Rockridge Kennel Owners Say....dogs, pups, puppies

Greetings Pam,

Bichi is such a joy to our lives, she is so smart!

As of today May 7, 2008, Bichi has successfully/and reliably mastered ringing the bell on the back French doors when she needs to go out Go Potty command, pretty amazing really as she is only 3 months old, and still we've had zero accidents in the house/den ;) We still go out about every three hours or so now except at night when I crate her or if I get her all excited with play she'll need to go more.

She has reliably mastered the Sit command and has mostly mastered the Stay command. She still is a tad shy on the Lead, mostly because I don't and/or haven't used it as much as the other training, but in the last couple of days we've started using the lead first thing in the morning to establish leader of the pack. Also she has mastered the Come command, even with all the birds/dogs, sounds etc. that she hears outside, including our two cockatiels who she likes to bark at, so I'm teaching her the Speak command when she barks.

Rewards: I'm using the same puppy chow you do and have added Iams smart puppy biscuits, half of one at a time as reward treats, along with very tiny pea size pieces of plain jack cheese that she just loves, also her toys are rewards along with, of coarse, tons of affection. Her digestion is fine; the reward food offered occasionally and minimally hasn't upset her system. She does however seem to have developed a taste for anything in the yard such as grass, weeds, blown in leaves, etc. which lead me to researching toxic plants for dogs! A good thing to know as I have a degree in horticulture and plan on doing a lot with the yard.

Anyway, sorry this is so long, seems I just can't stop writing about this beautiful puppy we share our lives with,

Peace and Love,

Ora

hey Pam-just wanted to give you an update on how things are going. I'll try and send pictures soon. The trip home was great- Saylor (your name has stuck so far, but we like the spelling as shown) slept in my lap the whole way on top of the comforter. When we got home, I put a leash on him and took him for a little walk. He would stand up, but wanted to hide in my legs the whole time. He slowly warmed up. He wouldn't go to the bathroom for a long time, but finally did. We snuggled on the coach until bed and then I put him in a big comforter on the floor right next to my bed, where he slept all night. He barely made a sound all night long, and I kept waking up to see if he was still o.k.,...he was that quiet. I also let him sleep with the two toys you gave me because they had the scent from your place on them. When he woke up, I put him on the leash again and we went outside. He again stays right in your legs the whole time you are walking- My daughter came out and he warmed up to her right away. Believe it or not, no joke, she has already taught him to fetch the little soft bone toy you sent with us. Chandler (my daughter) throws it and Saylor runs and gets it and brings it right back to her. We have most of our yard fenced in, so we took him off the leash and carefully guarded the open section, but he stays so close to your legs that he doesn't move an inch from you. We know as his confidence grows, that will change, but for right now, he stays at our heals every second. We are finishing off a little gated section this afternoon, so that we can put him down and trust him, but we will always be with him and he will be an indoor dog. Anyway, Saylor and Chandler have been playing all morning. She gently runs around him and he playfully follows her and romps around her and chases the toys, etc. Cooper (my son) even joined in and Saylor has taken to him very well as well. We all brought Saylor in and gave him a bath and dried and brushed his hair. He is fluffy and happy. He finally ate this morning as well as drank a big bowl of water. I am ordering him a collar and buying him a doggy bed today. We are taking him to the vet tomorrow. As I speak, my family is out in the back yard and Saylor is running around after the kids chasing them with his bobbed tail wagging. He has come so far in just a few hours. We already feel the love and feel confident he is going to make a wonderful addition to our family...in fact, he already has. I'll give you another update soon. Have a great Sunday. Cindy in Milton, Ga.

I just had to let you know how much pleasure that Mitzi and Lamb Chop have brought to all of us. After Muff Cake and Smitty died last year, I never thought that I could bring myself to have another animal. As you know Muff Cake was 12 years old. It was one of the hardest things we ever had to do, when we buried her and Smitty. Losing both of them within 5 months of each other was just awful. Mitzi has filled a great void. I know that she was suppose to be my birthday present, but Peyton now puts claim to her as, his little girl, and Charlotte has put claim on Lamb Chop. There is no way we can ever repay you for the joy these 2 have brought us. I will let Lexi send you updated pictures of our 2 babies all along. If you ever need anything please call.

Hi Pam, Brandon and I enjoyed meeting and visiting with you on Saturday. We had a very easy trip home with our lovely Lily. We stopped in Chattanooga to visit my sister then on to Franklin. Lily is perfect !!,she has slept through the night without incident both Saturday and Sunday night. She has had no potty accidents. I suppose I am very attentative to her needs. We went for her well visit checkup at our vet this morning. My male English Setter likes her very much and is very gentle and careful with her. She seems to be very at home and happy. She is rocked to sleep every night at bedtime then placed carefully in her crate. She is held quite often with frequent tummy rubs that result in her drifting off to a peaceful nap. She is very playful when awake and is my shadow inside and outside with short runs around our fenced in back yard. Take Care. Sincerely, Joy, Brandon and Lily

Our puppy, Scruffy, is a joy! He is spoiled as ever and loving it. I attached some recent pictures of him and one of Scruffy and his big brother Paz. Hope you are doing well and have a happy holiday season. I am sure that Santa will be extra generous to Scruffy this Christmas. Oh yeah, he has a new holiday sweater that he will be wearing on Christmas day. I will send you some more pictures after the holidays.

