Saturday, July 22nd, 2017

Boy oh boy did Mikka ever have a wonderful first full day here at Tails & Trails. She started to get into the swing of things when it was time for her longest outdoor play group of the day. When I let her out of her kennel, she immediately greeted me with a few kisses but suddenly tore down the hallway in order to meet her friends outside. Once outside, she was the hit of the group. All of her friends wanted to give her a full sniff over before the games began. Mikka was full of energy at the beginning of her group. After her friends were done sniffing, she tore into the yard while joining a fast game of chase with her new friends Cooper and Max. These boys definitely gave her a run for her money but she ended up coming out on top as she outraced both of them! Next up for Mikka was joining Cooper in the pool. There was no hesitation from her whatsoever; she simply jumped right in and was ready to swim. After splashing around with Cooper for a little while, she met up with her friends Coco and Timbits. Coco and Timbits were completely full of beans this morning! They were almost bouncing from wall to wall as they waited for me to let them out into the yard for one of their group times. Coco was especially excited and sped out before Timbits had even finished saying hello to a few of his friends in the hallway. He quickly followed behind once he noticed that she was gone. Coco was already in the far grass yard. She spotted a funky ball in the yard and decided it was a must have! After swooping it up into her mouth, Coco ran to the far corner of the yard in order to ensure that no one was going to be able to take the ball from her, silly girl. After a bit of chewing, she joined Timbits who was rolling all over the place. The two of them were very intrigued by a certain smell in the yard today. No matter where they were, they each had their noses on the ground. Most of the time, they'd sniff around for a little bit and then flop onto their backs while rolling in the grass. Soon enough it was time for a game. Timbits spotted his new friend Mikka and as soon as they looked at each other, the two of them were stuck like glue. Coco joined in shortly after the race had started. Mikka was quite good at playing with the two of them. If they were ever both chasing her, she would jump into the agility tunnel and it was as if Coco and Timbits had no idea where she went. Then in a few seconds, Mikka would bounce back out from the other end and surprise them, giving her a head start. Timbits finished his group outing in the pool with Mikka while Coco joined me for cuddles on the picnic table. 

Roxy and Trixie were a pair of busy little bees this morning. They wasted no time greeting anyone in the hall as they were too excited to go outside and see what their noses could find. Trixie took the lead as she headed into the far grass yard with Roxy following closely behind. The two of them immediately began searching the fence line. They sniffed high and low, almost bumping into each other, they were so focused on all of the smells. Eventually, I noticed that Trixie was following something. She'd take a few steps, then stop and sniff, a few more steps and then sniff again. Turns out she was following a tiny little frog that she had found, how cute. We let it jump away past the fence line and went over into the other yard for a little while to practice a few tricks. Roxy could smell the treats in my back pocket from a mile away and suddenly she was my new best friend. I had the two of them jumping over the agility jump for a treat and they each did an amazing job! Roxy was a little bit more focused on the treat afterwards but that just gave her a bit of extra motivation. I moved the jump up two notches higher and they were still able to jump over it!

Barney was all snuggled up on his bed when I went to get him for his extra attention. However, once he saw me at his kennel door, Barney shot up and ran over to see me. The two of us headed out into the front field for an adventure. Barney had his nose up in the air in search of a good scent to follow. He ended up leading me over to the creek. I'm sure he remembered it from his past extra attentions because he jumped right in to the water as soon as we got there. Barney walked around for a little while, sniffing at the long grass and trees that surrounded the creek. Soon after, we went back inside for some cuddle time. He hopped up onto one of our big comfy chairs and waited patiently for a treat. When it was time to go outside again, this time for his group, he was just as excited. Once getting outside, Barney only had one thing on his mind: the pool! Barney jumped right in and proceeded to splash around with his friend Cooper. This led to a mad dash around the yard between the two of them. They each took their turn being in the lead but Barney was more interested in chasing. One time, when Cooper was chasing Barney, Barney hopped up onto the picnic table with me to try and hide from Cooper. Luckily for him it worked as Cooper got distracted. Barney gave me a few kisses and off he went back into the pool to cool off. I joined him for a little while before the end of his group time and the two of us played a little game of splash.

