Monday, July 31st, 2017

Grace had another five-star day with us at Tails & Trails! She was happy to relax with me in the cool air conditioning of the indoor playroom after her morning walk. I set up the treat puzzle on the floor and Grace eagerly nosed around and pawed at the compartments in search of the cookies hidden within. Once she was finished, Grace came and sat at my feet to show off her tricks. She laid down on the floor when I asked and gobbled up her reward. Next, Grace gave me a paw, but instead of just waving one at a time, Grace placed both of her paws in my hand, sitting back on her bum! She’s so funny. We spent the remainder of our time together on the big mattress, where I gave Grace a back rub and lots of ear scratches. After her extra attention time, we hit the yard for another group outing with her friends. Grace raced around with her buddy Cooper as well as Finnigan, a friendly Doodle who joined us for daycare today. Finnigan and Cooper loved to chase the toys across the yard, while Grace chased after them! She did stop to play with the Wiggly Giggly ball that makes the funny noises as it moves, and she batted it around with everyone at attention next to her. After lots of play, Grace dipped her paws in the pool to cool off.

Finnigan enjoyed his morning walk before the heat set in this morning, alongside his daycare pals Sammy and Tanner. During outdoor group time, Finnigan wasted no time before flying out to the yard and dipping his toes in the pool as it filled with fresh cool water. He came back to the pool in between play sessions to lay down and shake off before running back to join his friends. Finnigan loved playing with Cooper, a fellow Doodle, and Grace the Beagle mix since both his friends loved to run and play with toys, which we all know are two of Finn’s favourite things. He raced and raced as fast as he could around the yard with Grace but stopped here and there to chase after Cooper and the toys that I was throwing across the yard. Finn never turns down a chance at fetch!

Bella and Jake are always full of smiles and excited energy when they visit us for daycare, and today was no exception! Bella raced outside into the yard beside Jake and looked up at me with that adorable little grin of hers. Jake bounced along beside his sister with his ears flapping up and down as he ran. I coaxed them over to the agility jump and Bella was more than ready to fly over the bar over and over again, while Jake decided to hang out nearby and watch instead. Bella and Jake followed me out into the adjacent yard after many rounds of jumping, and stopped to have a look at the new ball on the ground. I batted it around with my foot to show them that it makes a funny sound when it moves, and they both tiled their heads from side to side at the sound. Once they’d poked around at it for a minute, Bella and Jake left the ball to go for a sniff around in the grass together. 

Annie and Zen were all smiles when they greeted us this morning upon arrival. They were anticipating their trail walk knowing well enough that we would be gearing them up soon to head out; they certainly know the routine around here. Now they were ready to join Husky pals Herzog and Koning for a play session outside. They remembered how much fun they had with them last week and were thrilled to see them again. The four of them excitedly chased one another around the yard and Annie and Zen loved running circles in around their new Husky friends. They certainly got to run their energy out today, it was such a beautiful hot day and as much fun as they had outside with their friends, they were just as thankful to head back in for an afternoons rest in their cool air-conditioned kennel. A quick rest later and they were ready to head back outside to do it all over again! 

Tanner and Sammy were the daycare pals of their group today; its been a couple of weeks since I’ve seen their sweet faces and they came prepared to play today! It was a beautiful morning for a trail walk and together they enjoyed a lovely trot along the field path. It was super hot by the time they headed back outside and this time they were joined by lots of playful friends. Sammy raced Aussie siblings Quinn and Lola out into the far grassy yard, but Mr. Tanner stayed close to my side and helped me get ready to fill the pool. He is such a cuddly guy and never wants to miss out on the opportunity for human interaction. He was great company as we filled the pool and this got the attention of Sammy. She raced after Quinn and Lola and the three of them spent some time splashing around in the pool and played a few rounds of fetch with Golden friends Tucker and Charlotte.




Pictures for Monday, July 31st - Click here!

Sunday, July 30th, 2017

Titan could hardly wait to start his day off with a walk alongside his friends Mia and Mollie. He led the way as the three of them raced for the door, bounced through the yard and immediately got to work exploring the trail. For the most part, Titan was racing ahead and keeping up the pace, although occasionally he got distracted by a scent in the grass and would slam on the brakes to check it out. After that it was time for his group! Titan trotted around the yard and greeted all of his friends. He made sure to spend extra time saying hello to me and enjoying some cuddles, before he wandered off to sniff around by the fence. Titan poked his head in the tunnel and went through with a bit of encouragement, although instead of running directly through it Titan just turned around in the middle and went back out the way he came. He couldn't seem to figure out that there were two exits! Next, Titan went to see what a group of his pals were doing in another part of the yard. They were all climbing through the mud and since everybody had dirty feet, I decided to get the pool set up so they could rinse off. Titan happily jumped in with the rest of the dogs. He was content to just stand there and enjoy the water, while being thoroughly soaked by Quinn, who was splashing around like crazy. This got the group wound up and had Titan chasing after Quinn and Lola in no time. It was so warm however that he quickly returned to the pool, this time with Tucker to keep him company. After wading around in the water for a bit longer, the dogs headed to the main yard to keep everybody relatively dry and clean for the last few minutes. Titan was more than happy for a back scratch before we headed inside!

Nymeria was bursting with excitement when I showed up with a leash. She was bouncing around at the thought of going for a walk and tried her hardest to sit still while I got her ready. We then went to get her friends Herzog and Konig, who were just as happy to say hello to Nymeria. The three of them had a fairly peaceful walk, enjoying some time to themselves as they wandered in different directions to sniff around. Towards the end, however, Nymeria got herself wound up and was pouncing on both of the boys. Lucky for her, it was soon time for groups and she had the best playmate: Vega! The two husky girls made a beeline for each other, with Nymeria tumbling around while Vega leaped over her. They started things off by having a good old wrestling match, which ended up with Vega sitting on top of Nymeria, who wriggled around until she was free and then bolted for the tunnel. They had such a blast chasing each other through, around and over the tunnel. At one point, Nymeria found a long stuffy and this of course meant a game of tug-of-war. When Nym managed to wrestle the toy away from Vega, they were soon racing all over the yard again. Vega stealthily took the toy when Nymeria wasn't paying attention, and carried it over to the pool, where she happily placed it in the water. The girls waded around in the pool for a while, and then Nymeria trotted off with her now very soggy stuffed toy while Vega was distracted. It didn't take long before the toy had ended up in somebody else's paws, so Nym returned to the pool. She splashed around with Sky and then noticed that Vega and Justice were chasing each other around. Nymeria couldn't stand to be left out so she went flying out of the pool, dove through the tunnel and was on their tails in seconds. Soon they were out of breath and ready for a nap.

Grace had a great day out in the sun with all her friends! She was so happy to get out in the yard this morning and ran around on the grass with her Beagle pals Coco and Timbits. She had so much fun during her walk and loved checking out all the new smells in the field now that the hay has been bailed up. After her walk she had a nice time relaxing inside, and got comfy on the big armchair up front in the reception area. During playtime she got right in on all the action and played a game of chase with her pals Mikka and Cooper. Those three had so much fun tumbling around in the grass together. When she got tired, Grace came over and relaxed in the shade for a little while and got a scratch behind the ear. She also enjoyed exploring under the picnic table and the play structure with all of the Beagles—what a busy day!  
Grace was very happy to join me in the reception area for her extra attention this morning. She wandered around to explore, which mostly meant poking her nose into every crevice she could find! After I got her some treats, she quickly focused on me instead of the room and showed off her manners by sitting, laying down and offering me a paw. Grace hopped up on one of the chairs to enjoy her treats, and lounged around for a bit while I cuddled with her. She then noticed the puppy in the groom room and bounced up to the door to say hello through the grass.

Mikka a little ball of energy today! She was so excited to get out in the yard this morning and started up a lively game of chase with her friends Cooper and Grace. They tore around the yard together at top speed and then rolled around on the grass during their very energetic start to the day. Cooper and the little Yorkie, Obi joined Mikka, during her walk and they had a blast together. Obi was always trying to keep up with Mikka and Cooper while they ran up ahead and tumbled around in the grass. Mikka was very curious today, she was running all over the place and jumping towards any sounds in the long grass—she is such a cutie! During playtime, Mikka took a special liking to a little red stuffed bird and ran all over the yard, making sure whoever chased her didn’t get it. Her and Cooper ran around and around chasing after whoever got the toy. Eventually, Mikka retreated to the shade under the play structure where she sat with the toy and relaxed for a bit. Mikka is so sweet, and always so much fun to have around—she brings fun with her wherever she goes!



Pictures for Sunday, July 30th - Click here!

Saturday, July 29th, 2017

Boy did Coco and Timbits ever have an eventful day today! The two of them had energy like you wouldn't believe and were ready to go outside and play when I took them out for their group. Coco went zooming down the hall and immediately ran to the far yard with Timbits following very shortly behind her. They began greeting all their friends until a race ensued in the yard. Timbits darted towards the game of tag with Coco hot on his heels. Soon enough they were both completely jumbled in the game. They spent time chasing after their friends but they always ended up play tackling one another. It was a pretty fair play tackle today, both Coco and Timbits spent a good chunk of time being on top of the match. After a little bit more running, Coco was ready to join me for some treats. I have her showing off her moves by jumping over the agility jump. She did a wonderful job and caught the attention of Timbits. After a couple seconds it had turned into a competition; both Coco and Timbits continuously jumped over the agility jumped for a few treats. Next up was the pool. Timbits led the way but once he got to the pool he wasn't so sure he was ready to get wet. However, once I threw a toy in, he quickly followed. Coco stayed on the outside of the pool but loved keeping her brother company. After a few minutes of cooling down had passed, these two were back out in the yard chasing one another. They ventured all over the place and decided to spend the rest of their time exploring part of their new yard. What a wonderful day!

