Proud Parents

WHAT A SWEETHEART !!!! Well here is a one week update: feeding....This pup puts away food faster than any ultramodern garbage disposal unit I have ever seen!! We started out with the required 3 feedings per day. That quickly increased to a full 10 pound sack of puppy chow by the 2nd day. The third day I was bringing puppy chow home in the back of the pickup. I could not keep that up because of my work schedule and had to have it delivered in 55 gallon drums by day four. On day five I mortgaged the house and bought a 9 cubic yard front end loader. We now just feed her out of that like a big spoon. If this keeps up I will be bankrupt before Christmas....I had to max out all of our credit cards in order to prepay the full trainload of puppy chow I order from the factory.

The "crate": Once out of the crate she swore never to return. She can't get more than her head into it anymore anyway. So the small one is on its way back to you via 2nd day air. When we tried putting her into the larger one, complete with chewy bones, blanket, toys etc. she put up such a fuss it sounded like a wounded orangutan in there.....once I opened the door, she curled up on my bathrobe along side of the bed and slept all the way through till morning. That is now her official sleeping spot. It was an old bathrobe anyway, but we now share it.

"Accidents" yes still a few but getting better. Emmy hung a couple of bells on a cord over the door knob to the deck and taught her to ring the bells when she wants to go out....and does she ever ring those bells. She makes sure that she has rung them well enough to get everyone's attention. Often she will ring them just to go outside and sleep in the snow on the deck for a while at -8 degrees F. She loves to romp in the snow and often burrows though it with her full face covered in it. The deeper the better.

Today she learned how to use the stairs and now will go upstairs on her own to take a nap on my bathrobe. She loves the grand kids and vice versa...in fact she seems to love everything and everybody. WHAT A SWEETHEART !!! Oh, by the way, we have named her "Stitches". I will try to keep you posted on her progress at least until such time as I have to sell the computer to finance more dog food.

Hello, you don't know me, but... (how's that for an intro? - no, no, I'm not selling anything. What a revolting idea!) Actually, I'm Bill & Emily Wennen's daughter. I thought maybe you should hear from someone besides the besotted new "parents" what a wonderful puppy you sent them. I have 3 kids, ages 9,6, and 3. The 2girls (oldest one, who's being home schooled & youngest) and I went for a short visit the day after Stitches arrived. After all the Grandpa's Getting a New Puppy buildup, she didn't disappoint us.

Once we were there, she came regally down a small hill from the house and accepted pats & attention like a movie star. Much to Joanna's delight, she did get her face licked but then she's a good puppy height ,being only 3. She's so calm!

We have a 5-yr-old Sammy who couldn't contain himself as well as she did, and here she was in a strange place, with strange people, and strange white stuff on the ground, which she thinks is the world's greatest toy, by the way. As a school project, Becca had knit herself a pair of mittens. Stitches loved them so very much that Becca made her one of her own for Christmas. It's a tube about 18" long, stuffed and with a rattle in each end. Since I hear she prefers noisy toys, this should be great.

Then the following Saturday, we took Matthew (he's 6) and our 2Sammys over. What an interesting afternoon THAT was. Matthew was in heaven, as were the girls (both human and canine), but our dogs had a few, um, hang-ups. The older one, Boris, was fine after the initial introduction. He's a really unusual Samoyed (26" at the shoulder and looks exactly like a white wolf) but also extremely calm and hard to ruffle. They got along quite well.

Clarence (he's the wacko 5-yr-old) was a different story. I guess he's used to lots of undivided attention and just couldn't stand it that there was someone younger and cuter around. Complete dislike at first sight. He actually growled at her! (a first) He later progressed to curling up his lip and snarling (and I'd never seen him snarl before) whenever Stitches got within a few feet, and would NOT leave me. It was really weird, and we ended up throwing him outside, just because no one was sure what he'd do next. Poor baby needed extra lots of cuddling for several days afterwards - I guess he was jealous.

One interesting note is what Stitches (we're not used to THAT yet -Mom keeps calling her Sniffles) has done to my father. I stopped in his office a couple days after the puppy's arrival, and asked his "office girls" if he was a bit happier now. Their response was that he was like a different man, and fairly floated through the days, something that cheered them no end to see.