Thank you for letting us have Scruffy and being able to give him all of the love that he deserves. He is a wonderful and handsome little boy. We just love him so very much.

Nicole and Andrew

Hi Pam, I just wanted you to know that Bogie is doing wonderfully! He was a complete angel on the ride home. He never made a peep! He has already learned how to walk on a leash and comes to his name when I call him. Here are 2 pictures of him at his new home. He seems to be adapting very, very well. He and the cats are learning to live together. He wants to love them and they want to hide. Thank you again for my new baby! I love him so much he makes my heart swell. I will keep you updated on him and send you pictures so you can see how his coat changes. Denay

Dear Pam, It's been months since we last spoke and I just wanted you to know what a precious gift we have in our cockapoo. Murry is now an integral part of this family and is the object of all conversation when we are out and about. Everyone we see wants to know what kind of dog she is....is she as wonderful as she looks....does she shed....is she good....and I have to tell you that I can answer all those questions with a big smile. Murry is a wonderful wonderful dog. Her disposition is constant affection, she's got plenty of puppy in her but is also plenty laid back (my favorite part). She does not shed, she doesn't chew on anything but her toys...(or an occassional sock, stolen from a laundry basket). She has won my heart completely ...well she has the whole family eating out of her furry little paws. Thank you for assuring me I was indeed picking the perfect breed...Murry is more than I ever hoped she would be! By the way, she loves, loves, loves ice cream....and smiles after a lick or two, really she smiles.

Hey Pam, Misty is doing great. She had her 2nd shots a couple of weeks ago. She has a great personality---a little willful. She does talk back sometimes. She is a very smart puppy and catches on quick to what you tell her to do. She is so friendly with everyone she meets---just rub her tummy!!!! I'm attaching some pictures. Will keep you updated. We just are crazy about her!!! The Slattons

Pam, Here are a few pictures of our new addition. Sabih (pronounced SaBee--an Ellis island/American version of the Maltese word for -beautiful) She is doing great (though we need a little work on the toilet training). She went outside on a leash for the first time yesterday and did very well. She has had her next set of shots. She has taken to the crate in the house and going in the car (in a smaller one) very well. Sabih let us know quickly what we had missed when puppy-proofing the house! So playful and loving...as Alex approaches the car when I pick him up at school, he is calling out "Is Sabih with you?" He loves to have her relax next to him while he reads aloud to her at bedtime. Sabih rarely has accidents off the training pad during the day. She is a very quick learner. Alex, Sabih and I had a good work out on our walk yesterday. Thanks for the advice...please keep it coming! I will keep in touch. Take care, Tesa

Hey Pam – Thought I’d give you an update on Tiger (Bichon Poo born 10/4/2004). Both kids are enjoying him as much as he loves them. The best part is after school/work. They get him out of his crate and they all run around the house chasing each other in circles. Since he’s in a bit of a chewing stage, they carry a toy for him to attack instead of their legs! I love watching them all play together. This is a picture after he visited the groomers for St. Patrick’s Day.
Thanks, Susan J

Hello Pam, I am sorry that we did not send you pictures sooner, but we just got a digital camera a few months ago. If you remember we drove down from NY to pick Ellie up when she was 4 months old in July of 2003. We could not be happier and more attached to her. We have since inherited a Bichon from family and her name is Lula. Lula was born in Wales. Lula and Ellie are best of friends and Ellie treats Lula like her own baby. Ellie is now 2 and Lula just turned 1. They are the best dogs and so much fun to be around. We are all going to the drive in movies tonight. Ellie loves going to the drive in, but this is Lula's first time. Well I wanted to keep you posted and let you know that Ellie is healthy and happy. You were right she maxed out at exactly 10 pounds. Thanks! Steve, Enid, Ellie and Lula

Hi Pam, I just wanted to send this cute picture of Murphy. He just LOVES playing in our backyard - as you can see from this picture - he is oblivious to how ridiculous he actually looks! We are constantly surprised at how smart he is. He had his final round of shots last weekend, so we have been walking him on a leash and he is like an old pro. It's like he's been doing it for years!!! We have enrolled him in puppy school and he starts next weekend, which we are really excited about. We never could have imagined how happy he has made us. He is such a happy, smart dog and so loving. He gives Paul and I kisses all of the time. We couldn't have made a better decision to get him from you and your loving kennel. We'll be in touch! Thanks, Tisha

Pam, I am so sorry that it's taken so long for me to write. Duke is doing very well. He's growning so fast, almost 10 pounds already. He's trying to get the housebreaking thing, but it's a challenge. Some days he gets it, some days he doesn't. He still doesn't like his crate, but when he goes in at night we warm his blanket in the dryer and he goes in easier and seems to fall asleep quicker. Thank God for dryers! He is spoiled rotten, but of course that's my fault....I just can't help it. I've attached a couple of pictures so you can see that he is a very happy little boy. The first is with his favorite bone, playing fetch. The second one is where he likes to sit most - on daddy's shoulders! I'll write more soon and send more pictures. Hope all is well in Macon! Stay warm and thank you again for everything! Mary Fanning

