"The Field"

Every winter since we adopted Bentley, we have found different parks or fields for him to run his heart out in.  These are pictures from the field that we visit this winter along with a summarized list of the adventures it has brought us (so far).

• I lost my cell phone here.
• Breton ate a piece of deer hide in this field which cost us $800 in vet bills.
• Bentley was drawn out of the field by construction workers, shingling a roof, who threw scraps at him from the roof to get him off of their site.  He might have left sooner, except for an uneatten taco he found and devoured under their work truck.
• Clipper ate the rabbit poop trails which kept her in the field, rather than jumping into the van when it was time to leave.
• Bentley and Breton were introduced to Clipper here, on a dark Friday evening with the van's high beams providing light for them to run.
• We've been alerted to leave, late at dusk, by yips and howls of Coyotes nearby.

We'll probably go back tomorrow.

Feels Like Spring!

Clipper

Two-Years-Old

"Happy Birthday Breton & Clipper!"

Clipper

Welcoming & Loving our CLIPPER

We have a new member in our family

Our house is full of doggy love

Breton's sister

She spent the first two nights of her life in Edmonton with us two-years ago

Now, she is back to stay

because now, she is ours.

Clipper  Breton

Chill-axing at the House in Banff

Hiking in Banff

New Years 2010

Happy New Year!

Bones

Thanks for the Bones, Grandma & Grandpa!

Halloween Bentley and Breton

Happy Halloween!

Bentley's costume lasted long enough for pictures.

Freedom Service Dog's 2009 Spirit Conference

Maria, Elisa, Finn, Flash and I went to the 2009 Spirit Conference held by Freedom Service Dog's last week. I was absolutely in all of my glory there, soaking up as much information as I could. In between sessions, I admired dogs from other organizations and watched their handlers. I was so impressed to hear the sound of clickers and to see no choke chains on dogs in all of my observations. There were forty dogs and one hundred attendees. I brought Flash and Maria brought Flash's brother, Finn. They flew in the cabin with us and to my amazement and pride, Flash tucked right under the seat infront of me and handled the flight with ease. Finn curled up at Maria's feet in the bulk head. Finn is a big boy and probably would have been uncomfortable scrunching under a seat, but I have no doubt he would have tried anyways if he had to. When we landed in Denver, we took a shuttle to Freedom Service Dog's facilities and had a tour. Flash and Finn were the only dogs on the shuttle and they got to hang out in their kennel facility and play while we toured. From there, we drove to Estes Park where we stayed at Aspen Lodge. The drive was nearly two hours from the Denver airport. Flash and Finn most definetly stood out as two of the best dogs at the conference (true, I am biased, but we had loads of compliments on them and they were a pleasure to have a long with us). During sessions, both of them would curl up under or behind our table and go to sleep. Breaking when we did, otherwise, taking time to sleep where they could. Unfortunately, we couldn't let them off leash for much of a romp because there was a mama bear and her cubs who had been hanging around the lodge (we didn't see them) and it wasn't safe for them to run free. Instead, we let them play together in our cabin.

On the drive back to the airport, there were five dogs in the shuttle van and you would haven't known it. Actually, I didn't, I thought there were only four. Finn slept on one of the dogs, and poor Flash, tried to get comfortable with Finn and the lab he was curled up with, but found it more to her comfort to sleep sitting up instead. On the return flight, Finn and Flash were both so tired that we all thought they could have easily flown to Europe if that's where we were destined. Flash didn't even lift her head or crack an eyelid when we landed in Edmonton. I have fallen in even more love with Flash and her brother Finn after our two nights together and am so proud of their puppy raisers, adult raisers and Dogs with Wings for these two gems. I would have been proud to take any of our current dogs to the conference with us because I feel I now have an even deeper appreciation and respect for the dogs we raise. Way to go Dogs with Wings and all of the Volunteers who make our dogs who they are! I feel we truly have much to be proud of!