The Holidays

helping with our advent calendars

 

Mom wanted me to write the family holiday letter but I think that a holiday blog recapping the year will work just as well.  She'll have to figure out how to get it to all our friends.  Supposedly Mom is smarter than I am.

This year we lost Granny, a wonderful woman who filled our lives with wisdom and love.  Although we miss her, she is in a better place and probably petting all the dogs who will be waiting for us.

The granddaughters are really growing up...Elizabeth started high school at Seattle Prep this year. Dad and his dad went there as well.  Maddie is in her last year of elementary school and did a project on family history this year. Both Tori and Cathy are in 2nd grade and going gangbusters, whatever that means.  Mom told me they are really starting to read and learn.  Annie is not a baby anymore!  She is in kindergarten and one of the teacher's favorite kids. 



our new house

This year held a big change for us.  We moved! Mom and Dad had lived in the same house for 38 years so it really was a big change for them, but not so much for me.  We are still getting used to remembering where we put things. Can't remember if I told you or not, but I tumbled into the pond a few days ago!  Agile as I am I climbed right out.  I guess they are doing a lot of "clean-up" work on the old house so it can be sold.  There used to be kennels with concrete floors in the backyard but...no longer. Dad, Pat, and Trevor spent one  Sunday after Thanksgiving jackhammering the concrete.  It was the same day Mom and I went to the Porti Holiday Party.  I think that was a better thing to do. 



Happy Holidays

If you read any of my blogs, you will know that we have been playing around with tracking.  This next year we will get serious, or so Mom says, and take a class in Bow.  Maybe next year will bring a TD.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with many blessings.

Anybody want to buy a house?

                      Happy Holidays,

 

                          Juno and Monty

                                      

 

 

Things I'm Thankful For

getting ready to move
 

The main thing I'm thankful for is that we are finally settled.  Well...Mom, Dad and Monty probably come before that but it's been a pretty confusing week and a half.  Mom and Dad kept putting stuff in the cars and then leaving for a long time.  The car stuff didn't bother Monty much but he was as confused as I was with all the stuff leaving the house.  I was a little worried they'd take my frog so I held onto it.

Finally the move was over and now I'm thankful for the new yard which is REALLY great for zoomies, chasing Monty, digging holes and then there's this place with rocks all around it that I think is full of water.  Haven't tried it yet. There is a big grey box like thing sunk into the deck.  I like to jump up on it and then over to the bench.  You know jumping is a Porti specialty.  In the back by the fence there's like a cave made by big bushes and the dirt is pretty soft...good digging.  Mom said the trees and bushes need a real trim because she can't tell where we are most of the time and she gets wet looking for us.  So...stop looking! 

backyard


 

I was chasing Monty in the back yard and he went behind some bushes and was digging and rolling, boy was he dirty.  The folks are working on the coming  in part of our routine.  Usually we just come in and lie down on a blanket so we can be dried off but this last time we'd had too much fun, if you get my drift.  Mom had to brush and towel Monty outside on the deck but, of course, he still wasn't pristine so he wandered around the garage while Mom had me up on the grooming table...Interesting that I don't look dirty but the towel sure does...go figure.  After all that, we STILL had to be in the laundry room for awhile.  Dad said if we're not careful we'll have to go out one at a time.

the big grey box

There are a lot of dogs in this neighborhood and a lot of people who like dogs.  Lucy, the Airedale, and Charlie, the golden live next door.  There is a poodle across the street and another house with 3 dogs next to the poodle.  Mom saw a St.Bernard puppy going for a walk this morning and one day when she was bringing stuff over she saw a kitty in a dog crate.  The dog crate was in a little red wagon and the kitty was keeping her mom company while she worked in the yard.

Other things I am thankful for are car rides, the granddaughters, the boys in our old neighborhood, and all the people who love me. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and gets some special treats.

Next month will be exciting!  I'll be being good so Santa Dog will bring lots of presents.

                                                                           Juno

Things They are a Changing

My new frog

I did get a new toy for my birthday and a new bowl.  The toy is a big, long, wide green frog thing with a whole bunch of squeakies in it.  It's great to pack around and toss in the air.  Because it's so big I can't toss it too far.  Guess who loves it...you got it, Monty.  I do share because then we can do great tugging games and sometimes I tease him with it. Of course he is sometimes what Mom calls a "dog in the manger" and I think that's because he'll gather several toys and bones together and just lie on them.  My new bowl is smaller than Monty's, it's green on the outside with paw prints all around. My new food just fits perfectly in it.