Hi Pam, I just wanted to let you know that Paul and I couldn't be happier with our new puppy. We decided to name him Murphy. He was such a good boy the entire drive home and is adjusting very well to his surroundings. He is so playful and fun - we're just in love. He has slept through the night in his crate for the last two nights with no accidents - wow! We took him to the vet on Monday morning and his check up was fine. No problems at all. Thank you so much for bringing this new baby into our lives. We are so excited! Thank you, Tisha

Pam, Well....what can I say but thank you!!! Murry is the star of all puppies, I'm sure of it. She is adjusting beautifully to her new home and family. She is adored by all of us. So far the routine is coming along nicely. She's really beginning to get the hang of this potty in the grass thing and the wet paws that go with it. Hopefully the sun will return today and dry up our soggy yard!!! I feel as though I've been a bit discombobulated...in a puppy fog. Phone calls have not been answered, school lunches have gone unmaid and getting dinner on the table has been quite a feat! But we've all decided to let the little things go and revel in the joy of this little tiny fur baby. Sounds as if Murry is waking up from her morning nap. We're off to the grocery store and tomorrow the vet. I will keep you posted and send a picture, as soon as I get my whole self back together again. Thank you again for the precious, precious addition to the Hammond Family. I'm in love!!!! Did I say I am soooo in love? Oh, Pam, that's a swoon, she is the best puppy and she is sooo smart. I cannot thank you enough for such a wonderful gift. Blame it on the dog daze of winter or PMS (puppy makes six)....but the truth is......Miss Murry has filled our days with a new kind of busy!!! We are allllllll so grateful to have had the good fortune of finding this puppy. Thank you for all your years of good work with dogs....the result in our case looks to be a perfect match. Murry is smart, attentive, eager to please and, we think, wonderful in every way. The potty training is fairly time consuming....but we're coming along. What do most folks say is about the avg. length of time before one can anticipate housebreaking success.
As for relating to people....either we have been blinded by love or this little pup is the friendliest furball one little family could ever hope for. Hope you will pass the pictures on to the yahoo group. I'll e-mail them soon. Thank you for a wonderful dog!!!! Sally H

Pam-I just wanted you to know how well Reno is doing. I know you have already sent in his paperwork, but we officially named him Maxwell Reno Jones and are calling him Max. 'Max' just seems to suit him better. He is very shy, and thanks to Jake our beagle, he is coming out of his shell. Peaches, our rescue cockapoo, is the queen and always will be, so she is going to be bit slower than Jake as far as accepting a new puppy, but she'll come around. He is very intelligent and watches everything the other two do including when they do their business outside. He hasn't gone to the bathroom yet in the house. He loves our cats, and is a little cuddler. He sleeps right with us at night and promptly awakens me at 5am for his feeding and to go out. I am ready to go to bed after he finishes his breakfast and his walk, but he is ready to go. So I just have to get used to the puppy schedule again after 6 years. He is such a great little guy. He follows me everywhere-he is my little buddy. He wants to be with me everywhere I go. I took him to work Friday all day. He was kind of sad there because Jake wasn't there to play with, but when we came home that sure changed. I just completely adore him and am so lucky to have him. I feel that Mikey, my cockapoo of 16 years that we lost right before Christmas gave me him as a gift in a way. Mikey was a very special dog and I know Max will be also. I'll send you photos as soon as I can. Julie

Heigho Pam, We are loving it in Northern Virginia and find the Top Dog Resort lots of fun. Our "home team brother" Topper loves us gobs and oodles and we are learning how to be great resort hosts from him. He has taught us how to run through the woods like the wind. How to chew a stick on the run plus the all important game of tug-of-war over a stick, a toy, a plastic bone...anything. We have enjoyed greatly the two tyws you sent with us. The noises they make are fun and great for tug-of-war.The last Christmas resort guest left today, Maggie, so we are now considered veteran hosts-with-the-most. Oops, forgot to tell you a Maltese, Lucy, came yesterday for a ten day stay, but she is not considered a holiday guest. Life at the resort is fun and we each have a crate to call our own. Our best fun is to snuggle with Mom on the floor in the evening and with Topper in the morning. Thank you for taking good care of us so we could come to this permanent home. We appreciate you very much. Love, hugs, wags and woofs from the cousins-two...Pogo and Pepsi L. PS Our mom, Linda, sends her warmest greetings and gratitude too.

Hi Pam, It has been a year and a half since we picked up our cockapoo Coal at your home. I just wanted to tell you that he is the most wonderful dog that I have ever had. He is the sweetest and smartest dog that I have ever seen. He gets along wonderfully with our two other dogs who are both a lot bigger than he is. He also is loved dearly by our six children. Coal has become quite a boating dog. We take him out to Anclote Island here on the west coast of Florida where he swims and plays in the sand. My husband calls him Captain Dog. Coal has become my best buddy (besides my husband) , he loves to snuggle and play fetch. He really loves his toys. If all cockapoos are as wonderful as Coal I would recomend that anyone that is looking for a small to mid size dog bring one of these happy go lucky fellows home. The cockapoo is truely a wonderful breed. Thank you Pam for matching us up with this wonderful companion.
Sincerely, Linda P.

