Bigby Update

Hi Don,

I thought I'd email you an update on Bigby since we missed your call a couple of weeks ago.

Bigby's doing great as always. He's growing fast and learning quickly too. Last week he had passed the 40lb mark. He's gotten all of his vaccinations and seems to be very healthy and content. We're taking him to the Saint John Animal Hospital on the west side (Magawagonish Rd). He really seems to enjoy his visits there.

He's picked up a few new tricks and he's really good on walks. We're focusing a lot on 'come' and 'heel' training right now and working on his puppy manners. Also working on 'drop it' and 'leave it' while on walks, and he generally does quite well. I have signed him up for obedience classes starting next month so we can work on the next steps but so far I've been really impressed with how fast he's progressed.

He has most of his adult teeth in now, and he's been getting ice cubes and frozen toys to chew on to sooth his gums. He loves chewing. For the most part, he sticks to his toys though his favorite toys never last long. The teething did bring on a renewed interest in mouthing people though, something we're working on again. Overall though, he's pretty good.

He's been housebroken for quite some time. We've got a bell attached to the door that he'll ring when he wants out. He's very quiet too.

He finally got into the water while at my in-laws camp. Once he saw everyone else in the water, he wanted to join in. Now you can't keep him out of it. We've also taken a few trips over the summer, and he's always done very well on them.

I've attached some photos that were taken over the last month.

-Greg

Smoked duck

Hi Don,

Dug out the last 7 ducks from last season and smoked them on Sunday – delicious! As you can see, Ruby is a big fan of the house rule “If you retrieved it, you get to have some”!



Cheers,

-Dave

Storm earned his CH (Show Champion)

Storm did very well at the Dartmouth Show today. He won his class in Conformation and got “best of opposite”. This gave him enough points to earn his CH (Show Champion). We then went to the obedience ring where he qualified with 192 points and his title of CD. Storm has qualified in each of the three obedience trials and hot High In Class in each. He will also soon the proud father of Bella’s litter, expected around 26th August.



db

Reese Update

Hi Don and Pierrette Hope your Labrador Trip went well. Just a quick update on Reese weighed her on Saturday and was surprised to see she had gained 5 pounds in just a few weeks. Crate training is ongoing. But accidents still happen. She has taken to our cat pretty quickly and thinks he is a chew toy but occasionally she finds out this chew toy bites back. We are doing well with the sit, stay and come. I just started whistle sits and she seems to be catching on very fast. She also enjoys going to first lake and swimming and chasing the ducks..

Anyways we are travelling to NB this weekend. Will call next week and might come for a visit.



Yves

New Pictures of Jake Too

Jed (pics)

Hi Don;



Thanks for sending the certificate. Jed is doing great! He's really worked his way into our hearts and has become one of the family. I'm sorry that I haven't sent pics sooner, it seems that the summer has been really busy so far.

Here are a few pics...as you can see, he's really growing up.

Thanks Don.

Regards,
Mike

Mud's Pups at 4 Weeks

Bella News

I took Bella to the Vet today and he confirmed that she is pregnant, blacks and yellows due around 26th August!



db

Labrador fishing trip

I returned from the Labrador fishing trip last night. Here is a picture of an iceberg and of a piece that broke off. We broke pieces from the small section for cooling our fish and drinking water. It is far too dangerous to go near large ones, they may roll over and crush your boat. We got lots of fish, met some wonderful people and took many pictures.



Don BATES

Chelsea is doing great

Chelsea is doing great. Since her third night here, she
has been sleeping until 7:00 a.m. and is dry in her crate!! She has a
great temperament. Thanks again very much!!

Daisy

Hi Don,



Just keeping you updated on Daisy. She is getting bigger by the day. She is fully housetrained and has learned to sit, stay, and give paw over the last month. We are working on heal. I thought I'd send you a few pics of her when we first got her and her now. We had her to the beach the other day and she was a little unsure. I guess it will take time to get used to it. Anyway, thought you'd like to know she is well.



Melissa

Sable on the 4th of July "Yank Dog"

Leaving for Labrador tomorrow

I will be leaving for Labrador tomorrow for approx 10 days to fish Salmon and Arctic Char. I returned early this morning from USA with Mutt, I bred her to a nice young Chocolate and attended a Hunt Test. Mutt should have a litter of blacks and chocolates around 8th September.


Don

Mud had her pups

Mud had 6 chocolate pups, 5 females and one male. They will be ready to go 18th August.



db

New Pictures of Nikita

Hi from Australia

Good day from the land Downunder.

I was surfing the net tonight and enjoyed reading about your kennel.