Did I tell you about the new food?  It's fantabulous!  Mom says that's not a word but she doesn't complain about my belonging to the "clean plate club" with every meal.  Thanks to our friend Sarah I'm now getting Northwest Naturals raw cubes as half of my food, the rest is kibble and with the two I think I've put on more weight.  This morning I had to throw them a curve and not eat my breakfast...gotta keep them on their toes you know.

new house

We have a new house, or so I'm told.  Haven't seen it yet but there are plenty of strange things going on around here.  Ya' know those kennels that are good for doing zoomies around...well, they're gone!  I have a lot more room now so, in a way, that's good.  Dad says he's going to rent some kind of machine and have the concrete broken up so they can make the yard look like dogs don't live here. That's pretty silly, I thinks it's OK the way it is.  There are a few plants that need pruning but Monty and I took care of some of that.  We thinned out the geraniums and clipped back the strawberries...Mom had taken the little fence away from them so we just thought we'd help.  Ate a bit of dirt in the process and had to barf it up later. Yes, we got in A LOT of trouble. Then they are going to take down the fence that divides the yard in half, but not 'til after we're gone!  I like to tear around on the other side so that's not fair.  I keep hearing about "when the dogs are gone".  What do you think that means?  Could be kind of worrisome but can't imagine they would get rid of us; we make them smile and keep them young ya' know.  Especially Dad because he walks so much with us. I wonder where we'll walk when we move.  Mom says that lots of people in the neighborhood have dogs and they have a kind of walking group. That would be fun she said if I behave.  WHAT!  I always behave!

fruitcake for special people

Mom was gone for almost 4 whole days and I had to take care of the boys (that's Dad and Monty).  They were pretty good and Dad even learned to fix my new food so I made him happy by eating everything...clean plate club.  Didn't realize it, but Mom was at the beach...without me!  She had to take part of her big quilting machine over there because there won't be a place for it in the new house.  Dad's taking the rest tomorrow.  She also made this special cake with Aunt Jacqui but I guess she's not sharing it with me or Monty because it's "not for dogs" , expensive and labor intensive to make.  Whatever all that means.



Think I'll end this post and get ready for bed.  We start moving in 3 weeks and then I'll be able to tell you all about this new place.
                                        
                                   
                                                    Later,  Juno

Today I'm Two!

This is a great day!  That's because it's my birthday...it's also Monty's half-birthday, he's 6 1/2. Mom is going to take me shopping and I bet I get a new toy and a Juno size food bowl.  That's what I want. Now that I'm  2, I don't have to sleep in the crate anymore.  Usually I sleep under the desk in the den cuddled up with the Mont...sadly he often leaves me so sometimes I have to go stick my nose in Mom's face.  I'm thinking that might not be such a good idea if I don't want to go back in the crate.

fixing Monty's hair..oops, fur

Back from the beach today and it's kinda good because I can do my zoomies around the kennels in the back yard.  It's hard to do them on the beach when I'm on a long line because I can only go so far.  Tried doing them upstairs in the loft but it wasn't good enough even with jumping on the bed and the couch.

 We had baths yesterday so now we smell really nice!  Monty is trouble when it comes to something like that and Dad has to hang onto his leash and be there the whole time.  Of course it takes him a lot longer to dry than it does me because of all that undercoat.  Mom just ties my leash to the rail on the steps and I am completely co-operative.  What a good girl I am!!!  I'm also very helpful because I do some grooming on Mont to get his coat to lie down.
                                           

Good boy, Ray

Sarah and Ray

 

Starting on last Sunday we did three days in a row of tracking.  Sunday we met Sarah, Ace and Ray at North Seattle Community College...of course by the time we got there at 7am, Sarah had already put down Ray's track. At least it was light by the time we met. While the track aged we went to Molly's grooming shop so Ray could get prettied up for the National.  I know...sounds silly to get him groomed and then go back and run a track but we are working dogs.  Annie, Glory and Savvy were there too.  The only one who didn't go inside was ME!!  No fair!  The humans went out for coffee while Molly worked on dogs and then we took Ray back to run his track and have Sarah lay a couple for me.  Ray is really good Mom says and we sure hope he passes his VST (variable surface track) test at the National...Then he'll be a CHT (Champion Tracker).  I just want to be able to get certified and run a tracking test.  Mom says we'll get there one of these days.