Hi Pam: We made it home safely and the boys are enjoying the new puppies very much. Bryan held Dixie's female all the way from Macon to Suwanee; he looked up at his Mom about half way home and said "Mom, is this a dream?" The names were a team effort and served as a great way to pass the time on the trip home. Dixie's female is now "Brandy" and Kaffie's female is now "Ginger" Thanks again Pam; we hope you have a Merry Christmas! Blake J. in Suwanne, GA

Merry Christmas, Pam. We bless you every day for Baxter, the best present I EVER got. So many of my patients are in love with him, that some come just to visit him! One patient drove a long distance to a breeder of cockapoos to get "one just like Baxter." Of course, we couldn't bear to tell her there is no other dog "just like Baxter." So thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Pam, Just wanted to send you a couple of pictures of Sam in his new home. He really does have a great personality! He was shy and a little scared the first couple of days but he has really warmed up to the whole family. He loves to be held but also likes to run and slide across our kitchen floor! He is fascinated with my daughter's gerbil, trying to get into the gerbil cage at one point! Thanks again, he is a great addition to our family. Danielle O.

I can think of no accolades to give other than you have provided a perfect puppy. Buffy has an outstanding disposition, an equally outstanding personality with equal parts of happiness and spontaneity, and an eagerness to please. She is a loving little girl who has rapidly become an intimate part of our family. Thank you. Ron and Peggy V.

Just wanted to give you an update. Sammie turned one on 9/4, and was therefore eligible for Therapy Dog of Georgia Evaluation. Well, she passed and I was hoping to get her vest this week to send you a picture, but nothing has come, so I will send you the photo later. (I think she is one of the youngest dogs in the program, but I am not sure yet and will have to check that out.) She barked at the toy baby doll (she has never seen or been around an infant, although she is great with any child over 4) so we will have to wait to be approved for children and somehow I will have to find some babies to acclimate her. Her trainer had a baby two weeks ago, so I hope to work with her in January, as I do hope to use Sammie with my CASA children, if I think it will help. But we will be in the nursing homes spreading cheer shortly! Sammie and I will be driving through Macon next Tuesday on our way to Florida for Thanksgiving. What fond memories I have of bringing her home a year ago. She absolutely loves to ride in the car. She is the sweetest dog. She is a bit of a devil, however, because if she grabs anything "contraband" she is like a bullet heading out her doggie door. (It is really funny is her item is larger than the door - like a pillow) Today she grabbed two frozen bagels from a basket on the floor while the refrigerator repairmen was working on the freezer. I finally gave up trying to catch her, so she is way over her carb limit for today, and gets no dinner! I will send her photo as soon as we get her vest. Happy Thanksgiving. Patti

Pam, The puppy is doing great. The kids all love her and she follows them around constantly. Everyone agrees she is the cutest puppy ever! She cries aot at night, unless she is sleeping on the floor by one of the kids- everyone says most puppies cry for a few days after leaving their family. I'm sure she'll get adjusted soon. We have decided to name her Sadie Rose. I'll keep in touch. Thanks.

Hi Pam, Just wanted to let you know that all is going well with Star (Maltipoo). She is such a little spitfire. She can climb like a monkey and she even sprawled out across our pony's back and took a ride today. She acted as if she had been riding horses all of her life. She was checked by the vet on Tuesday and given a clean bill of health. We are really enjoying her and everyone who sees her tries to steal her from us. I've given several people your website address and I think you've already heard from a few of them. She and our 2-yr old Portuguese Water dog get along fine. The biggest plus is that she sleeps through the night in our daughter's bed. Thank you for such a wonderful addition to the family. Lola

Hi Pam, Just wanted to give you an update on Dixie and Daisy (schnooldes). We love them so. Dixie is about 6 pounds and Daisy just a little bigger. Cannot believe they will be a year old in November. John spoils them terribly. They are the most loving girls. They are totally trained and soooo smart. No obedience school needed. They just want to please and be loved. They play with each other constantly when not sleeping on our laps. Can't imagine life without them! Their coats are bemutiful and everywhere we go folks want to know about them. Dix has a more straight coat and has some caramel color. Daisy is white and curly. By the way, My mom adores her Schnoodle, Georgie Girl. My Dad insists on calling her Georgia. He said she is too pretty to be a Georgie. They love her and she has been so good for them. She follows my Mom everywhere. She is one beautiful pup. Mom says she is about 8 lbs. Thanks again for breeding such wonderful pets. They have added such joy to our lives and we are so glad we adopted them both! Jane and John

Pam, I often check your web site to keep up with your puppies. So many people ask were I got Harley. Everyone loves him. He is the perfect size (7lb) and has a great personality. Do you still have his parents? They have great puppies. Richard

Pam, It has nearly been a year since we picked up our precious Lucy, a Bichon from y'all with her friend Lily. She has been such a joy. She never ceases to amaze us and keep us smiling. We have had a rough spring and summer with the loss of grandparents, and no matter how sad we are, she'll do something darling to keep us grinning. I am currently in law school and Lucy is with her dad most of the time, but when I get home at night, there she is. She gets really excited.. bunching up her nose, pulling back her ears, smiling, and making all sorts of funny noises..."Mommy, you're home!" what a greeting. She plays so well with other dogs too...my parents' 100lb Goldies bow at her every whim, she has other dog friends that she adores. Especially Lily, another Bichon! Lucy loves to run and play in the grass and we are desperately seeking a house w/ a great big yard for her to sprint in! She loves running strides with my husband and myself after we go running. And for some reason, she loves TOES!!! and EARS!!! she is beautiful! We get compliments DAILY on that. Thanks so much! Caitlin

