Swim, Swam, Swum..

• There is Jewel up top swimming and then Dad and me swimming. Dad says that when Jewel learns to relax and put her butt up and her head down she will do better. Dad says that I am still a natural swimmer. Dad also says that I am as bad as Oliver, TGH in my dislike of water right now. Dad said that Oliver, TGH didn't care for water at all, but once he figure the pool out he was a great swimmer in it and in lakes and ponds. Dad put every duck, buck and toy that Jewel and I love in the pool to entice us and well, we just were not having it.

Jewel and I had a good romp under the apple trees and out in the garden. We were quite gray, almost looked related to Miss Moose by the time we were done. Mom hosed us off. Jewel sure does like the hose. She thinks it is great fun. Me? Well, there have to be better poodle things to do, right? I like a good game of chase though!

Jewel and I split our time between the big kennel and the shop today. Mom mowed the back and front lawns and Dad worked on oak shelving in the the shop that he is installing in the house. Yesterday we worked outside all day with Dad working on the pool. There is this little machine that goes in the pool - Mom calls him Oscar - and he kind of freaks me out. He climbs the walls of the pool and looks like he is going to come out and get me and well, I am still a poodle pup after all, and sometimes I think he is going to come out and get me - did you get that? I think he is going to come out and get me! But Oscar always sinks back down into the pool like some white and blue monster.

I think I agree with Mom - the weekends always seem so short and there is so much for a poodle boy to do and not enough daylight!

I am Hugh

Hard work!

The last couple of Sundays have been busy...too busy for me to be inside on a computer. Last Sunday Jewel and I turned 1! We had gingersnap cookies (Moosey had the most, she stole them off the table and ripped the bag open and ate at least 12 Dad said.) and a drive in the country.

Both Jewel and I are working on our retrieving. Mom said that I have reached a stubborn stage because I am not doing what is asked of me. Jewel is retrieving better than I am right now. We had our first swim, which Mom did not get pictures of. Jewel got in the pool to retrieve a decoy, but did not do a very good job of getting out. Mom and Dad were right there to make sure the experience was not a bad one. She just needs to learn to swim, but she kind of skipped the lesson to get the bird. Next weekend Dad said that the pool will be running on the solar panels and that will be the time for both canine and human to have some lessons. Dad said that he thinks I am going to be as difficult to get to like the water as Oliver, TGH was. He said that Oliver did not want to learn to swim, but that once he did he loved it. He thinks that I have forgotten my good experiences with the pool last summer and that we are starting at scratch. He says that I have no interest in water right now. Dad says that Jewel, on the other hand, is all about water - whether it is hoses, baths or pools she is up for it. Now if she can just swim!

Today we worked out in the yard extending our kennel. Moose and Marc are staying in the house during the day right now and Jewel and I are in the kennel. Dad would like all the big dogs in the kennel and then Marcus in his own separate fancy kennel. It was hot work. Mom worked on getting the rest of the algae out of the pool. Jewel and I liked laying down in the cool fresh dirt. Needless to say, Jewel and I are both very dirty and I just had a bath with Kissty, Kissty on Friday.

Yesterday was the 4th of July. Mom does not care for fireworks of the small kind. Oliver, TGH did not like fireworks at all. Dad and Mom went over to Ashland with Miss Moose. She doesn't usually get to go on long trips since Jewel and I have been around, but Mom thought it would be nice for Moose and the fact that Moose likes every person or dog she meets and there were lots of people and kids and dogs at Tom & Shirley's yesterday. Miss Moose said she had a really good time.

When we came home though the neighborhood started with the firecrackers and just made Marcus and Mom very crabby. Marcus was so freaked out he went and hid in a corner of the bedroom by Miss Moose's bed and slept there all night. Jewel and I could not have cared less about the fireworks - this is something that Mom and Dad were very happy about.

As the summer continues Dad has all kinds of ideas about training and of course, you will hear about them here! Have a great week - I'll be poodling!

I am Hugh

Busy Day...

It was a busy day for us. We worked on getting the pool open and the water ready so that Jewel & I can swim. You might ask about the other pack members...well, Miss Moose will swim if you make her, but she is tall enough in the shallow end that she ends up walking around and Marcus does not like the water at all. He acts like you tried to kill him if Mom takes him in the pool. He won't talk to anyone the rest of the day. The pool had a frog living in it. He has been sent packing over the fence to the canal. There is a lot of algae in the bottom of the pool - more than last year Dad says. Since Dad put the shock in the pool this morning the water has cleared a lot, but we still have a few days before we can swim - plus, Dad has to get the solar panels on the shop up and going to filter the water through. The solar panels heat the water and makes the water "lovely" according to Mom.

