Happy Birthday Satch!!

It's Satchie's Birthday today! He turns 5, he has finally caught up to me! Wishing you a very HAPPY DAY Satch! Have lotsa fun, do your favorite thing...go swimming!!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Gizzy went to School

Mom took me to school on Friday for show and tell. I got to go
to 2 classrooms and visit with all the kids. It was alot of fun, but a bit
overwhelming. Jake and Nevada both had to read a bit of history about
me, and what we were bred for. They were very interested
in my webbed feet, they all had to check them out. There were kids everywhere and they all wanted to say hi to me.
Which was ok but were they noisey. Jake took me around his class to
meet each one of his classmate. They all really liked me, which made
me feel good. The next class I went to was Nevada's, she is 2 years
younger than Jake, and at one time was so afraid of me she would
cry everytime I was around. But now she has no problems, she even
introduced me!

I was so tired after all that excitement. I slept all the way home.
Mom says she was really proud of me, and that I was soo good for
not scaring any of the kids. Scare kids..me...why would I do that?

Gizzy

Why all the Bother, this Dog Show World?

We just spent 4 days dog showing. The competition was very strong with
19 of us on Saturday and 18 on Sunday. Mom says I'm Special now, what does
that mean? I thought I was always special. Anyway I wasn't the only one Special
at this show. There was 9 of us so called "Special" types.

All of this grooming is very tiring. I get so bored with it, I would much rather be swimming or truck riding or bush wacking.

As you can see I get very excited waiting for my turn in the ring. It seems we wait forever for our turn, and then the judge does all this touchy feely stuff, which I have never been able to understand. Dad and I run around the ring following all the other dogs, its ok if its a girl in front of me, I like chasing after the girls!

When its all over I'm ready for the ride home and a good long nap. After we stop for Ice cream

of course!

Mom says I can go back to being a normal dog for a couple weeks and then its back for another show. I'm hoping I can convince her to let me go swimming!

Gizzy Watched his First Draft Test

Happy Easter!

Gizzy was a spectator at his first Draft Test. It was all so very interesting. The first part of the test shows control of your dog. You go thru different steps of walking, halting, walking fast, walking slow turning right, left and full turn around. The whole time your dog is off leash and must stay beside you.

Then the dog has to do a 1 minute stand stay while the handler is about 6 feet away. One dog stood for about 45 seconds then decided to sit down, so he didn't pass. You get only one try at it!

Next you are with a group of dogs for a 3 minute down stay, if your dog gets up its a fail, again only one chance.

Then its on the the Carting Exercises, the handler must put the harness on the dog and hitch the dog to the cart, they are judged on the handler's skill as well as the the willingness of the dog.

Once that is complete the judge has them go through some manoeuvring excercises. The team must go forward, make left and right turns, halt, change the pace, go slow and speed up. Then its the figure 8. The judge will direct the handler to manoeuvre through a figure 8 course.

The carting exercise ends with the backup. The dog must be backed up while hitched for a distance of at least 4 feet. Both the dog and cart must move backwards.

After the carting exercises the field work begins. This test takes place on natural terrain, with sloping land, boulders, high grass and trees providing natural obstacles.

The handler must load the cart with 40-60lbs of weight and secure it in the cart. The dog will halt on command and stand quietly to be loaded. The judges will determine that the load is safe and secure before proceeding with the Hauling Exercise, the judge will also evaluate the load
On command from the judge, the dog and handler will move forward through a variety of terrain that includes both going up and down gentle hills as well as both left and right turns and 180 degree turn. The dog and handler will proceed at a good working pace for approximately 650 feet back to the starting point. On command from the judge the dog and handler will halt.

The dog will stand quietly to be unloaded and unhitched. Exercise finishes when dog is unhitched.
Once the dog and handler pass all of the above tests the dog is then awarded his DD (Draft Dog).
And mom and dad want me to do all this! I get tired just watching, but it was alot of fun. I even got fitted for my new harness. It sounds like I will be doing alot of practicing to be as good as the dogs that were there today.

I'll keep you posted.....Gizzy

Gizzy Goes Carting....

Well mom finally got her way. She has been wanting to make a working dog out of me for along time, and I have been resisting. But on Sunday we all went to a Carting Clinic that the Newf and Berner Clubs put on. It was a beautiful sunny day and the turnout was great....mom called it Newfie Heaven!!!

We started off just kinda sniffing around the carts. Then mom went on a hunt to find a harness for me. She kept trying harness after harness but none would fit my slim build, until way down at the bottom out comes this nice leather harness, dad adjusted all the buckles on it and surprise it fit me! So we walk around to make sure everything feels ok with the harness and nothing bugs me. Next dad brings this cart up to me and throws some treats in it so I sniff around and find them, he picks the cart up and we walk around with it for awhile. Every once in a while he hits me with it, I just kinda looked at him "watch your driving dad!"