Riley and Roobee were very excited when they saw me coming down the hall to get them for their extra attention time this morning. Roobee was showing off her beautiful voice as Riley did circles of the kennel. They raced up ahead of me to go into the play room. Once they got in, Riley noticed that I had the treat puzzle set up and ready to go. He was completely focused on that so Roobee and I practiced her tricks. She showed me how well she could preform sit, stay, lay down and of course, paw. Every time I asked her to do something, Roobee did an excellent job of listening right away. When Riley had gotten each and every treat out of the treat puzzle, he came over to see Roobee and I and began licking Roobee's face all over, it was pretty darn cute. They had such a fun group to play with today. The two of them were up and ready to go out when it came time for their group outing. To start off their group, the two of them simply followed one another around the yard, making sure to stop and say hello to me. However, once they got over by the pool, Vega was ready to play with Riley. She bowed down in a play bow and bounced towards Riley. Riley was ready to play so he pounced back at her. All of a sudden the two of them took to the yard in a full blown sprint. They were racing around rocks, the picnic table and even did a few circles around the pool. Every so often the two of them would play tackle in the middle of their sprint, which made it very entertaining to watch. It was almost as if they weren't sure which they wanted to do so they did both at the same time. While Riley was tearing up the yard with Vega, I brought Roobee over with me for some one on one time. I wasn't sure if Roobee was going to be interested in the agility jump but as soon as she saw the treat I was holding, Roobee cleared the jump with ease and came over for her treat. We did this a few times and she cleared it each and every time. Riley eventually came over to test his luck with the jump as well. By the end of their group time, I had the two of them jumping over and over again... as long as there was a treat involved of course. 

Poppy was full of beans today and was so excited to get out here this morning! She had a great time during her walk with the Huskies Vega and Magic. The grass in the field had just been cut so they all had a blast jumping through it together and checking out all the new smells. Poppy was in a very cuddly mood this morning as well. During her extra attention she tore around the room for a bit before coming over and giving me a big hug and lots of kisses while I sat in the rocking chair. She settled her head right onto my lap and we sat there relaxing for a little bit while she got some treats. She is so much fun to play with and is happy and friendly all the time! During playtime outside she had a blast tearing around the yard with her friends Lilo and Sophie. There was lots of jumping around and excitement happening today and Poppy got right into it while playing very nicely with everyone!

Nymeria  had a great time during her walk checking out all the new smells in the freshly cut grass with the Huskies Justice and Moka, and was very curious the whole time. During outside time she and the Golden Retriever, Charlotte, took a particular liking to each other and spent the whole time rolling around in the grass together and cruising around the yard. When they got tired of the sun they went and sat under the play structure together, which ended with them having a big wrestling match! Nymeria and Charlotte were quite a fun pair, and brought the excitement with them wherever they went. When Nymeria was all tuckered out she came over to say hello and get a scratch behind the ear—she is such a sweet girl! During our extra attention we played inside for a bit, she was very excited and she jumped on all the couches and ran around the room! When I brought some treats out she sat and lay down nice and calm. We then went outside for a little stroll around the yard and she jumped after all the bugs and butterflies that flew by in the air. We sat in the grass together for a little while as she got a cuddle and then we were off again as she explored some more.

Lilo had an absolute blast today! She was so excited to get out into the yard this morning and tore around as soon as she got out there. She had lots of fun during her walk with her friends Gracie and Haley. She was the life of the party during outdoor play time this afternoon and is always so happy to see everyone. After sprinting around the yard for a bit she decided to get in on all the action and started playing with her sweet friend Poppy. They leapt through the air together and tumbled around in the grass. Lilo was also the first one to get in on a game of fetch and was ready to go after the Frisbee as soon as I picked it up. She was in such a happy mood today and went bouncing after the Frisbee, running back with that big goofy smile of hers!

This morning Sophie W went on a walk with her buddies Titan and Finnigan, and had absolute blast rolling around in all the freshly cut grass. She was very curious, stopping to check out all the new smells, but whenever I called her name she would perk right up and run out ahead again. During outside time, we filled up the pool, and although she wasn’t quite sure if she wanted to get in on the action at first, she ended up jumping right in after a little while! She had so much fun cooling off—she lay right down in the pool, rolled around a bit and splashed all her friends by jumping everywhere! She had lots of fun tearing around the yard with Indi and Hobart, and was very eager to pay fetch with everyone. She is so much fun to have here and always bring the excitement with her wherever she goes!