Syd and Jo Jo

We went to the beach after tracking with Ray and on Monday and Tuesday we tracked with Val, JoJo, and Sydney.  Monday we tracked at Port Gamble and guess what I found on the track...geese had been there.  First Mom told me not to eat the stuff....then she told me not to roll in it!  What fun is that?  Ya' think that's why I got a bath?  The next day we went to Buck Lake and there was this crazy lab/border collie mix with a HIGH energy level there.  JoJo had trouble with part of her track because the other dog was almost running into it. So, of course, Jo had to bark at her.  Then, mine went up this hill and took a little right turn but Mom didn't believe me until Val told her I was right!  Meanwhile the lab mix was jumping in the water and then running onto my track.  Mom made me stop and wait until she went back to her owner. 

Syd got to do some obedience.  Mom gave Val a pattern and pretended to be a judge and then she took Syd and worked her a little.  I think that's what I'm going to be doing next.  We almost took Syd home...not really, Val would miss her too much, but Mom thinks she can be pretty good with a little more work.

 

Can't believe that I've been doing this blog so long.  Let me know if you enjoy it or if I should stop.
 

Good luck to all my friends at the National Specialty in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

                  Starting into my 3rd year!
                                               Juno                   


 

Time to Catch Up

bears down the stairs

Can't believe I've gone 4 weeks without writing about life!  I think it's because Mom has been busy and hasn't had time to help me. She and Dad are looking for a new house!  Well, not new but different...one without stairs!  I don't get it, I LOVE the stairs because I can do zoomies and haul the big teddy bears up and down. I don't zoom and haul at the same time.  Sometimes I run down the stars and jump over Monty.  He just does that snarly lip thing which doesn't mean anything because he's such a wuss. Mom said the neurologist told them to watch me around stairs but I haven't had any issues...ha! Maybe the new house will have a bigger back yard for me to zoom around in and dig holes...how about a pool since she wants me to swim.

Ready

We had more company at the beach.  Jim, Sandy, Sabrina, Beatle and Ready came for a crabby evening.  Crabby because we (Mom and Dad) fixed a whole bunch of crabby things to eat...except the dessert.  Crab ice cream is not very appealing and Mom said we needed chocolate...not for us 4 legged kids though.  Speaking of...Monty snuck out the door when the humans weren't paying attention and took off to intimidate Light.  He's the annoying dog 2 houses south of us.  You know how intimidating the Mont is..ha! Of course I had to go help...we ended up just snuffing around and not coming when called. Monty tried to come back but I kept grabbing him...guess I was pretty naughty.  Spent the rest of the evening in lockup.

Elizabeth the swimmer

Mom and Dad went to watch our Elizabeth swim in the Swim Across America event. She had to raise money for cancer research to do the 2 mile swim in Lake Washington.  They should have taken me since I'm a Water Dog.  Anyway, I guess there were lots of people there even some dogs. She completed the swim in just under an hour.  That's pretty cool.

Beach company

The weather has been so nice around here, we're going to spend some more time at the beach. Crabbing is closed for the year but Dad and Monty went over today to see if they could catch a big salmon...well, Monty won't try since he won't get in the boat or go in the water.  I might be able to help when we get there but first we will go tracking very early in the morning with Sarah and Ray and maybe see Annie and Savvy.  They are going to be getting beautiful before going to the national specialty in Wisconsin.  The dogs that is...I think that Sarah and Annie are already beautiful. Molly is the one who makes the dogs pretty and Mom said that someday I would go see her. Don't know why...I'm already pretty.

Today I got to go see our Sarah at work because Mom had to take something to her.  There was this lady in the office and she was eating something that smelled really good...boy, was my nose busy. I'm pretty sure it was a McDonald's burger and fries.  Lots of people admired me but we had to tell them what kind of a dog I am! Some people just don't know anything.  After we saw Sarah we stopped at Mud Bay to see what kind of raw food they had and guess what!?  They just started carrying the kind we wanted to get.  I've had raw samples so we'll see how this goes.  The thing I liked about Mud Bay was all the boxes down low with stuff in them that smelled pretty good. Mom bought me a treat because I'm such a good girl.

