Here you will view each current guest and learn what they are up to as well as viewing pics and videos of the current month's dog games. We also post pictures and videos on our Facebook page.
Enjoy!
Note: Moving forward (from 11/25/21) we will only be posting blogs and pics of dogs we're training, or are otherwise involved in activities such as swimming, hiking or showing. If you want pics of dogs who are here for only boarding there will be an additional fee of $15 per picture session as it's time consuming. Note: Often, however, our play yard videos (on Facebook) will feature all of our K9 guests; even those who are not scheduled for additional activities.
March 17, 2023
Robbie Robertson
Robbie is a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I have to admit that I like the mix. He's like a miniature Golden Retriever with absolute sweetness and lots of intelligence, too. He's a joy to work with. During our first day we worked on heel, sit/stay, down, come and finish. He's quickly learning to sit for attention, too. He's great with the other dogs and instantly became playmates with Riley and Dexter. He also learned how to use his doggy door by evening.
3/2: Robbie does already know a lot of basic obedience. He's also very motivated to learn. We began working on movement during his stays. That's where he was a bit uncertain, so I am targeting him closely. His jumping up habit is very annoying so we've begun working on sit for attention.
3/6: We had a challenging lesson today as it was the first day we worked on the grass. Robbie had his nose cemented to the ground. Lots of "Leave its!" ensued, along with redirection. He's making progress on his jumping up and stays. I can move half way around him during both sit and down stays. Heeling and coming when distracted are his Achilles heel at this point. He loves playing with the other dogs and is eating well and keeping his suite area clean.
3/7: Today I was able to remove the Comfort Trainer and Robbie performed pretty well. I am now able to move all the way around him during his stays and gained about 3' of distance as I moved. His comes and Finishes are also improving. His jumping up is greatly diminished, too.
3/9: Today I was able to move all the way around Robbie at the end of the 6' lead, during both sit and down/stays. He also performed nice come and sit from 6' and is getting better at Finishes. I generally have to begin our sessions with him in the Comfort Trainer, but after only 5 minutes, or so, I can remove it and he remains {mostly} focused.
3/11: Robbie is doing well with his training. I continue to add duration to his stay time as I move around him. His heeling is great with the Comfort Trainer on. Without it he tends to sniff more and is less focused. I always begin his lessons with it on and then phase it out during the session.
3/16: Robbie had a nice second lesson with his peeps today. We worked on all his basic behaviors - heel, sit/stay, down/stay, come and finish. As there were numerous distractions (people) we had to keep his Comfort Trainer in use. There were a few points where we were able to drop the lead during stays and comes. The past few days I've been taking him on loose leash walks around the farm after his regular lessons.
3/2: Robbie does already know a lot of basic obedience. He's also very motivated to learn. We began working on movement during his stays. That's where he was a bit uncertain, so I am targeting him closely. His jumping up habit is very annoying so we've begun working on sit for attention.
3/6: We had a challenging lesson today as it was the first day we worked on the grass. Robbie had his nose cemented to the ground. Lots of "Leave its!" ensued, along with redirection. He's making progress on his jumping up and stays. I can move half way around him during both sit and down stays. Heeling and coming when distracted are his Achilles heel at this point. He loves playing with the other dogs and is eating well and keeping his suite area clean.
3/7: Today I was able to remove the Comfort Trainer and Robbie performed pretty well. I am now able to move all the way around him during his stays and gained about 3' of distance as I moved. His comes and Finishes are also improving. His jumping up is greatly diminished, too.
3/9: Today I was able to move all the way around Robbie at the end of the 6' lead, during both sit and down/stays. He also performed nice come and sit from 6' and is getting better at Finishes. I generally have to begin our sessions with him in the Comfort Trainer, but after only 5 minutes, or so, I can remove it and he remains {mostly} focused.
3/11: Robbie is doing well with his training. I continue to add duration to his stay time as I move around him. His heeling is great with the Comfort Trainer on. Without it he tends to sniff more and is less focused. I always begin his lessons with it on and then phase it out during the session.
3/16: Robbie had a nice second lesson with his peeps today. We worked on all his basic behaviors - heel, sit/stay, down/stay, come and finish. As there were numerous distractions (people) we had to keep his Comfort Trainer in use. There were a few points where we were able to drop the lead during stays and comes. The past few days I've been taking him on loose leash walks around the farm after his regular lessons.
Dexter Lasko
Dexter arrived a few days ago. He had a great hike yesterday and has been enjoying play yard time with Riley. The two of them are perfect together.
