a "ball" side!
   Dear Mama Shelly, I think my Dad already sent you pictures from my SECOND trip to Uncle Shannon is a nice man and lets me come and stay at his place. I am not allowed to “crotch sniff”, however! A really nice lady at the border gave me a cookie. I like going to . They didn’t steal my food this time. I went to my doctor’s office the other day and I now weigh 97.8 pounds. I have big muscles and I love to wrestle with my Mom. I also have fun playing with my Jolly ball and a lopsided Frisbee that I have chewed a lot on. I love going for walks now. I was worried in the beginning I would get lost but Mom and Dad always seem to know how to get home. I smell a lot of other dogs on my walks and it is fun! I learned to” lift my leg” a week ago. I’m still not very good at it. I tend to tip over. But it makes me feel like such a BIG boy! I can jump into the car or truck all by myself now when my Mom or Dad say “Load up!”. My brothers with the funny voices come in to the same room with me all the time now. We touch noses a lot and I like to lick them. My littlest brother makes a weird noise when I come too close and then I get his spit all over my face. I can hold my bladder almost all day and I only fill two “blue bags” per day. I had a bath before visiting Uncle Shannon. It was only my third bath. I don’t LIKE baths! I am so glad it is cold outside now. It is much more fun My Mom leaves every day to go somewhere and I really miss her. I lay by the back door when it is close for her to come home and I bark when I hear the car. Then we play games! I am sad because the man that trained me is not alive anymore. I wanted to see him again and show him how smart I am but Mom says I never will get to do that. I am going to try to be a good boy so he can see me from Heaven. I need to rest up now for lunch. Licks and kisses,Taavi 
Hmmm...can't you find some expensive toy?  11 mo and 101 lbs! He is looking very healthy! Dear Momma Shelly Here are pictures of me, two days shy of my first birthday. My Mom and Dad asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday. I wanted to go play in the snow but we don’t have any this year so we found a really neat park close to our house. It is SO fun out there! I smell all kinds of different dogs and I’m getting really good at lifting my leg so they can smell me. I get to run around off my leash. You can see how much fun I’m having by the smile on my face and my tongue is hanging out (in one picture my Mom is making fun of me). I weigh 103.6 pounds now. My coat is shiny and black. I am really strong and I like to tackle my Mom. I can finish my bones in about 15 minutes now. My Mom and Dad still feed me three times a day and I eat 1and ¼ cups of food each time. It is never enough but they can still feel my ribs a little and they say that’s good. I only have one brother now because one got sick and went away. My other brother is spending more time with me because I think he is lonely. He doesn’t spit at me as much anymore. Sometimes I get to play with the neighbor girl down the street. Her name is “Sophie”. I sent a picture of us together. I am having a lot of fun with my Mom and Dad and I really like them. My Mom sometimes calls me “Buster” and “B.B.B.” (Basic Black Boy) or “Big Boy”. I am really proud and I like to protect them. I like to lick (kiss) ears like my Daddy (my REAL dad). I might get to see my brother Murphy (from litter “C”) in a couple of weeks. I haven’t seen him since May and I can’t wait for him to see how BIG I am! I wish I could see my new cousins but tell them one day they will be big and strong and beautiful. Licks and kisses,Taavi .jpg) %20(Small).jpg) %20(Small).jpg) %20(Small).jpg) %20(Small)119.jpg) Finally getting around to sending pictures of the new kitten (Koji) and Taavi. Taavi is so good with him. We have to watch a little when he (Taavi) gets boisterous and starts jumping around. He acts like a worried nurse-maid for the kitten. The older cat is gradually getting used to him. 
  Hi Shelly and Happy New Year! I think I finally have Taavi settled on the food issue. I switched him to “Nature’s Variety Instinct- Duck and Turkey Meal” food and he is doing fabulous! We no longer have trouble with loose stools and we haven’t had any urinary leakage for weeks, no a couple of months at least. I am so glad I talked to you and didn’t put him on that awful medicine! He is spectacularly beautiful and now weighs 116 pounds (at Christmas). The food has a few extra calories in it so I am having to adjust amounts to keep his weight in check. I have cut back a little lately. Also I supplement with yogurt, apples, green beans, sweet potatoes, bananas, berries, broccoli, carrots… the good stuff. He is filling out, has a beautiful coat and his chest is starting to deepen. He loves the snow and will go outside and play or lie in the snow for a few hours and be so happy! I have put in a few pictures for you to see. We tried to get him standing but that is not so easy.         .jpg) |
8 Wks: 19.0 lbs. North East Washington will never be the same! 12 weeks: 32.4 lbs. |
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Paddi
(aka Sam) female   Hi Shelly, Sorry to keep you waiting for news of Paddi. She is doing quite well here and all are happy. She was physically fine after the flight to Sacramento, but a bit overwhelmed I think. She cried a bit that night off and on but was easily comforted. I think she was really overtired and missed her family. Everyone in the family is delighted with her here. By yesterday, Saturday, she really "came out of her shell" so to speak. She is bounding around and letting everyone know she is available for play whether they are busy or not! You are right about her personality. We swear she talks to us! Sounds crazy though. She is very adventurous around the yard and has no problem going over, under or through anything that is in her way. She clearly wants to hang outdoors as much as possible and has already staked out her favorite outdoor spots for naps. She has become expert at the three or four steps it takes to get off the back deck, but still is afraid of the stairs in the house. She can go up carefully but won't come down! However, she lets us know when she wants down! Housebreaking is moving along well too. She seems to be eating well and loves the water dish. Everything sticks to her puppy fur so she's being brushed all the time. She's not sure if she likes the brushing yet. We are all having a ball here getting to know each other. Our 13 year old son has been sleeping on the floor on a futon to be close to her and she is almost sleeping through the night. He did not want her in the crate! It works for now. 
Sweet Sam is doing well! She is growing by leaps and bounds, including her attitude! She weighed in at 47 lbs. at her vet check last week when she finished all her shots. I can still feel her ribs though. She barks for food/treats all the time and is constantly trying to make us all bend to her will. She plays non-stop with our spca mutt and they argue over every toy even though there are plenty to go around. She still allows our 7 year old 7 pound Chihuahua to rule over all though. Sam seems to have found new energy in the past few days and is sleeping less during the day and into trouble more. As long as I can watch her carefully, she is a delightful teenager. If left to her own devices (which can happen when the two-legged teens are in charge) she can get up to mischief chewing the baseboards and going potty in the house. We are going on longer walks now and she insists on personally greeting everyone we come in contact with whether they are interested or not. She is quite the character actually. I don't think I've ever had a dog with sooo much personality before. She is a lot of fun and so beautiful. Now if she would only realize that she is not a rooster and would stop trying to start the day at 5 am. If I went to bed at 10 when she does, I might actually be able to get up at 5! I'm trying to get her to stretch herself to 6 am.   |
8 Wks: 19.0 lbs. A big city girl now! Central California |