Ya know, a week from Friday I will be 2 years old!  Pretty exciting isn't it.  I wonder what they'll do that's special since it was questionable whether or not I'd be o.k  I'm doing pretty well...still twitching. Sometimes I stand with my paw held up like I hurt it but I'm eating better and am up to 36.5#, that's 2# more than in March.  Dr. Deb says I've muscled up and look good even if my hip bones are still kind of sticky-outy.

              Later,
                                   Juno

Busy, Busy, Busy



Farley with his toy



Val, Sid, and Mike



Boy have I been busy.  Just got home from my 3rd session at Swim Spaw...there was a new person today because Kendara had to go work at the fair.  Terina was still there but Janice was helping her.  I really didn't want to be there today so was being a bit of a bitch...well, that's what I am!  Mom says I am getting a little better and we will work on it ourselves for a few weeks...I say OK as long as we go to a lake!  Puget Sound can be kind of cold.  We went up to Buck Lake a few days ago to work with Pam, Val and Mike so I did some swimming there...Mom did a bit more swimming because it was so hot.  JoJo and Farley were working on their water test work and I was pretty impressed with what they could do...wonder if it will ever happen for me. Mom said maybe by the time I'm 10!

Mom and Dad took me down on the beach when the tide was coming in and we did some practice swimming but they didn't grab me right away when we came out...ha!  I ran up to Annie the Airdale's house but Monty wasn't with me so I only went up part way where I could roll on the grassy path to her house.  Every couple of rolls I would stop to see where they were.  Pretty soon they were quite a way back down the beach so I thought, OH NO, they're leaving me.  Lickety split I came running back!  Dad said if you watched me run on the beach, you'd never think there was anything wrong.

Connor, me, Monty and Aunt Jacqui

Remember I told you about Aunt Jacqui's birthday party?  Well, her daughter, Katie, and grandson, Connor, were here from Alaska so we had them come down for crab cake dinner. Connor was a little worried about whether or not the crabs were still alive but Dad convinced him they weren't.  He liked watching Monty and me do our tricks and even tried to get in on the act so he could get crackers from Dad.  It was kind of fun.



eating crab



Pulled a good one the other day...Monty and I had baths so we would be clean for a few days and then, when we were almost dry, Dad took us for a little walk before we went in the house.  We were walking along and, of course, I was messing with the Mont...tee hee...I pulled his collar off but HE didn't stop and do the same for me!  Of course the blond boy was headed to Casey's old house. When he finally noticed Dad and I were headed home...problematic.  When he got close, Mom said, "Monty, want a cookie?" That's it, he's home.  We call him the foodaholic.



new friend, Eddie



We were having...and now, have had, the 2nd Tantivy sailing party at the beach.  If you've been with me for at least a year, you know about last year's party.  We didn't have as many people this year, but almost and only 2 boats came.  Our friends, Paul and Suzette, stayed overnight on their boat and came in for breakfast Sunday morning.  It's sure nice having all those people talking to Monty and me and telling us how cute and good we are!  We had a new friend come...Eddie, the red mixed terrier boy.  He spent a lot of time in our pen with us and he's a good guy.  Dad let Eddie and me out so I showed him how you can run this big circle around the house and end up right back where we started.  We did that a couple of times. Then when Mom had to move her car, I went with her and jumped in the front seat...you know you just curl up and lie down..."good girl". Dad said, "I hope that's not going to happen...it's not safe!"  See, he loves me!

that would be me

Mom's meeting our friend Annie (not the Airdale) tomorrow...wonder if she'll take me so I can see Savvy.  Then she's going home for 2 days and LEAVING me here!  Hope Dad's up for such a big responsibility.

      Later,

                     Juno

SwimSpaw and Other Stuff

SwimSpaw



massage



It's been quite some time since I've visited with you.  Mom said I'd better write something or people would give up on me.  Well...you know whose help I need.  Webbed toes don't work very well on the keyboard.  Speaking of...Mom and Dad have been trying to get me swimming and I think I'm beginning to catch on.  When we went in Jim and Sandy's lake I kept my back legs tucked up under my belly and just used my front.  I was doing the same thing in Puget Sound whether or not the life jacket was on. Today Mom took me to a place called SwimSpaw in Poulsbo to visit some ladies who can help me figure out what to do.  Our friend Val gave her a gift certificate she had won. The ladies took me in this pool which certainly wasn't as cold as the sound and sat on on a little ledge with me.  One of them was massaging my back end, my legs, my back, my head...wow that was so nice.  I kept trying to give them my "look" that says I don't want to be doing this but started getting pretty relaxed and just kind of snuggled up...even did a BIG yawn and got some of that water on my tongue!  Then they would take me into the middle of the pool and have me push my feet against their hands so I would use those back legs.  Kept trying to get to the edge so I could climb out and get to Mom but they were too clever for that.  Guess some of their other clients have tried the same thing.  We'd go back to the little ledge for more massage and them some swimming.  They kept telling me how cute I was and what a good girl I was being...what do they expect?  Mom said we'd do this a few more times so maybe we can swim together.