3/2: Dexter has his second hike on Tuesday, when the weather was great. He so loves his hikes. He's also enjoying play time with Riley and Robbie.
3/6: Dexter just got back from hike #3. He had loads of fun sniffing and running up the trail searching for the next interesting odor along the way. He's been playing nicely with Robbie and Riley. When he gets tired he goes into his room and rests, but if he's separated from them he starts whining. He also whines at mealtime.
3/9: Dexter's friend, Layla, is with us for a few days. He was so excited to see her, and she him. Dexter does so well with any other dog and even those who can be "friend picky" tend to like him a lot. He's also great when we work on tandem group stays. He's right there front and center showing the other dogs how it's done.
3/11: Dexter is doing well overall. He's eating well. He is enjoying play time with the other dogs, too. He remains healthy and strong, but I'm always watching him carefully for signs of Wobblers.
3/17: Dexter has had his 6 hikes and loved each one. He's currently having fun playing with all the other dogs and sometimes taking over their beds throughout the day.
3/2: Dexter has his second hike on Tuesday, when the weather was great. He so loves his hikes. He's also enjoying play time with Riley and Robbie.
3/6: Dexter just got back from hike #3. He had loads of fun sniffing and running up the trail searching for the next interesting odor along the way. He's been playing nicely with Robbie and Riley. When he gets tired he goes into his room and rests, but if he's separated from them he starts whining. He also whines at mealtime.
3/9: Dexter's friend, Layla, is with us for a few days. He was so excited to see her, and she him. Dexter does so well with any other dog and even those who can be "friend picky" tend to like him a lot. He's also great when we work on tandem group stays. He's right there front and center showing the other dogs how it's done.
3/11: Dexter is doing well overall. He's eating well. He is enjoying play time with the other dogs, too. He remains healthy and strong, but I'm always watching him carefully for signs of Wobblers.
3/17: Dexter has had his 6 hikes and loved each one. He's currently having fun playing with all the other dogs and sometimes taking over their beds throughout the day.
Elsa and Roxy Hicks
Elsa and Roxy are with us for a while. They arrived this past Monday. Whenever these girls arrive, they're a little "worried" about things. But after a few days they settle into the swing of things. As they weren't eating well I started to add a bit of canned Merrick to their meals. Now they're eating much better.
3/11: The girlies are doing well. They don't eat well when I don't put canned food on their kibble, but do so in the evenings when I put canned food on their meds. They follow me outside to yard 1 and then back in when done with their duties.
3/17: The little girlies had their baths today. They weren't happy about it, but they did cheer up when I gave them each a liver treat when they returned to their suite.
3/11: The girlies are doing well. They don't eat well when I don't put canned food on their kibble, but do so in the evenings when I put canned food on their meds. They follow me outside to yard 1 and then back in when done with their duties.
3/17: The little girlies had their baths today. They weren't happy about it, but they did cheer up when I gave them each a liver treat when they returned to their suite.
Cassie and Cleo
Cassie and Cleo just arrived this morning (3/9). After they had time to settled in and get to know their yard mates we did our first training sessions. Cassie is a hard puller so I fitted her with a Comfort Trainer. She quickly acclimated to it and learned how to focus better and turn with me. She already knows sit and a brief stay, so we worked on that as well. Both girls had a primer in sit stays at doors and gates right out of the box. Cleo is 10 yrs old, so I'm taking a different tac with her. We're going to perfect her loose leash walking as well as her aperture stays.
3/11: Cleo is doing well with her loose leash walks. She enjoys having a chance to sniff and meander around as we walk. She always comes and sits when called and does nice stays at doors and gates. Cassie is making some progress. The beginning of our sessions require a lot of redirection, but she eventually starts to focus and do well. I can move all the way around her during her sit/stay and we're working on duration of down/stay. Her come and sits are good. Both girls are eating well.
3/17: The girls have made some great progress this past week. Cleo is a joy to walk and we work on obedience stuff along the way. She will occasionally allow me to walk all the way around her as she stays, but always comes on cue and does her down/stay on cue. Cassie is doing really well. The past few sessions I've been able to remove the Comfort Trainer midway through her lessons. I can walk all the way around her on both sit and down stays, at the end of the 6' lead. Her heeling is getting pretty good, too. She no longer takes 5 minutes to settle into focus mode. It happens nearly right away. I've increased their kibble rations as they appeared to be losing weight (That happens when dogs get lots of exercise and don't have a high meat protein food).