And that dog...you wouldn't believe where all she's been! Dad' s office, my sister-in-law's office, even the hospital blood bank! (Mom snuck her in to meet her former co-workers but still dear friends) Through all of it she happily greeted everybody but never got hysterically frantic. I get the image of royalty greeting peasants. Basically, thank you very, very much from all of us for choosing such a fantastic puppy for my dad. Thanks lots & lots again from everybody who knows my parents.

Hi Larry and Shelly, HI - We bought a female samoyed puppy from you last Mother's Day. Just a note to let you know that Alice is the absolutely best dog we could ever have imagined! She is just perfect and wonderful! You can see her at
http://www.geocities.com/~fauxfox Go to Family pages, then Saanen's page.

I'm Saanen Kerson. I bought a puppy from you last May - the last female you had from the litter you had at the time. (Remember, I drove up with my parents and brother and we met you at the Taco Bell in Willows.) I just want you to know that this is the most wonderful dog I have ever had the pleasure of knowing! Everyone who meets her is just immediately in love with her. Her name is Alice - she's a year old this month.

I've been meaning to write you for quite some time now - sorry it has taken me so long. Anyway, I love this dog! She is just perfect - smart, loving, beautiful, lots of personality, easy to train, happy all the time, just an all-around great friend.

This is my first dog, so I was really worried about training her, but it's been so easy - she practically potty trained herself - she had maybe two accidents ever in the house, but quickly learned that all she had to do was go to the sliding glass door and bark very softly once and I would let her out into the yard to go do her business. I taught her to sit by spending all of maybe five minutes explaining it to her and rewarding her with little treats. I think it only took three times of me showing her what to do and she's been great at it ever since.

I took her to a 7-week puppy training class, where we both learned a lot. It was helpful for me to learn effective techniques of training her, but she really hasn't needed much formal training. (Until now, I've only worked with horses and goats, so I needed to learn about dog training.) She's so smart that she quickly understands what to do and I can tell that she's very proud to please me/others who ask her to do something.

I have pictures of her framed on my desk at work and everyone stops to admire her. I live in Napa, in town, we have a big yard, but every morning on my way to work, I drop Alice off at my parents' house - they live on a farm and have a golden retriever, so she goes there all day to play and then I pick her up on my way home. She has a great life! She loves people and other dogs, she especially loves children - any time she sees a stroller or small child, she just get so excited.

I always wanted a lap dog, but little dog personalities never really appealed to me, so Alice is perfect - a big dog who thinks she's a lap dog - she loves to sit on the couch with me and be petted. She often jumps up on my bed and naps, but she doesn't like to stay up there all night, so she usually sleeps right next to me on the floor. I bathe and brush her myself - it's really fun. We enjoy the time together. Usually I blow-dry her while I'm brushing her. She likes it a lot. She doesn't love being brushed the rest of the time. I mean she lets me do it and she knows that it has to happen, but it's not her favorite thing. She's not bad about it at all, but she just isn't nearly as excited about it as she is about other activities.

She also fetches things, loves the water - she usually doesn't get all the way in and swim, but she loves to splash around in it. I bought her a Barbie wading pool that I put on my deck for her, which she has loved ever since she was small - she runs circles - up the steps to the deck, through the water, down the steps on the other side of the deck, around the yard and back when she's really happy.

She's also a good watchdog - she lets me know when someone is coming up the steps to the house, but she's not aggressive at all, which I appreciate - I really didn't want a dog that was inclined to bite - she's not at all.

I had her spayed right at 6 months old, which she recovered from very quickly. I have her on heartworm medicine monthly, as well as flea and tick stuff. I am so happy with this dog. Thank you for breeding such wonderful animals. I feel lucky to have her! Having never been around a samoyed, I really had no idea what to expect - I talked to the two of you a few times and asked lots of questions, which you answered exactly truthfully - she's just like you said she would be - but I just can't believe more people don't have samoyeds - this is the best dog I've ever been around! All I can figure is maybe the hair is intimidating to most people, because personality-wise, you just couldn't ask for a nicer animal.

