Let me start off by sharing some of Bailey’s favorite activities wth you. On those chilly mornings, she likes to take a nap by the fire and when it’s sunny outside just catching some rays on the deck is also relaxing. But when she’s not relaxing, she likes digging in the garden, tidying the kitchen counters of any dish towels then playing a little football with my son. In between she likes to grab a cappucino, only when there is time. :)

I can’t believe Bailey’s been with us for about 9 weeks. How far we’ve come in just a short period of time! She doesn’t get on the furniture, only gets on the window seat when she sees someone outside, doesn’t bark at me when I’m getting the dogs breakfast together, will sit, stay and look to me for the “ok” to eat, wags her tail when I talk to them, comes around looking for affection not only from us but also from our guests. My son hugged me, just this morning, (I didn’t reciprocate) and Bailey just sat there and looked at us – which is great progress since she used to get upset when we would hug each other. She doesn’t eat as much toilet paper and tissues from the powder room and doesn’t get in the trash - only because I bought a container with a lid! Now she only drools when we are sitting and eating away from the table. Also, I can prepare dinner and walk around the ktchen without her getting food from the counter. I can’t leave the room, but this is a lot better.

She loves my husband and is gentle with my son. Bailey leaves her toys quicker when my son asks for them than for me. She’s doing very well and it seems that she and Holly, our other Lab, are starting to love each other more and more.

Hard to believe it’s been three years since Mercury joined our family! We celebrate his adoption date on St. Patrick’s Day every year.

Mercury continues to be a perfect addition to our family. He is mostly mellow and always well behaved. He is still the biggest snuggle bug and still thinks he is a 20 pound lap dog, as he politely “asks” to join us on the sofa every night. We moved to Maine in July and Mercury is enjoying the more rural setting and a larger fenced in back yard. And needless to say, for anyone who remembers Mercury — he loves the SNOW!

Above all, we are so grateful that Mercury is so wonderful with our daughter, who just turned 2 this month. He is exceedingly gentle with her and always has been. And he is very respectful of her space and toys, and also quite protective. He wants to be wherever she is. The bond is mutual as our daughter loves to be around him. It is telling perhaps, that her first word, at 8 months, was “Dog”!!!

Mercury showing his growing years in his new white beard and a few white hairs in his ears and between his toes. But aside from those cosmetic signs, you’d never know he was entering doggie middle age. He’s the same old loveable spry and crazy galumph of a dog as he’s ever been.

Our best wishes to all of our NEARR friends!

I’m great. You know me……..an episode from Dr. Suess if you’ve ever seen one. Not much snow here, but alot of laughs. Mom’s parents are living here now…………………… gotta love that. Mom’s dad is a real dogaholic, just like her. I can get smooching, 24/7. Yoooooooooooooooooooo. Great work if you can get it……

I am feeling well. Still getting these acupuncture treatments every 2 months or so (I keep threatening them with that seizure thing, though I am wayyyyyyyyyyyy past that….. but the saddy eyes get me alot of mileage……..)

My coat is a bit “Vermonty”, though Mom promises me a makeover soon.

Crazily yours,

Emmie The Wonder Dog

Note: This is Bailey, the male yellow lab

Bailey has had a great second week. He seems to be settling in nicely. He’s such a wonderful dog! He, Eamon and Luke (all the “kids” are getting along great. He enjoys taking walks in the woods and hiking trails across from our house. I can honestly say that there have been no problems.

(Note: this Bailey is the female chocolate lab)
Here is my update on Bailey. She spent a second weekend at the kennel and did very well. She was very happy to be home. There was an extra spring in her step! She is a smart dog and has caught on quickly. Once in a while, when she is stressed, all of her bad habits come back. Mostly we do not see them. Except for the counter surfing. This coming weekend we are going to have a house full of people and it will be interesting to see how she handles the stress.

Bailey has also settled into family life. She enjoys her bed and when she is tired she heads to bed. Bailey has started to initiate affection with us whereas before we’d go to her. She use to hang her head, ears and tail all the time but now her tail is up and wagging, she looks up and makes eye contact with us and her ears are perked up. She’s learning to play fetch with all of her toys and not just the tennis balls. Also when she steals something she doesn’t run and hide.

Holly really loves Bailey and Bailey enjoys Holly. Bailey still plays rougher than I would like but I correct them when they are playing in the house.

We are going to start beginner obedience classes in April. Looking forward to working with her on a more regular basis outside of the home. It should be good bonding time for us.

