The Dog Company: Newsletter

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Volume 57 - December 19, 2003

Materials in this newsletter are the sole possession of the authors and Dog Company. Please do not copy or use in any fashion without written permission

The time of year to Kindle your Spirit is here. What a year it has been! In our groups of Hikers, Sportsdogs and Obedience, we have had 2 babies, 5 weddings and a funeral.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you all on your achievements this year. Some were big, some were small. "Do not worry about making only small steps forward, worry about making no steps at all." (Chinese proberb)

To the people in our Agility & Flyball clubs, who without your help as "team," things would not happen - it takes us all, working together, to create the great dogs and the fun we enjoy and the "just being together." The demos and coaching are a real test of the spirit of friendship we have developed over the years. These special friendships will be lifelong I am sure!

Some of you have had huge changes in your life this year and you rose to the challenge; I am so impressed by your spirit!

To those of you who have completed your basic Obedience and have moved to all the other terrific events we offer, WELCOME. To those of you just starting out, WELCOME TO THE MOST FUN AND GREAT OPPORUNITIES YOU AND YOUR DOG CAN HAVE! You are going to meet some fantastic people with us!

I want to take a moment to say special thankyou's to:

Marg: who works, helps, instructs & organizes everything, keeps me in line and is without question, one of the planet's finest people.

TONY: Marg's other half, who is patient and understanding with all the things that Marg and I get involved in especially when his dinner is going to be late. He is a great sport to join us on some of our adventures and helps us out.

Stacey: who makes doodle dog treats (all the dogs are crazy for) for all our events and Demos, plus!

Meredith, Judy, Susan, Marg: (again) among other things we are involved in, they help with new sports students ...... they are terrific, insightful and patient instructors.

Kathy B. and Kim: who did such a great job of the narrating at Demos.

Carina: who takes care of all the shirts, hats and Logo's for all our clubs, plus all the pet sitting.

Brianna: who hold dogs, rocks babies, and helps out where ever we need her.

Pia: who oversees all of the helpers.

George: who is our guy who fixes, builds stuff we want, packs the trailer so everything fits, hikes and runs his own giant "Chinook" dog. And, can put any crying baby to sleep... he is... 1-800-GEORGE

JIM (Maddog): my other half..... understanding, patient, joins us in some of our adventures and is always a good sport ... comes to help as much as he can ...... lover of dogs and people, loved by all. He is my greatest gift!

To our Dragon Boat "Dogpaddlers Team" who joined me, and have just completed a 7 week course on the Gorge - freezing cold, rains, winds ...... who but dog people would take on such a feat in the winter!

Our coaches, who with their dedication to a sport they love, endured the cold, rain, and 15 rookie paddlers - in the daytime and at night.

Thank you so much for being there for us .... Carole, Josh and David!

You are FANTASTIC!

PADDLES UP! TAKE IT AWAY !

To you all

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
An old Irish Blessing

Happy New Year, everyone!

woof...Peni, "Sweep", "Slick" "Poutine" & "Swift"

Walkin' in a Doggie Wonderland (to the tune of Winter Wonderland!)

Dog tags ring, are you listenin'?
In the lane, snow is glistenin'
It's yellow, NOT white, I've been there tonight
Markin' up my winter wonderland.

Smell that tree? that's my fragrance
It's a sign for wandering vagrants -
"Avoid where I pee, it's MY pro-per-ty!
Marked up as my winter wonderland"

In the meadow Dad will build a snowman,
Following the classical design.
Then I'll lift my leg and let it go, Man!
So all the world will know that it's
Mine - mine - mine!

Straight from me to the fence post,
Flows my natural incense boast -
"Stay off my TURF, this small piece of earth,
I marked it as my winter wonderland."

Woof...Sweep ^..^~~!

(To our advertisers: we'd love to hear if your ad in the Woof was successful. Please drop us a line and let us know.)

Gift Certificates: Looking for that last minute gift for the person who has everything? Give them a Gift Certificate for Agility classes or Flyball or maybe for obedience lessons. Call Peni at 656 - 1659 or e-mail woof@dogcompany.com

Wanted: A home big enough for two. These two cutie-patooties are Max and Molly, and they're looking for a new home because their owners have health problems and can't care for them any more. Max is Molly's son, and he's 8 years old, while Molly is a healthy and happy 12 years old. It is very important to their owners that Max and Molly find a home together. If you think that you have a great home for these two Canadian Kennel Club registered Chocolate Labrador Retrievers, please call Merna Dighton in Duncan at (250)701-0078

Baron

New Arrival: Congratulations to Slick, Sweep and Poutine, and their human family, on the December 4th arrival in her new home, of Swift, a bouncing baby red and white.

New Arrival

Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday to Saffron (also known as "Pup" because she still acts like one) who turns 9 years old on Boxing Day. Also a belated birthday to her roommate, Whiskey, the Sheltie, who turned 12 on Oct. 25th. Continued good health to both of you from the Woof Gang.