Granny Dove

I told you in the last post that I'd tell you about the birds  here at the beach, and boy there are a lot of them but really, the most important one is the white Granny Dove.  She is so pretty.  The day Granny passed away in March, Mom was coming back down the hill to our house and Granny Dove flew up the hill to meet her.  Ever since then she has been here waiting when we come.  I am very careful not to scare her. Granny was hard to scare anyway. Yesterday we celebrated Aunt Jacqui's 70th birthday up at their house...well, I didn't go but Mom and Dad did...Granny Dove kept flying back and forth checking on everybody.  She even came down to the beach to check on Monty and me.

Speaking of Monty...oh brother!  I''m surprised they keep him around, he can be such a bum.  When Mom had to bring us both over here and Dad was up at Whidbey Island, it took 2 hours to get him in the car, boy was Mom mad.  She had this plan to only feed him in the car...he's a foodaholic...thinking then he would get in and go with us. This last time she came over she had to bring him with me and he wouldn't get in the car until Dad walked out of the house...then he got in. I don't understand his dislike of the car.  Mom just has to ask me if I'm ready to rock 'n roll and I know we're going someplace cool.  The other thing he did was probably an effort to lead me astray.  Tide was waaayyy out so we get to run on the tide flats and that's fun but then he ran to where the path goes up to Annie the Airedale's house and just kept going.  I had to follow to make sure he didn't get in trouble.  Mom and Dad started walking back towards our house and I came back likety split.  "What a good girl!" they said but Monty didn't come back for quite awhile.  He finally saw us on the beach but he was at the top of a big pile of rocks and I think he was scared to come down them.  Probably a good thing because he might have hurt himself.  I think he was finally getting worried because we kept walking home but he figured it out and came tearing down to meet us.  He was VERY stinky!  The blond boy had rolled in something's "you know what".

the harvest

Here's what Dad has been up to...he will go out and meet Pat when he comes by in his boat tomorrow morning with these beauties.  Crabbing has been just outstanding and now he's getting some salmon on his line but they keep breaking it.  Maybe I need to go out and help him once I get this swimming thing under control.

I won't wait so long until I post again.  I know you all look forward to hearing from me.

                              Juno

The Big Booms

Monty's bone

my bone

Oh boy!  Humans sure like to make a lot of noise with fireworks on the 4th of July.  Last year we were in Bellevue and it wasn't nearly as bad as this year in Kingston.  At least it was only one night.  Mom took us up to Granny's house because she thought it might be quieter...bad move...it sure wasn't.  She bought us these huge bones from the butcher but neither Monty nor I could deal with them; the TV was on full blast and she even gave us benedryl.  Nothing helped.  I kept trying to lie down in a corner but then there'd be a huge BOOM and I'd pop right up and get on the bed; then I'd have to hop down.  Monty was in the hallway panting...maybe that was better because there were no windows and a couple of walls between him and the outside. I DON'T KNOW.  All I know is that finally about 11:30 it got quiet and we went to sleep, then about 6:00 I had to get in Mom's face because something was going "beep, beep, beep".  She called Dad to come get us and tried to deal with the "beep"...it was the smoke alarm but we didn't have a new battery so it's still beeping but there's no one there to hear it.  Thank goodness things have been really quiet now.  We got our bones back when we were on the deck and they are awfully big but really good.



dungeness crab the first pot



Crabbing season opened on the 1st of July and Dad has been really busy, but Mom says he's not as obsessed as he used to be...must be maturity!  Now that he has a motor on the Lund and a winch to pull it up on the logs it's easier and probably safer for him.  One day the pot was so full he could hardly pull it into the boat!  We've been giving some away and that's always nice to do because it's really special to have fresh crab...not from experience do I know this since I only get a few little pieces but both Monty and I like it.