Dad had a furlough day on Friday - so all of us poodles were out and about the yard all day. Jewel was getting groomed. Moose and I had a pretty good time. Saturday found part of our back fence broken by kids climbing on it to get to the back of our big shop to spray paint it. Mom called the Sheriff. Mom and Dad were not happy. This is the second time the shop has been painted, but the first time they have broken something to do it. Someone mentioned that we poodles were not doing a very good job of guarding. It was in the wee hours of the morning and Mom is glad that we weren't out there because she says that you just never know what people will do to an animal.

Dad and I worked on buck retrieves, but I kept getting distracted. There was some creature in the yard the night before and my nose kept getting tickled by a funky smell. Dad wasn't buying it, but Mom was because she saw the vole that was skittering across the yard. Whew! Needed some back up.

Today is Father's Day...not sure if I helped much with the yard work or made more work, but boy did I have a good time!

So maybe this next weekend I will have some pictures of Jewel and I swimming. I hope it is warm enough because it sure looks fun.

I am Hugh

Guest Blog

Since Jewel has come to live with us I thought it was only fair that she do a guest spot on my blog. (Guest spot, hear that Jujubee? Only every once in awhile!)

Hi! After a little bit of a rough start I am finally in my forever home with my "big" brother Hugh. Since he was first born and I was born 8th out of 10 AND he is 22 pounds bigger than I am so I think that I can officially call him my BIG brother - plus it makes him feel superior.

I like birds a lot just like Hugh does. I track them in the trees and in the sky. There was actually a seagull in our pool today! Dad said he though the gull was eating our frogs. Dad said that I may like birds more than Hughie! How crazy is that. Dad said that I would be good for pigeons, doves and upland game. Dad says that September, during Uncle Tom's birthday weekend in the desert, is when we will hunt grouse. I don't know what that is, but Dad said it, so it must be something I would like.

Mom thinks that I would be good at agility and is thinking hard, she said, about enrolling me in some classes. She said that I can jump like nobodies business. She also said that I am very smart and will be her fearless one. I sure am curious about most things that is for sure.

I don't know yet when I am starting bird training, but Mom has started me on obedience. She says that I am quick. The only thing I don't seem to want to stop doing is jumping up on her. She doesn't like that and I don't know why. I am little, it's not like I will knock her over or something. Mom says that if Hannah lived here I would be a perfect 4H partner for her because I am just the right size for her. Sounds like that would be fun. I sure do like kids and people.

Well, Hugh is elbowing me to get off of the computer. I am sure that Mom will arrange for me to appear again. I sure am glad to be here. Thanks First Mommy Vicki - you are the best.

Most sincerely, Autumn Shades Justa Royal Gem

Okay, I am back people. So that is Jewel, the tiny but mighty one. Yeah, she'll be back, but for now...well, we have poodle stuff to do!

I am Hugh

Training

My sister, Jewel, and I have started training together. I heard Dad say that Jewel was going to be the one to watch as she is super smart and will get bored even quicker than me. I cannot imagine that there is anyone smarter than me, but well, I suppose Dad would know. I'm just sayin'!

Watching Mom work Jewel through the patio door it looked like Jewel was having a good time. Mom worked Jewel a little with a lead on and then decided that she really didn't want to deal with that and worked her without it. Looked like it went well. Jewel can do the sit, down and walk with me by hand signal fairly well and it was only her first session! Mom's secret? When we were at the coast we picked up some blueberry organic dog treats and while I like them - Jewel is crazy about them.

While my job will be hunting, Mom is still thinking hard about Jewel and her doing agility. She said that Jewel can jump like nobodies business and she said she is really super quick. I know she is quick because she can get by me and big ol' long legged Moose hasn't been able to catch me, but Jewelly girl can! It is fun to get caught sometimes.

As soon as Mom catches Jewel up to me then they are going to start buck training. Dad said he thought it would be interesting to do tandem training and see how it goes. I don't know what that is yet, but I think it means Jewel and I get to run the field! What do you think?

Sounds like fun to me!

I am Hugh

Jewel Came Home

Well, Jewel came home. Yep, that is me and my full blood sister Jewel playing in the back yard on Wednesday. Jewel went to live in Reno, Nevada. Her new mom passed away, as did Jewel's playmate Indy. Jewel's former owner's daughter lives just down the road from my Mom. The daughter contacted Mom through her poodle rescue program. Mom said as soon as she heard the description of the dog that was or could be coming in she said every bell and whistle went off in her head and she knew it was Jewel.

