December Update

Daisy is growing! Today she is two days shy of 8 months and she weighs 80lbs. We had our first "real" snowfall last night, and she loved it. She romped all over, snowplowing with her nose and throwing her head up, trying to catch the falling snow. It was pretty funny. She has been very busy, completing basic obedience, and now involved in advanced obedience. We go to training 2x/week. On Saturday mornings we train with a group of service dog puppies (NEADS of Princeton, MA). The service dogs in the class are all Labs, and Daisy is ENORMOUS in comparison! We have gone to Target, Whole Foods, the pet store, Blockbuster, Best Buy, my local bank, Open House at the fire station etc, all the while meeting new people, making new friends. We have had some unexpected socialization opportunities too; like three groups of 10 - 20 tap dancers auditioning at the local high school and having to wait while the floor cleaning zamboni mopped the lobby. She is the sweetest dog and super-smart. We are all crazy-in-love with our Daisy!

Playdate!

Daisy is now 56lbs and 21 weeks old. She had a playdate yesterday with the other two ISSR Shiloh's in my town, Shane and Fenway. Daisy had a BLAST. She finished her puppy K class, and we have started basic obedience. She is eager to learn and so smart. We continue to socialize her new experiences. Over Labor Day weekend we took her into downtown Newport, RI. She walked in heavy crowds through Bowen's Wharf and Bannister's Wharf, went up to a commercial fishing dock where they were unloading catch (very noisy!), stopped and sat at crosswalks, passed dropped food with a firm "Leave It", ignored other dogs who tried to engage her, walked on cement, pavement, wood, bricks and pavers, went into two "dog friendly" boutique stores, and met lots of people in a very busy, new environment. She watched as a fire truck raced by us while waiting to cross a street, but did not break her Sit/Stay. We were so proud of her.

While at my parent's home, she found a pair of my Dad's dirty socks. She picked them up, walked through the house with them, found my Dad shaving, then sat and waited for him to finish. She then dropped his socks next to him. It was so FUNNY! She continues to amaze us.

July 2009

It has been a busy month for our growing Daisy! She has been having a blast this summer. Some new things we did include: visited a CGC test prep class (walked with a squeaky shopping cart, a flatbed cart, ate treats off a vaccuum, met three new people and then those same people with their dogs - all handled with her usual aplomb!), for socialization we went to the LLBean store (met lots of new people, and two other dogs while there) and the most fun -- attended the Shiloh Shepherd of New England (SSONE) Event on July 18th. She met her littermate, Colton, who lives in Southern RI. The two bonded again, and were instant "best buddies". Everyone at the SSONE event was welcoming. Daisy has started a puppy K class this month too. So calm and gentle, her buddies there are a shy 4lb Westie puppy and a spaniel puppy. She is the quiet giant there (now at 37 lbs and 16 weeks), letting the other high energy pups run all over. She brings us so much JOY! Her big love now is the the kiddie pool, and continues to think it is the biggest dog bowl she has ever seen. The photo is of Daisy (head turned) and Colton (blue collar) at the SSONE event.

More Socialization

Daisy went to the Bass Pro Shop today with our wonderful dog trainer.  She met at least 100 people - of all ages and races,  one with a cane, one using a walker, a woman with a head scarf, people with hats, babies in strollers, toddlers with diapers, went up a down a huge stair case, rode the elevator (2x!), walked on cement floors, bricks, carpet, faux wood floors, real wood floors, mulch and grass.  She sat on the check out clerks counter and gave her puppy kisses...  It was a great day, and Daisy exceeded my every hope and expectation! 

daring Daisy!

Daisy is growing!  On 06/11/09 she weighed 17.2lbs, and today 06/29/09 she weighed 22lbs!   She is taller too!  This weekend she had a new adventure.  With socialization in mind, we joined a friend in a private agility class; just to go into a large training facility, walk on the rubber floor etc.  Daisy was a natural!  She learned to "tunnel", walked on the "teeter totter" and even did the dog walk!   Our trainer told us she was "confident and fearless"!   She liked the dog walk so much she did it three times after her initial walk on it! I only got one picture of her on the teeter totter -- I was worried she might fall off the dog walk so I just walked beside her.   

ears

My ears don't know which way to go! This week I have worn one up, one down.   

Daisy's stair challenge

Here I am trying a new "short cut" to go upstairs into the house....  It didn't go as planned!

Daisy's Here

Daisy arrived home on Saturday, June 6, 2009.  She came directly from the home of the Shiloh Shepherd Breed Founder, Tina Barber.   Her mother is Cheyenne and her father is Warba.  The litter was born April 8, 2009.  At New Zion she was known as "Pink Girl" or "Pinkie".  She is the "real deal" -- an ISSR Shiloh Shepherd.  We all have fallen madly in love with her.