Our dogs

Family picture time!

We are so lucky with these dogs!

Rory is still a puppy, about 18 months old. And she doesn't run, she hops. We affectionately call her bouncy ball because that is what she does. She bounces!

Rory also has her own bed, her own toys and is very excited (overly excited) when someone comes into the house. But she doesn't jump at the door. When someone knocks on the door, she runs to the door and then quietly sits and waits

Chuva is now 5. And she has stolen my heart.... And she knows it.
Chuva we affectionately call cannon ball because she will push through anything in her way to do what she wants to do. Sometimes it is the children, or tables or chairs. She loves leaning against you because she loves you.

She loves the children. And is very protective of the family and the house. She is not quiet when someone is at the door and barks aggressively at anyone who is at the door. (We are working on this).

 If I'm on the couch, this is usually how I end up

 Actually, more like this...

Meet Chuva

Just after we loss Sammie, we found that Rory's mother may need to be rehomed.

At the time it was not a good time. But Kyle and I talked that if it was an option in 6 months - a year it would actually be a perfect fit for our family (we didn't really want another puppy, but really liked having 2 dogs).

 

Well, a couple of weeks ago our breeder posted that she was looking to rehome Chuva. Chuva is 4 years old, has had only 1 litter (Rory's litter), she recently got spayed and has a clean bill of health. She is good with children, and is one of the alpha's in the pack (#2 of 7).

Kyle and I talked about it and immediately sent off a message saying we were interested.

 

And so she is coming for a trial to see how she fits with our family.

 

We met at the cottage, and she was confused at first, and really didn't want to leave her spot at the front door.

Chuva really bonded with Nickolas.

 

Rory wants to play, but this is as close as she would let Rory get.

 

When there was Nick AND food involved, that was when Chuva left the front door to come into the kitchen.

 

I think that she picked herself a favorite

 

Katheryn loves her dog

Rory has been doing less nibbling and so Katheryn has really started cuddling more with Rory.
I think she is in love

But she is still a puppy who wants to be in control

Our Sammie, Resting in Peace

In 2006 Kyle and I started our life together, bought our house and once we got grass we brought home our first baby.

Samwise, our Sammie was a Bernese Mountain Dog, which met both of our requirements; a big dog and good with children. And Sammie gave us both for almost 10 years. Yesterday, our Sammie left us very suddenly and very peacefully. He went out into the backyard and never came back, and we found him lying in his favorite spot.

Sammie was a gentle giant. He didn't actually realize that he was a big dog. He thought he was a lap dog and would climb up wherever you are.

 Sammie loves sitting on your feet. When anyone came to the door he would jump up at the door until they came in. Then he would swing his bum around (taking you out in the knees) so he could sit at your feet and look up at you.

He also had excited pees. And he was always excited to see you when you got home. So as soon as you got home you couldn't touch him (or he'd get excited and pee) you had to put him straight out. And once he came in you could give him all the love!

He did get into a fair amount of trouble. Including eating our wall. Not just once or twice. I think I patched it up 3 or 4 times before I just left it half eaten until he grew out of that stage.

Sammie also was used to the comforts of life. Not only did he get up on the couch, but he also required pillows. When he was starting to get arthritis and had difficulty getting up from the floor, we got him his own dog bed, but he didn't like it and never used it.

Once Katheryn came home Sammie fell in love and became her big furry protector.

And Katheryn loved him. She wanted to be everywhere he was.

Her favorite thing was the climb all over him

And when Nick came along, he just added one more to his fold.

And Nick loved his dog

When Rory first joined our family, Sam wasn't too sure about her.

But Rory brought a new bounce to his step and she tried to be as close as Sam would let her be. She is missing her buddy.

The kids are upset, Katheryn as the oldest is understanding death more. And they understand they won't see Sammie again, but we can talk about him and remember him.

We found one of the kids old stuffed toys of Sammie and put his collar on him. We got a name tag printed as well and Katheryn hasn't let the stuffed Sammie go. She has brought it to school and carries it around with her, and even sleeps with him.

Sammie gave us almost 10 years as a loving and loyal dog. He loved his other family dogs. He was a beautiful dog and we have a huge hole in our hearts.

 

Our new addition

We have a new member of our family!

Her name is Aurora, but we are going to call her Rory for short (and it's easier for her to learn). She is a Bernese Mountain Dog (just like Sammie) and she is 8 weeks old.

We got her from a breeder up at the cottage, Mount Magic and have been getting updates every week for over a month, and counting down the days until we can  get her.
We decided to introduce Sammie to his new sister at a neutral location, a local park.

He wasn't all that impressed with her.

That's ok, She made up for it by looking really cute.

This was the closest she could come

When we got Sammie we didn't have any children, but we remember the nipping and the tearing up the toys. And Sam actually ate our wall.... 4 times. So we were ready with lots of toys, and practicing with the kids that she will be nippy and she doesn't mean to hurt you, but she is playing and is only a baby

It was fun to go shopping for her, and buy all kinds of pink-girly toys collar, bowl and leash. Yes, we went all girly!

Nick has been really enjoying her and walking with her. She likes to go underneath his walker as he is walking, and tries to eat his wheels.

Once we got home the kids really like cuddling with her

I think someone is in love

She is really good. An excited puppy, but also loving and playing and still cuddly.

 Even Sammie is starting to come around