3/11: Cleo is doing well with her loose leash walks. She enjoys having a chance to sniff and meander around as we walk. She always comes and sits when called and does nice stays at doors and gates. Cassie is making some progress. The beginning of our sessions require a lot of redirection, but she eventually starts to focus and do well. I can move all the way around her during her sit/stay and we're working on duration of down/stay. Her come and sits are good. Both girls are eating well.
3/17: The girls have made some great progress this past week. Cleo is a joy to walk and we work on obedience stuff along the way. She will occasionally allow me to walk all the way around her as she stays, but always comes on cue and does her down/stay on cue. Cassie is doing really well. The past few sessions I've been able to remove the Comfort Trainer midway through her lessons. I can walk all the way around her on both sit and down stays, at the end of the 6' lead. Her heeling is getting pretty good, too. She no longer takes 5 minutes to settle into focus mode. It happens nearly right away. I've increased their kibble rations as they appeared to be losing weight (That happens when dogs get lots of exercise and don't have a high meat protein food).
Leo Perrow
Leo arrived this morning for a long visit. While here he gets to go on a bunch of hikes - his favorite! Pics below from his first one today.
3/17: Leo had fun on all his hikes while here. He's been very easy to care for, though I do wish he did better with other dogs; it would enhance his time here. But, things as they are (Leo plays too rough), he still gets lots of outside time and runs trails into the areas near fence lines.
3/17: Leo had fun on all his hikes while here. He's been very easy to care for, though I do wish he did better with other dogs; it would enhance his time here. But, things as they are (Leo plays too rough), he still gets lots of outside time and runs trails into the areas near fence lines.
Willow Davidson
Willow is with us for a couple weeks. While here she gets 6 hikes as well as all day play with the other dogs. She had a great hike on arrival day as the weather was cooperative. She is not fond of her food, however, and hasn't eat much other than treats during her hike.
3.17: Willow has enjoyed her time here - playing with the other dogs and going on her hikes.
3.17: Willow has enjoyed her time here - playing with the other dogs and going on her hikes.
Delta and Cooper
Delta, a Doodle, and Cooper, a Chocolate Lab are with us for about a week. While here, they're getting a training update. So far, Delta is performing a semblance of heeling, a short sit/stay with a bit of movement, short down/stay, come and finish. Cooper is a bit further along. I can move all the way around him during his stays, he heels a little better and easily performs come and finish. He does, however, start out full speed ahead out the gate, so we have some work to do with "waiting" to go through the door.
3/17: It took a few days to figure these two out. Cooper is highly enthusiastic about everything and adores his training time. He performs his basics pretty well, though he's really excited at the beginning. Delta is hesitant about nearly everything and relies on Cooper for her safety net. She hasn't been forward with any of the other guests. In fact, just the opposite. When feeling overwhelmed, she retreats to her suite area and watches from the doggy door. I've had to apply the Comfort Trainer to get her to focus on training. It has helped greatly and now she'll heel, sit/stay and down/stay briefly. Her comes and finishes are better, too.
3/17: It took a few days to figure these two out. Cooper is highly enthusiastic about everything and adores his training time. He performs his basics pretty well, though he's really excited at the beginning. Delta is hesitant about nearly everything and relies on Cooper for her safety net. She hasn't been forward with any of the other guests. In fact, just the opposite. When feeling overwhelmed, she retreats to her suite area and watches from the doggy door. I've had to apply the Comfort Trainer to get her to focus on training. It has helped greatly and now she'll heel, sit/stay and down/stay briefly. Her comes and finishes are better, too.
Maggie Gossom
The lovely Maggie, a Doodle, is with us for nearly 2 weeks. While here she's signed up for 4 training sessions. We did the first today, shortly after her arrival. She appears very rusty on many of her cue responses, especially the down/stay. During our session I was able to brush up her heeling, sit, down, come and finish, but stays are a problem. Also, jumping up again.
3/17: Maggie has been eating well and having loads of fun with the other dogs. Sometimes she can be overwhelming to some of them, but as long as they come back for more I don't interfere.
3/17: Maggie has been eating well and having loads of fun with the other dogs. Sometimes she can be overwhelming to some of them, but as long as they come back for more I don't interfere.
Zorro and Roux
My Big Buds are back for nearly a week. While here they're getting lots of social time as well as a hike, which they did shortly after their arrival.
3/11: Z and R have spent their yard time interacting with Cassie and Cleo. They all seem to get along well. Roux and Cleo often play together, too.
3/11: Z and R have spent their yard time interacting with Cassie and Cleo. They all seem to get along well. Roux and Cleo often play together, too.
Play Yard Fun
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