After Millie went for her fun walk with friends Bella, she joined me up in reception for some one on one time. The treat puzzle was available so I filled it up with yummy liver treats, and boy did she remember exactly what to do with it from her past visits. As soon as I placed it on the floor Millie pouned on it, pushing at the moving compartments with her nose. She snorted her way around the puzzle until she got every last little crumb out. I picked up a snake toy and Millie latched onto the end for a game of tug. She pulled every toy out of the toy bin before relaxing on the cool floor for a snooze.  During her group time, Millie enjoyed standing in the pool and cooling off - it was quite a warm day! She noticed Riley and Vega tearing around the yard at full speed and thought it looked like fun; Millie loves playing with the huskies when they get rambunctious. After a while, she decided to come and see me and Roobee and even take a turn going over the agility jump! Good job, Millie.

Titan was a ball of energy today, and had so much fun out in the field this morning during his walk. His buddies Sophie W. and Finnigan, the golden Retrievers, joined him during his walk and they all had a ball together. During outdoor playtime he followed Lotus the Husky around, trying to get her to play. Eventually, he made his way over to the pool and splashed around for a little bit with everyone else. He had a big smile on his face the whole time, and loved the opportunity to cool off in the sun! He also enjoyed digging today, and even tried to dig into the water in the pool—he’s such a funny guy! Everyday he gets more and more excited to play with everyone, and today he was having a blast tearing around the yard with Lotus, Sophie W., and all the other dogs!

Titan seemed to know exactly when it was his turn for some extra attention and was eagerly waiting at his kennel for me. We headed out to the lounge today. He immediately got to work exploring the new space, poking his nose in every crevice and checking out the couches. After sniffing and lounging around for a bit, Titan was more than happy to cuddle with me. I then picked up his leash again and he got all excited to head outside. We went for a nice stroll down the driveway and he had a great time wandering around. 

Syrus had a very relaxing day today, and loved soaking up the sun. During his walk with his buddies Hobart and Indi, he loved taking in all the new smells from the freshly cut grass and bouncing around in the field. Whenever he found something interesting he would stop dead in his tracks, only to run forward again when something else caught his attention. During playtime outside he hung back a bit today, preferring to stroll around the yard and sit in the shade. He got curious as to what everyone else was so excited about, so he came over and checked out the pool for a little while. He splashed around in the water for a bit with his front paws and then went back to sniffing around the yard with his St. Bernard friend, Annie.

Annie had a great today, and was absolutely lovely. She had a nice relaxed walk this morning with Mack, the Husky/Malmute, and loved checking out all the new smells in the freshly cut grass. During outdoor time she had so much fun! She came over for a long cuddle as soon as we got outside, and then went off to hang out with her Husky friend Syrus. She was very excited about the pool and trotted over as soon as it was all filled up! She was also very interested in the hose and took a big drink, lapping and biting at the water as it came out—she was having such a good time! After she’d had her fill of cooling off with the hose, she went over and took a seat in the shade where she could watch all the action happening in the yard.

Annie had lots of fun during her one-on-one time today! She joined me in the playroom and warmed up with some cuddles. It didn't take long before she had sniffed out the treats and sat down to show me that she definitely deserved one! I then got out the puzzle and put a few more goodies in it, before letting Annie try it out. She seemed to figure it out quickly, with some encouragement from me. Annie then picked a bone and settled down to chew on it. Occasionally she got up and wandered over to the puzzle, checking to make sure that she had gotten every treat!

Gracie had a great time today, and really enjoyed playing outside in the sun with everyone! She is always such a good girl and had so much fun out on her walk with her friends Lilo and Haley. During play time she trotted around the yard with a big smile on her face, saying hello to everyone and sniffing around every corner of the yard. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of the pool, but hung around the edges and cooled off with some splashes of water from the other dogs. She then wandered over to me with her tail wagging and looking a bit of a cuddle and a scratch behind the ear. After checking out all the action, she went and hung out in the shade with the big St. Bernard, Annie. She is always so sweet and had so much fun today! 
Gracie was her usual happy self for her extra attention. She trotted up to the playroom right by my side and then set out to explore the space. Once she located the treat puzzle on the table, that was all she could focus on. It seemed to be a favourite among the dogs today! I put a few treats in it and let Gracie get to work. After that, she showed me some of her tricks in return for a couple more treats and some cuddles. Gracie had a good roll on the floor, then joined me in the reception where she curled up on a chair and took a nap while I wrote up her blog.