I had to show everyone how good I was at backing up. Dad taught me how to back up a long time ago, so that part was easy.

Then the cart gets attached to me, and now they want me to walk with it, I said "no way" get me outta here! So they undo everything and we walk around a bit. Then they attach the cart again and I take a few steps, then they undo it all again, we did this about 5-6 times and in the end it was ok, but the cart was too small for me and kept digging into my shoulder. So dad mentioned something about having to build one for me.

I met alot of other newfies, this is a picture of Chris and her boy Chevy. Chevy is from Saskatchewan. he did really well with the carting, but his mom has been practicing with him.

But I gotta tell you the best part of the whole day was at the end. This really hot Landseer comes strutting by and gives moi a little wiggle of her butt. She was drop dead gorgeous. We goofed around for a bit and everyone was laughing at us, but hey it wasn't funny!.. I wanted her and she wanted me but the almighty leash held us at bay. We both tried to break free but dad and a firm grip on me and her mom had even a firmer grip on her!

It was a really tiring day, no resting for us working dogs. When we got home it was dinner and lights out.

But I know thats not the end of my carting days, cause mom and dad were talking about getting my own harness and cart.

I think I would much rather spend time with the girls!!!

Gizzy

Gizzy Wins in USA!

It all started with a drive to the ferry in Victoria, and and hour and a half later we were in Port Angeles. We got to stop at one of my favorite Pet Stores "Best Friends Pet Store" in Sequim, where mom and dad loaded up on a bunch of stuff for moi, and the owner Auntie Hope let me in her store to check out anything I wanted!
We finally arrived at our hotel in Bremerton, where the smells wow, there were so many dogs staying there, it was heaven, right on the beach with a beautiful walk on the promenade. We had a deck on our room that I was able to hang out on, it was the first time I had ever been in an elevator, the floor was moving, it was pretty freaky, but the stairs were just too much, going up them was ok but I couldn't come down those stairs, so I went for rides in the elevator.
On Saturday our show time was at 1040, but we went early so we could watch Auntie Terri show Haley her gorgeous Belgian, she is just 4 points away from her American Championship and we think she got 2 points on Saturday, and one on Sunday. She is a very pretty girl, and I got to hang out with her lots.

Then it was onto the grooming area where I endured all of the pampering that mom and dad felt I needed. Thats Auntie Barb trimming my coat. Then dad gets all decked out in his suit and its Show Time. I got 2 ribbons, First for Open Dog and a Purple and White striped one for RWD (Reserve Winners Dog) kinda like runner up in a beauty contest.

Jackie who is from Topmast was also with us, she is beautiful!!! And boy did she smell good! Her mom Auntie Barb showed my mom how to make me look even more handsome! Jackie won on Saturday, and showed so well on Sunday. She is a very busy girl and hard to keep up to!

Thats my dad in behind me on the table. He's making sure I won't jump off. Is he crazy, I would never jump from that far up!

On Sunday well its back to do it all over again...the pampering and blowing, and dad getting all dressed up again, and back in the ring. This time I got 3 ribbons, First for Open Dog, then for Winners and a Blue and White striped one for Best of Winners. Woohoo!!! We had no time to celebrate because we had to race to catch our ferry home and made it just in time. I didn't get my picture taken or and special treats till I got home.

The best part about coming home is sleeping in my own bed again. I was soooo tired after all that travelling and hard work that I just curled up and went to sleep.

Gizzy would like to thank Auntie Barb, Auntie Terri , Auntie Del, Auntie Val and of course Uncle Steve for their help, support and encouragement, before during and after the show!

I'm sure once I'm all rested I'll be ready to do it all over again. Its so much fun meeting all those other dogs!
When's the next show?
Gizzy

Today Is My Birthday!!

Mom just can't believe that I'm 5 already. Yup thats 35 in newfie years! Mom says I have come such a long way, I'm just not sure if that is a good thing. Well ok so I have grown a little in the last 5 years, and I am a wee bit heavier than I was when she got me off the airplane, I was 60lbs when I arrived at my new home and 3 months old. Now I'm 180lbs and mom can no longer carry me around. Although she does lift me in and out of the truck.

Satchie and Andrew's dad, my Uncle Steve -- the greatest guy in the whole world (sorry Dad) -- made me this great video, and I thank him so much for the warm Birthday wishes.

My vet Dr. Pam says I'm entering into my senior years. I think its more mature years myself.

For now it's time for a well deserved nap.

Gizmo