Grace was the life of the party today during all of her outdoor play groups! As soon as I went to get her out of her kennel I knew it was going to be a fun play group because she was already bouncing off the walls. Grace flew by me and ran right out the door. She was greeted by two of he friends that were ready to play. Grace took to the yard with Cooper and Mika in a speedy race. The three of them were running all over the place while Grace was in the lead. She led them through all of the yards, the play structure and even spent a bit of time running through the agility tunnel. This race quickly turned into a fun play tackle between the three of them. Grace always seemed to be in the middle of everything no matter what her friends were doing! To finish off her group time, she hopped into the pool too cool off for a little while. I went over to visit her as well as give her a little head rub. When it came to Grace's extra attention time she was just ecstatic! Grace had her nose going absolutely everywhere today. She led me all around the front field with her head down and nose in the grass. Grace was very interested in all of the smells but especially the ones over in the long grass. She kept poking her head every so often to take in a big whiff and then she would race to her next spot of interest. Grace and I finished up her extra attention time with some treats inside. Grace showed off how she could do an excellent job of sit and lay down for a few treats. 

Titan had a blast with all his pals today! He was so eager to get out in the yard, and immediately started running around at top speed with his friends Lola and Quinn. Those three were a very excited bunch this afternoon! They would all jump in the pool together and then leap out and tear around the yard some more. After he got tired, Titan came over looking for some cuddles in the shade and hung out with buddy Gracie and I for a little bit. He was in a very curious mood today and was jumping up on everything and checking stuff out. He also got up on the play structure, one of his favourite spots, and was quickly joined by Gracie, Lola and Quinn. He splashed around in the pool for a while and flashed his big smile—he had so much fun playing in the sun today! Titan was ready to go go go when it came to his extra attention time. We started off in the front reception time as I gave Titan a few treats. He was quite excited to hop up into the big comfy chair and wait for the treats. I also gave him a good head scratch at the same time. After he had eaten the treats, Titan was ready to explore. We went to his favorite spot ever, the creek! He led the way and the two of us hopped in. Titan's nose started going crazy with all of the creek smells. He sniffed along the top of the water, in the grass on the side of the creek and some of the taller plants growing around it. He was so funny because sometimes he'd completely plunge his face right into the water and then look up at me with a big wet smile, silly guy. 

Riley and Roobee were very excited to get out in the yard this morning, and had a lot of fun playing and relaxing with their friends! We filled the pool up this afternoon and Riley was very curious. He came over to give the water a little sniff before deciding to hang back with Roobee and his friend, Gracie. Roobee was all over the yard today, checking everything out and saying hello to all the other dogs. Then they both came over for a scratch behind the ear before heading off and exploring again. They both got very interested in a bug that was buzzing around in the grass and followed it for a little while, jumping after it when it took off over their heads—these two are so sweet!

Gracie had so much fun tearing around the yard with her friends today, and was her sweet self as always! She was very curious about the pool we had filled up, and even though she didn’t jump in she stayed right around the action and hung out right in the splash zone. She had a blast playing with her friends Lola and Quinn today. The three of them would chase after each other in the yard and tumble around on the grass together—it was so cute! When Gracie was all tired out, she came over to the shade and gave me the big happy smile of hers. We sat in the grass together and she got a cuddle and a scratch behind the ear before it was time to head in.

Walker had a great day out in the sun running around with all his friends. He was very excited about the pool we had set up, and jumped in right away! He was the life of the party this afternoon as he splashed around and played chase with everyone.  He was also looking to play fetch this afternoon, and would chew on the ball for a bit before bounding after it when it was thrown. Walker and Riley were best buds today and followed each other everywhere. Walker never missed out on any of the action today and played so nicely with all the dogs—he was lots of fun to have here today!


 Saturday, July 29 pictures - Click here!

Friday, July 28, 2017

Millie was full of beans today! She was ready to play even during her walk this morning, and she and Chloe the St. Bernard mix play-bowed and ran around together on the trail. Millie couldn’t wait to get out into the yard to play with her group, and she found a great partner in Kishka the Husky mix. Millie and Kishka wrestled and ran back and forth all around the yard together. Kishka would pounce on Millie, who would then roll over and paw up at her friend playfully. They made the funniest pair! Kishka eventually took a turn playing with Chloe, while Millie came to see me for a little treat and a pet on the head. Millie had a blast this afternoon when her and I spent some extra time together. We started with the treat puzzle. Millie was very good at finding the little treats but her short little nose was almost too short to get them out! I helped her out a bit and moved them around so she could get them. Once she was done, we went for a little stroll outside and Millie explored in the long grass and on top of the little hill. When we were making our way back inside, Millie paused on the walk way to take a little break and cool off while laying on the cool stones. I took some lovely photos of her as she was sitting in front of the flowers. Shortly after that she was full of beans again and we played tug-of-war with the fox toy.

Poppy’s last day of her boarding stay couldn’t have been better! She met two smaller doodles at walk time, and enjoyed their similar personalities and energy. Poppy and her new friends Missy and Chase enjoyed their stroll on this beautiful Friday morning. She was all smiles out in the yard today and had a little extra pep in her step. Poppy greeted all of her pals, but was happiest when I was petting her and giving her lots of attention. She even hopped up on her hind legs and gave me some hugs! She’s just the sweetest girl and I’m certainly going to miss her! 

Poppy and I spent lots of time cuddling in the early afternoon. She was very excited to spend her extra attention time up in the reception area. Her first move was to jump onto the big comfy couch and wait for some pets and attention. I pet her head and she leaned over in the chair, resting her head on the arm. She then got a little curious and ventured over to the desk, sniffing around the chairs. I followed her and here is where she lied down and rolled over onto her back, which was her polite way of asking for a belly rub. I rubbed her belly and told her how pretty she was. It looked as though she was slowly dozing off- what a cute girl! Poppy then sat up and I gave her a little treat, with a few more snuggles.

Chloe must have saved up all of her energy this week especially for daycare today! She was the life of the party in her group, that’s for sure. Chloe started off playing around with her friends Finnigan the doodle and Charly the Golden, who were all fussing over their favourite toy in the yard. She eventually decided to switch gears and have some fun wrestling with a great partner, Kishka the Husky mix. Chloe and Kishka flew back and forth across the yard at top speed, occasionally toppling over and rolling in the grass. After plenty of laps around the yard, Kishka decided to take a break, while Chloe went back over to see what Finnigan and Charly were up to under the play house. Chloe wiggled her way in the play house beside Finnigan and tested the waters to see if she could snag the toy. Finnigan was too quick though, so Chloe ended up having a little rest in the shade under the play house.

Finnigan was a lucky guy and participated in two different groups of dogs today! He played many rounds of fetch with his good friend Charly the Golden, who always seem to wind up together when there are toys around. He spent some time playing with the red toy, which has become his favourite lately. After a quick rest inside, Finnigan was back at it with another bunch of daycare friends, including Anja the Husky. Finn and Anja were two peas in a pod and raced across the yard together, zipping in and out of the tunnel, only stopping to wrestle mid-chase. Eventually Finnigan branched off from the race when he spotted a new toy – the Wiggly Giggly ball, that makes funny noises when it moves. Finnigan’s focus was locked on this new gem for the rest of his outing!

Boris, Tasha and Anja all met up for another day of family daycare fun! They each spent a bit of time exploring the yard, since we were in a different one than when they were here earlier this week. They also had some new friends to greet, including another Ancient Moon family member, Isis. Once one Husky started to run they were all off to the races! Boris, Tasha and Anja whipped across the yard and flew in, out and over the tunnel so quickly it was hard to tell who was who! They did huge laps around the yard over and over until it was time for a break. Anja went to tackle Finnigan the Doodle, while Boris and Tasha said hello to Resa and Julie, a couple of smaller girls who joined their group today. Resa liked Boris very much, and immediately play-bowed and danced around him. Anja caught a glimpse of a potential opportunity to play, and ran over to join the fun! 

Gracie absolutely had the best time in the yard today; in fact I don’t think I have ever seen her play that hard! It was our resident Redheaded Husky Vega that brought out her silly side. Gracie was whipping around the yard alongside Dougie and Charlotte after Vega. Gracie was quick too, which comes as no surprise as she is such an agile girl! Vega was being mischievous and was digging a hole in the ground and this got Gracie all excited, she ran over and started rolling around on her back to cover the hole that Vega was digging to get her attention. Then just like that they were off chasing one another around the yard again! The first thing Gracie looks for during her extra attention time is the treat puzzle! It's her favourite, solely for the reason that she loves little treats! I put some tiny liver pieces in there and it didn't take her long to get them all. After that and some pets and kisses, the two of us went outside for a few minutes and walked around in the grass. After getting some fresh air, I followed Gracie on the leash back inside, where she was ready to show off her tricks. She first gave me a paw a few times, altering paws each time. Afterwards, she sat down for me and then lied down. I got her to roll over and she was rewarded with a big treat! We tried to sit pretty again today but Gracie was being pretty goofy and kept giving me her paws. Instead of one, she placed both of her front paws in my hand, expecting to be rewarded big time for being so cute!

Dougie expended all of his energy during his group today; as usual he was off chasing Charlotte the Golden in and out of the agility tunnel! He was just as excited as Gracie was to have Vega around! He didn’t stop moving from the moment he entered that yard. Towards the end of group, he was all tongue hanging out the side of his mouth from running so much! Pals Riley and Titan joined forces with Dougie and the three of them tried to outrun one another to see who could catch up to Vega first! Boy was Dougie ever excited to come explore the front field with me for his extra attention time. The two of us took off into the field and Dougie immediately led me where he wanted to go. Funny enough, we ended up over by the puppy pen which we have set up out front. He just couldn't stop sniffing every square inch of it. After staying there for a while, Dougie and I were ready to explore further. We had plenty of fun frolicking in the longer grass as Dougie kept exploring. Soon after, we were ready to go back inside for some cuddles. I got Dougie to show me all sorts of tricks before giving him a long belly rub. 

It was so nice to see both Titan and Riley in such playful moods this morning! I always knew they both have a very playful side in them, but depending on who they are paired with, the extremely playful side can come out and today was that day! I’ve never seen Riley move so fast in my entire life, he had such a good time play bowing and chasing after Cooper the yellow lab! They became fast friends today! Roobee really enjoyed watching her silly brother run around the yard today. She happily followed right behind him so she didn’t miss anything and even enjoyed dodging all the moving bodies! She found a safe spot by my feet where she could have a front row seat to the show and get head rubs at the same time! Riley and Roobee couldn't have been happier to join me up in the front reception when it came time for their extra attention. As soon as they got up there, they sat waiting patiently for me as they knew it was time for the treat puzzle! Riley was completely ecstatic to see me filling up the puzzle with all sorts of treats. He raced right over and started working at getting the treats as soon as he could. Roobee decided that she'd rather show off her tricks for a few treats instead. She did a lovely job of showing me how she could give me a paw, sit as well as lay down every so often. To finish off their extra attention time, the three of us snuggled up by the big comfy chair. Roobee sat in the chair by my side while Riley lay down on the floor as I gave him a good head rub. 

