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Category Archives: dog

Black Dogs and Snow

The dogs and I go for a walk every morning, regardless of the weather. Once this winter it was too cold to get very far and another day it was too icy for me to walk safely but those are the exceptions. We walk on the road on our hill and a trail through our property. They are familiar with the scents of others that walk these routes and when they come across a new one much time is spent examining it and I imagine the two of them talk about it too. Sky often looks for new sticks but not as much as she did last year when she was more of a puppy. Luna is often content to walk near me. Most days a bout of dog play erupts and if we have other people or dogs with us, it is even more vigorous. Usually Sky starts it with a ‘puppy sneak’. Luna knows what’s coming.

Puppy!

We were not able to bring home the little brown puppy. The vet reported that she might have an abnormality in one of her vertebrae and since we plan to have an active busy dog, she suggested we get another one. So Ken went back and picked out a little black lab puppy from the same litter.

We brought her home one week ago and she is rearranging our lives constantly! Her name is Night Sky Star Shine – Sky for short – and she is nine weeks old today. At first Luna was unhappy about this new addition to the family. Sky bit her ears, jumped on her, took all the toys and declared the big dog bed to be hers. She also soaked up all the attention! Two or three days into this, Luna decided she was going to have to learn to live with her and began playing with Sky. Sky adores Luna and tries to follow her everywhere. That’s good for when we go on walks. Sky is also independent and will go off in her own direction if we don’t pay close attention. She is starting the process of house training and yesterday actually went to the door to say ‘it’s time’. Of course, we are diligent to take her outside every time she wakes from a nap and a couple times at night when she wakes up. And she gets special treats for relieving herself outside. So far, so good. We have been introducing her to lots of people and other dogs and she seems to enjoy just about everyone that she meets. I’ve been taking her for walks at different locations and she always enjoys them. She is ruled by her nose and can find some of the most disgusting things. How do I get her to stop that?

Luna says – whacha up to pup?
This is the way home kid.
Sky makes Luna look mature!
Fast!
Wait for me!
Quite the pair
At Patterson Lake, Luna shows Sky about swimming and retrieving.
Sky is not sure.
Her first water retrieve
Like this.
That’s far enough.
And then she sleeps.

Doggie Dash 2013

The Doggie Dash is one event that I look forward to every year. What do I like about it? Winter – I love this season. Dogs – do I even need to remind you? Skiing – my favorite outdoor activity. And it’s a light-hearted event – folks don’t take it seriously. Well, most folks don’t. It’s tons of fun. One person remarked that her face hurt afterwards – from smiling and laughing!

 

Getting to know you

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Wyatt Ann wonders “why am I dressed up like this and why are we here? Jennifer doesn’t really like to ski so much.”

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It’s the iEverything team. iPoop and iPickup with their matching iPods and headphones. And all made out of duct tape.

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You can’t make me

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Batman and Robin await the costume parade before the big race

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Daisy waits patiently

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Heck

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Sweet girl

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“Excuse me? You are trying to rent me out to some poor skier without a dog? Are you kidding? Maybe you need to get a another job!”

(people who live in the Methow are known to work more than one job in order to stay here)

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Richard is trying to avert the dreaded costume malfunction while Trip works on his game face.

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Great Owl costume.

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Kristen spent most of the morning explaining her costume. She’s a fork in the road – should she ski or bike? Or maybe play with her dog? Again, a costume created from duct tape.

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Princess Leia and Yota in the costume parade

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Lynnette – where did you get those leggings?

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Frida and the Tufted Puffin

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Going upstream?

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The kids’ race is first!

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It’s a hard-fought contest between Batman and Robin and the Two Grooms!

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Batman lunges ahead

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And the rest of the wedding party follows

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And then it’s time for the adult racers with small dogs

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Heaven and Heck are filmed for the Methow Grist

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And now the big dog race. There are several heats.

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Molly tries to stay in the race without Lynnette

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Some racers are more competitive

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This dog is very competitive

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Stitch and Lelo are in it for fun!

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I was rooting for the doodle!

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This looks like a fast team

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And in the final heat, they have to go around two laps. This is the backstretch of the first lap.

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In the second lap, the poodle pulls ahead

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To win it at the finish

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There was a contest for the runner up position

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The race winner – a poodle from Leavenworth.

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And the costume winner, also from out of town. He was channeling the late Bing Crosby and stayed in character the whole morning. Here he is, holding his dog and the much-coveted traveling trophy – the Golden Poodle!

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This fun event is sponsored by the Methow Valley Nordic Club. All proceeds benefit dogs and cats in need.

 

 

Puppies Never Quit Moving

Adeline, otherwise known as Addy, came to visit us with her person last night. I was in bed before they arrived so didn’t get to meet her til this morning. What a little cutie but I tell ya, she never stayed still. Try as I might, she was a hard one to photograph and with limited time on my hands, I only captured a few frames of her. She is half Australian shepard and half fox terrier and twelve weeks old.

 

 

 

 

 

>Luna in the studio

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After her recent haircut, she’s been struggling to keep warm.
luna in the studio