Doggie Fun Day & Trip to Savannah!

Once again, we had a super busy weekend! On Saturday, I went with Ms. Beth, Jackson and Madison to the Doggie Fun Day event at the Glenforest School here in Columbia. It was super hot, but Jackson and Madison did demos for everyone, showing them how much fun it is to train and compete in Rally AKC events. I hung out (really under!) the display table, just trying to stay cool. Everyone thought that I was super cute and I LOVED the attention :)

That afternoon, I took a nice long nap in the truck while Ms. Beth drove us down to Savannah, GA to meet up with one of her old friends from school. We parked down on River Street and then we headed for the edge of the water!! I wanted to run right to the edge, but Ms. Beth insisted that I stay close to her!

So many people wanted to pet me and to feel of my curly coat. It was amazing all of the questions that people asked Ms. Beth and how many people wanted to pet me! Ms. Beth was worried that I might be overwhelmed with all of the people, but I took it all in stride and really enjoyed meeting everyone, young, old, short, tall.... didn't matter to me :)

We got back to the hotel that night and I crashed!! But Sunday, I was back to normal and ready to do it all over again !! What's next?????

Trip to meet Dr. Brunson.

Today, Ms. Beth came home at lunch and told me that I was going on an adventure to meet one of her best friends from college, Dr. Brandi Brunson, who also happens to be a veterinarian at Wateree Animal Hospital in Camden. She took me and one of our cats Zeb out to visit Dr. Brunson.

Poor Zeb cat was a little nervous about the trip in the car. I tried to console him by giving him kisses on the head. He seemed to like it. He moved into the backseat with me and we rode most of the way together.

Once we got to the Animal Hospital everyone was so nice! They all talked to me in the happy voice and told me what a good boy I was .... at least when I was holding still!

Because I just turned 6 months old earlier this week, Ms. Beth said that it was time for me to come in and get my big boy shots, including rabies, kennel cough and a microchip! She was so proud of me for being such a well behaved boy. I was just excited to have so much attention from Dr. Brunson and all of the great staff at the Wateree Animal Hospital :)

Ms. Beth also told me while we were in Camden that this little town is home to the Boykin Spaniel Society! For more information about this organization and the history of the Boykin Spaniel Breed, check out the information box in the right hand side of my blog.

We had a nice safe trip home and I rested up, because Ms. Beth has assured me that this is only the beginning of a fun, adventure filled weekend!!

Columbia Kennel Club show!

I am recovering from another eventful weekend! On Saturday I went down to Aiken, SC with Beth and Madison for the Columbia Kennel Club show. I had to wait in the car, but when Madison and Beth came back they were so excited because Madison had won Best of Breed in Gordon Setters and they had to get ready to go back in for Group!!

I have no idea what that means, but Ms. Beth assured me that it was a GOOD thing and she told me that I would soon be showing and doing just as well as Madison :) I am excited that about that!!

Later on that evening Ms. Beth took me up to the show building and said that she had a surprise for me. I was so exited to see my first mom, Patricia Watts and her friends!!! I haven't seen Ms. Pat in almost 3 weeks and I had so many things to tell her! She commented on how much I'd grown and that just made me wiggle even more :) She told me that all of my friends and family at Hollow Creek Kennel were doing well. I was so happy to see her!!

I sat with Ms. Pat and her friends to watch Beth show some Gordon Setter puppies in the puppy match. It was great fun, but I really think that I could do just as good a job. I can't wait for my turn!

On Sunday, I spent most of the morning with Jackson while Madison was dog showing. Then in the afternoon we ALL went to Flyball class at the obedience training building. I was supposed to hang out in the kennel on the truck while they practiced, but I pitched a fit..... so Ms. Beth brought me inside so that I could watch practice :)

It was very exciting! I can't wait to have my turn, but Ms. Beth says that I have to finish growing and my bones have to stop developing before I can do all of the jumping and running required for Flyball training. If you'd like to see Flyball in action, Ms. Beth recommends these links: http://www.flyball.org/ and our local team is: http://www.flyballdogs.com/onyourbark/index.htm

This next weekend, on Saturday, April 25, I'll be going with Jackson for a Rally/Obedience demonstration at the doggie fun day at Glenforest Elementary School in West Columbia. We will be there from 11 am - 2pm. I am excited about seeing all of the kids and watching Jackson do some fun demos! There will also be other club members doing demos from the Greater Columbia Obedience Club. Come on out and join us for the fun!!

Trip to Georgia!!

Well, this past week has been extremely eventful! First, Jackson stayed with his grandparents after the Hunt Test, so it's just been me and Madison hanging out together. Madison wants to play and sometimes she doesn't. I've been having to learn her "moods".

