Catching up!!

Well, I've been super busy playing with my tennis ball and so has Ms. Beth. No wait, I mean she has been super busy in general. She hasn't even blogged for me over the past few weeks!! Geez!!!

I've had a couple of playdates with some of my doggie friends. JoJo the English Springer Spaniel puppy is really growing! I didn't pay a whole lot of of attention to her though, because I couldn't take my eyes off the tennis ball long enough to play with her :)

I've also been playing with Stitch, and my tennis ball, as well as my cousin dogs up in Pickens. Just a busy, busy time of the year!

Ms. Beth did fit me for my first training collar the other day, and promises me that we will start learning more about the "heel" position. I wonder what that means? Probably won't be too bad if hotdog is involved:) And playing with my tennis ball!!

I'll keep you posted as my obedience training begins! Now, where did I put that tennis ball? Gotta go find it!!

Another Boykin Blog!

For those of you who may be interested, a writer for Field & Stream Magazine has a female Boykin Spaniel named Pritch and he has been blogging about her and their great adventures. To follow their blog, please visit: http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/mans-best-friend

And thanks to Loren for sharing with us!

Pickens

This past weekend we went up to Pickens to visit with Ms. Beth's parents. We had lots of fun running up and down the mountain! WOW!! I also got to visit a pretty little boat landing and I was very curious about the moving water and the fish. But I also exercised caution and managed not to fall in.... or maybe that's because Ms. Beth was holding onto the leash so tightly? Regardless, I had lots of fun hanging out and we were approached by many fishermen (and women) who wanted to pet and touch my curly coat. Ms. Beth spent lots of time explaining that I am Boykin Spaniel and that my ancestors hail from the great state of South Carolina. I definitely hope that we return to Pickens soon! I loved the water and the hills. So much fun :)

Sunday Playdate

Sunday morning was kinda cloudy, but I was my usual sunny self! Ms. Beth took Jackson and me to a park and told us that we would be meeting a new friend. Her name is JoJo and she is a 3 month old English Springer Spaniel. Ms. Beth explained that this was her first time to really come out and play with big, new doggies, so we needed to be gentlemen with her.

I got to meet JoJo first. She was a lot smaller than I. We sniffed and ran around a bit, and then....out came the tennis ball. After that, I could not be bothered with little JoJo, all I wanted was to retrieve her squeaky tennis ball!! It was so much fun :)

After JoJo seemed settled into watching me play with the tennis ball, Ms. Beth let Jackson come out to play too. JoJo liked Jackson. He was the biggest dog she's met so far. Jackson was just happy to be out playing with us young folks and showing off his obedience moves for JoJo and her owner. We were all very focused on Ms. Beth when she brought out the hotdog treats. In fact, that little JoJo, she caught on really fast. She would walk right up to Ms. Beth and sit down and wait for her hotdog!!

Ms. Beth started teaching her how to lie down on command, but she demanded multiple pieces of hotdog for that move. One piece was not enough. I swear, these women really know how to work it!!

Anyway, I'm ready looking forward to my next playdate with JoJo and her tennis ball :)

Handling Class

Well, last night was our second night of handling class with the Columbia Kennel Club. Ms. Beth has been practicing with me and that's been fun because I get to snack on hotdogs :) It's really not that hard for me.... just a lot of standing. Ms. Beth has a lot to think about: positioning my feet, asking me to stand still, watching the judge, asking me to stand still, holding me head up, asking me to trot along beside her... well, you get the picture. We received high praise from the instructors! Everyone commented that we had improved noticiably since last week. I am so proud of Ms. Beth and the fact that she finally got her act together!!

I wanna be a Palmettovore too!!

Ms. Beth has been so caught up with the Palmettovore Campaign at her job, that I am insisting that she let me be a Palmettovore too!! What is a Palmettovore? It is someone who tries to purchase and consume only South Carolina fresh produce and products. I am trying to convince Ms. Beth that this includes dog food!!!

June is Palmettovore Challenge month! I will keep you posted if Ms. Beth let's me participate in the challenge. I hope so! I am the State Dog of South Carolina afterall, and doggies like fresh, healthy, local food too :)

If you'd like to participate in the Palmettovore Challenge in June, please sign up at: http://www.palmettovore.org/

Gardening

Well, I had to fuss at Ms. Beth because she hasn't been blogging for me lately! We've been busy planting our vegetable garden. I am a big help to Ms. Beth! Everyday I walk around and inspect the veggie plants and she jumps up and down and yells at me!! It's so much fun :) I think she wants to chase me, but she falls to the ground and starts cooing and loving on those silly veggie plants. I just love taunting her like this :)

I also like chewing on her irrigation hose, chewing on flower pots and I even have a few bushes that I've trimmed for her :) She had no idea that she was getting a two for one deal with me! A new puppy AND a gardener :)

Tonight I start handling class with the Columbia Kennel Club. I am very excited! Ms. Beth has promised to give me hotdog treats if I do what she asks.... which will mostly be standing and letting her handle my feet so that I stand squarely. We will also get to trot around the ring. I think that will be the fun part :)

Hopefully I'll get her to take some pictures and blog about my handling classes, that way all of my fans can watch my progress. Until then, have a great day!