It is all very sad and we imagine that the last few weeks for Jewel have not been very great. But, as Mom says, we are putting that all behind her and focusing on what her purpose will be. Dad told Mom that Jewel will fetch. He says that she brings the buck right back to him - so that is a great start for my sister. Mom has great visions of two maple poodles hunting in a field and blowing the lab competition away! Nice dream if I do say so myself!

Jewel and I recognized each other right away. Mom said she always wondered if it was possible. First Mommy said that she has a friend that is an animal behaviorist and that she said yes, we would recognize one another. Mom says we play the same. Jewel is a lot smaller than me and that gives her greater speed and she can turn tighter turns. Moosey cannot catch up with me when I focus on what I am doing, but Jewel sure can! She cannot play with me for the next 7 days though. She had an operation like the one I had but she has a lot of stitches and I was just glued back together and never knew I had an operation. Jewel knows. Mom said she is a really sweet girl. She hopes with the right food and exercise that Jewel will grow a bit. Mom said that she thinks Jewel will always be a petite Standard, maybe reaching 35 pounds if she is really muscled from training. Mom said that too many bones are very prominant on Jewel right now, but that will change quickly.

Jewel is really attached to Mom. Mom went running today and left Jewel and Dad told Mom that she sat at the door and cried for a good 5 minutes before she gave up and sat on the couch to look out the window. Marcus is not too thrilled with the attachment, but so far he hasn't tried to beat Jewel up like he does me.

Mom said that she has not had a poodle that is so cuddly since Jax died. Mom raised Jax from a little puppy, like me, and was always hauling him around. She tells me stories about him. She says that Jax was her laughter. I don't know what that means really, but I think he made her happy. Mom told Dad that while he was gone it was her and all the poodles on the bed and that Jewel and I got our positions (Jewel curled up against Mom's stomach and me against her legs) and then Marcus on the other side of her legs. A friend asked how she could sleep that way and she said that she loved it. She said she was in a pile of poodles and it was bliss!

I sure do look forward to when my sister can run with me again!

I am Hugh

Last week was a very good week for me! It was my Mom's birthday and she and Dad rented a house on the beach. I didn't know what on the beach meant, but I soon found out!!! It meant sea birds & crows to chase, it meant wind and wet paws, it meant water to chase with Dad, it meant climbing on rocks...wow, it meant ADVENTURE! They took me every where with them. I still don't really like other people much. Mom and Dad have been working hard to expose me to many different situations and people. They said they don't know what my problem is - but they are going to continue to work with Liz to get me going in the right direction instead of turning it into a bigger problem.

Dad was sick with bronchitis last week too. He had to sit up a lot so he wouldn't cough so much. At home I would usually follow him and stay with him while he watched t.v. or something. But while on vacation I decided to guard Mom when ever she was left alone. Mom said that I was taking advantage of Mom time because Marcus is always in my face if I try to spend to much time with Mom. She said I was trying to make sure not a second went by that I didn't tell her that I was there for her. Dad said he was surprised the first morning when I left him and got back into bed with Mom. I think Mom liked it though. She said she slept good - that had to do with my guarding abilities I am sure. Don't you?

I really think the ocean is pretty okay. I didn't get hit with any waves really because the tide was pretty far out according to Dad. I did have some water run over my toes a time or two that caused me to jump a little, but other than that it was just long walks to me. Mom said that I was doing typical poodle stuff though. What does she mean? Well, Mom says that poodles are picky about where they will go to the bathroom. I would not go on the beach. I would wait, even if it was a long time, until we got back to the house and I could go in the yard. I guess I am weird that way. I like to know where I am going?

I got to meet a crab! No, not my Mom, silly - a red rock crab. A fisherman caught one while he and Dad were talking crabbing and he set the crab down on the rock and I barked him good! I wasn't going to let him get my nose with those big pinchy things!

So we are home again. It is good to be home. My Mom has a few more days off to recoup (she says) from their vacation and Dad is out of town all week.

Remember when I wrote about my sister Jewel going to live in Reno? Well, it turns out her Mommy died unexpectedly and then her friend Indy died too. It was really sad. Mom got a call today from the animal search folks who call her if a poodle has been brought in or if someone is inquiring about rescue. Mom had a very weird feeling that it was Jewel. Mom said her name is now Gracie. Depending on what Dad says - Gracie Jewel may come live with us. Mom says we need another poodle like we need a hole in our heads..not sure what that means...but she follows it up with..now wanting another poodle to love and give good life to? Well, she says, that is another story entirely! Gracie Jewel may have some problems if she comes to live with us - but at least we know lots of people who can help us get the help she needs to be healthy.

I am off for a snooze with my friend Miss Moose and I am sure that Marc will tag along.

I am Hugh