On Thursday, we hopped in the car and took a long, long trip down to Perry, Georgia. (I slept almost the whole way, so I really don't remember anything about the trip). Once we were in Perry, Ms. Beth took both Madison and me out and about on the fair grounds to get our bearings. Ms. Beth explained that Madison would be showing there for the next 3 days and we had to know where our rings were going to be and where we were going to park. It was very exciting! So many dogs, so many food and toy vendors..... It was FABULOUS!!!

After that we drove on down the road to Thomasville, Georgia to stay with her grandmother, Meme. While we were on the farm, I got to run and run with Madison. We found a big pond, and lots of tall grass! My favorite part was running through the tall grass and bouncing up and down trying to see over it!

I also got to meet many of Beth's family members. They were all very nice and had lots of nice things to say about me. I played with Meme's dog Taffy. We are the same size and the screened porch was the perfect place for us to run and tussle together.

We spent the next few days at the fairgrounds. I couldn't wait for Madison to finish showing so that we could all go out and walk around the fairgrounds. Many people came up to me, asking if I was a Boykin. Lots of people wanted to touch my curly coat and ask questions about my light eyes. I loved it! The were lots of things going on, but I was never afraid or nervous. Ms. Beth said that she was proud of me for being such a trooper and visiting all of the vendors with her :)

We had a nice trip back home. Everyone was in a good mood after Madison did well in her Specialty on Sunday, where the Judge choose her for Reserve Winners Bitch. (I still have a lot to learn about all of this dog show stuff).

Once we were home I was happy to see the cats, but I'm not sure if they were happy to see me. Oh well ! Tonight Jackson is coming back home and I can't wait! I have really missed him. Glad that things will be going back to normal this week :)

Busy week!

Well, Ms. Beth keeps me busy to say the least! I have been playing with her setters, Jackson and Madison, and I have met many of her students and their dogs at her Rally Novice class. I also had the chance to attend the Greater Columbia Obedience Club monthly meeting. Beth loved the fact that I was so bored, I just took a nap through the WHOLE meeting!! She said she was glad that I refrained from snoring like I do at night :)

Friday and Saturday the weather was so beautiful! I got to spend lots and lots of time outside with the Setters. I have pretty much decided that Jackson is just the coolest guy ever! He's my buddy for sure. I like to take naps with him especially because he is a good pillow!

On Sunday, we got up really early and we all piled in the truck and went on a road trip to Wahalla, SC. I got the chance to meet Beth's parents, and I got to watch Jackson and Madison compete in an AKC Hunt Test for pointing dogs. I saw horses and lots of sporting dogs. We had a long wait between Jackson and Madison's braces, so I took lots of naps. I really enjoyed the weather and all of the activity at the hunt test really didn't phase me. Everyone was so impressed when they learned that I was only 5 months old. Beth was so proud of me!

I couldn't wait to get home tonight, because a few nights ago I discovered Jackson and Madison's toy basket!!! They have sooooooo many toys! I don't know which ones to play with! I've been taking them out one at a time and trying out their squeakers. Beth complains because then she has to go pick them all up at night before we go to bed. But I tell her, "you're only a puppy once in your life, so I am living it up!!"

Also, Beth has promised me that she will post pictures of me soon. What's the sense of posing and looking cute if no one gets to see the pictures?

I found the pond!!!

Well, I have really been enjoying myself! I have made lots of new friends. There is a pretty shepard mix named Shelby Sue who lives a few doors down and she likes to come by and go for walks in the evening. It is great fun and we find lots of things to sniff and investigate while walking through the neighborhood with our people.

I also met Stitch, a French bulldog mix. Stitch really likes to check out everything in our backyard and I am happy to share!

The best part about this new backyard is that there is a pond!! I really surprised Beth by taking a running leap into it.... I just didn't realize how deep it was and it was a little bit harder to climb out than I had anticipated, but I still thought that it was great fun!! I immediately ran over to Beth to show her how wet I'd gotten and to let her know how much fun I was having by jumping up and down while she was still in her work clothes.

I also got the chance to play with Madison. Beth has been introducing us slowly because she says that Madison likes her personal space and that she can get cranky if puppies jump in her face too much. I try to contain myself around Madison and she seems to like me alright. I try to chase her in the yard, but she is just so big and fast. Beth tells me to be careful around her because Madison only has one speed ..... FAST!!!! Overall, Madison seems to like me and I think that we will get along in the future, as long as I respect her personal space.

Tonight I am excited to be going to Rally class with Beth! Beth teaches with the Greater Columbia Obedience Club. Tonight I will be visiting the Rally Novice Ring Ready class. I am excited about meeting new friends and learning about all of this Rally stuff. Jackson the Irish Setter is really good at it and he tells me that it is lots of fun. I can't wait to try it myself :)