Alice is quite a good ambassador for you and for the breed. In fact, Alice's vet is also quite in love with her - he calls her "Alice, my little angel from heaven." I just looked up your web pages because he called me yesterday and wants your contact information, so that he can refer clients to you. Right now, he wants to put a family in contact with you who just had to put their dog down yesterday. He said that he realizes that there will never be another Alice, but maybe if this family could find a relative of hers, that could be a perfect match. I am going to call him now with your web-site address.

Sorry to write so much, but there's just so much to say about Alice. I know that when my family bred dairy goats, we really appreciated hearing how the animals were doing that we sold. I hope you appreciate hearing how your dogs are doing out in the world. I can assure you, Alice has the happiest life and most adoring group of people around her - she's a very happy animal. We all take very good care of her and love her lots! Thanks for selling her to me.

Saanen Kerson

It's been a while since I gave you an update. Nanook is doing very well. Last week he had the last of his puppy shots, and now weighs 25lbs. We are able to take him for his daily walks, and to the park. He is currently enrolled in puppy obedience classes, and he is doing good with his commands. He is a fast learner. He knows; sit, down, off, leave it, stay, no, drop it, and he responds to his name very well. I'm not sure if I will continue the training on a group level or private. There's this dog training video out that's suppose to be really informative, and inexpensive. I think we may invest in that video. I wanted to mention that the Vet can not feel Nanook's testicles, I am assuming that you had him Neutered. Please let me know so I can get a license.

Please let us know the time on that Samoyed show in the bay area, we would love to go just to experience a show. It would be nice to see a familiar face. The tear staining is gone, although the top of his nose has freckles that show through his fur. It looks like he's been playing in dirt. Vince says he will grow out of that. Nanook is not a digger. Thank goodness!!!! Thank you for sending the papers and health certificate. It didn't even dawn on us that you neutered him before we got him. Thank you, I really didn't want to go through that again. I look forward to hearing about the show on June 11th.

your web page is outstanding!!!!! I like the musical touch. Nanook is adjusting wonderfully. The house breaking is coming along just fine. When he wants to go outside he will walk to the back door and bark, and same thing when he wants in. I like his very low key, casual personality. He chases Vincent around the house, and barks when he wants to play. So cute!!!!!! We keep him in the crate at bedtime in the master bedroom. He has adjusted well, and doesn't even whine. In the mornings if I'm still in bed I bring him with me to sleep. Although he's figured out how to jump off. BOO HOO!!!! Can't keep
him on for long. He will go to the vet for his 3rd shot this wk. I refused to start the shots over again so I will be taking him to a diff. vet.

Vincent & Janette Shank

Hi Shelly,

Just wanted to let you know that Astro is getting along well. The cat is not too happy about him. She keeps her distance, she is older and not as playful as she once was. Elyse is giving Astro plenty of attention and love, and he, of course, is lapping it up. He has doubled in size, is healthy as can be, and is enjoying life with us.
Thanks again.

Claire Sharp

Shellie,

Here's a couple pictures. Koolio can sit and lay down on command already. He is wonderful. I love him to death. So far he has been an angel. Has went potty outside every time. He hated the crate and cried most of the night and between his crying and my husband snoring guess who slept very little? I have a great big metal crate I'll use. I will clean yours up and send it back this week. He has been very lovely and quiet except for whining when I leave the room and barking a few times. He is just wonderful. I will order my own shipping crate for travel with us. He didn't like his leash or collar, but he's getting used to them. Talk to you soon. Cathy By the way he is most definitely a Koolio!!!!

Does this dog need Geritol? He pooped out after only 12 hours of activity today! (just joking)

He really ate well, leg quarters of chicken (whole/raw) and broccoli, cauliflour, bananas, strawberries, apples, bok choy, pears, carrots & a very small amount of ginger in a raw egg sauce, (Yum Yum). He ate it all, I was surprised. Is pork OK to give him as well as beef etc. in your email? He really is doing great, but he is a little pooped now.

I didn't know that you had a pig farm also, are you on a ranch or farm up there?

I would like to go to some classes with him. Any suggestions as to which or where?

Should I send in both of those forms, and is there any specific info I should know about sending them? Also, I should list his name as Shoshone, right?

Really hate to bug you guys, he's doing great but I still just have a few questions.

People stop me about every block to talk about him. Maybe I can find a home for your other Sammy. If you can, send some pictures.

Thanks-Rick