Superstar Mama

We started training a full year ago, and then got sidetracked with one doggy event or another, and never did get around to testing Paisley for her CGN, aka the CKC's Canine Good Neighbor program. One quick tune-up at All Bright Dogs last week, and I decided to enter her in the test this weekend at the Alberta Kennel Club show.

The CGN is a series of 12 different things to test a dog's good behavior in public situations, i.e. heeling through a crowd with distractions (in this case, an umbrella and someone with a walker), accepting a friendly stranger, sitting nicely while the human does a meet n' greet with another human whose dog is also sitting nicely, having a well groomed appearance and accepting someone brushing them, looking at their ears, picking up their paws, etc., a recall, a brief stay, and then a 3-minute out-of-sight stay.

Although her nice heeling work looked more like a waddle (at 8 weeks' pregnant) she passed the rest with flying colors and once again made me very proud. And with the big tummy and lack of energy at this stage, I didn't have to worry too much about her jumping up on the evaluator!

Congratulations to CH Casselcreek Vintage Paisley CGN.

Happy Trails ... Theresa

Puppy breath

Congratulations to Dixiana Lucky Carmine, whom this weekend delivered a litter of reds and blacks sired by our boy, Gracin. That's the proud papa sitting with me in the photo to your right. Carmine stayed with us for a couple of weeks in early December, while she and Gracin made their love match. A very sweet girl with a lovely temperament, combined with the very fine qualities in our boy of temperament, brains, talent, etc., etc., this is going to be a wonderful litter of puppies anyone would be quite happy to own. Proud "gramma" Phil is absolutely thrilled after waiting so long for some Carmine babies, and missing on a breeding or two. When Carmine came to visit, I assured her that between myself, Gracin, and Auntie Tammy, we would be sure to get the job done! Hopefully I'll have some photos soon.

Thinking about Phil's sleepless weekend whelping puppies and now the elation I know she feels as she admires their lovely brood, it makes me so excited for Paisley's day to come. She's had another very good week with a weight gain of nearly 3 lb ... it's amazing now that she has her appetite back. The hair is suddenly thinning and disappearing from her tummy area as she prepares to nurse her little family. I have the warming box, whelping pool, towels, scale, and charts & records all ready to go, my Delee suction catheter and nasal aspirator sterilized, and my collection of different colored nail polish (for identifying puppies with a dot on a back foot) just waiting to be put to use. And I'm working like mental to stay caught up so I can enjoy a few days of just snuggling, taking in the puppy breath, and making sure my sweet mama is well taken care of.

How many more sleeps 'til puppy day??

Happy Trails ... Theresa