Titan was all smiles this morning as he himself whipped around with all of his friends. He would excitedly follow the moving pack and always made sure to keep one eye on Vega so he could leap after her on she took off. Titan is such a social boy and loves to be in such a great company and today he was surrounded by such fun-loving pals! He even ran over a few times when I called his name so he could take a few breaks from the chase and get a few cuddles. Titan had lots of fun during his extra attention session! He joined me in the reception area, where we shared a few cuddles and I gave Titan lots of pets and rubs. Titan then gave the treat puzzle a try, and he loved it! He got his little nose into all the tiny spaces and licked up the treats as fast as possible! After, Titan and I walked to the steam on the back trail where Titan went for a big swim. He went as far as his leash would allow down into the water and then tried going down the other side. He kept dipping his nose into the water and then looking to see if there was anything there again-silly guy! We walked back through the field and Titan was being super energetic, trying to leap up at a butterfly that was flying by.  

Annie and Zen got to meet some new faces today! They were paired with Stella the Shepherd and Husky pals Herzog and Koning. Everyone ran over to Annie and Zen when they leaped into the yard, they were definitely the centre of everyone’s attention and they wanted to see if they could entice them to play. Well you don’t have to do much enticing to get Zen to play, she took Stella up on the offer to wrestle and they both started whipping around the yard. Stella even got Annie up on her feet to dance. Annie really enjoyed the company of both Herzog and Koning and the five of them ended up making the most enjoyable and energetic group!

Daycare pal Bailey and Mikka were the best of friends today, I was not surprised since these two little ones share such spunky and playful personalities. They were nearly inseparable from the moment they both stepped outside. They were literally rolling around on top of one another all along the grassy yard. I could barely break their attention away they were having so much fun. They eventually made their way over to the play structure in the opposite yard and continued their wrestle there. Little Barb the black lab puppy joined them and they were pleased to have a third wrestling partner! To no surprise, these two were the last ones to come in, they couldn’t get enough of one another, and luckily they had the rest of the day to spend together!

Grace had another day filled of fun in our care. She is such a great addition to the small-dog group and actually came at the perfect time since we have so many beagle friends for her to play with including regulars Coco and Timbits. She hit it off right away with Timbits and the two of them had a great time together. She is also one of the most photogenic dogs, every time I called her name, she would look up at me with those great big eyes of hers and smiling from ear to ear! She got really excited when Charly the Golden joined their group towards the end; Grace loved chasing after Charly as Charly chased after the ball with Cooper. It was an action packed morning for Grace and the day only just begun! Grace sped down the hallway and into the front reception to start off her extra attention time. The two of us spent some time playing with the treat puzzle to start off. I had to show Grace where a few of the treats were hidden at first but she soon caught on and was able to find the rest of them. We then headed outside for a bit of exploring. Grace led the way as her nose was in pursuit of a good scent. She led me all the way to the creek. Grace wasn't so sure about dipping her paws in but she knew that she wanted to sniff around the water. So instead of jumping in, Grace walked along the grass while dipping her nose as close as she could to the water. She was surprised by a few frogs that jumped in front of her but it only made her more interested. We spent the rest of our time together by the creek as Grace continued to explore. 

The most favorite time of the day for Roxy and Trixie has to be their morning trail walk. If you could even call it a walk, they spent most of their time rolling around on their backs in pure happiness! These notorious rolls continued a little while later when they were out with the small dog group. It was a large group of small ones today and Roxy and Trixie were thrilled to have all the company! They ran and they played and they rolled all morning long. Not to mention the amount of cuddles they got when I called them over, nothing but beautiful smiles for these two! 

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Thursday, July 27th, 2017

Titan was quite spunky today. He was so excited to meet so many new friends, mostly daycare mates. He was instantly drawn to Spencer, and eagerly began to follow him around. Without hesitation, Spencer turned around and play bowed to him. The pair set off on a brief chase before Titan broke away to sniff and explore. Along the way he came across Riley, who he was very interested in as well. Titan frolicked around with Riley before once again splitting off to sniff and explore. Titan loved having access to all four of the main yards, providing him with a lot of area to investigate. Titan kept quite busy between sniffing, and running along with all the games going on around him. In between the action he was sure to meet up with me to be pet and cuddled. Titan knew exactly what time it was this afternoon when I went to retrieve him for his extra attention time. We went for a little walk to the creek, where Titan loves to wade and splash in the water. He was happy to just hang out there for as long as possible, so that's exactly what we did!

Gracie was full of beans today and it was so much fun to watch her enjoying every minute of her outdoor time. She was so keen to get into the second portion of the main yard and begin exploring. She was very quick with her sniffing and exploring so that she could get in on the fun asap. She was so intrigued by Charlotte zipping and zooming through the agility tunnel. This instantly sparked her energy level up and she began looping around the tunnel, asking Charlotte to come out. Charlotte quickly caught on to the game, and continued to taunt Gracie from inside the tunnel. Eventually, Charlotte zoomed out one end, starting a massive chase. Gracie was right in on a fast chase with Charlotte, Dougie and Teddy. She was sure to keep up with the fast-paced action as they looped around all the yards. Finally, the whole crew settled down and Gracie took off to do some more sniffing and exploring. She was keen to do some digging as well as laying down and rolling in the fresh grass. Gracie is always full of smiles, and was sure to share her positive attitude with all her friends and myself. Gracie loves her one-on-one time, and couldn't wait to dig into the treat puzzle again today. She pawed away and opened all the little compartments for her liver treats, and quickly turned to me for maybe one more! I had her show off all her tricks before offering her one more snack.

Dougie had so much fun in his group today. He seems to be everyone’s best friend. Dougie was very interested in his newest group mate, Teddy. Thursdays always bring lots of new daycare faces, which keeps Dougie quite busy. Teddy and Dougie both love to run, and chase, which caused some confusion for the pair in the yard. They both wanted to chase one another, and couldn’t decide who would take the lead. After some taunting, they finally ended up running in a very fast paced tight circle. Both boys thought they were chasing, rather than leading, which worked out well. Teddy loved Dougie's outgoing, fast paced energy. These two were so occupied throughout their entire outdoor time. Charlotte and Gracie got the pairs attention when they were racing in and out of the tunnel too. IT wasn’t long before Dougie and Teddy were looping in and out of the tunnel, trying to catch Charlotte or pounce on Gracie. The foursome quickly became inseparable and they spent a lot of time together. Towards the end of play time, both Dougie and Teddy tired out. Dougie was keen to then hang out with me and be pet and cuddled while Teddy sniffed and explored the yard. Dougie was so excited to get out for his extra attention time later. He must have come across 10 frogs along our trail walk, which kept him very focused. He lead me to the creek where he waded about, hunting out more reptiles. Dougie loves the cool fresh water along with all the nice plants. We enjoyed one another’s company on the bridge where he lay down and rested his head on my lap where he happily accepted bundles of pets and cuddles.

Riley is such a handsome boy. He was so thrilled to get out in the yard and have access to all four areas. Roobee wasn’t far behind him as he set off to sniff and explore. Roobee is always sure to keep a close eye on Riley as he investigates and plays around. Riley was quick to find friends in the yard after his sniffed around. He loved Titan and Spencer right off the bat. Riley frolicked around with these boys, dancing and prancing and swatting his paws at their sides to get their attention. When they gave in to him, Riley loved ripping around the yard with them hot on his heels. After some zooming around Riley met up with myself, and Roobee. He spotted me kneeling down snuggling into Roobee and was sure to get in on the action. The duo spent the rest of their outdoor time nearby me, nosing in the grass and then making their way to my side whenever they spotted I was available.

Riley and Roobee had a fantastic extra attention session with me this morning; full of treats, cuddles and walks, it was the perfect way to start their day. To start we headed outside towards the creek along the back trail. It was such a beautiful morning and they enjoyed the warm sun and cooling their feet off in the creek. After a quick dip, we headed back inside for some treats and cuddles. Roobee found a comfy spot by my feet and enjoyed some head scratches. Meanwhile Riley had his whole head dug into the toy box and came out with the treat ball!

Cai was such a snuggle bug today. He could hardly wait to get by my side and nuzzle against my leg. I love cuddling Cai since he is so soft and fluffy. After Cai soaked up oodles of attention, he wandered off to check out the yard. Along the way, he came across Dougie who was keen to play with him. Cai took his time to sniff Dougie, and get to know him, before playing with him. Dougie was happy to wander around with Cai for a bit before asking to play. Finally the pair got into some bouncing and playing. They had their tails wagging about with smiles on their faces. Dougie got distracted, which left Cai in the yard to sniff some more. Cai was sure to meet up with every dog in his group and say a polite hello throughout his outdoor time. He was keen to see Nicki come out in the yard and get some attention from her too, before heading back inside for an afternoon nap.

Spencer found a new favourite toy in the yard today. The newly donated Wiggly Giggly ball, was an absolute hit to Spencer. Spencer is a toy lover, as we all know, so I wasn’t surprised to see him batting it around. It makes very funny noises as it rolls around, which sparked not only his interest but all the dogs around him. All his friends were listening in as he pawed it around the yard. He finally figured out how to get a hold of it in his mouth and began running around with his new prized possession. Numerous dogs tagged along after him, attempting to get in on the toy fun, but he wasn’t keen on sharing his new toy. Finally after lots of fun with his ball, he left it in the grass to join in on some fun. Spencer caught a glimpse of Charlotte darting through the tunnel and immediately was drawn to the action. He had so much fun running through the tunnel after her and then chasing Gracie and Charlotte around the yard. After some fast-paced action, Spencer took off on his own to play with a frisbee. He was happy when I tossed it with him a few times before he lay down and gnawed on it until we returned indoors.