Hi Pam, Well, we have had Chloe (schnoodle)home a week now, and it feels like she has always been here! She is such a doll. We had a good flight back to New Hampshire. She slept the whole way. We went to our Vet on Tuesday, and she weighs 3 lbs now. Every one at the Vets fell in love with her. Chloe adores her brother and sister. She wants to follow them everywhere. Sam, our Great Dane, is so protective of her. They nap together on the couch and go out to go potty together. Our older dog Jasmine is more reserved with her. Jasmine has severe arthritis so she doesn't want to play, but will let Chloe run all over her and pull her hair. Chloe is sleeping through the night with no accidents. Thank you so much for letting us bring Chloe into our family. Jennifer & Dan

Hi Pam, Just wanted to let you know that Coco is doing great! She handled the trip home like a champ and is settling in just fine. She has figured out that this is HER house and when playing, runs through like a puffball~full speed ahead!! She went to the vet yesterday & checked out great. Needless to say she has won everybody over and is well on her way to being spoiled. She is taking to potty training pretty good and sleeping in her kennel! Will keep you posted & send you an updated picture soon. Thank you so much! Gwen, Vlad & Coco

Hi Pam, Sorry to take so long to get back to you. We named our puppy Wiley. He is so precious and such a wonderful addition to our family. He is house trained ( most of the time) already and so smart. He loves Templin and follows her everywhere. A couple of weeks ago we took him to our house @ Lake Sinclair and he jumped right into the lake! I'm enclosing a picture of him in his lifejacket. Everywhere we go, people comment on how cute he is. Thanks you again for everything! Please let me know if you ever have any other puppies like him as several of our friends and family now want " a dog just like Wiley". I'll also send you a picture of Templin and Wiley taken the first week we were home.. He has grown a bit since then. Keep in touch, Fondly, Pam Frame

Hi Pam - Pam, thanks for your suggestions last night. Gladys took some BilJac ground up and mixed with water, and Steve gave her one more syringe of sugared water. She remained totally zonked out for another couple of hours, but during the night she went through two handfuls of food on her own. This morning she's dragging her toys around, yelping to be let out of the cage, and generally making a charming nuisance of herself. The attendants on the plane were so taken with her, they let us take her out of the carrier. At the end of the flight they presented her with a certificate recording the date, flight number, and time of her first flight. She paid no attention.... we are all settling in at home...
We're at the one-week mark, and Gladys is in TOTAL control. She has discovered that when we go to the refrigerator, good things come out. She now stands by it and barks for us to come. Like dutiful idiots, we do. Every day is a voyage of discovery of new things to chew: fingers, bathmats, rug corners, books, shirtsleeves, toes, belts. She loves rawhide chews and feels they are tastiest when dragged into her litter box. She loves to have her tummy rubbed and can contort into the strangest positions to signal her readiness. She has two speeds -- 0 and 120 -- and can switch between them mid-step. Consequently she spends a good bit of her time tripping over herself. (Fortunately, she was not born proud.) She's 12 ounces of fur and 40 pounds of bark. In short, we couldn't do without her. Thanks again for all your help, Mike

I just wanted to tell you about Annabelle's trip to the mountains. She did so good! We had stopped at Cherokee, N.C. for lunch and to let her potty. A family came through the parking lot and I saw the man looking at us. His wife went on in McDonald's but he came to see Annabelle. He thought she was so pretty and wanted his wife to see her. He said she was perfect! He went on in the resturant, I put Annabelle in her pet taxi so I could eat lunch, we sat at a picnic table so I could keep the window down and watch her. The man and his family came to our table and he said to his wife, "she has already put her up", I said I would get her back out which I did. His wife and daughter loved her and said they wanted one. I told them you still had her sister and gave them your e-mail address. I meant to give the web site instead. They were from Ashville, N.C.. Needless to say, everyone who saw her thought she was so pretty. She did good with her potting also. Just thought you'd like to know she was a sweet little baby on her first vacation! Margie and Annabelle

Pam: How are you???? Do you believe that Sammie is 10 months old as of 7/4??? Unfortunately she does not like to "swim" and is not much of a water dog, but she will float on a raft. I will update her photos, and also try to figure out how I can post them without a password. We were out on the boat to watch fireworks on the 4th and she was not bothered in the least. We went to a friends dock to watch a display that was shooting off from a neighbors dock and although she was a little "aware" with the noise, as soon as it was over, she feel asleep in my lap. No one could believe it! Today we floated on the lake as it was such a gorgeous day, (finally no rain up here). I have a hammock chair on the dock and she loves to sit between my legs and hang her head over the side and just swing. I have never seen a dog like this! We walk several mornings a week and all I have to do is loop the leash around my neck. She is amazing at how she will "heel" doing figure 8's, about turns and curves. (We always go out with several puppy Milkbones to rain with on the way.) Any more training will be private lessons, and since I can't show her in the "AKC" arena, it is kind of a waste. We may take some more agility and see where we go from there. You do not see her "tan" anymore. I don't know what happened to it, but all you can see is white. I hope all is well with you and that you are having a great summer. You have certainly improved the quality of our lives. Sammie is just a joy and is truly a special dog. She gets along with everyone as well as their dogs. The black lab that she has played with as a puppy was with us today and I was hoping she would teach Sammie how to swim, but Sammie just watched her and did not want to imitate. There are a few moments that I become frustrated, but it is because I forget that she is still a puppy, as she is usually so well behaved. I keep having to remind myself that she is only "so" old. She continues to amaze everyone!!! She is just such an amazing puppy. Do you ever hear about her sister??? I still regret that I did not get her as well........ Patti in Atlanta, Ga.

