Sarah Emma

I've started taking my oldest Lab, Sarah Emma, to a groomer every couple of months. At the age of 14, her coat sheds and doesn't really fall off and its difficult to keep her brushed and taken care of with the arthritis and lack of muscle that she has. Its very uncomfortable for her to be brushed hard enough to get the dead undercoat out. The groomer is in Old Saybrook, somewhat of a haul for me, but it a person I know and they take very good care of her so its worth it to me. I think she enjoys the day out also.

Al and Zenny, or is it Santa?

Al and Zenny. Zenny seems to think he is a lap dog at 75lbs and Al likes to encourage it. I kinda think that Al looks like Santa here and Zenny looks like an uninterested child. Al was working second shift this week and was able to spend a little coffee time in the morning. Zenny enjoys it, it throws the girls off, they can't seem to settle, not their normal routine!

Hiking in the Winter

I've been trying to get more hiking in this winter. Its a feeling of being outside that seems to lighten my mood and spending time with 1 or 2 dogs at a time. I think because Al's been doing a lot of overtime lately and his Robotics menotoring has started for this years game. Odd, it never seemed to bother me to spend time by myself, I did it for year before I met Al and always felt comfortable with it. Since I've been married, it seems to bother me more. But getting out despite the cold is a good thing for all of us.

Black dogs are hard to take pictures of in general, harder against the snow and of course I'm doing most of them with my phone because I always have that with me.




Pippi, ears blowing in the wind, and a picture of what she was staring and sniffing it. This was Friday, and a cold and windy day, maybe 25 degrees at the most. Not the most comfortable weather but I was pretty sure I wouldn't run into a ton of folks hiking. I prefer that when hiking Pip since she can sometimes be a little hard to handle around other dogs. She was fascinated by the sounds and smells coming off of Bolton Pond. And her running with joy down the trail. She runs back to me as quickly and joyfully as she runs out.


Lucy, digging in the snow after a pile of fell on head from the pine tree.

Let Sleeping Dogs (Labradors) Lie

Sleeping labradors on a lazy Saturday afternoon, doesn't get much better then this

Pip, relaxed on the ottoman


Sidney, on the new dog bed











Sarah, on the porch

Zenny, recharging after his Saturday AM Therapy Dog visit



Lucy, enjoying the sun spot

Lucy in Training

Lucy and I making strides forward in our training sessions and specific skills. Its taken a bit to get her excited and interested in training as a specific activity but the last month or so I've noticed a real difference. I'm sure turning 2yrs in December helped somewhat along with my understanding her learning style.

We have a number of things we are working on, tricks, obedience and agility! We are teaching poles using the 2x2 method and she seems to enjoy that a lot. It teaches them bit by bit and really concentrates on learning entrances and exits - teaching the beginning and the end! Our tricks are adding up, sit, down, chin, stand, cheek, "are you tired" (laying on her side), "drop and and roll" (from a stand, drop to the ground and rollover), "are you shy" (dropping her head down between my legs), "stick it" (targeting any object or my hand with her nose and holding it there until I release her). Our newest trick we are working on is "nails", which will consist of her lifting one paw up and holding it in the air until she is released. We are also working on some basic obedience skills in a fun way, figure 8's to work on heeling with me and turning, going to a target mat away from me and working on sits, downs, stands, front work, from anywhere to my front and dumbell work. Now that I write all of this, I see we really are very busy. Good for her, and that includes lots of playing and hiking as well. A good start to the year.

Wiinter Break

Al's been on vacation over Christmas and New Years and I've had more time on my hands as classes are a little slow at work. As a result, we have been doing lots of hiking, hanging out and I"ve been busy taking pictures. So here's a whole bunch!