Wye Lake



Puget Sound



Yesterday we went to see our friends Sandy, Jim and Sarah.  Sandy and Jim live on this little lake so they all decided I should go swimming.  Mom put my lifejacket on and Dad took me in the water which is really nice. I actually was swimming and it was pretty cool.  The lifejacket helps me with my balance and I'm getting the hang of it except I need to use my back legs more.  Mom thinks with practice I'll get better.  I think that means she'll be taking me back and I think that's a good idea. They took me in the sound today...lots colder than Wye Lake (isn't that a funny name?).  When I got out, Mom rinsed me off with warm water and that felt good.  When we were at Sandy and Jim's there were so many Portis Dad had trouble figuring out which one was me!!!!  Really!!! My friends Ace and Ray were there and Ray and I ran up and down the hill...I got the zoomies and just couldn't stop.  While the humans were eating dinner some people set off a bunch of noisy fireworks.  At first I got scared but none of the other dogs were acting scared and since they're all like me and everyone said I was a good girl maybe it's not so bad.  Can I blame my fear on Monty? We didn't get home until after 9:00 and Monty was pretty hungry...so was I.  I cleaned my plate and then this morning I didn't wake up until 8:00.

Nest time I write, I'll tell you about special birds!

                                 Later,

                                                   Juno

I'm Back

my favorite pillow
Goldens all over it

Know I haven't blogged in a bit, but then life hasn't been too interesting...matter of fact, it's been boring but things are picking up again. Maybe it was boring because Mom and Dad had what they call "summer colds" and then they did things like Father's Day at Pat's, Elizabeth's birthday, Tori, Annie, and Maddie's birthday...don't they know it's all about me?

Our friend Sarah came over last week and that was pretty cool, she and Mom were working on a project but I can't show you or tell you about it because Sarah's giving it to someone as a surprise. When Sarah came over, Ace got to come in the house and meet Monty.  That was pretty cool and everyone behaved themselves.  Ace snooped around and finally found one of Mom's treat stashes so, of course, he got some goodies...it's because of his nice smile. Ray didn't get to come in because he's young and "in tact" whatever that means. He's getting beautiful so he can go to a dog show.  GO RAY!


Atlas





Titan



Mom went over to Eastern Washington for her sister's birthday and I didn't get to come...that is so not fair!  I was in charge while she was gone but that didn't seem to do any good, I still didn't get to sleep free but I did give Dad a bit of grief about putting me in my crate. Mom said she met some really big dogs that are slobbery but nice and belong to her nephew.  They would have loved to have me come I'm sure, but it didn't happen. Maybe next time.



tracking



Today is Mom's birthday and she's had lots of birthday wishes. Since it's her special day, I decided to eat again for her.  Hadn't been eating well for a couple of days and of course, no input=no output. Then I ate all my dinner last night, some of my breakfast and did 2 big "you know whats". That made her happy!  Doesn't take much! They took me up to the neighbor's long field this morning to run a couple of tracks and just after the start of the first one there was this great smelling stuff...it looked like little round raisens so I started rolling in it...oowee, Mom didn't like that!  Kind of distracting because then I put my nose in the air and could smell the animals that left it in the field.  Mom said I've seen them before at Granny's and to just get on with the "find it", soo I got back to work after a few more exploratory sniffs.  They had put corners on the track but no flags to tell me where they were. Couldn't fool me, at least not for long. The big yellow lab in the yard next door kept barking at me and the chocolate puppy sat at the fence and watched...I hope she learned something. Did have to stop and get their scents before I finished the track This is all about sniffing things out you know.

got it

We're at the beach and it's pretty nice.  Mom's been picking strawberries (that's wrecking her manicure) and Dad's getting weeds cut today so he can spend the next 2 getting ready for crab season to start.  He's got the boat and pots ready so I don't know what else he has to do.  Maybe he wants me to go out and help set the pots and then pull them in.  I haven't been swimming enough to do that yet.  Sure hope he catches lots of crab because that will make him very happy. We will stay here until the fireworks bugs Monty and then either go home or maybe up to Granny's house where it might not scare him so much if we close all the windows.

Until next time,

                                                     Juno





Summer IS Coming

Monty trying to be scarey

We've been pretty busy.  While we were at the beach I went to the Farmer's Market, we had visitors, I went tracking and made a new friend...even went for a swim.  On Saturday we went to the Kingston Farmer's Market with Aunt Jacqui.  That was pretty cool because there were lots of dogs all over the place.  I'm sure I was the cutest and most well behaved.  Somebody was selling homemade dog treats and you know Mom's a sucker for that kind of stuff.  The lady offered me a sample...but guess what!  It wasn't to my liking so Mom bought a treat to take home for Monty.