Roxy and Trixie loved their group today. There were many new faces to meet and many new areas to sniff. After they sniffed and explored all around the yard, Roxy made her way to me looking for some love and attention. When I knelt down in the grass, Roxy’s eye’s lit up. She was thrilled to have my undivided attention. Roxy began climbing all over me, licking my face and nuzzling into my chest. She was so full of love, I was more than happy to snuggle her. When Trixie spotted us cuddling, she came over for some love. The girls loved having my attention. When the crew of playful dogs came swooping by, both Roxy and Trixie dashed off to investigate. I loved watching these two run so fast after the crew of beagles. The duo ran after their friends with a lot of curiosity. They kept busy following the youngsters around until it was time to come back indoors.

Maya and Rocky were rather spunky today. Rocky was happy to be lifted into my arms and babied as I carried him into the yard. Of course, Maya was right behind us. When I put Rocky down Maya danced all around him. I was surprised to see Rocky sniff and investigate the grassy yard today rather than head back to the door. Maya too was full of energy. Cooper, Timbits and Mikka actually got Maya running around. I loved seeing Maya’s tail wagging and her hopping through the grass. When Rocky head back to the gravel yard, Maya followed. The pair were happy to accept some pets and cuddles around the door before we head back indoors for a rest.

Grace had such a fabulous day. She has come out of her shell so much. Grace was thrilled to have the company of not just one beagle, but four other beagles! Today was hound heaven for Grace and friends. Not only was Grace occupied by all her beagle friends, but she was thrilled to meet up with doodle friend, Cooper. Cooper was all over Grace for their entire outdoor time. These two quickly became two peas in a pod, accompanied by the fluffy puppy Mikka and beagle buddy Timbits. These four are so fast and loved to race around the yard all morning. IT was so fun to watch Grace leap and sore across the yard with her long legs. When she tried to stop and catch her breathe, her friends weren’t to remorseful. They pounced all over her as her tongue hung to the ground. Finally she got a breathe when her friends zoomed off to start another chase. Grace quickly caught her breathe and zoomed off to catch up with her mates. The fun never stopped in this group. They were always zipping, zooming and darting around the yard. Whether it was over rocks, through the tunnel, under the picnic table or just across the grass, Grace as constantly having fun and smiling. 

Poppy was ecstatic to head out to the creek this morning, we have been visiting the creek every morning this week for her extra attention session and she can hardly wait to get out there! Without hesitation, she jumped into the creek and started dipping her nose into the water to explore. We spent most of our time together in the creek, but it wouldn’t be an extra attention session without having a turn at the treat puzzle! Poppy graciously accepted back rubs as she collected all the treats from the puzzle. Next it was time to head outside for a play session with her friends. It was a change of scenery today, and Poppy loved exploring the agility yard! Kishka had everyone chasing her around the yard and Poppy quickly joined in the fun, it was such an energetic group to be a part of and Poppy loved every minute of it.

Lilo had an amazing time running around the agility yard with the gang today. She was perfectly paired in her group with Kishka the Husky and the two of them had such a fun time whipping around the yard. Lilo never passes up a good chase and was right there in the centre of all the action. I got some great action shots of Lilo literally leaping across the yard with her friends. She is such a fun girl to be around and everyone enjoys her company!

Millie was full of great energy today; she had just come from her extra attention session and was ready to head outside for some fun. She was thrilled to have free range of the agility yard and excitedly made her way over to the agility tunnel to check it out. She ran inside and started rolling around on her back in pure happiness! She was quickly interrupted when Percy ran in the other end and chased her out the other side. Then she was off running around with the rest of the gang for the rest of the morning!

Percy was excited to be back in the agility yard today, he excitedly ran around with his nose to the ground trying to collect all the forgotten toys. He came across the rope toy and was ready for a game of fetch! We played a few rounds of fetch but he was quickly distracted when he saw Millie running around in the agility tunnel. Percy is always the king of the tunnel and he ran right in and playfully forced Millie out the other side!

Tsavo had a blast running around with her group today. She was so excited to meet Husky pup Kishka and she definitely kept her on her toes! When paired with the right group, Tsavo can be the most playful girl in the yard and loves the thrill of a chase. Like the others, she was right in the centre of the action and loved that Kishka was able to bring out her playful side today!

I guess all it takes to lure Mocha away from her usual seat in the yard is to open the agility yard gate. She opted out of her spot and followed the others into the yard to do some exploring! To no surprise, Issy had already looped around Mocha and was on her second lap of the yard, she was just as excited to get some much needed exploring done! These girls were very happy to spend their day in the kitchen, their favorite spot!

Kimi had a wonderful day at daycare today; she started her day off on the right paw when she joined Millie and Poppy for a morning trail walk. A short while later, she was hanging with her friends in the agility yard. Much like the others, she was excited for a change of scenery and was thoroughly entertained as she watched Kishka and the others run circles around her. Although an unlikely pair, Millie and Kimi made the best of friends today and spent some time nuzzling noses.
pictures for July 27 - click here!

Wednesday, July 26th, 2017

Titan had a busy day today! After breakfast and his morning walk, he and I went for a walk through the field and down to the creek. He loves to sniff around in the long grass there and watch the frogs plunk into the water as he approaches. Titan munched on a few pieces of grass and dipped his toes in the water as we meandered along the bank. We took our time outside since it wasn’t too hot or too cold out today, and Titan just seemed to be enjoying the breeze in his hair. He couldn’t miss out on a chance to snuggle up in the armchair though, and he climbed up and laid down as soon as we entered the reception area. We hung out together until it was Titan’s turn to have some fun in the play yard. He met up with lots of familiar faces, including Riley, Roobee, Gracie and Dougie. He spent a good little while following his nose around the fence until he was ready to play. Riley and Gracie were chasing one another and Titan flew over to jump in on the action. He took a peek in the agility tunnel and made his rounds to greet his friends before coming to see me for a little treat. Titan flashed his handsome smile and I couldn’t help but give him a hug!

Annie and I went for a lovely roam around the front field after breakfast and her morning trail walk. It was the perfect temperature with a nice breeze today, and Annie was very content to hang out outdoors with Julie the resident dog and I. We came back inside to relax some more and she loved any and all pets she could get from Susan, Katie and I. Out in the yard, Annie was absolutely full of beans, it was fantastic! She kept an eye on the other dogs as they played and ran around together, and she waited for the perfect moment to join in on the fun. Annie waited until Charlotte the Golden went into the agility tunnel and started to play-bow at the end, waiting for her to come out. Dougie the Boxer mix also came to pounce on Charlotte, and the three Musketeers were off bouncing around together. They made such a funny trio! Annie and Dougie followed Gracie up to the picnic table, and Annie didn’t even have to step up on the seat to reach her face and give her a kiss!

Gracie couldn’t get enough of playing with her friends today! She has definitely found the perfect group to match her personality during her stay. Gracie happily greeted everyone, as she does every morning. Gracie and Riley paired up right away and trotted off into the grass yard to get the games going. She pawed playfully at Riley and gave him a bump with her shoulder to entice him to play. He took off running and Gracie quickly followed, attracting the attention of the other dogs as she sauntered past. Soon Gracie, Riley, Dougie, Annie and Charlotte were all pouncing and bouncing together, having a ton of fun! Gracie eventually branched off from the bunch to take a little break, and climbed up into the playstructure and kept an eye on her friends. I was lucky enough to hang out with Gracie one-on-one in between her group outings today. We took a walk down to the creek since I know how much she loves to splash around in the cool water. She was pretty keen to go for a dip today, and she marched right down to the waters edge and walked through to the other side. Gracie then turned around and jumped back in, making a big splash! After a while we went back inside to dry off, and she showed off a few of her tricks for some treats.

Dougie could hardly wait to get out and play with his buddies today. After breakfast and his trail walk with his Shepherd pal Bella, Dougie sprinted down the hallway and out into the yard on this temperate Wednesday. He and Charlotte the Golden were eager to wrestle and met up almost instantly, pouncing and pawing at one another in excitement. The pair had a good little match before Annie the St. Bernard and Gracie, a fellow Boxer mix, trotted over to join the fun. Eventually Dougie, Gracie and Annie remained in the games and chased one another all across the yard. After a little rest time in his kennel, Dougie was more than ready for his extra attention time this afternoon! When I went to get Dougie for some special one-on-one time, he bounced and jumped around in excitement when he caught sight of the leash in my hand. We went for a stroll through the field at Dougie's pace, and stopped for a moment at the creek. He approached the water and only took a second to decide to jump right in! He waded around in the cool stream until he felt refreshed enough to continue our walk around the trail.

The sweetest mother-son duo Riley and Roobee had another excellent day at T&! We were matched up with little Millie the Boston terrier for our trail walk again today, and these three have such a nice chemistry on leash. Riley was back at his silly antics in the play yard, and wasted no time before meeting up with his good friends Titan and Gracie for some fun, while Roobee did a lap of the yard with her nose glued down, picking up all the scents. Riley had so much fun bouncing and running around between his friends Gracie and Titan, and only took breaks from playing to go and check on his mama like the good son that he is. Roobee followed the crowd around the yard but preferred to watch the action from a distance. She visited me for a quick pet here and there before focusing back on her son and his pals. Later this afternoon Riley and Roobee joined me yet again for their extra attention session in the reception area. I set up the treat puzzle for Riley, since that's one of his favourite activities, while Roobee sat close by and snuck in to grab a treat every so often. She eventually went and curled up on the big comfy chair to relax! 

Sweet little Mikka welcomed a new friend, Grace the Beagle mix, into her group today. Grace was happy to greet all of the dogs in the yard, but was particularly fond of Mikka right off the bat. Mikka is a happy little ball of fluff and she definitely helped Grace feel at ease with her friendly personality. It didn’t take long for Grace to come out of her shell with all of her new friends, and before long they were all racing around the yard together, moving so quickly I could hardly keep focus on them! Any time that Grace went to have a look by the fence or at the tunnel, Mikka would bounce right over and want to be by her side. Mikka found a toy in the grass and carried it around, showing it off to Finnigan the doodle, Timbits the Beagle, and eventually back around to Grace. She offered the toy to her new friend, but Grace was more interested in getting the chase started again! This time, Mikka, Grace, Timbits, Finnigan and Cooper, another doodle, were all whipping around doing big laps of the yard and having a ton of fun together. It certainly was a great first day for Grace, and another fun-filled play day for Mikka!