Pictures for July 22 - Click here!

Friday, July 21st, 2017

Jack and Maggie enjoyed some time in the reception area with me this morning after their walk time. I laid out a comfy bed for Jack and some stuffed toys for Maggie, but Jack hopped right up onto the big arm chair while Maggie climbed on my lap. These two were all about snuggles and relaxation today, maybe because it's a little cloudy with a cozy feeling in the air. After their extra attention time this morning, Jack and Maggie joined me in the yard for some group time with their friends. The pair wandered out to the grassy part of the yard and started to explore along the fence line where all of the good smells hide. I showed Maggie the agility jump but she wasn't quite ready to play and kept her nose glued to the ground next to Jack. They eventually made their way back towards the shade by the door where some other dogs were relaxing. Jack said hello to Rocky the Dachshund while Maggie greeted the spaniels Casper, William and Ringo. A few minutes later Jack wandered out to hang out with our resident dog Julie and have a good sniff at her wheelchair. Each time I saw Jack and Maggie in their kennel between group outings, they were both stretched out on their beds having a snooze.

Barney is such a silly guy. I set up the treat puzzle for him in the reception area for his extra attention time, and he walked in circles around it, trying to open all of the little compartments. Each time he got his treat, Barney would run over to me for a quick pet. Once he'd found all of his snacks, Barney sat down on the bed I'd laid out for him. I joined him on the floor next to it, encouraging him to lay down and get comfy but instead of curling up, Barney jumped up on the armchair! I sat next to him and Barney snuggled right up on my lap for the rest of our time together. After a little more relaxation time in his kennel, Barney was full of beans and ready to play during his group outings. Barney went around and said his hellos to his pals, stopping to say an extra long greeting to Cooper, who was tossing a ball around for himself. Cooper play-bowed and pounced to Barney, and they took off running together in a flash. These silly boys wrestled and ran all around the yards together, and occasionally had another friend or two join in.

The lovely ladies Roxy and Trixie were bright eyed and bushy tailed when they arrived this morning! These girls spun around and jumped in excitement when I walked up to their kennel with leashes and harnesses in hand. Roxy loved sniffing and walking in the long grass on the edge of the trail, while Trixie stopped here and there to roll around with their walking partner, Ringo. After a little snooze on their cozy blankets, Roxy and Trixie were more than ready to hit the play yard and have some fun. This pair are quite the explorers and spent the first little while following their noses to every nook and cranny of the yard, tunnel, picnic table, and anything else they could find. Their noses led them right to the agility jump, and the girls found their hidden talent: high jump! They flew over the bar over and over again and eventually attracted a little audience. Once they were all out of steam for jumping, Roxy and Trixie went to cool down in the shade together. Trixie placed a paw on Roxy's back as if to say "good jumping!", which was so adorable. The girls had a little wrestle in the shade together before relaxing and watching the others for a while.

Maya and Rocky are such a lovely little duo, who clearly love each other so very much. It always warms my heart when I walk past their kennel and they're both curled up on their big bed together. They were laying side by side when I went to retrieve them for group time today, and seemed to be enjoying their nap! When Maya got up, Rocky was sure to follow her out into the yard. It was another warm day, so Rocky took up his post by the fence to lay on the warm ground. Maya had the opposite idea today, and went for a little stroll to the pool and waded in to cool her toes and have a sip of water. She was feeling quite refreshed and frisky after her dip, and took off running back towards Rocky, but was intercepted halfway there. Cooper the doodle wanted to join in on Maya's jog, and pounced on her as she ran past, instigating a wrestling match! It was awesome to see her letting loose and having some fun. Maya eventually went back over to check on little Rocky, and Cooper joined her and gave him a little smooch.

I was lucky enough to take Poppy out for her extra attention time today. We roamed outside in the field, and I let Poppy lead the way. She followed her nose all around the long grass and the trail, and ventured towards the middle of the field when she saw a bird. We eventually made our way towards the back of the field to the creek. Poppy didn't hesitate before walking down the creekbank and splashing in the water! She walked back and forth in the water and gazed out at what lay at either end of the creek. Once she was finished in the creek, Poppy and I continued on our way and stopped to hang out at the bridge. We then finished our walk so that we could make it back for group time! Poppy was happy to meet a few new friends in the yard during her group time today. Her favourite pal was a fellow Doodle named Finnigan, who has such a fun-loving energy. Poppy watched as Finnigan raced around with the other dogs and even bounced over to join in here and there. Poppy made sure to go up and greet all of the other dogs in her group in between exploring the yard and getting accustomed to the routine. She had a great first full day with us!