Elizabeth's friends

 Pat (that's Mom and Dad's son) brought one of my girls over on his sailboat...not just EJ but 7 other 8th grade girls too.  They had a lot of fun and even went in the water and then in the hot tub!  Lots of squealing and giggling. It really wasn't much fun for Monty and me because we were locked up most of the time but we were really good and that was a help for the adults. The girls came on the best day of the weekend. Then on Monday we had more visitors.  Annie and Michael came with Glory and Savvy. I met Savvy last summer and she's a pretty cool Porti. Glory wasn't feeling so hot so she didn't get to come out of the car and visit. Hope she's better by now.
                       

my tracking bucket

You know this tracking stuff is getting pretty serious.  Mom made a neat little bucket so we can keep all my tracking stuff in one place...only thing is she has to put a note on top so she remembers to put in the treats. One day we went up to Buck Lake with Val, JoJo and Sidney.  Dudley was there but he had to sit in the car.  JoJo did a great track and Sidney got to be introduced to tracking.  She's going to get it, I just know it.  Then last Tuesday we went to a brand new place in Poulsbo with Val, Pam (Farley's mom) and Anne who is a friend of Sarah's and really nice.  Her dog, Lucy, already has a TD and she's working toward a TDX.  There were 5 dogs tracking altogether so we needed a lot of room. This was the first time I've been with such a big group and it meant I had to wait my turn.  Never had to wait long before...Mom said that it's good for me because if I ever make it to a test I may have to wait a couple of hours. Did a lot of complaining in the car just to show my annoyance. Since my track was the least complicated, I was last and didn't do very well. Mom had been talking about the last track we had run and how I was trotting to the end and really had my nose in it.  You know you just can't let them get too confident...gotta throw a curve ball every once in awhile.  The next day we went back to Buck Lake; Dad laid a track that I was really into...I'm pretty used to tracking him so it was a piece of cake.

Pam, Lucy, Anne

swimming at Buck Lake

The day we went to Buck Lake we really went so I could swim.  I'd only done a little "kind of" swimming last year and Mom wants me to work on it so my muscles will get stronger and I get my balance in the water. I prefer the water to be warmer than  Puget Sound.  As you can see from the pictures, I'm wearing a blue collar...belonged to one of the previous golden boys. Mom didn't want to get my rolled leather collar wet and had forgotten my nylon one...wonder if she's forgetting lots of stuff. She's getting up there in age, you know.  Anyway it wasn't too bad and I did OK...they threw some dried lamb in the water and I had to swim to get it but I didn't go out too far...left some in the water for the ducks.

spring Clam Tree

Remember the Clam Tree at the beach?  You can really tell that the season has changed.


That's it for now...

                          Juno

Lots of Tracking

good boy, Ray with Sarah

tired boy, Ray

Boy this tracking stuff is a lot of work!  I kind of like it though.  Last weekend we went to this cool field where these great big animals live.  I didn't see them because they were way back in the field but I smelled their "you know what" and some hair they had left in the grass.  The grass was pretty tall and wet...it was fun to run in.  I did a couple of tracks and then got to run around with Ace and Ray.  They kept catching these round discs that Sarah threw for them and I just kept chasing Ray...got going so fast, I did a summersault and then got the "zoomies".  Sarah finally had to grab my collar when I started rolling on my back in that wonderful wet grass because it was Ray's turn to track and we needed to go to a school place for his track. He's working on his VST.  Mom didn't know what that was until Sarah told her it was "variable surface tracking"...see, Mom's been out of the dog performance stuff for a looong time.  Ray has to track on hard surfaces like parking lots and in places where lots of people have been walking.  He is really smart!!!