It’s been a good week and we are seeing progress. We’re learning more about her personality and are able to tailor our training. I must say that I am truly delighted in Roxy’s accomplishments this week. She’s learning the house rules and has begun looking toward S. and I for approval. A friend said she has that puppy look in her eyes as if to say, is this the right way Mom? She’s still a barker and boy does she love to express herself! Except for alerting us when someone/thing comes up the drive we are working hard to teach her the rest is not allowed. Progress here is measured in baby steps but we’ll get there.

We’re (including our dog walker) spending extra time on socialization and it’s paying off big time. Walking her this weekend has been so much fun. Roxy’s starting to relax and enjoy the sight and smells and worry less about who might be around the next bend. There has even been a change in the tone of her bark when meeting other dogs. She and Ringo are learning to be pals. They’ve even starting playing together for short periods of time, one or the other initiating, without S. or I being in the room which is great to see and hear. Roxy still has issues with the cat (Smokie). I think it’s a dominance thing. For sure the cat will not let Roxy be the boss and Roxy has not given up trying. We’re working on it.

We have a vet appointment next weekend. I believe that Roxy is in good health. She’s either lost some weight or her body is toning with all the exercise. She’s developed a cute svelte shape.

Attached are some pictures. The one with her sitting on the chair cracks me up! She’s trying to be so cool but can’t help but look at the camera. She’s also discovered the joy of stuffed animals.

Time flies when you have a one year old Lab…. they tend to keep you pretty busy ….Zeus is now use to the routine around here and has things pretty much figured out,my wife and I walk the dogs everyday for about an hour and Brandy and Zeus do about mach-2 thru the fields chasing and picking on one another,it’s a ball to watch,it’s like two deer running,and you best be out of their way when they head back to you or you just become a bowling pin,about to get knocked over ! ….He’s also Tennis ball nut !!! If you throw it ,he will bring it back,over and over and over,I have resorted to a tennis racket (my arm is shot,and rope /tennis ball toys I make to get the tennis balls as far away as I can to tire him out) …..he has more energy that the energizer bunny ever thought of having.

Zeus has been thru part 1 of a 2 part class”Thoughtfull owner,Gracious Dog” course,it’s a neat course ….and my wife and I enjoyed it a lot,for my wife it was a better understanding of how to communicate with the three dogs we have,so the classes just aren’t for Zeus,they are for “All” of us….Zeus is handfull at times,but we love the labs so much,I could not imagine this house without him ….

Here’s a pic of Zeus again at the end of our walk today ,Brandy is in the front ,and Zeus is in the background……what a handsome male labrador !

I am writing to inform you all that it will be a year that I have had Lucy! She is doing very well. I will send more photo’s soon. Cozmo and my boyfriend have moved in with Lucy and I. Lucy loves Cozmo! They get along so well. Lucy’s paws are in tip top shape, not one single problem at all! She will be going to the vet March 13th for her yearly visit. I am sure they may suggest she loose a couple of pounds. She sleeps with us and is such a cuddle button. Thank God for king size mattresses! Lucy’s routine along with Cozmo consist of (Monday-Friday) 5am out for business then they come back in for breakfast, then around 6:20 am it’s chuckit til about 6:45 am then I usually leave around 6:55 am so they can get some shut eye. I usually get home around 4:20 pm! We play chuckit til about 4:50 pm. Then I usually take Lucy and Cozmo on their leashes for a walk. They walk like charms well behaved beautiful girls! That way they know I am still boss and they get a change of scene! It’s about 20-30 minutes! I usually give them dinner when we come back. Then I let them chill for a while. They are usually so tired after all that! We go back out around 7-7:30 pm for another round of chuckit for about 20 minutes! By then they are ready for bed! The weekends they are with me as long as I am not working or going to the mall or any place unsafe! I love Lucy so much if you saw her and I together you could see it, how well we have bonded and our unconditional love! I am so lucky! My days at work no matter what kind it is or was knowing when I open that door she will be there waiting and happy as anything! Knowing that makes any day I had a happy ending! Thanks again for letting me be her mom!

(Note: Bailey is the yellow male lab)
We just wanted to update you on Bailey. He’s a such a great dog! We’re all having so much fun with him and he seems to have adjusted just fine. He had his first vet visit yesterday and it went well. Dr. C. gave him a clean bill of health, He’s 103.8 lbs, down from 107 lbs. He and Luke have become good buddies as well. We’re so pleased with him and our with experience with NEARR. Thanks to everyone. I’ll be in touch next week.