24 July: Fun Day at the Lake

Lately we've been doing a lot of field training, which is great for Cedar because she's figured out just how fun it is, and sort of good for Cosmo - though he'd rather be playing.

Sometimes dogs just need to be dogs and run around like mad to get the heebies out. This morning was a good day for a trip to the north end of Keho Lake, where the dogs could swim and run around in freshly-hayed grass. All off-leash, all the time - loads of fun!

Cedar entered the water from stage left with her customary enthusiasm:

Does this pose make my waist look tiny?

Bracing for impact, eyes on the toy...

Yup that's Cedar under there. Fastest dog in the west! lol

On land she was her whirling dervish self, happy to be racing around with toys at warp speed

Incoming!

Then there's Cosmo. He's been having a rough time with teething (though Cedar's been helping extract teeth - she found one of his molars this morning!). And he's often so overwhelmed by Cedar's enthusiasm that he doesn't take 'the plunge' and really go swimming. He'd swum once before, with Blazingstar's Tinbie, but hasn't really been excited about it.

Today was his day to change that! A while back we got this lighthouse toy, which Crazy & Little had 'reviewed' on their blog. It's fantastic! And easy to see in the water. Perfect for a new swimmer splasher like Cosmo.

Looks like he thinks he can walk on water...

Cosmo swimming. See his front paw reaching out really far, like he could push off on top of the water. *Sigh*...

Whoops! Head up little man, head up!

The black water shark reaches for the lighthouse toy with its toothless gums...lol!

Yay Cosmo, look at you go!

Phew, that was hard work but I'm so excited my eyes are bugging out!

I'm a star, I know it. :)

By the end of the visit Cosmo was excited to get in the water and get the toy. And when I say 'excited', I don't mean off the charts, jumping and squeaking, body slamming excitement like Cedar. But more - yeah, let's do this excitement. :)

Until a butterfly came along and he had to chase it. That's our highly focused easily distracted boy!

I know it's around here somewhere - it just flew past my head...now why can't I see that butterfly?

5 June: It's All Fun & Games Until Someone Loses a Tooth

Alternate title: When Cosmo Met Parker (not entirely true, since they first met on Sunday...)

Nervous Cosmo (L) on a first date with the slightly older, sexier & happier Parker (R)

There are a pleasantly surprising number of flatcoats in this neck of the woods grasses (?). We have Cedar from Eagletarn in Richmond, and Cosmo from Coastalight in Nanaimo. Liz at Blazingstar has a couple of dogs from their own breeding line (Tinbie and Puffin), and Cava from Kennel Bramatha in the UK. Judy Hunt has Roxy and Mazie from Affinity in the Fraser Valley, and Kona from Blazingstar. Sarah N. recently lost Kaleb, who was from Prairielight in Saskatoon.

22 Mar: Spring Training

March has been a month of snowstorms - as soon as the chinook wind strips off the previous snowfall, there's another one to take its place. Since the calendar says it's spring, time for some spring training - field training, that is!

Wet spring snow covers the dry fall grasses.

19 Mar: One Year Ago

A year ago we brought Cedar home from the Coast. We'd picked her up at the end of February and spent a week taking her to the beaches of Parksville, before heading back to the dry prairie.

9 week old Cedar, fetching!

1 February: Cave People

Blue sky and sun, definitely another good day for a walk out at Shelly & Steve's place. Unfortunately they couldn't make it this time, but we made the most of it (as did Cedar with the all-you-can-eat buffet of deer and coyote poo).

View from the top, heading down to the bottom (followed by some serious climbing back up again...). Notice the lack of snow.

The sun angle was perfect for some more 'cave art' shots

Cedar with super thin back legs!

Cedar getting a treat from a giant alien! (aka mum)

Our (prehistoric) family...

...complete with jumping Cedar lol!

Okay people, enough pics - let's get back to this whole walking thing (guess which figure is still taking pics...).

At the bottom of the hill we stopped to enjoy the scenery. Well, Cedar stopped to enjoy the 'snow spa'.

Ahhh, yes, a little to the right...now the left...this hard snow does wonders for my dry skin.

After finishing her little polar rub, Cedar came up to join us on the grassy knoll

I luv you mum...wherz da treatz at?

Wet willy!!! (notice the lovely mud 'gel' Cedar has applied to her coat for maximum effect)

What, do I have something on my face?

I smell coyotes...plus from this angle I look very clean.

I call it my mud makeup

After soaking up a few rays it was time to saunter across the flats and make the long trek back uphill

Slowly heading home - indistinct blobs on the coulee wall...

Next post - Rocky Mountain snow fun...