Bella, Jake and Finnigan made a great addition to our small(er) dog group today! Finnigan was of course focused on the red toy once again today, and kept it close while he watched the other dogs goof around. Bella and Jake decided to take it easy for the first little while of their group outing, and spent some time hanging out together over by the wooden fence. Jake eventually made it out to the grass yard with a little encouragement, and joined the party and the game of tag with Mikka, Grace and friends. Bella roamed out to join us and accepted a few pets and cuddles before heading back to hang out with Jake again. Finnigan and I had a good few rounds of fetch in between play sessions, which means it was a great day in his books! 

Poppy had an exciting morning trail walk with Lilo and daycare pal Oakley. I think its safe to say that her walks are her favorite part of the day. She can hardly contain her excitement when I approach her kennel door with leash in hand and her little bum starts to wiggle! It was a beautiful morning and Poppy soaked up every bit of sunshine and her golden locks waved in the wind as we trotted down the trail. She was all smiles a little while later when we joined Lilo and friends out in the yard. Today she got to meet daycare sisters Annie and Zen and was fully entertained all morning long as Lilo, Kane and Bella ran circles around her! Since it was such a beautiful day, Poppy and I headed back outside for another one-on-one walk for her extra attention session. We made another full loop around the trail and even stopped at the creek so Poppy could take a dip and cool off. She loves the water and splashed around for a while until she was ready to head back inside for some treats and cuddles!

Millie enjoyed her morning trot with best pals Riley and Roobee; the three of them make for such a peaceful and enjoyable walk together! Millie absolutely adored Annie and Zen, the three of them were inseparable for most of the morning. Millie is such a confident little girl and had no problem introducing herself to these big ladies. It was Annie and Zen who were a little unsure of little Millie at first but they soon realized just how playful and friendly she was! Millie joined me for a trot over to the creek for her extra attention session. She was a little hesitant at first to get her feet wet, but then she chased after a frog and ended up in the water after all and she loved it! We saved just enough time for us to head back inside to play with her favorite toys and have a few treats. She excitedly picked up and shook each toy from the toy box one by one!

Grace is such a sweetheart and we are so pleased to have her board with us. She made herself at home in no time and was a real hit in her group. She especially loved all the attention during her extra attention session. Like the others, we headed over to the creek after making another loop around the trail and she was smiling from ear to ear in excitement! There was so much to see and smell and her senses were overloaded and she was overjoyed! After expending all that energy, she was ready for a rest and a reward, we hung out together for the rest of the morning in the reception area and she enjoyed some treats and belly rubs!

To no surprise, Lilo was the star of her group this morning and when she was paired with the just as energetic and lanky Kane, I knew we were in for a real treat. Throw in daycare pal Bella into the mix and we have ourselves a party! Lilo is always on the move, she has so much great energy and she just loves to run around with her friends. She was so happy to have daycare pals Kane and Bella join her and the three of them had a blast whipping around the yard together. Even Oakley couldn’t resist the fun-loving Lilo and they had a friendly wrestle as well.

Kane was perfectly paired with Lilo the Visla today, both long, tall and strong, the two of them had everyone chasing after them in the yard. Although not as fast, Bella tried her best to keep up with the two of them and was just beaming with excitement as her tongue flopped out the side of her mouth. They had everyone in the yard including Oakley on their toes and ready to play. Oakley was too busy today to even wrap herself around my legs for attention, she would much rather play with Lilo and friends. Kane also joined a second play group today, and he quickly made friends with just about everyone! Sky the husky waddled right up to Kane and nuzzled his ear, making them both feel frisky. Sky did her little waddly dance and Kane started to bounce and paw at her. Eventually he took off running around the yard when he saw Vega, another lovely Husky lady, who was goofing around with little Resa. Kane flew after Vega and knelt right down to see her when she snuck under the picnic table. Eventually everyone was at the table and Kane rolled around on his back with his paws in the air, just absorbing every ounce of silly attention!

Annie and Zen were in an exceptionally playful mood this morning and were thrilled to join Sky the Husky for their morning trail walk. Although they love their walks, they enjoy their time outside with their pals just as much; they always get to see some familiar faces and some new ones as well! They absolutely adores little Millie and her spunky attitude and although and unlikely pair, they hot it off right away!

Roxy and Trixie were all geared up in their harnesses and ready to head out for their morning trail walk with Ringo the Spaniel. They flew down that trail today and each took turns rolling around on their backs when they found the perfect patch of grass; it was hilarious to watch! They headed outside with their usual crew out in the yard a short while later. Excited to see sisters Penny and Pippin again, the four of them followed me out into the far grassy yard. Penny was convinced that I had treats in my pocket and followed me everywhere I went. I assured her that I didn’t have treats this time but offered lots of head rubs instead and she was quite pleased with that. Pippin was off running around with Flora, these two became fast friends and were dancing around one another all morning long! Roxy and Trixie were busy most of the morning with their little noses to the ground in exploration. They found the perfect patch of grass along the perimeter of the fence and took turns rolling around. These two definitely share an inseparable bond and bring such a fun energy to their groups.

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Tuesday, July 25th, 2017

Poppy was quite the social butterfly today! After her walk alongside her friend Lilo and new acquaintance Percy, Poppy zipped out into the yard as soon as I opened her kennel. She went on a tour of the yard and greeted many different dogs along the way. She stuck close by a couple of other ladies who were also roaming, including Millie the Boston terrier and Roobee the Aussie. Poppy seemed to be enjoying the weather much more today than the chilly rain that we had yesterday, and had a little grin on her face! When she wasn’t busy following her nose or her friends, Poppy was by my side enjoying a back scratch and even asking me to play with a play-bow. When it was time to head in for a rest, Poppy had already made herself comfortable under the play structure in the shade.

Lilo was ready to rumble this morning, but that was no surprise! She met a new friend named Percy during her walk on the trail, and also enjoyed her group-mate Poppy’s company. Lilo met up with Poppy and the rest of her group a little later on for the first of many group outings on this lovely day. Lilo was one of the first to fly down the hall and out into the yard to get the shenanigans rolling as soon as the door opened. She met up with her good pal Riley, who was looking to run around and wrestle like they did yesterday. She was also pleased to meet a new face in the group, that of Kishka the husky mix, who is also full of beans and happy energy, just like Lilo. The girls and Riley ran all over the yard together, bouncing around the tunnel, the rocks and into all of the adjacent yards. Lilo took a couple of minutes here and there to stay stationary and hang out with some quieter ladies, such as Millie, Poppy and Roobee.

Miss Millie had another great day today! She joined her same walking buddies, Riley and Roobee out on the trail again today, and these three sure know how to walk in sync. They met up again in the yard throughout the day, where Millie was more than happy to hang out and relax with some other lovely ladies, including Poppy and Roobee. I made sure to give her lots and lots of back rubs, ear scratches and pets, and of course I snuck her a little treat too! Later on in the day between her group outings, Millie and I made our way up to the reception area to hang out together for her extra attention time. She was immediately drawn to the treat puzzle, so I nestled a few liver snacks in the compartments so that she could paw and nose around at it for a while. Millie is becoming a pro at the puzzle, and it took her no time before she cleaned it out and even tried to pick it up to show me it was empty! Next we went out for a little stroll in the field down to the creek. Millie was very curious about the water and the little frogs that jumped in when she approached the edge. She pawed intently at the surface and splashed around a little bit until it was time to head back inside.

After their morning explore on the walking trail, Riley and Roobee ventured out into the yard enthusiastically, ready to enjoy the nice weather. Riley quickly sought out his friend Lilo, who he loves to play with at any opportunity. He and Lilo pawed and pounced at one another as if they hadn’t seen each other in months, let alone minutes. Roobee kept watch over her brother and sang her referee song. She roamed around the yard and hung out with some of her usual group-mates, including Poppy, Millie and Moka. Later on in the day I took Riley and Roobee out for another stroll in the field for their extra attention time but this time I let them lead the way. We walked back towards the creek, and Riley and Roobee each crept down to the water’s edge to have a look. Neither wanted to get their feet wet at the moment, so we continued on our way until we came across the bridge to the other side of the stream. We all sat down together there, and Riley and Roobee looked over at the water and what lay beneath. When we went back inside, Riley and Roobee spent some time relaxing with me in the reception area before their next group outing.

It wouldn’t be a Tuesday without our regular daycare guests Percy, Issy and Mocha! Percy met a couple of lovely ladies out on the walking trail this morning, a Viszla named Lilo and a Doodle named Poppy, while Issy and Mocha reunited with a friend from last week, Titan the Brittany Spaniel. After their respective walks, Percy, Issy and Mocha were all eager to get out into the yard to enjoy the nicer weather. Percy immediately ran out into the far yard to find a playmate or a toy, while Issy put her nose to the ground to sniff around and investigate the scent trails. Mocha took up her usual post on the doorstep, although this week it was a different doorstep than last. I gave Mocha some pets and left her to hang out with fellow professional relaxer, Merida. I went to join Percy out in the grass, where he had found one of the red toys as if it were placed there just for him. I threw the toy for Percy and he took off after it, although he brought back a different one! Issy was on the other side of the yard saying hello to Anja the Husky, who joined us for daycare today, and Percy rushed over to greet her as well. She took an instant liking to Percy, and he and Anja ran around the yard together. Issy made a quick stop to say hello to her daughter, Tasha before making her way back towards the door and Mocha.

Boris and Tasha were absolutely thrilled to see Anja out in the yard this morning! Boris’ sister/Tasha’s daughter is always the perfect match when it comes to play style and energy. When Anja wasn’t greeting the other dogs or chasing Percy, she could be found leading the way for Boris and Tasha around the yard, through and over the tunnel. Percy went into the tunnel at one point and Anja followed him in, while Boris and Tasha kept watch for their exit at both ends. Anja and Boris spent most of their time in the yard chasing one another or Percy, while Tasha ran around, but also took the time to relax and watch her silly children and their antics. 

