Big Boy Collar and a New Toy!

After spending some time hanging out with the sporting dogs last weekend, Ms. Beth decided that I definitely need to practice my swimming more and that I need a retreiving toy! We took a trip to the pet store, and I got to pick out a fun new orange Kong made just for retreiving in water! I can't wait to try it out in the water, but in the meantime, I'm having a good time playing with it on land!!

While we were shopping Ms. Beth also decided that I was old enough for a big boy collar and after much debating and trying on of various colors and styles, she chose a blue SC collar with the Palmetto Tree on it. It fit me perfectly the first time she put it on and had a great time showing it off to some of the the other shoppers at the store, which led to a discussion about how the Boykin Spaniel has been recognized the S.C. Legislature as the State Dog of South Carolina. How cool!!! What do you think of my new big boy collar?

While we were out and about today, we also saw our first car sporting the new Boykin Spaniel license tag! That was fun too! All in all, it was definitely a great day to be a Boykin Spaniel in South Carolina!!

Rally Training for Sporting Dogs!!

We got up early this Saturday to head out to Eastover, SC so that we could do some Rally training with some other sporting dogs. Two pointers (Sport and Pine), two Weimerianers (Denning and Dixie), an Irish Setter (Jackson) and me!! (I just went to socialize and tag along, but Uncle Jackson definitely did some hardcore training :) After everyone practiced, we had the opportunity to survey the property boundaries, through the trees, across streams, up hills and everywhere in between!
We ended up with a swim at the little pond at the end of the trail, and I got to practice my swimming skills again. Ms. Beth is still concerned that I don't swim very efficiently.... I splash a lot and haven't learned to just level out and propel myself forward with my legs underwater!! I tell her I just need more practice :)
She also needs to get me a retreiving dummy. I am soooo excited about retreiving, I am much more inclined to go swimming if I'm actually retreiving something..... especially if I have to beat another dog to get there first! (I am just a wee bit competitive :)
All in all, it was a GREAT day and I'm so glad that I got to tag along and train with the sporting dogs!! They are such great fun :)

Trip to Atlanta

This past weekend, Ms. Beth took me down to Atlanta to visit with her brother! We stayed right off of Peachtree street and I had to practice my leash manners. It was tough because there were so many things to see and smell. The traffic and noise didn't bother me a bit! Ms. Beth was worrying needlessly!!

We also went down to the AKC dog show that was being held in Atlanta that same weekend. This was a big, All-Breed show, which also included obedience and rally competitions. Ms. Beth says that soon I will be training and competing in those rings!! We cheered for our friend Corey the Gordon Setter. (see him in the pics). We also cheered for other Gordon Setters in the confirmation and rally rings.

As you can see from the funny picture above, Ms. Beth took a self-portrait of us at the dog show. I don't know why she is making that funny face. I look a bit worried in the picture, but rest assured, I had a good time at the dog show, checking out the vendors, visiting with other dogs and just generally having an all around good time!

Visitor!

I have been having the best week! Which is good, because last week we lost our "Kitten". Ms. Beth and Madison have been a little bit down in the mouth about losing Kitten. I have tried to perk both of them up, but I'm not sure if I was overly successful. Oh, well, I tried.

Anyway, my friend Stitch, the French Bulldog mix has been staying at our house all week! I have shared all of my toys with Stitch, and we have had lots of fun barking at strangers, playing fetch, tormenting Uncle Jackson, wrestling and running around the yard! Stitch is a lot more active than the Setters and Ms. Beth says he might actually tire me out a little bit! I find that to be highly unlikely, but Stitch is a lot of fun and I am running around a lot more now that he's here. I love having friends over :)

Kalmia Garden at Coker College

Yesterday was a great adventure for me! Ms. Beth and I left Columbia to travel up to Marlboro and Darlington Counties to visit good friends. We saw lots of soybeans and cotton in the fields, but not a lot of people. It was HOT out there!!

First we stopped to visit our good friend Brad and his family. I had the best time fetching the tennis ball and showing everyone just how consistent I can be. After a while, though I was pooped! Ms. Beth said that's the first time that's ever happenend!!

Our next stop was to visit Ms. Mary Ridgeway who is the Director of Kalmia Botanical Gardens at Coker College in Hartsville , South Carolina. She took us through the new raised bed education garden, and a short hike through the bike trails around the big house and surrounding facilities. The best part, is that Mary brought her cute little dog Birdie with us! Birdie is such a flirt and I had a good time walking through the gardens with her!

Kalmia Gardens is a public garden and outdoor classroom that has been open to the public since the 1930s. It has a wide variety of horticulture specimens, beautiful facilities such as the Historic Thomas Hart House and its surrounding garden spots, as well as over 2 miles of bicycle and walking trails. For more information about beautiful Kalmia Gardens, please visit: http://www.coker.edu/kalmia/

Ms. Beth promises me that we will go back again when the weather is cooler. I can't wait!!!

Socialization at PetSmart

Yesterday was fun! Ms. Beth took me for a ride in the car and we went up to the PetSmart store! It was FULL of smells and people and other dogs. I was very excited, but Ms. Beth said that I was a good boy to stick close to her and the shopping buggy.
While we were there we stopped by to visit with our friend Phyllis Beasley who is a Nutro representative, and she also teaches Rally classes at the Greater Columbia Obedience Club. Phyllis was impressed by how much I've grown! And she told me what a handsome boy I was becoming :) I like Phyllis!!
Ms. Beth and Phyllis compared dog training tips and ideas, while I had to practice my sits and my patience while waiting on them. I really, really wanted to go check out all of the toys and fun chewies they had!!
Ms. Beth told me that she was proud of my behavior and that I was a good boy. She also had a special name plate made with my name and our home contact information on it. She says that way if I ever get seperated from her, and someone else finds me, they can get in contact with her so the we can be reunited. I told her, I don't EVER want that to happen, but was super glad to have my new name plate. Now I'm just like Madison and Jackson and I have a collar that "tinkles" when I walk!!!
Hope that you are all having a good week! Can't wait to tell you about my next adventure, wherever it may be!!