This is a bit late so now we’ve had 16 months with Remy. Mostly he’s been a joy, but of course he does have his issues. We’ll start with the issues first and then get to the good stuff.

He had a couple of “incidents” with other dogs last spring, but we’re learning how to defuse situations before they arise. He tries to be dominant with some dogs, and after the first incident when he attacked our cousin’s young Lab, we took him to a behaviorist vet who worked with us on how to socialize him with other dogs. We declined to put him on doggy prozac, however, and he’s been much better in the last year.

Given this history and the fact that he doesn’t really seem to get the idea of playing with other dogs (he’s more of a sniffer), we were nervous about taking him with us at Thanksgiving where he’d be in the same house for several days with another Lab cousin. After a brief dominance tussle (a draw as far as we could tell) they became fast friends.

In late summer we took him up to a cottage on a lake in Maine for a week. We were able to keep him off leash the whole week and he got along well with the other dogs staying nearby. He had a fantastic time retrieving tennis balls from the lake. He learned to swim out to a float, and after a first push, how to climb the ladder and get up on it himself! He also enjoyed following us when we went out in our kayaks.

In October we took him up to a cabin in the Adirondacks where he got to rough it without electricity. There were several new people there and some of the attention made him a bit grumpy. However, he did enjoy accompanying people to the outhouse and he hiked up Dippikill Mountain with us, though he didn’t really appreciate the gorgeous view. Over the winter and spring we’ve checked out several nice places to hike with him from the book “Best Hikes with Dogs Boston & Beyond.”

Hi to all at NEARR!

I can hardly believe the number of years that have passed since Sailor joined us - seven as a matter of fact! He hardly qualifies for “senior” status when he’s ready to dash after a squirrel or enthusiastically greet someone coming into our home!

But he definitely displays a calm and patient manner most of the time. He still avoids water and we have ceased to wonder why, but his love for riding in our dinghy grows each season and when “Dad” takes to putting it in alongside our boat he is chomping at the bit to be right there with him! Of course he’s wearing his PDF(personal flotation device)!!

He continues to charm all those he meets, whether two or four footed! He could not be a more loved puppy and we are as charmed today as we were seven years ago when we brought him home! Thanks, NEARR - you’ve made us one happy family!! Keep doing the great things you do.

Well, time sure does fly. Since our last update, Sam’s been a busy boy…. He went to the “country house” and had a great time! He did actually get on a snowmobile. He’s a little big for it, but he tried it just the same. He had a wonderful time playing in all the snow that was there and meeting his new neighborhood friends.

He has settled in just fine. As you can see, he likes to just hang out and enjoy the sunshine or play with his toys…the larger the better! He heard the wild turkeys the other morning and didn’t quite know what to think so he decided to bark. That was fine except it was 5:00 AM! We’ll have to teach him how to tell time too! He discovered the bunnies that have taken up residence in our yard and was really good about just watching them (through the glass door) and not barking. He goes for walks everyday in the woods with the rest of the gang and is wonderful off leash.

His personality is really starting to show which has let the “real” Samson out (a/k/a happy-go-lucky goofball!) and we love it.

It seems like he’s always been part of the family, not just the last 8 weeks. So, he’s happy, healthy, and “living the life of Riley”!

Vegas had a great 8th birthday! He went on a walk with all his friends, had a special duck dinner and we all sang to him over his his birthday cake (venison and lamb jerky treats)! Tima got him a stuffed dragon for his birthday which she immediately stole for herself…she is a little selfish like that. Stanton let him sleep on the mat in front of the fire for his birthday…usually Stanton claims that spot for himself and Vegas is very respectful and won’t bother Stanton to get up. He will wait until Stanton gets up and then lay down there after he is gone. It is very cute.

He is doing well and feeling better after a long cold winter. He doesn’t like to go outside in the yard in the cold weather but he is always up for a walk in the woods. We are all excited for spring and some warmer weather!