Finnigan is such a goofy guy who always loves to play with just about anyone. His group was a mix of dogs, ranging from big guy Justice the Husky, all the way down to little Barb the Lab puppy. Finnigan made sure to say hello to everyone before climbing into the pool to lay down in the water. Barb hopped in next to him and splashed around in the cool water, sending drops flying all over Finn. He let her have some more space to splash and went to go see Charly the Golden girl, who was playing with the blue frisbee type toy. Finnigan can never pass up a game of fetch or a good jog around the yard, and he and Charly took part in both!

It's been a couple of weeks since my good friends Max and Sadie were in for daycare, and were they ever thrilled to be back today! When I went to leash them up for walk time they could barely contain their excitement. They eventually simmered down though, and off we went onto the trail. There were plenty of new and exciting smells to take in along the path and Sadie made sure to sniff them all. After walks, Max and Sadie joined me in the yard to hang out on this beautiful day. They both took a gander at the pool but opted to keep their feet dry for the time being, and Sadie ventured out to lay in the empty green pool in the grass yard. Max kept his nose to the ground and searched for scents around all of the yard's obstacles. I sat on the picnic table and Max came to stand next to me for a back scratch, while Sadie climbed up on the tabletop to give me a kiss. Max kept his nose glued to the ground for the rest of our time outside, but it was Sadie that found something interesting in the grass! She came across a little frog and perked her ears up while figuring out what it was. She watched it hop until it went through the fence and into the field.

Sophie, our forever young and rambunctious Golden was full of amazing energy again today. She had a blast running around with the young and energetic Harvey the Airedale. Sophie of course had a toy in mouth and was taunting Harvey to come and chase her. Harvey could hardly even keep up with her; she was whipping all over that yard, and rolling around in the grass. She was surrounded with just as energetic pups today and there was an epic chase around the yard that surely Sophie couldn’t miss!

Annie the St. Bernard was full of beans today as well; she was thrilled to have so many friends like Gracie and Lilo who were running circles around her. Although much bigger, she wanted to be part of all the fun and that didn’t hold her back from flying in the air towards the girls to play. She was smiling from ear to ear and her whole body wiggled in excitement as she tried to keep up with the running pack of pups today. Finally she was ready for a rest and ran over to my side and brushed her head against my legs demanding a head rub!

I had the privilege of spending some time with sweet girl, Annie. We changed it up today and went into the playroom. I offered her the bone she loved yesterday, but she wanted to try something new. We looked in the toy bin together and found lots of options. She chose the large nylabone and wandered about with it to find the best place to chew it. While having a good chew I gave her some cuddles. Annie wanted to check out the other options, so she got up, gave me a big sniff and then settled back down with not one...not two...but three bones to choose from! 




Gracie was so excited to have Lilo the Visla join her for their outdoor group this morning. These two agile and silly girls were inseparable for most of the morning and Lilo really brought out the energetic side of Gracie! They tumbled around the yard together and excitedly pawed and pranced around all morning long. Gracie had to be on her toes because there is never knowing when Lilo will rip around the corner again and jump on her back to play. These two ladies were the ones who started the grand chase around the yard, but they were much too quick for the others to try and keep up, even for Syrus the Husky! Gracie would run and take cover on top of the wooden plank and this deterred Lilo to chase after Annie and Syrus who were just waiting for her to loop back around. Both Lilo and Gracie never stopped moving from the moment they set paw outside today and were the best of friends anyone could have ever asked for!

Gracie knew exactly where we were headed when I approached her kennel door this morning, time for her extra attention session up front! Lots of moving bodies in the reception area which meant Gracie had all the extra hands to give her head rubs. Gracie excitedly ran around and made a stop to check out the toy box. She must have really liked the stuffed snake because she picked it up and dropped it at Kinsey's feet to play with! She made herself comfortable on the chair and curled herself up in a ball while getting her head scratched, now that's service! She only perked up to accept a treat and gave us the perfect sit and paw to accept!

