The Dog Days of Summer are here - Puppy Socialization Begins

The line for the slide at the puppy pool

The Puppy days of summer are almost here. The happiness starts next week as the long awaited puppy socialization begins. Everyone we talk to seems to be looking forward to holding, loving and doting on these wonderful little puppies from Lily's 2nd litter. They are very lucky to be so popular because all of that love will give them a great start as they prepare to go to their new homes.

The puppies have been through the first stage of "Super Dog" training and their "Rules of 7's" exercises are nearly complete. Their development has been fun to watch and even more fun to be part of.

Now it's time to expose them to people!

We need you and your kids, grandparents, and friends from all age groups and walks of life to help us to socialize them with people. It was a great success with Lily's first litter and this exposure plays an intrical role in their development.

Each dog from her first litter went to their new home with this advantage and each has turned out to be an great, well loved dog. We look forward to seeing that success repeated and we need your help.

Beginning Wednesday July 22nd at 1:00pm, We will be bringing the puppies to the store for a couple of hours, a few times a week for this developmental therapy. We invite willing participants to come and visit with the puppies, to hold, love, and expose them to different people from all age groups. Watch our Facebook page or stop by the store to see their schedule of times. This will not be an exact science, the days and time will vary a bit to fit our own work schedule and to be sure that they aren't stressed from over stimulation. 

There is more...

We also want to use this as an opportunity to help the Fairfield Animal Shelter.

I stopped by the other day to ask what we could ask people to donate and what I found out was that there is a lot that we can do. I was given a list of supplies that will help them care for abandoned and lost animals. We intend to do our part to help and we know that we are fortunate to have a fairly affluent clientele with more means than many communities. Anything that you can contribute to the cause will be appreciated by us but more importantly by the men and women that work at the shelter along with all of the animals that have ended up in the shelter for a variety of reasons.

Gratuitous picture of a sullen looking puppy to help drive donations :)

Here is the list:

- Dry Dog or Cat Food
- Canned Dog or Cat Food
- Dog and Cat Treats
- Dog and Cat Toys
- Cat Litter
- Grooming Supplies
- Towels and Blankets
- Animal Beds
- Collars
- Leashes
- Pooper Scoopers
- Crates and/or Cages
- Flea and Tick Spray

It is a great lesson for kids to learn about helping their community and giving to those that are less fortunate.

We will have a donation box set up for the next 3 weeks and we invite everyone to help regardless of whether or not you are visiting the puppies. There is no requirement to make a donation to visit and/or handle a puppy, This is just our way of trying to help out our community. You are not obligated


"Like" us on Facebook and watch our page as we announce our "Puppy socialization" times. Come by to see them and sit and visit with them while these beautiful little puppies learn about people.

Happy 4th Birthday Lily!

 



Today is Lily's 4th birthday and she has to work...

Working is one of her favorite things in the world to do so she is a very happy girl.

In front of our beautiful girl you see her present...

It looks an awful lot like a wrapped bottle of wine.

Well, she is 28 in dog years right?

She doesn't look particularly thrilled that this might actually be a bottle of wine that Dad will take later on today and just put in the cellar.

She does seem to like the Bow though...

Well I knocked it over and there is no wine leaking out from a broken bottle...

Hmmm, maybe it isn't a bottle of wine afterall.












This is much too light to be a bottle of wine!

This is exciting... I wonder what it could be?!













Time to get down to business and get this thing open!










It is ok if I tear this open right?

Yes Lily... It is your present, Have at it!









It's a toy! It's a toy!

I love these toys... Can we go play?

Not right now Lily, We have work to do...






  
That was tough work getting my present open.  Sorry for the mess...

I can't wait to show it to the people that come in to visit me today!

Our guard dog?... A bit of a stretch if you ask me

Not that it's a problem...

I Love Sundays! -By Lily

Hi Everyone,

     For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Lily.  You may have seen me at the store with Patrick, on Sundays. He is sort of my father figure.  Dad (Patrick) found me and brought me home for Jan,(Mom) as a Christmas present a couple of years ago and our family has been a match made in heaven.  Dad has been the teacher – he’s taught me a lot of cool things.  And Mom, she really likes to love me and dote on me.

     Dad thought you might like to hear about me and asked mom to help write down some of the things I think about.  I would have done it myself but paws and keyboards don’t work well together.

     I’m a good girl, gentle and loving… I get that from Mom.  I’m also reliable and smart… Dad says I get that from him, but mom always laughs when he says that.

     I love people, so going to work on Sundays is great. By the end of the day I always go home tired but happy after greeting people all day.  Thats my job!  My favorite people are kids though, They are the same height as I am and have a lot of energy like me and I think that they give great pets and hugs.  Dad thinks it’s funny that even some of the grownups lay on the floor with me. Sometimes I think he’s a little jealous of all the attention I get.

    Moms and Dads... if you’re reading this, please bring your kids in.  I’d love to meet them. I’ll let you know what Sundays I’ll be in the store so you can bring them in to meet me.  I really Hope to see you soon!

     Mom has promised to help me if I want to write more of these so keep watching for more stories about me and my adventures at the store and around town.

     Love,

         Lily  (Woof!)      

The excitement of a collar.

 

Here Lily dons her lovely pink collar… what is so great about that semi-faded pink collar you ask? Simple, it means it is time to go and Lily is going too! That makes her very happy.

When I go get her faded pink collar she knows that she is going out and that doesn’t mean out into the yard. It means we’re leaving home and anything is possible. Maybe the beach or a walk in the woods or maybe just maybe she is going to work. She gets her tail wagging, in fact her whole body gets into the act. A quick snap  and in less than a minute her favorite accessory is on and she is ready to go.

So here she is looking as lovely as ever and is eagerly anticipating her meet and greet. She has very good manners and she loves all people Men, women, and children of all ages. If you are around town today and have the time, please stop in to say Hi!

If dogs make you nervous it is not a problem. Just let someone know when you get here and she will go quite willingly back to the office and hang out there while you do your shopping.

Such a good girl.

It's always a better day when Lily comes to work!



Saying hello to Joe today

 As the week wore on the crew started talking about the idea that it was Patrick's Sunday to work and everyone on the schedule for the day grew excited and looking forward to working. For a brief minute I mistakenly thought it was because they like to work with me and that Sundays had some how become a desirable day to work.
I was quickly reminded that what it really means is that when Patrick works on Sunday, so does Lily. She has this infectious way about her with her tail always wagging and her gentle way of sidling up next to them as she greets her co-workers for the day when they come in to work.

Soon that greeting is turned toward the customers that come in were she gets lots of love and I especially love to watch her meet the kids that come into the store with their parents. Even the most apprehensive child is soon pretty sure that she really wants to go home with them and that they have found a new best friend.

Over and over again on Sunday she is getting what she gives and that is a really genuine exchange of friendship with those that meet her. It has gotten so that on the Sundays that she is not working there are lots of questions as to why and when she will be in next. In fact during the week the question is raised over and over again about whether or not she will be in. Pretty amazing that her following has grown to be so big. It started as a one time trip to the store that was supposed to last an hour or two and is now something that people really look forward to. We may have to teach her how to sign autographs or something.

If you are out and about today and would like to come and say hi, I am sure she will win your heart too. Just look at her in the pictures, how could anyone resist?

Ps. If dogs make you nervous and would like us to move her away from you we understand completely and will give you plenty of room to shop without any problem at all. Just let us know that you are uncomfortable and we'll happily take her a safe distance away and she will not complain at all.