I noticed an Email regarding Retinal Dysplasia testing.


Dear Don,

Retinal folds are caused by multiple factors and they have a variable clinical significance. The significance largely depends on the breed in which they occur. We will soon be offering a DNA test for a condition called OculoSkeletal Dysplasia (OSD) that occurs in Labrador Retrievers and Siberian Huskies. This condition can cause retinal folds as well as more severe disease (blindness and dwarfism). One of the other DNA tests we offer (CMR) can also be useful in preventing retinal folds. The CMR test can be used in Mastiffs, Dogue de Bordeaux, Great Pyrenees and Coton de Tulear. I hope this helps to answer your question regarding DNA testing for retinal folds.

Sincerely,

Sue PK


Posted by Doindogs Kennel


Could you please let me know which company will be testing?. Any other information feel free to add also.

Thankyou,

Julie Cramond

Bred Bella this evening with Storm

I bred Bella this evening with Storm, yellows and blacks expected around 26th August. Mud is ready to have her chocolate litter at any time.



db

Rose teaching her new pups to swim

New Picture of Tech

Pictures of Angus Also

Here is the latest information on retina folds.

Dear Don,

Retinal folds are caused by multiple factors and they have a variable clinical significance. The significance largely depends on the breed in which they occur. We will soon be offering a DNA test for a condition called OculoSkeletal Dysplasia (OSD) that occurs in Labrador Retrievers and Siberian Huskies. This condition can cause retinal folds as well as more severe disease (blindness and dwarfism). One of the other DNA tests we offer (CMR) can also be useful in preventing retinal folds. The CMR test can be used in Mastiffs, Dogue de Bordeaux, Great Pyrenees and Coton de Tulear. I hope this helps to answer your question regarding DNA testing for retinal folds.

Sincerely,

Sue PK

Another good day for Storm and Mutt

Another good day for Storm and Mutt. Storm won, giving him 5 points. Mutt won, giving her 3 points and then Storm and I got HIC (High In Class) with a score of 192.5. Storm only requires two more points and Mutt four, for their CH (Champion) titles. Storm has qualified each of the two times I have entered him in obedience, once more gives him the title "CD" (Companion Dog). I think the next time I will enter him will be in the Dartmouth shows 9th and 10th of August.

Don

Storm (High in Class)

I entered Storm and Mutt in the Lunenburg (south Shore Kennel Club’s) show today. Storm was entered in both Obedience and Conformation and Mutt in Conformation. Storm and I got the highest score in the Novice B class of 192, I have attached a copy of our score sheet. Notice that she wrote “lovely”, she was very impressed with his attitude. Storm and Mutt were both placed Reserve Winners, no points but a good performance!

Don

Sable Update

Hi Don,

I just thought you should know what she did yesterday;

The doorbell rang, it was a delivery of a large bag. Sable was already barking at the delivery lady. When she saw me coming, the lady walked back to her truck. She sat there to be sure that I picked up the package.

I told Sable to 'Sit & Stay', and then opened the door.

The bag was too heavy for me to pick up. I told Sable to "get" and "bring". Sable stepped out, bit the bag & backed up to pulled it into the house. She treated bag was like one of the 'laundry bags' that she pulls for me. The delivery Lady was stunned.

Sable is a Wonderful Dog!

Thank You Don.

Bigby Update (w/pics)

Hi Don,

I hope you don't mind, but I thought I'd give another update on Bigby.

He's growing fast and he's been quite a joy to have around the house. He's a very clever and attentive dog with lots of energy and a great temperment.

Everyone I've met has been amazed at how clever and good natured he is. He's been great around friends and family and really good around kids. We took him to visit the local vet to pick up another heartworm pill and to check out the facilities there and he seemed to really enjoy himself. I got him to sit on the scale without needing to hold him, and he was really exited to meet the vet and her staff. Everyone was impressed with the commands he already knew and how good he was. He knows 'sit', 'stand', 'lay down', 'come' and 'off' now. He'll do 'sit' easily, while he others he'll do with a bit of prompting.

We've made several trips out to Saint's Rest -- a beach not far from where we live. He loves the sand but is still too timid to try the water. We've also been out to the Irving Nature Park, which he's quite fond of. He already does really well on a leash.

Bigby seems to be very happy and healthy and we're very glad to have him as part of the family!

I've included some photos we've taken over the last couple weeks.

-Greg

New Tucker Pics

Roo and Storm to be evaluated for the TPOC

I took Roo and Storm to be evaluated for the TPOC (Therapeutic Paws of Canada). The evaluator found that we were suitable; they now have two new teams.

Don