Monty and the glove

me and the glove

Today we went to North Seattle Community College where the grass is shorter and there are lots of parking lots.  Ray went first so I howled and barked in the car.  Ya know girls are supposed to go first!  Mom said Ray was really good.  She put down the track and dropped about 8 articles, then she followed Sarah and Ray.  Ray lies down when he comes to an article so now Mom is going to try to get me to do that....more on that later.  Sarah gave me long tracks that led into each other by turning a corner.  I'd been practicing that with Mom and Dad so it wasn't too bad.  They have also taken all the food off the track except for what is at the end with the article.  That's ok with me (you know how I feel about food) but...I was distracted by a tennis ball and a dead something that was in the area.  Not sure why because I don't even like the dead seals we find on the beach and I only chase balls in the back yard.  I must say I did a pretty good job and Mom was pleased...I think Sarah was too.  Now we're home and Mom is trying the "lie down" when you find the article business and guess who is involved in this training...my own personal role model, Monty.  It only took 2 times before he got it!  I'm getting pretty good but Mom says the proof will be what happens in the field without Monty around.  I think she oughta look in the garage for that other tracking harness or buy one for Monty. There's no way he can use mine!   She'd have to get some gloves to protect her hands when he pulls!

with "serious" Cathy
we look good

One of the "grands" spent the weekend with us.  It was Cathy and she is pretty cool.  She got to sleep with Mom and Monty and I had to go in my canvas crate...not fair!  Cathy did throw balls for me in the back yard and let me sit on her lap for pets. She also got Dad to take us to the park up the street so, of course, we went to the dog park where I found a Brittany who liked to run and boy did we!  Another lady told Dad about a good place to take a dog swimming around here.  Mom said not to tell or there might be too many dogs there.  We'll go when it warms up.

We'll go back to the beach next week to see if any of our seeds are up and probably do some tracking too.  Maybe we can get together with our friends over there.

              Later,   Juno

Sunshine and Monty "Mans Up"

Watching

You'll never believe this!  Monty actually scared me...only for a couple of seconds though.  See, this is how it happened:  Mom bought us these antlers to chew on and we both really like them.  Sometimes Monty chews on one and lies on the other which is kind of unfair.  Well, a few days ago he had them both so I was gently trying to paw one away so I could have one too...you'd think I was taking his dinner and we all know how important that is to the Mont.  He barked and snarled at ME!  Boy did I move out of the way quickly and then to top it off, Mom and Dad told him he was a good boy...NOT!!!  I hope it doesn't happen again.  Mom said it wouldn't if I were careful.

Sadie

The new grandpup, Sadie, was pretty sick last week but it sounds like she is really getting better.  She even had to stay overnight at the special vet clinic and has had to be kept calm at her house.  I hope she's all better soon so I can meet her.  Sadie is only 6 months old but bigger than me...well she must be because she's a Lab...but the best part is she's black so she'll probably play with me.

Dad's dessert

We've been doing more tracking and sometimes I'm good and sometimes not so good.  Mom and Dad decided to back up a little in my lessons.  Now that we're at the beach we have to travel a little farther to find places to track.  They've even been making me wait while the track ages...that just means it isn't as fresh and I don't get to watch Dad put down the flags.  I think I should get out of the car as soon as we get someplace and Mom says, "Just be patient, Missy".  I think she needs patience while we are following the track because sometimes I have to just look around at these new places we go and she wants me to just keep on tracking.  She's worried that I won't be the "enthusiastic tracker" they talk about in the book.  The other day I worked in the rain but today it was sunny and pretty warm.  One day this week they put some tracks up in Uncle Chuck's field, it's right next to Granny's house.  Well there was stuff in that field that I have never seen or smelled.  It was like piles of little black marbles.  That's what Mom said but I don't even know what marbles are...anyway she told me that I had seen the animals that make them several months ago when we were visiting Granny.  Smelled more interesting than Dad's track! Tomorrow we will go back to the model airplane field...that's where Mom lost her sunglasses, but now she has a string on them...then on Wednesday we'll meet Val and JoJo in Port Gamble.  Saturday we go out with some other people (and dogs) who are just starting too.  Mom hopes she learns new ways to get me going!.  I say just take off the leash!!!

Still helping

Mom had brunch with our friend Annie and came home with some new "hair stuff".  I believe it's for horses so why is she using it one me?  Actually it makes my hair shine and sparkle...let's see what I can do about that.  Both Monty and I had baths and I am in the process of getting a shorter "do".  I think we're about halfway finished...takes longer here because Mom doesn't have my grooming table and it's kind of hard standing in one place on the deck so she can clip me.  There are interesting things to look at and sometimes I just get the urge to walk away. Actually, I did really well yesterday...Dad even said so.  When my summer "do" is finished, I'll have Mom take a picture to put on my next blog.

Dad made this really yummy dessert with rhubarb and cherry pie filling in it so, of course, I had to help clean the bowls.  I do that all the time...clean bowls.

                         See ya later,               Juno