Wanted: Your 'articles', your 'For Sales', your 'Want Ads', your birthday wishes, your letters to Mam'selle, your ......... ????? By Wed. Dec.31 .... for the next Woof, please...... mailto:peni@dogcompany.com

(Disclaimer: Advertisements posted by the Woof are done as a service, not as an endorsement. Please communicate directly with the ad contact for further information on any items.)

Dear Mam'selle,

I wanna know why I'm not allowed to sleep on the bed. I don't snore as loudly as my human Dad, and I don't take up as much room as my human Mom but they tell me I can't come up. They actually make me sleep on the floor! Well, there is a dog bed there, but it's still on the floor. I know some dogs get to sleep on the bed, but I'm not allowed. Why not, and will I ever be able to ?

Sincerely,

Samuel Spaniel

Dear Sam,

It is really hard, I know, to watch your parents suffer and try to do the right things for you.

You and I both know that we start to feel very uppity when we sleep with the folks; we think we are above them in the pack order. As dogs, we figure if we sleep with the folks, we don't have to take orders from them. So, if you're not listening and being obedient to your people, they are not going to let you on the bed ...... Well, you have to earn the right to maybe be allowed "sometimes".

Our place is to "Protect and Serve." We can't do a proper job if we think we are above it all. So cool your jets, snuggle up in your own bed and behave and act like the companion I know you are ... then you will get your chance to snuggle up before they get you to go to your own bed. If you're really good, they just might drop off to sleep and leave you there. But don't let it go to your head. Snuggle up!

woof...Poutine ^..^~~!

1. Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed-out than usual and they will appreciate long, comforting dog leans.

2. They may come home with large bags of things they call gifts. Do not assume all the gifts are yours.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you. They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

4. They may bring a large tree into the house and set it up in a prominent place and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so there are some things you need to know: Don't pee on the tree. Don't drink water from the container that holds the tree. Mind your tail when you are near the tree. If there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or that have your name on them, don't rip them open. Don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny-looking hole in the wall to the tree.

5. Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on your part: Not all strangers appreciate kisses and leans. Don't eat off the buffet table. Beg for goodies subtly. Be pleasant even if unknowing strangers sit on your sofa. Don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach.

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important: Observe all the rules in #4 for trees that may be in other people's houses. Respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house. Tolerate children - turn on your charm big time.

7. A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night. DON'T BITE HIM!

Best wishes from all the gang... Dog Company, all the Island Dog Sports Clubs and the Woof

In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want.
(Irish toast)

Wow! It's my fifth "lights'" season already. Seems like just yesterday I was a little pup like Swift; nah, I don't think I was ever that small. Everything seems brighter at this time of the year. It was getting darker, but now all of a sudden, everywhere I look, there are these bright little lights. They seem to come in all colours, and some are in straight lines, and some are in groups, and some are in rows, and some make the shape of animals. I got all excited the other night when we were out for a walk because I could have sworn I saw a deer, but it didn't move and it didn't smell like a deer. Lots of the houses we walked by had lights hanging from them or in the trees in front of them. Have to admit it looks kind of pretty. Even in our house I find these lights - there are some on a tree - inside - sheesh!

We did a special walk to see more of these lights; we went to that garden place again. A bunch of us furfaces had gone in the warm time, and that was pretty neat. But this time, we took our people after it got dark so we could see all the lights, not the flowers. Everywhere we looked there were lights and more lights. There were lights on the ground and lights in the trees. There were lights on poles, lights standing up on shapes, and lights that seemed to hang in the middle of the air. I saw a little creek that looked interesting, but when I went to get a drink from it, it turned out to be lights - they were moving and made it look like water. The human people all oohed and ahhed over everything, but we were all much more cool, and just looked without making any noise. Well, I should maybe correct that. In one place, there were these things that moved up and down and made a loud noise which sort of reminded me of the noise the teeter makes in Agility. There were ten of them, and they sort of looked liked the frogs that live up near the pools, except, man oh man, they were big! I was not too thrilled, and kept trying to warn Mom and Dad that they could be dangerous - I growled - lots. Dexter was either really worried and trying to scare them away, or he was trying to sing with them; I'm not sure which, except I know he had lots to say. Humans! They just said, "Oh, look; the ten lords a leaping," and weren't frightened in the least little bit. A little bit further on, Chinook got worried too; these next things looked more like people but had really odd looking faces and they were all hooked up with wire or string, and they moved, and there was sort of piping music coming out of them. We finally got safely past all these weird things, and some of our human people went into the buildings. We had to wait outside; my Mom held Cheeco and Jacques for their people. Just like in the warm time, lots of stranger type people wanted to pet us and talk to our people. Think Chinook and Swift probably got the most attention; he's so big, and she's so small.

