Friday, July 29, 2011

Compare and Contrast


The similarities between these dogs are few. Size, type, color, and temperament are very different. One thing that they do have in common is their call name. The Italian Greyhound goes be the name of Czar and the Doberman Pinscher goes by Caesar. 

I'm not sure why these boys were so infatuated with each other, but it wasn't a fluke! They hung out together long enough for me to come into the yard, get settled and get my camera out! Considering the number of dogs, and the number of different things going on throughout the yard lately, it is amazing that these two Caesars/Czars found each other and that both chose their bonding time over the retrieve game that was starting with the rest of the pack. 

Monday, July 25, 2011

The Wind-Up

The wind-up = that moment *just* before those treasured jolly balls are thrown.

Post-Thunderstorm Play Session

Post-Thunderstorm Play Session

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Dog-Fest Review

Yesterday was Applewoods' Dog-fest and Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test. Despite the heat, a good crowd showed up for the festival and we had a total of 14 dogs take and pass the CGC test! We had 5 Labrador Retrievers, 2 Golden Retrievers, 2 German Shepherd Dogs, 2 All American Dogs, 2 Shetland Sheepdogs, and 1 Doberman Pinscher.

We had a few of our favorite local businesses donate door prizes, and several lucky CGC test takers went home with more than just their certificate! The Applewoods Students also provided in-house entertainment by doing some obedience demonstrations for all of our guests. In case you couldn't make it, here is a video of the  obedience demos...



Thanks a bunch to all the students who helped set up, and run our Dog-fest. A special thanks to Pam Loeb for being a friendly, helpful and patient evaluator. Keep checking back here, pictures of the Dog-fest are coming soon!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

River Trip Part 2 and the Day Care Dogs

ADT Swimming

After the puppies got back from the river the other day, we decided to let all the other dogs go too. For our second trip of the day, we had Diesel (GSD), Sasi (mixed breed), Sandy (Golden), Red (Lab), Holly (Lab) and Jasmine (Doberman).

ADT Swimming

Most of the dogs in this trip had never been before either. It didn't take any of them long enough to realize how much better it felt IN the water.

ADT Swimming

Sydney joined us for this trip and each of the apprentices brought two dogs.

ADT Swimming

Since we left the little dogs at home, we made the trek and walked upstream with all the dogs. Some of the dogs needed a little help in the deep parts.

ADT Swimming

Running through the river is such a good workout for the people and the dogs!

ADT Swimming

Roxanne spotted some balls caught in the fallen tree. She had to swim through the deepest part of the river to get there though. The retrievers didn't mind swimming out with her though.

ADT Swimming

These two had enough of the river by the time we got to the end and hung out on the shore while they waited for Roxanne to bring those balls back.

ADT Swimming

There they are! The river is complete with toys for the dogs now! ALL the river pictures are here, if you want to see more...

Friday, July 22, 2011

River Trip Part 1 and the Puppies

It was unbearably hot today. The yard work was done early, and the training was short, sweet and mostly done before 10:30 this morning. Instead of surrendering to the weather so early, we decided to take another trip to Riverfront Park. Roxanne and I were the only apprentices for this trip and we loaded up with Sugar (Roxanne's Lab), Caesar (Doberman), Ringo (Boxer) and Rugby (my Maltese).

ADT Swimming

Neither Caesar or Ringo have shown much interest in the baby pools that we have at Applewoods. We were worried it would be a wasted trip if the dogs didn't want to get in! We lucked out though, because both boys took to the water!

ADT Swimming

Caesar warmed up the quickest and pretty soon was BEGGING Rugby and Ringo to play with him.

ADT Swimming

He wasn't scared to venture into the deep parts either and quickly transformed into Ceasar the Croc!

ADT Swimming

Ringo wasn't so sure of the situation and took much comfort in the safety of his swimming buddy, Caesar.

ADT Swimming

While Caesar worked on Ringo, Sugar was busy wading up river and getting some much appreciated longe line work. It wasn't too hot to work in the water!

ADT Swimming

The result of this trip to the river can be seen in the previous post. Those were some sleepy puppies! All the Riverfront Park pictures are here. 

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Fourth of July

Team Applewoods took some time from classes, and lessons to shoot Independence Day photos. Friday was our first attempt, and we had a total of 15 dogs. Some dogs were there for their lessons, most of them were there for Day Care and a few of them were there boarding over the holiday weekend.

Independence Day

Our biggest challenge when taking this picture was not getting the dogs set up, but keeping the giant flag from covering up the dogs' heads! We do teach a retrieve here however, and that problem was easily fixed by giving Red a piece of the flag to hold up and out of the way.

Independence Day

'The Littles' were just too cute waiting for all the other dogs to get set up not to take a picture of them together.

Independence Day   Independence Day


The Bachelor's Class the next day had their turn at the Independence Day photos, at least the ones that weren't on vacation. Some of the dogs got in the picture both days.

Independence Day

The Bachelor's Class covers the retrieve and some of the dogs were particularly willing to show off their new fetching/holding skills!

Independence Day

And by the way, did you notice what we used as a flag holder? That's right! The Catawba tree!
Independence Day