Syrus was in great company with all of these playful ladies around. He looked one way and saw Gracie and Lilo wrestling, then looked the opposite way and found Harvey and Sophie playing tug of war; he didn’t know who to join! We all know that Syrus cant resist a good chase around the yard and he was quickly on his toes with tongue out as Gracie and Lilo started leading the way! Although he couldn’t reach them fast enough, he still had a blast running out his energy and was picking up on all the fun and energetic vibes this group had to offer!

Meanwhile Mr. Titan was off having a game of chase on his own! He was running and around and playing with new bets friend Lotus the Husky. These two have become inseparable this past week and picked right up where they left off today. Although not part of the big game of chase, Titan zoomed in and out of the grassy yard after Lotus. Only looking up at me with those great big puppy dog eyes when I called his name over for a pet! He has really been enjoying his visit and has made some long-lasting friendships!

After Titan had his walk and group time he joined me for some extra attention in the playroom. I grabbed a handful of cookies and offered him one. He was so excited he almost took my hand off! Silly guy. I stuffed the rest of the cookies into a kong so he could work for them. He nosed and pawed the kong around the floor until he got all the cookies out. He spent some time exploring the room before I took him for a short walk outside before heading back to his kennel for a rest.

Millie started her day off with a morning trail walk with sweet siblings Riley and Roobee. Although Millie’s legs are much shorter, she definitely kept up the pace and excitedly took the lead as Riley and Roobee gently trotted behind. The three of them all had their tails perked right up and never stopped smiling; clearly this was their favorite part of the day so far! But the fun continued outside a short while later when Millie, Riley and Roobee were paired with playful Huskies Boris and Tasha. Roobee loved watching Boris and Tasha whip around the yard with Haley the Shepherd, but made sure not to get in their way! Riley, slightly more confident than his sister excitedly followed Millie and I out into the grassy yard to see what was going on. Riley got a burst of energy and playfully jumped down into a play bow ready to wrestle! Millie thought that was pretty hilarious to watch and ran over to see what he was up too! Boris ran up to Millie to introduce himself and being a confident girl herself, she loved Boris bold behavior! While Millie ran around with Boris, Riley and Roobee were excited to see that I was filling up the pool for them. They ran over to check it out but were interrupted when Boris and the gang splashed right in! 

Millie couldn't wait until it was time for her extra attention. After she had a little break from her walk she raced to the playroom. As soon as she got in their she spotted two toys and couldn't decided which one was best. She settled on the kong bone tossing it around. I grabbed a rope toy and of course she grabbed onto the end pulling and tugging with all her might. Millie was curious to know if there were any better toys in the toy bin so I put it in the floor for her. She grabbed a rubber spring toy and loved chewing and whipping it around. Before her time with me was up to joined me for some cuddles and extra ear rubs. 

Riley and Roobee are just the sweetest pair and they were ecstatic to follow me down the hallway and into the reception area for their extra attention session after their morning group. I set up a nice bed, filled the bucket full of toys and had the treat puzzle ready to go! Of course they both went straight for the treat puzzle and each took turns turning the nozzle with their noses to successfully get a treat! What a smart pair these two were and solved the puzzle in no time. They spent the rest of their time relaxing, tongues out and legs stretched out in both directions. They were thankful to have some rest and cuddles after spending a fun session out in the heat with their four-legged friends!




To take a look at today's pictures click on the link below:

Friday, July 21st, 2017- Click here for pictures.

Thursday, July 20th, 2017

Issy and Mocha were eager to get out on their walk with their friend, Gracie. They both bounced around as I hooked them up. As they ran out the gates, Mocha came across a frog on the trail. She stopped dead in her tracks and begin sniffing after it. Luckily, the frog hopped off to safety before Mocha could capture it. Mocha kept her nose the ground for the remainder of the walk, looking for more treasures. Issy carried on along the trail, leading the crew as usual. In the yard Mocha was content to sun tan and rest while Issy explored. It was a very warm day which resulted in the two of them more keen to rest and relax rather than getting in on the fun and games. Issy was happy to have both yards open so she could explore them both while Mocha preferred sticking to her usual spot.

Percy was so happy to have the pools out today! He was very busy between toys, and the water all afternoon. He was very intrigued by the blue squeaky fish. He darted around with this in his mouth showing it off to all his friends. He had a fun fetch competition with Spencer, and won. He brought it back to the pool over and over, dropping it in and bobbing it around. This continued for a while until Hayley joined him in the pool. He then began to dig around sending water every where which caused quite the commotion. All the dogs around him fled the area as he splish-splashed around. Finally he settled down with the toy in the grass and enjoyed chewing on it until it was time to come in and rest in his cool kennel.