Another thing that goes with this "lights" time, is that Mom gets the kitchen room really smelling good. The counters are covered with stuff I'm not allowed to have but sometimes bits and pieces drop to the floor and then I make like a vacuum cleaner. Kaleb has a distinct advantage here; he's tall enough to really see what's up there, so he watches and lets me know when something is on its way, and of course I share with him. We do get told to "leave it" if it's something that's not good for us like chocolate. That can make us really sick; did you know that? Mischief, the dog who lived with Mom and Dad before I came along, ate a whole bunch of chocolate one time and felt really sick for a couple of days. Mom said Mischief was lucky it didn't make her have to go to the vet or something even worse. So my folks are really careful about this chocolate stuff now.

Hope you all have a very happy "lights" time.

HRH Trouble (athlete with attitude)

At this time of year, there some special plants to watch out for. That perennial favourite, the poinsettia, is toxic to your pet, as is the amaryllis, holly and chrysanthemum. In the food area, chocolate is number one on the list of what not to let your dog eat.

GRRR ... Wuff! Yep, it's time to pop the popcorn ( I like mine with a bit of butter and a big bowl of water.)
(These are all available at the video store)

Adult: BLACK HEART: Richard Crieco & Christopher Plummer. A man betrays his girlfriend when he accidently kills a private detective searching for a missing heiress. (Drama/MYSTERY 95 min.)

PG: THE STARS FELL ON HENRIETTE: Robert Duvall, Aidran Quinn. Clint Eastwood produced this great story about a wildcat oilman down on his luck and trying to strike the big one...in the depression-era in Texas (110 min)

Geeesh.......... I can smell the popcorn now! REMEMBER TO LICK UP ALL THE CRUMBS OFF THE FLOOR!

1. Gather presents, boxes, paper, etc. in middle of living room floor.
2. Get tape back from puppy.
3. Remove scissors from older dog's mouth.
4. Open box.
5. Take puppy out of box.
6. Remove tape from older dog's mouth.
7. Take scissors away from puppy.
8. Put present in box.
9. Remove present from puppy's mouth.
10. Put back in box after removing puppy from box.
11. Take scissors from older dog and sit on them.
12. Remove puppy from box and put on lid.
13. Take tape away from older dog.
14. Unroll paper.
15. Take puppy OFF box.
16. Cut paper being careful not to cut puppy's foot or nose that
is getting in the way as he "helps."
17. Let puppy tear remaining paper.
18. Take puppy off box.
19. Wrap paper around box.
20. Remove puppy from box & take wrapping paper from its mouth.
21. Tell older dog to fetch the tape so he will stop stealing it.
22. Take scissors away from puppy.
23. Take tape older dog is holding.
24. Quickly tape one spot before taking scissors from older dog & sitting on them again.
25. Fend off puppy trying to steal tape & tape another spot.
26. Take bow from older dog.
27. Go get roll of wrapping paper puppy ran off with.
28. Take scissors from older dog who took them when you got up.
29. Give pen to older dog to hold so he stops licking your face.
30. Remove puppy from present & hurriedly slap tape on to hold the paper on.
31. Take now soggy bow from puppy & tape on since the sticky stuff no longer sticks.
32. Take pen from older dog, address tag & affix while puppy tries to eat pen.
33. Grab present before puppy opens it & put it away.
34. Clean up mess puppy & older dog made playing tug-of-war with remnants of wrapping paper.
35. Put away rest of wrapping supplies & tell dogs what good helpers they are.

(Thanks to Meredith & Finnegan)

"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat."
............. Ellen Perry Berkeley

Loyal readers are hanging by a whisker waiting for word about Blu. Here's what one has written in to say:

"Oh my, what an exciting trial this is! Move over Michael Jackson, and get a life, O.J. I just can't imagine that the judge will convict Blu; he's a true blue meow! Those big boned, thick skinned jurists will know what to do. Keep us updated, Sadie; it's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.
signed... Kiki "world's smallest kidden" "

Thanks for writing, Kiki. We felines have to keep our paws crossed that the judge and jury will be lenient. As that Sadie reporter said, this place has gone to the dogs. Why, I heard that the Border Collie Campground has even got another one; just a baby so they say, but hey, pups grow up to be dogs! I'm still coping with that other canine, Kaleb. I'm just waiting for the opportunity when no one is looking, and he gets just that little bit too close. We've closed the distance down to about one people foot long, and that's about it as far as I'm concerned. My predecessor, Mocha Coffee, knew what to do with unruly dogs. When KT next door was just a pup, she came over and made the mistake of talking back to Mocha. He used a quick right, and then a left jab, and had her on her back on the lawn, crying for mercy while he stood over her. The humans had to rescue her after they finished laughing. I don't think she ever forgave him for that.

Seems like all sorts of interesting paper bags are coming into the house right now. It's good fun to go smashing through them and get stuff all tangled up. Trub and I are pretty good at sniffing out ones which have something to do with us, but I heard Mom say, "No, I haven't bought you two anything yet, so quit looking." I know that sooner or later, there will be stuff for us but we have to wait before we can unwrap them. If we try earlier, we get scolded.

From myself and all the felines who support the Purrrrrrr, "Happy Holidays"

Cleocatra
(Cats rule .... dogs drool!)

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