Hi! Jesse and I just wanted to send you some updates about Sammie. She's met her first little doggie friend, my parents' 2.5 year old toy poodle, Gigi, and they are having a fantastic time playing together. Sammie still refuses to play fetch, though she is MORE than happy to try to catch Gigi if Gigi goes for the ball. :) She's doing really well about going potty outside (we suspect most of her accidents occur because she doesn't bark at the door, and so sometimes we don't see her there). You can see some of the recent pictures on her website: http://www.lawandlanguages.com/sammie/index.htm Hope all is well down in Georgia! Danie, Jesse, and Sammie

Hi Grandma Pam, Jesse and I have been fighting about whether I can play with his law review books. He wants to study, but I want to play. I'm having lots of fun! I took my first walk today, but the ground was hot, so Mommy had to carry me sometimes. I like being carried. Mommy says we walked in a very safe place. I also went to the doctor today, and he was really nice. He petted me and gave me treats. I hope we go again soon! He said I was very very healthy.
Now I have to take a nap in my crate and I don't want to. I'm going to cry really loud so Mommy and Daddy will take me out soon. Don't tell them, though!
Love, Sammie

Hi Pam, Just a quick note to let you know we are all back home again and in one piece, too! :) Zoe was a champion traveler. She was in her carseat the first day and a half. Sunday morning, she made it VERY clear that she was going to sit on my lap when we got in the car for our last leg of the trip to IL. It was so cute there was no way I could deny her. She adapted to the changes like a trooper sleeping in her carrier when on the road and in her crate where we stayed for two weeks. She even slept with us a couple of nights. She also discovered 'people' food and it is GOOD! She has such a wonderful personality. She even got to play with a little girl not quite two. They had a blast. Later, Caro

Hi Pam, We took King to the vet yesterday. She said he looks wonderful. She also said you have done an excellent job. He is doing great!
Thanks, Sandy

Pam, Thanks so much for everything you've done over the last 8 weeks. I am having a wonderful time with my new little puppy. She has been so good and adjusted really well. I've been very pleasantly surprised. Even the nights have been pretty easy. I took her to the vet today and everything was fine. .... I don't have the pictures of Ridgley back yet, but will email when I do. Again, thanks again for everything. She is the greatest. Katherine Dunlevie

Hi: OK, I have just got to brag this time. Sammie is just a week over 7 months old and we just "graduated" from Intermediate Obedience Class. Our classmates were a 3 year old Therapy trained Golden Retriever, A year old Collie and an 8 month old Labradoodle. Well, Sammie won the Top Dog Award for the class tonight. It was amazing, as the smallest, cutest, youngest dog hung in there and won in a tie breaker. (I thought it was all over, as the tie breaker was Doggie Push-ups, and she refused the "Down Command" earlier in the evening.) Well she performed like a champ. So we now have 2 diplomas and 2 Top Dog Awards!!!I am still in shock as there was no way I thought we would win tonight. We will start Advanced Obedience next month, and get in to a little
Agility Training that is our ultimate goal, as well as Therapy Dog. Patti & Sammie

Hi Pam,It was so nice meeting you the other day. I LOVE the dog, he is an angel. He goes to the vet tomorrow and he seems real attached to me already. He is learning house training really fast but like most dogs, despises his leash! He's a real cuddle bug and loves his crate too - he goes in and out by himself already, smart puppy. Thanks again, I am sure he is going to make a wonderful pet. When I want another, you can be sure I will be back and I will always recommend you to my friends and co-workers too! Best, Dan

Pam, Mickey is so darling. We never have convinced Robert's Mom that she needs a cockapoo, but we are still working on her. Yes, Baxter still comes to work everyday, and arrives in a flurry of frantic activity, but then settles down in his beanbag chair behind the counter. He naps there on his back most of the day, but gets up to greet each incoming person. The kids are nuts about him and some families stop by to "visit Baxter" when they're in the neighborhood and don't have an appointment. Many kids who are afraid of dogs (or doctors) have changed their minds after meeting him. We have recently bought a digital camera, so we will send you some new pictures soon. Nancy

Dear Pam, Just wanted to tell you about one of your puppies. We got Jack Oliver, our bichon-poo, from your kennel in July of this year. He is a complete delight. Affectionate, intelligent, frisky - we could not ask for a better puppy. His playmates are two much larger dogs, a standard poodle and an Australian shepard. They are vigorous, playful dogs and Jack holds his own with them without any problems. He is surprisingly protective of his main caretaker,
my ten-year-old daughter. He nipped a friend of ours who was pretending to attack her and is quite vocal when he senses a problem. It did take forever and a day to housebreak him, but not for lack of desire to please on his part. As soon as we scolded him for an accident, he learned quickly. Prior to that, we were just using crate training and it just wasn't for him. I had a good feeling about your kennel from the beginning. You weren't over-anxious to sell the dogs, you don't ship, etc. It was frustrating not to be able to look at the different dogs in the kennel, but we respected your desire to keep them healthy. Hope you stay in the breeding business. If we get another dog in the future, I'd make the long trip from St Augustine to Macon to get another puppy as wonderful as this one. Yours, Susan

