Hank (Beau) Happenings

This is long overdue, I'm usually the one including telling stories about our brother Hank.  So now, right from his own mouth...

Hello from Beau,

I am very busy in Hollidaysburg, PA.  The people who feed me are having my house remodeled.  Most weekdays I have to get up early in preparation to supervise the workers!  They arrive at 7:30 and work until 4:00.  I am very observant and let Howard and Sue know what the workers are doing!  The workers tolerate me except when I take their supplies.  I really love to take their rags and tape rolls!  For some reason, Howard takes these things from me.  But, don't worry.......I try again!

My only day off is Wednesday.  On Wednesday Howard takes me to agility class.  I get to sleep on the way to class (2 hours).  Then I get to run, jump and have a great time for 1 1/2 hours!  I LOVE going to school.  Then I get to sleep for the 2 hour trip home!

Howard also takes me for many walks during the day.  We usually walk 4 to 6 times for about 20 minutes each time.  (Well, Howard walks and I run when unleashed.). 

Sometimes I am very bored because Howard leaves me to travel to judge agility trials.  I really would like to go with him but he says I have to wait for my brain transplant!  He says I have ADHD or possibly PBS (puppy brain syndrome).  Sue takes great care of me when Howard is gone.  However, I really LOVE it when Howard return.

My favorite thing to do is cuddle with Howard on my (our) couch.  I really do not understand but this is the only piece of furniture I am permitted to be on.  At first, I tried to get onto every chair, couch and bed in the house.  Howard and Sue are very consistent in allowing me only my couch!

I also liked tracking when Howard took me.  I hope he takes me tracking when the weather gets better!  

Sometimes I go to a farm when Howard teaches agility to other agility teams.  I am sometimes too interested in seeing Swing, Dodge, and Jill rather than listening to Howard.  Howard does not like me to ignore him that way!  I hope that the upcoming brain transplant will help me listen to Howard more!  (But I doubt it.)

I am looking forward to the warm weather.  Howard takes me for longer walks when it is warmer. I love to walk in the Canoe Creek State Park........just over the hill from my home.  Also, I think I will be going with Howard to an agility trial.  Jill said she will help "watch" me when Howard is busy judging.  I really love Jill!  

I hope my siblings are as happy with their people as I am with Howard and Sue!

Have a great spring.........

Beau

(as told to Howard .......... I still have not mastered typing!)

Thanks for the fabulous update, hopefully we will be able to get a picture soon.  Maybe a tracking picture!

Our not so little Gracie Dot!

Gracie Dot is living the life of a princess according to Deb's last note.  Read on!

Hope everyone is doing well.  Always good to hear about Milo's adventures and Swing's training.  We have a lot of deer and wildlife in our neighborhood....Milo would have a field day!  Gracie sees deer from time to time, but I do believe she thinks they're big dogs! 

Gracie Dot is doing great!  She has a life of leisure....lots of playing ball and going for walks and running with Eric.  She loves to lay in our laps unless she's busy with her toys....very spoiled just like her siblings!  Gracie was spayed on October 30th.  She went into heat back in May and then again in August.  She did well with the surgery, but it was difficult keeping her quiet for two weeks.  We continue to work with her on obedience and she does real well.  Although she still doesn't like her nails trimmed (we use a dremel) and it's a struggle....any suggestions would be appreciated.  Gracie is so sweet and still quite the entertainer!  I've attached some recent pictures.

All the best in the year ahead with these much loved M&M pups!

Thanks for the wonderful note Deb.  Our little sis hasn't changed from what you tell us.  Still that little spitfire!

Ella and the box - take 2

Thanks to Art we have heard from both Gracie Dot (post coming) and Ella this past week.  So for everyone's enjoyment, here is what sister Ella and Ann have been up to.

Ella is a busy girl - chasing her ball, tormenting Stanford & learning lots of new things. We are focused on agility for now - I love the sport & all that I'm learning about myself & my dogs & our relationships.

The trainer I work with teaches mainly the Awesome Paws system of handling  (I didn't even know there were agility systems for a long time.). APHS puts a big emphasis on jumping form - for the dog's durability & also for speed. And this is where the box comes in.

Ella just started jumping recently as we were waiting for her growth plates to close. When she did jump she was all over the place. Helene (our trainer) quickly realized she needed to work on her hind end awareness so she assigned us box work for homework.

Ella had done "101 Things with a box" in her puppy class so she was all in to playing with the paper box lids I brought home from work. It became obvious quickly how much she needed this exercise as she was very willing to put her front feet in the box but took almost a week to realize she had back feet that I wanted to go into the box. Once she got that concept she moved quickly & can now turn circles in both directions in the box, move from one box to another & is even getting all four feet in our new smaller box which is great also for her core & balance.   

Attached are a front & side view of a very proud Ella in a paper box lid with Stanford looking on. 

She does seem to be quite proud of her box work!  For anyone that is interested, you can read more about Awesome Paws and the various methods Linda uses at http://www.awesomepaws.us/.

Thank you for the wonderful update Ann.  Looking forward to future happenings in Ella's world!