Annie joined energetic pal Harvey the Airedale for her morning stroll today. After a trot along the trail, she headed up front with me for her usual extra attention session. Knowing that she loves the Nylabone so much, I had a big blanket with the bone waiting on top for her for her arrival. She was excited to find her favorite bone but even more excited to try and solve the treat puzzle! I filled the puzzle with liver treats and Annie could smell them from a mile away and excitedly started to paw at it. Her paws were almost just as big as the plastic paw itself! After she solved the puzzle and had her fair share of treats, she was pooped and stretched out on the floor and even accepted a few belly rubs when I asked her to roll over! After a snooze up front, she was ready to head back outside to hang out with her friends. She was joined by her usual crew of Titan and Gracie, but was excited to meet Dougie. Annie had a blast running around with both Annie and Dougie and definitely let her playful side come out!

Titan is the sweetest boy around! He has been boarding with us for some time now and he has really been enjoying his visit. He has made so many new friends along the way and is busy from the time he wakes up until he rests his head at night. Just heading back from his morning trail walk, he followed me up front for his extra attention session. Knowing exactly where he was, he jumped right up on the chair and made himself comfortable. He didn’t stay on his throne for too long when he saw me fill the treat puzzle full of liver treats. He spent some time excitedly pawing at the puzzle until he got every last treat. It was such a beautiful day that we decided to go on another walk outside to soak up the sun. Titan was very pleased to explore the front yard and we even made our way over up the hill and around the trees. The fun continued outside and he found himself immersed in play with friends Annie, Dougie and Gracie for the rest of his morning.

Dougie is such a hoot to be around, he is full of great energy and always the centre of the attention when outside with his friends. Dougie loved running around the back trail this morning but saved enough energy for another one-on-one walk during his extra attention session. He loved that all the attention was on him and together we went out and explored the fields. After his walk, we headed back inside so he could have a turn at the treat puzzle and it really put his brain to the test, as he had to paw and lift flaps to be rewarded with a treat! The rest of his time was spent cuddling; he especially loves head rubs! Dougie had a blast running around the yard today with pal Gracie. Similar in size, they were the perfect pair and inseparable for most of the morning. I guess you could say they were flirting, Gracie would run over to Dougie and excitedly nudge her head into his side to entice him to chase her and then like that they were up on their hind legs dancing around the yard together!

Gracie had a fabulous walk with Golden pal Charlotte bright and early this morning. This is definitely Gracie’s favorite part of the day and she enjoyed every minute of it. Perhaps the only thing she likes more than walking along the trail is her extra attention sessions, that’s where she gets all the attention she could ever want, and treats and cuddles at the same time! But the fun really happened outside with new pal Dougie. We all know Gracie has an extremely playful side and sometimes it just takes a particular dog to bring out her silly side and today that was Dougie!

Coco and Timbits were eager as ever to leap out of their kennels this morning for their morning trot. They both excitedly greeted me at the front of their kennel with great big smiles and tails perked right up! After burning off some energy along the trail, they headed back outside with the rest of the small dogs and were excited to see that sisters Roxy and Trixie were still here! Timbits followed energetic pals Mikka and Cooper straight to the far grassy yard to start collecting all the toys. Coco hung back at first with ladies Roxy and Trixie, but when she heard how much fun her brother was having, she couldn’t resist but run over and Roxy and Trixie followed right behind. Timbits had found the big red rubber toy and was trying to pick it up in his mouth without Cooper yanking it away. It was very heavy, but Tim managed to pick it up and run around with it in his mouth in pride. Meanwhile, Coco was off exploring the yard alongside Trixie, together they brushed their noses along the tall blades of grass. Roxy on the other hand wanted to be part of the fun, she excitedly ran around when Cooper and Mikka would take off in chase! Roxy and Trixie did make sure to follow me around the yard wherever I went and looked up at me those great big smiles and puppy-dog eyes, they wanted to make sure they didn’t miss out on the treats!

Pippin and Penny were back for another day of daycare; it has been such a pleasure seeing their sweet faces everyday! Not to mention, all the pups love them because they bring such a fun-loving and calming energy to their groups! Today they joined our regular Tuesday daycare crew of Miko, Lola and Pearl. They also got to meet staff dogs Charly the Golden and Barb the Lab puppy! Charly and Barb kept Pippin and Penny entertained most of the morning with their silly antics. Although they didn’t want to join in the fetch game, they didn’t want to miss out on the fun either and made sure to stay close to the fun. Miko loved having Charly and Barb in his group today; since they are both high energy, this made the perfect match for Miko since he always loves a good chase around the yard. And he did just that; his ears flew in the air as he excitedly leaped all around the yard in usual fashion. He was most excited to meet up with pal Pearl. Pearl was off minding her business in exploration mode when both Miko and puppy Barb ran over to entice her to play. Although they interrupted her sniff around the yard, she was excited to get all the attention, especially from the little puppy. Meanwhile Lola was fully sunbathing in the warmest spot in the yard and was very content about it! She let the others run over and say hello, but no way she was giving up her favorite spot; some things never change with these two! 

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Monday, July 24th, 2017

Poppy was waiting patiently in her kennel for walk time to arrive this morning. She was snuggled up with her pillow after breakfast time when I approached with a leash in hand and her friend Lilo already hooked up and ready to go. We went for a fast-paced stroll today so that Poppy and her buddy could stretch their legs but not be out in the rain too long. She didn't seem to mind it too much during her group outings today, though. Poppy moseyed around the yard and kept an eye on the other dogs as they raced around and splashed in the puddles. I went to see if Poppy would like a head scratch, but instead she insisted on playing with me! She play-bowed and zipped around me like a bolt of lightning, and eventually went to pop in on the race with the other dogs. Poppy joined me in the reception area for her extra attention time today since the rain was still falling outside. She was feeling snuggly so after a little dry off, Poppy hopped up onto the armchair and got comfortable. She stayed there for a bit until she saw me preparing the treat puzzle, and she rushed down to have a try at this activity. Poppy did a great job nosing around in the compartments and happily gobbled up the snacks. Once she was finished, Poppy was once again in the mood to relax and keep cozy, so I got her a dry towel to wear while she curled up on the chair.

Lilo is such a fun girl to be around! She had nothing but positive energy today, despite the rain. She didn’t even notice the grey sky or the puddles because she was so focused on having a great time with her friends. After breakfast, Lilo and her friend Poppy went out for a walk on the trail. She marched full speed ahead, occasionally looking back at Poppy and I who were a bit behind her. After a little rest, Lilo was more than ready to get out into the yard and play! She raced out the door with her group-mates trailing behind, all following her outgoing and excited energy. Lilo hardly stopped to greet the other dogs before she was zipping around in the wet grass with Vega the Husky and Dougie the Boxer mix hot on her tail. These three spent plenty of time together out in the yard today since their energies just matched perfectly. They had a few visitors to their game of chase, including Millie the Boston terrier, and Magic the Husky, who were both very keen on joining the fun when the agility tunnel was involved. Lilo eventually branched off from the game of chase to take a turn playing with Riley the Aussie mix. Lilo wagged her little tail so quickly as she approached Riley and they instantly dropped into a mutual play-bow, followed by some playful pawing. These two had a hoot goofing around together!

I was so pleased to see Dougie’s happy face shortly after he arrived this morning! He was wagging his tail a mile a minute and it started to move even faster when he saw the leash in my hand. He knew exactly what time it was and we marched out onto the trail together with Finnigan the doodle as Dougie’s walking buddy. Dougie’s nose led him back and forth and between the rows of freshly cut hay in the field and he took in every smell he could find as we motored along. When we returned inside, nice and soggy from the rain, Dougie was thrilled to roll around and relax on his big comfy bed. His positive energy was contagious to those around him during his group outings today. Dougie was immediately drawn to Vega, one of our resident Huskies, and he made sure to sprint right over and say hello to her. He had lots of friends to greet, but he had hearts in his eyes when it came to this pretty girl. Dougie and Vega flew around the yard together in a constant game of chase that reached every corner of the yard and made many trips through the agility tunnel. The pair were joined periodically throughout their games by Lilo the Viszla, Millie the Boston terrier and Magic the Husky. After he was all tuckered out, Dougie joined me in the indoor playroom for some one-on-one fun. I dried him off with a towel and he did a little dance as I rubbed his back. Dougie loved being pet and giving kisses! I then set up the treat puzzle for him with a little piece of liver in the compartments. He was very curious about this activity and nosed and pawed away at the little doors that led to his prizes. Our good friend Julie, another Tails & Trails resident, popped in for a little visit before Dougie headed back to his bed for a nap.

Riley and Roobee enjoyed their morning walk alongside their group-mate Millie. Despite the steady rainfall, Riley and Roobee marched along with their heads held high, only stopping here and there to explore the rows of hay that lay along the trail. Out in the yard, Riley kept an eye on the shenanigans around him, and pounced at any opportunity to join in, while Roobee watched him closely. She trotted around behind him with enough distance that she didn’t interfere with his fun, but close enough that she could still bark her referee calls as he played. Riley eventually took a break from the big chase that was taking place and branched off with Lilo the Viszla, who was ready for a little one-on-one play time. Riley and Lilo locked eyes and both play-bowed to one another at the same time! It seems they were certainly on the same page when it came to group time activities. Meanwhile, Roobee took a break from watching Riley and was making her rounds watching what the other dogs were up to. She hopped up onto the pallet with Millie and went to sniff the fence with Poppy, eventually coming back around to me for a quick pet. When it was time to dry off and hang out this afternoon, Riley and Roobee eagerly followed me up to the indoor playroom where I had towels and activities at the ready. I offered both Riley and Roobee the treat puzzle and a bone with peanut butter, and Riley opted for the puzzle while Roobee hopped on the big bed with the bone. They swapped snacks briefly, but returned to their original choices after ensuring they’d made the right selection.