Dear Pam: I thought I would give you a progress report on how I am doing and also I am sending you some pictures. First of all, I love my new home. Mommy & Daddy are very good to me. They have bought me all kinds of chew toys but I like mom's furniture much better and anything I can get my teeth on. I do play with my toys every once in awhile. My sister Maggie and I chase each other around. Maggie likes me and treats me real good. She lets me get away with things. I try to steal her food but mom takes it away because it is not good for me. We will be leaving for Tampa in January. I like riding in the motor home. Mom puts me in my cage up front so I can be close to everyone. I like riding in it and I don't get car sick. I am now 6 pounds 5 oz and still growing every day. I sleep all thru the night and keep my cage clean. We go for 2 walks a day and I enjoy all the sights. Hope you like my pictures. Maggie is with me in one of them. She is 13 years old and doing pretty good for her age. Have a very Happy New Year! Will write again. MANDY

Just a quick note: My kids and I are ecstatic with the puppy. Her name is Shadow What has amazed me is that she is already papertrained. I guess that since she had only gone to the bathroom on paper while at your kennel she just assumed that that was what she should do. I have a large playpen without a bottom in which I put newspaper, a food/water dish etc. We would play with her and then periodically put her in the pen and just stand nearby and stay still kind of ignoring her and after a few minutes she would go. We then would give her treats and make a big deal about it. She can already jump over the side of the 3' walls so I figured we might as well simply close the bedroom doors during the day limiting her access and leave open the door to the playpen and let her roam in and out as she wished. Sure enough she goes into the playpen on her own and has never messed anywhere in the house. Yesterday she was left alone from 8:30 until 5 and she messed only in the playpen no where else in the house. I am amazed that after only 11 weeks she has this figured this out on her own. She's amazingly smart and we are all enjoying Shadow so much. Take Care and when possible would you please send me the pictures of her father. Paul

Dear Pam: Just wanted to let you know that Zoe has adjusted beautifully to our home. My three girls adore her and she loves them. She is playful, loves to go on walks, plays fetch, and just thrives on attention. After a month with us, she has been house-trained using your crate method. Obviously she is very smart! We really enjoy her. Thanks- Hilary

Hi Pam ~ I thought that I would let you know that I am really really really happy at my new home. Mom and Dad are real suckers and spoil me rotten. I have a really nice yard and lots and lots of toys. My mom's niece came over to play with me and I let her pick me up and carry me around and I didn't even make a fuss. The neighbors have little girls and love my kisses and the other neighbors have little dogs to play with. My mom gets me up at 5:30 AM every morning to go for a walk around the block; boy are my muscles really getting strong. I went to my very own doctor and he's really nice. He put me on a scale and told me that I was 10.25 lbs and that he had never seen a puppy like me before and thinks I'm really cute. I thought that I would send you some pictures for your scrap book. I suckered my Dad into letting me get into his bed and my cousin Christina gave me my very own pillow. Oh I forgot to tell you, I am doing really good on my potty training, Mom and Dad even leave my kennel door open and put up these baby gates in the kitchen so that I would have my very own place, w e l l .... I fooled them, I just climbed right overtop of those silly gates and right back into Dad's bed! They have tried just about everything with me but I keep finding ways to escape. I have been really really good though, I don't go potty in the house (except for 1 accident) and I don't eat anybody's shoes! At the end of the day, my favorite thing to do is sit in Mommy's lap and just cuddle. I LOVE to cuddle and my Mom and Dad are really really happy that I'm here. As I get older, my Mom will send you updates on how I'm doing. Thanks again for everything and say Hi to my mommy and daddy and tell them that I am a happy little boy. Bye for now ~

Rocko is the best. We got him a puppy haircut, just the hair on his face was trimmed because it was in his eyes. He really thinks he is all that now! His toy collection continues to grow and our house is safe from stuffed chickens and lamies. Rocko is especially bonded to me, and goes wherever I do. Such a lovable little guy. We got him a special little harness and when he goes for a walk, he attracts quite a lot of attention. He enjoys rides in the car and goes CRAZY over Dunkin Donuts. Don't worry, nothing chocolate or sugary, just a little pinch of the inside of the plain ones. Just sight of the bag and he gets excited. We went to the used bookstore the other day and he wasn't too impressed. They loved him, though, and he is welcome there anytime. Gee, I can go on and on........... I'll try to send some pictures, you won't believe how he has changed. Between the haircut and the fact that he is more than twice his size, he is quite the handsome fellow. Rocko in New York.

Dear Pam, I have been remiss in writing you and letting you know that we could not have asked for a better dog than our Miss Bogey. You sold her to us last
July and she has been a joy since the day we brought her home. Not only is she adorable to look at, she is sweet, playful and smart. We feel that we won the dog lottery. Although this is the first time that I have written, I am sure you have surmised, by the many referrals, that we are extremely happy. Since we
brought Bogey home, there are four new cockapoos in our neighborhood with more to come. Several have come from your kennel. Miss Bogey started a new
trend...a neighborhood once filled with Goldens and Labs is now filling up with Cockapoos. Good luck with your business. I hope you are able to breed more sweeties like our Bogey.