After breakfast and her morning trail walk, Millie was full of beans and ready to join the game of chase that was taking place in the yard. A new friend joined the group today, and that was Dougie the Boxer mix. She watched as he and Vega the Husky did lap after lap around the yard, and waited for the opportune moment to jump into the mix. Millie raced across the grass and jumped up on top of the agility tunnel while Dougie, Vega and Lilo zipped in and out of each end. Millie loved watching the action unfold even when she was taking a break on the sidelines. She stood on top of the pallet in the middle of the yard beside her friend Poppy and watched the hooligans as they zipped past. She joined back in and went for a splash in the small pool even though she was already wet from the rain, silly girl! We came inside to dry off and Millie followed me up to the reception area for a warm towel and some one-on-one fun. She was very keen on having a turn with the treat puzzle, and stayed focused on it until she had uncovered all of the pieces of liver hidden in the compartments, and then moved on to another toy that she selected from the basket, followed by every single one she could find! Millie has the biggest personality for her little frame, which makes her so much fun to be around!

Finnigan was back at it today with his usual daycare friend Charly the golden. These two share an affinity for toys, as I’m sure we’ve all come to know by now, but today they were pleasantly surprised to see some new items to choose from! These two spent their groups going back and forth playing keep away with the red ring toy, each spending equal time carrying the toy and chasing after one another. I managed to pick up the toy and throw it for Finnigan a few times, until Charly decided to go for a lap with it and not bring it back. Finnigan took this as an opportunity to join in the game of chase with pals Vega, Magic, Millie, Lilo and Dougie.

Annie and Zen were pleased to meet two new Husky pals out in the yard today. The girls spent some time getting acquainted with Herzog and Konig before feeling bouncy and playful. Zen and Konig spent lots of time together, play-bowing and sharing spurts of fun together, while Annie and Herzog took a more relaxed approached to group time. At one point all four of them did some galloping across the yard together, though Zen and Konig ended up the ones playing yet again. The girls had a great time with their new friends and seemed to pay no attention to the rain! 

Toys, toys and more toys was the only thing on Sophie’s mind this morning, but really when is it not! After a morning trail walk with Charlotte and Titan, she was ready to get her play on outside in the yard and the rain didn’t stop her one bit! She was ecstatic to see some new toys thrown into the mix and she could hardly decide on which one she wanted. Her head whipped back and forth between the Jollyball and the red tug, only to try and see if she could fit both into her mouth, but to no avail! Playmate Harvey made his way over and snatched one of the toys away and the two of them excitedly chewed away side-by-side.

Titan loved his morning trot along the back trail with Golden girls Sophie and Charlotte and was pleased that it was only sprinkling rain at that time. Slightly soggy after his walk, he was pleased to follow me up front for his extra attention session and even more excited to find a Kong Bone stuffed with liver treats just waiting for him that I prepared right before. He spent his time down on his front legs, with his bum in the air chewing the bone away. He brought that bone everywhere he went and circled around the lobby with it! Now he was ready to head back outside with the rest of his friends for a morning of fun and immediately spotted Husky pal Moka. He ran a few laps around the yard with Moka like the social boy he is, but made his way back to me when he saw Annie and Gracie patiently waiting for treats. Titan looked up at me with those great big puppy-dog eyes of his and I couldn’t resist but hand the treats over!

Annie had a wonderful start to her morning when she joined Mack the Husky for their morning trail walk. Annie is such a pleasure to walk; she likes to walk right beside your hip and even enjoys a few head scratches along the way! Much like Titan, she enjoyed her extra attention session before heading out for her group so she had a chance to dry off and relax. I put out a big comforter for her and had her favorite Nylabone waiting for her. She excitedly found the bone and made herself comfortable stretched out on the blanket for the rest of her time. The treats didn’t stop there, Annie, Gracie and Titan could all smell that I had treats in my pocket and they followed me everywhere around the yard! Annie would give me a few nudges to the back of my legs until I rewarded her with a treat and a head rub!

Gracie is no stranger to her extra attention sessions either and raced down the hallways and back once she finished, ready to head outside. She actually enjoyed the rain and even tilted her head up to lick the falling drops with her big ears pinned back and eyes squinty. She found herself roaming the perimeter of the fence where she licked the dew off the tall blades of grass. But then she smelt the treats in my pocket and joined Titan and Annie on the hunt. Gracie is such an obedient girl and even outside in the rain, she gave me the perfect sit and paw without me even asking her; she sure does love her rewards!
Gracie was feeling the rainy day weather today. She joined me in the playroom, rather than reception today. She started off by going around the room and sniffing all of the toys scattered on the floor. None of these toys seemed to interest her so she wandered over to me and sat down with a big smile on her face. She tossed her paw at me a few time while wagging her tail. I tried to get her to cuddle with me on the bed, but she preferred to roll around on the floor being silly.

Pippin and Penny, the two sweetest faces around were back for another day of daycare with their favorite small four-legged friends! They excitedly ran around the yard with their little noses glued to the ground in exploration. They were happy to see that fellow Spaniel Ringo was still here and made sure to make their way over to say hello! They bring such a fun energy to their groups and were thrilled to spend time with sisters Roxy and Trixie and followed them around the grassy yard as Finnigan and Cooper ran circles around them!

Roxy and Trixie greeted me with those big beautiful smiles of theirs bright and early this morning when I approached their kennel door with leashes in hand. They loved sprinting around the trail together. When they were outside with their friends a short while later, they were full of great energy and excited to be a part of the group play with Cooper and Finnigan. Daycare pal Finnigan could hardly contain his excitement for all of the new toys in the yard and had a blast running around with Cooper and Mikka. Roxy and Trixie thought this was just the best entertainment and even couldn’t resist a good chase around the yard! It was so fun to watch the two of them be silly and play with the gang. After a morning of fun outside, they were thankful to find warmth in their beds for an afternoons rest and a lunchtime cookie.

Mikka was definitely the star of the small-dog group today; she has so much fun energy and is always on the move. She had the best time wrestling and running around with little black Lab pup Barb. The two of them obviously made for a perfect pair. Mikka also had a blast trying to steal toys away from Finnigan and Cooper; she would swoop in and steal the ball away, which led to everyone chasing her across the yard. She loves the thrill of the chase and always managed to out-run the rest of them! This little girl never stopped moving from the moment she stepped outside and has been making new friends along the way and enjoying every minute of her visit! 

Monday, July 24th, 2017 - click here for pictures

Sunday, July 23rd, 2017

Barney and I had a great fun-filled day together! From his first outing of the day, Barney was full of beans! He had a lovely walk with Eric. Barney loves to walk around the trail, and made sure to take the hardest path on his walk and hop over each of the heaps of cut grass. Tired from his walk, Barney then came with me to the reception area for his extra attention time. He and I snuggled on the comfy chairs. Susan then came to see us and Barney hopped right on her lap and gave her a few gentle kisses. Barney was even spoiled with some yummy liver treats while we were up there. Today Barney wasn't in the mood to head outside for a brief stroll around the creek so he and I stayed in and he perched himself on my lap. He was intrigued to see the other staff members going in and out. Sometimes he even tilted his head like he was trying to figure out what they were doing! Shortly after his extra cuddle time, Barney joined his doggie pals in the yard. Today he was super playful with Cooper and Mikka! He began exploring the yard, but Cooper bumped into Barney while he was wrestling with Mikka, which got his attention. I could tell he was considering playing because he was inching towards them slowly. All of a sudden he zoomed over to Cooper and leaped on him, pawed at his face and back with his little feet and then Barney was in the middle of a play-wrestling match with Mikka and Cooper. He had fun with his friends and when he was all done he came to me for some cuddling before finishing up outside.

Roxy and Trixie were very adventurous in the yard today. Roxy was the first one out the door, eager to get in the yard. Trixie took her time going outside, stopping to look in every kennel to see if there were any new friends joining her today. These ladies were with their usual group of doggie friends today. Both girls focused on sniffing near the gate to the field. They spent quite a bit of time there, with their little noses buried in the grass.

Syrus started his day off with a nice walk accompanied by his gal pal Charlotte. Syrus and Charlotte are in different groups during the day so they were excited to meet each other in the hallway. Syrus' tail perked right up when he saw Charlotte and the two of them exchanged some sniffs in the hallway before beginning their walk on the path. Syrus let Charlotte lead the way and he stopped to sniff the heaps of grass leftover from yesterday. During his group time, Syrus started off by exploring the yard, making sure to cover as much ground as possible. Every few minutes, the group of dogs would erupt into a full sprint across the yard and Syrus is not one to stand by and watch! He got right in the pack, pushing his way to the front. When everyone let up, Syrus returned to his exploring. He and Gracie then flirted back and forth until they began to play together. Gracie got Syrus to chase her around and Syrus was hot on her trail the whole time. Gracie took refuge from Syrus on top of the picnic table so that she could catch her breath. It wasn't long before Syrus leaped up there and pawed at her to get off and play! Gracie hopped off and play bowed to Syrus, who was still standing on the table. Syrus stayed up there for a few moments, taking in the view of the yard. He looked so handsome standing tall on the table, and I couldn't help but snap a few photos of him. He then returned to his game of chase with Gracie. These two love bugs played on and off until it was time to head in. When the door opened to the hallway, Syrus ran right after Gracie inside.

Sophie had another great day today. She was a little more relaxed in the yard today. She started off by running around each yard, seeing who she was outside with. After getting familiar with each of her friends Sophie then grabbed one of the rubber toys and carried it with her to the grass. I went to grab it for her to play with but she then dropped it and walked away, no longer interested in the toy. I let her be by herself while she made her rounds, sniffing along the fence line and around each of the big rocks. Sophie finished her exploring and her energy level picked up right away. She raced over to the big red Jolly ball, grabbing it and shaking it around a few times. She loves the jolly ball! She laid down with it in the grass, pawing at it with her front paws, gnawing on the edges of it and rolling it around the grass. Harvey noticed Sophie playing with it and he wanted it for himself. Sophie played keep away from Harvey for the longest time. She dodged him in the yard and kept the jolly ball with her at all times. Once she was done with it, she dropped it right at Harvey's paws- how polite of her! Sophie and I then sat together while I rubbed her ears and massaged the sides of her face. She thanked me by giving me some kisses on my arm.