Hi Pam, Just writing to let you know how the little black ball of fur is doing (a.k.a, Bernie, short for Bernard, meaning "brave bear" in German). I took him to the vet last Saturday, and she said that he looks terrific, and that he is healthy. I don't think his tail has stopped wagging since I saw you last Friday. He is a very happy puppy. He is the perfect mix of playful and calm, and he is very smart. He's basically potty-trained, and when I scold him for pooping on the floor (I call him Bernard when he's in trouble), he immediately runs over to the paper and poops again. I never expected him to catch on so quickly. He loves everyone
he meets, and I can't tell you how many compliments I get. I'm so happy he's mine! Thank you!

Hi Pam, I'm just giving you a 48 hr update. Our new baby Chauncey is doing great. He hasn't whimpered at night yet. The first night I kept waking up
going to check on him. I think I was getting on his nerves. His room is all decked out with all his little luxuries...he is really adjusting quickly...he doesnt like his crate though, he rather stay in his room with his blankets, radio, socks, stuffed baby doll (that Taylor graciously gave up) racoon, giraffe, balls, hot water disc (a new thing that stays warm for 12hrs).... I keep his food and water with him at his disposal ... I think it's too early to put him on an eating schedule...he has full run of the laundry room and hallway when we leave the house. And he just slides up and down the hall playing with his balls. We did hear him bark for the
first time yesterday. We have 20ft mirrored wall in the famiily room and every time he sees himself he really starts barking (and doesn't back down from himself - sooo funny)...he goes to the vet this afternoon. He is a joy and Daddy even got softer. I think he owns every giget and gadget from PetSmart - cant go back in there for AWHILE... he has all the luxuries....As soon I get pictures back I'll send you one....Thank you! Tamela Lane

Good Morning Pam, I really appreciate you calling me last night to check on the pup. The pup is beautiful and Danielle likes him very much. She has been carrying the pup around the house all night and also this morning. I'm trying to tell her the pup needs to walk and let him walk around the house. Finally she did and he started playing with her jumping up and down. He had a very good night. He didn't cry at all until he heard my husband get up this morning walking around and that's when he started crying. Danielle didn't want to leave him this morning she wanted to stay home with him to keep him company. Thanks again, Rita

Pam, I don't know how to express the joy we are experiencing with these two pups! Of course, Dilly isn't quite a "pup" any longer, but she has always been so exceptional and I just cannot imagine our home without her. And now that we have Doogie, our family is really complete! The two of them just offset each other perfectly. Dilly is more laid back in the house and Doogie just gets her crazy playing with her. Doogie on the other hand, is more laid back outside and much more protective of his house, but still such a little "love bug". I don't think we could have gotten better cockapoos from anywhere. You should be very proud being the breeder of such high quality pups! We sincerely thank you for your high standards of breeding -- I know that is why our pups are so great!
Greg, Deb, Dilly and Doogie Too...in Margate, Fla.

Hi Pam, We thought it was about time to send you an update on the exploits of Baxter. First, we must say that he is simply the most MARVELOUS dog we could imagine. He is constantly getting compliments, not only on how cute he is but also on how amazingly friendly, enthusiastic and well behaved he is! His vet says he is the most social and happy dog they have had in their office for over 2 years! Nancy is now taking him to puppy kindergarten and he is the star of the class. Here he is only 3 1/2 months old and he can already sit, down, heel (sort of), go potty and dance on command. Everybody simply loves him (not to mention his owners who are just crazy about him . . it's hard now to believe we've ever lived without him). He travels everywhere with us and just goes to sleep when he is flying in our airplane. Anyway, here are a couple pics you might enjoy. The one of him in Nancy's little MG car is from over a month ago but the one of him sitting on the nose of our airplane was just taken 1 week ago. He now weighs over 8 pounds, which means he has doubled his weight since we got him on July 4th! Hope all is well with you-all down in Georgia and that you're having fun with all your animal friends. Warmest Regards, Robert, Nancy (and, of course: (Baxter) in Washington.

Hi Pam! I can't believe almost 2 weeks have passed since I left Georgia with my new mom & dad. On the other hand, it seems like I've been here forever. I'm having SUCH a good time! I feel great and am eating lots and learning all sorts of new things. I can even do a thing called sit; after which I often get a little piece of cheese which I just LOVE! My new family seems to travel around an awful lot but at least they take me everywhere with them. I've been in all sorts of different cars including my mom's little roadster which I'll send you a picture of. I've also been up in my dad's airplane a couple times. You know, I never new that dogs could FLY! My folks said to tell you I already weigh 6 pounds which means I've gained almost 2 pounds since leaving you. I sleep every night in my own little den they call a crate, up close to the head of mom's side of her bed. I used to worry and whine a little bit when I first started doing that but now I'm really happy there and sleep all night without any problems. When I first get up around 6:30 in the morning, dad takes me out to the potty place and after that we all have a romp in the bed. Boy, Life is good! Anyway, my folks have a couple pictures they want me to send you so here they are. Hope everything is OK with you and my doggy mom Kandy! I'll write again soon. (Baxter) in Washington.