Annie is such a sweet girl. She made a new friend on her walk today; a big Malamute named Mack. Mack was a big fan of Annie. These two made perfect walking partners, as they like to walk at the same speed and stop to sniff everything together. Annie and Mack parted ways at the end of the walk and Mack was sad to see her off but Annie is looking forward to seeing her new buddy again tomorrow. In the yard, Annie went about her usual routine. She followed the rest of the pack into the far yard with the most grass, and began sniffing. After lots of casual encounters with her friends, Annie then had some of her friends follow her to the gravel yard. Syrus and Gracie happily went with her and together they all went in and out of two of the outdoor kennels. Annie loved the shaded spots and took a seat in the corner of one, where she could still watch the yard. After getting some alone time, Annie came to see me while I was sitting on the picnic table. She was too big to sit on it with me, but my legs made for a perfect spot to rest her head. She laid her head down across my knees and I pet her head and rubbed her ears.

Titan was so playful today! On his walk with Harvey, Titan was bouncing around in the big piles of cut grass and bumping into Harvey to get him to play. Harvey is always happy to play so a few times we all had to stop so that they could get their playing out of their system. After stopping twice so Titan could wrestle with his friend, we continued on. He was pretty tuckered out from playing and curled up on his cot in his blanket to take a nap. Once Titan was rested, it was time to go outside and play again. This time instead of playing with Harvey right away, he trotted around looking for a toy. I found him a little rubber toy and he grabbed it for a few seconds, very interested and then dropped it down and walked away. His toy obsession was very short lived today! He then saw Harvey playing with the jolly ball and stopped to say hello. Harvey wasn't in the mood to play so Titan soon moved on to find something else to do. Syrus and Gracie were playing together and for a few minutes, Titan joined in on their game of tag. He always ended up somewhere between Gracie and Syrus. Syrus kept turning his head around and barking at Titan, which made Titan get even more excited about running around!   Later on in the day, Titan and I went out to the lounge again for his extra attention. There were a couple of toys lying around and he stopped at each one to give it a sniff. Once Titan had explored the entire room, he wandered over for some cuddles with me. We ended up sitting on the couch with Titan taking up most of the room, enjoying a nice back rub followed by an ear scratch. To finish things off, we went for a walk along the driveway.

Gracie had her extra attention time in the morning today, right after her walk. She and I spent time together in the front reception area. Gracie has memorized where the treat jar is, so naturally she won't focus on anything else until she gets some kind of treat from the jar. She gave me her paw and then quickly switched to her other paw and she was happily rewarded with a marrow bone treat! She gladly then climbed onto the big comfy chair to get some petting and cuddling. I gave Gracie a good ear massage and rubbed her back while she laid down. Soon after getting cuddles, she snuck back over to the treat jaw. I broke up a big treat into little pieces and got Gracie to do a bunch of tricks. We did paw a few times and then lie down and stay. Gracie then got really focused and rolled over for a few treats. Once she was really in the zone, I tried to get her to "sit pretty", with her sitting down and her front paws raised in the air. She almost did it, but then gave up and tried to give me her paw again- silly girl! After her extra attention, Gracie was in the first group to go outside. She was very playful with me and her friend Syrus. She was pawing at me and play-bowing to me to try and play with her. I ran after her a few times but she wasn't too keen on the way I chased her and preferred her friend Syrus. She and Syrus had serious zoomies today and Gracie chased Syrus all around the yards! She was pretty tired after her outing and immediately went on her bed after coming inside. When I brought her lunch time treat, she saw me and didn't get up to come get it, but instead rolled over onto her back, making sure that I brought it to her and gave her a belly rub while in the process.

Nymeria was certainly in a playful mood today. She started things off on a walk alongside her auntie Aurora, who was more interested in sniffing than the bouncing dog beside her! Nymeria was not discouraged and happily followed Aurora’s lead while they explored the trail. For her group that morning, she met up with some of her more rowdy friends. Nymeria trotted around to say hello to everyone and check things out. When I opened up the other yard, the group immediately raced through the gate and spread out to sniff around. It didn’t take long before Nymeria noticed that her pal Lilo was running around, and she wasted no time sprinting over to pounce on her. The girls were darting all over the place! It was hard to keep track of them. Lilo took Nymeria for a few laps of the yard before their friend Charlotte joined in. Nym playfully tackled her and the two of them rolled around in the grass, before jumping up and continuing to run around. Although it wasn’t really swimming weather, Nymeria dove head first into one of the empty kiddy pools and ferociously defended it from Charlotte’s advances. Then they were racing over to the picnic table, where Nymeria leaped up so fast she just about slid off the other side. She had such a great time playing with everybody and was certainly in need of a nap when we came inside!

Nymeria was so excited for her extra attention today. She was bouncing all over the place as we headed out to the lounge. Once out there, Nym was darting around and trying to see everything at once. I distracted her with a toy and we played a quick game of fetch, until Nymeria decided to try and wiggle under one of the couches. Turns out there was a ball under there! She was so happy when I got it for her and sat down on the couch to have a good chew. 

Poppy could hardly wait for her walk this morning! She was dancing happily at her kennel door when I came to get her, and hurried outside with her friends Lilo and Haley. The three girls made for a lovely walk. Poppy is an absolute angel and never strayed too far from my side while she was exploring the trail, although she did bounce around with Lilo for a bit. The pace started to pick up when we headed outside with her group. At first Poppy was mostly interested in sniffing around the yard and checking out the tunnel. She was more than happy to visit me for plenty of cuddles. Poppy even went as far as jumping up onto the picnic table in front of me! When some of the other dogs got wound up and began a game of chase, Poppy decided she was just in the mood to watch, so she wandered around with me for a while and basked in the attention. It didn’t take long however before Nymeria and Charlotte were bumping into Poppy. She still seemed a bit shy about playing, but happily bounced after them. When the girls ended up back at the picnic table, Poppy quickly jumped up with Nymeria at her side, and then cheered on the other two while they had a friendly wrestling match. She definitely seemed like she was having fun in the yard today. For Poppy’s extra attention, we headed to the lounge to mix things up. Right away she got to work exploring the new space. Poppy quickly sniffed out the treats I was holding and was happy to show off her manners in return for some goodies. After I showed her a few toys, it was clear that Poppy really just wanted some snuggles. She jumped up onto the couch and flopped over on her side, ready for a belly rub. We then headed outside for a stroll down the driveway.

Lilo was bursting with energy today. She is such a delight to have in the yard as she always gets the other dogs playing. We started her morning off with a walk, joined by her friends Poppy and Haley. I could tell that Lilo was excited as she kept racing ahead, before circling back to check up on the others. Eventually she settled down a bit and was happy to sniff around in the grass with them. Group time was a much better time to play – and when we headed outside Lilo did just that! She pounced on the nearest dog, Charlotte, who happily leaped away with Lilo on her tail. They had a quick wrestling match before racing over to the other yard to explore the area. It didn’t take long before Lilo was back and looking for someone to play with. Nymeria was the perfect target! The two girls bumped shoulders and then went racing in circles around the yard. Usually Lilo took the lead, although they would occasionally switch it up with Lilo bouncing after Nym and trying to leap on her. Nymeria then started to wrestle with Charlotte, so Lilo ran around and encouraged them. Whenever there was space for her, Lilo wasted no time jumping into the middle of the activity. Eventually the girls settled down and Lilo wandered off in search of something else to do. I found her a nice rubber ball and she quickly got ready to chase after it. Lilo would race for the ball and then toss it around herself, slowly making her way back to me so I could throw it again.

Riley and Roobee shared a walk with their little friend Millie today. Both of them were happy to get outside and lead the way, side by side, to the trail. Riley trotted ahead to start sniffing around while Roobee was happier wandering around near me. There was plenty to sniff on their walk and the pair certainly took their time making sure they covered everything! When it was their group’s turn in the yard, Riley was feeling a bit more social and wandered over to say hello to the others. Roobee was still in the mood to explore. She headed over to the grass yards and got to work. Her brother had gotten a bit more than expected when he greeted Vega, as she happily turned around and pounced on him. Riley entertained her for a while before he ended up exploring with Roobee. There was still a lot of activity in the yard and Riley seemed to enjoy watching the others running around. He was happy for some attention from me but soon left to visit with the rest of the dogs again. Roobee, on the other hand, wasn’t too sure about cuddling but she quickly warmed up after a scratch behind the ears. She even sat down to make sure I knew that she wasn’t going anywhere. Eventually the group running around in the other yard caught her interest and Roobee wandered over to make sure that everybody was playing fair – if it looked like they weren’t, she would quickly let them know with a bark! Although Riley and Roobee had more of a relaxed day, they made sure not to be left out of playtime, and of course spent lots of time snuggling with me.

I took Riley and Roobee out to the lounge for their extra attention today. The two of them weren't too sure about the new space, but a little exploration quickly fixed that. After they had sniffed the room, both of them wandered over for some cuddles with me. I showed Riley a few toys as sometimes he likes to play with them, but he was in more of a lovable mood today. We ended up on the couch with a dog on either side of me, happily snuggled up and enjoying a scratch behind the ears.

Millie, as usual, was a little bundle of energy as soon as the day started. She was bouncing around in her kennel while I got her ready for a walk, and raced over to say hello to her friends Riley and Roobee before we headed outside. Millie was darting this way and that, her nose working like crazy. She would run down the trail with her face in the grass before suddenly veering off in a new direction. I don’t think I ever saw her without her feet moving. For group time, however, Millie was a bit more relaxed and started things off by exploring the yard. She wandered along the fence for a while, enjoying some peace and quiet as the other dogs did much of the same. I went over to see her and Millie perked up right away, wiggling around as I pet her. Some of the other dogs had started playing and she wandered over to see what was happening. Eventually she got herself into a game of chase with Vega, who attempted to hide herself from Millie by squeezing under the picnic table. When Vega jumped out, Millie figured she would try the same tactic and wiggled under the check the space out. It was a much better fit for her than Vega! After running around a bit more with her friend, Millie ended up at my side again and I entertained her with a rubber ball. Then she wandered off to explore the other yard, which she hadn’t been spending much time in.

Millie and I headed out to the lounge for her extra attention today. She was so excited to see the toys that were out there and made a dash for the nearest one. It wasn't the best toy to be playing tug-of-war with, but Millie was insistent and kept returning it to me. She carried it around for a bit and had a good chew, before jumping up onto the couch for some cuddles. We played some more and after shaking her toy like crazy, she must have tired herself out as she flopped over on the ground for a belly rub!

Sunday, July 23rd - Click here for pictures!