Tsavo and I had a great walk this morning with group mate Kimi. These two are so great on their walk, we even broke out into a light jog. The ladies loved looking up at me as I trotted along. They stuck right by my side, enjoying the faster paced cardio. We did a nice loop around the field before returning indoors to cool off. In the yard today both Kimi and Tsavo were fascinated by new friend, Mabel. Despite Mabels size, she is only 7 months old. She got both Kimi and Tsavo dancing around with wagging tails. Kimi was very patient with the pup, before breaking off to meet up with her pal Justice. Justice was so flirty towards Kimi. They sauntered around together, batting their eyelashes back and forth until they did a little dance. Tsavo kept busy with Mabel until she too decided to wander off. Tsavo enjoyed keeping cool in the pool, along with sniffing and exploring the whole small dog yard.

Spencer was so excited to meet a new friend today on his walk. Mabel, the bernese puppy, was a lot of fun to walk with. She has never been on a leash, and Spencer was a great choice to show her the ropes (literally). Mabel stuck right beside him, trying her hardest to stay on track. Spencer loved having someone look up to him, and follow his every move. In the yard today Spencer was the first to find the blue squeaky fish toy. He ran around with it in his mouth, showing off his prized possession. After showing it off, he gave it up to me so we could play some fetch. After a couple rounds. Percy joined in making the games a bit more competitive. The pair had a lot of fun competing. Percy finally won the toy, leaving Spencer with his nose to the ground looking for another. HE ventured around the yard until he found a fun ball. We played fetch with this for a bit until Spencer decided to cool down in the pool and then rest in the shade with his friend Kyah.

Maya was happy to walk with two husky friends, Justice and Kyah. She got so excited part way through the walk when Kyah began darting and dancing through the long grass. Maya began zipping after her, and there I was waving leashes around like a maniac. These two ran so fast, In lots of circles, through the field. They were having so much fun I didn’t stop them until the leashes were very tangled. Finally they settled down and got back on track. I nthe yard today, Maya was more interested in relaxing in the shade than socializing. In her defence, it was a very hot day. She ventured into all four yards, sniffing and exploring, which was a big deal for her. Without Rocky in the yard with her, she tends to be a bit more curious. After sniffing everything she settled down in the shaded gravel portion of the yard waiting to head back indoors where she could cuddle up with her little-big brother. 

Titan got his extra attention time right after his walk this morning. He and I spent some time cuddling on the chair in the reception area. After a few treats and lots of cuddles, we took a short walk over to the creek where Titan explored the water and dipped his paws in the mud and stream. He brushed it all off afterwards with a quick trek through the long grass in the field. Titan spent one of his outing with the little dogs today and he had so much fun! They all swarmed around him when he first went outside and he sniffed all his new friends. Once he was introduced to all the dogs, Titan made his way around the yard. He stopped to sniff the pool and then tip toed inside. He stood there to cool off for a while, since it was such a hot day today. Cooper was one of Titan’s new friends in the yard and Cooper really took a liking to Titan right away. He followed Titan around the yard the whole time. They wrestled together for a few minutes. When Titan got tired of playing, he retreated to the pool and stood there to cool off. Ringo jumped in the pool too and these two handsome fellas lapped up some of the water and splashed each other with their paws. Titan then trotted towards me. He was very excited to get some pets and had a huge smile on his face. When Titan got back inside, he jumped right onto his cot, lied down while resting his head on his blankets, and then fell sound asleep.

Sophie had a very good day today! She began her day with a quick outing and then a walk with some of her familiar friends, Annie and Percy. The grass is long on the trail and Sophie loves to run right through it, leaping the whole way with her tail waving back and forth. Later in the morning, her usual friends in the yard joined her. We opened up all the yards and Sophie explored the entire area, scoping out the yard for the perfect toy. Once she found the blue Frisbee, she made up her mind and kept it with her the rest of the time. I pet her while she relaxed in the grass, playing with her chosen toy. I strayed away to say hello to the other dogs and Sophie stayed put with her toy. She eventually made her way to the pool, with her toy in her mouth. She cooled off completely, submerging every part of her body except her head. She had dropped the Frisbee in the pool and she splashed around trying to find it. It was so cute to watch!

Syrus did a little bit of everything today! He started off playing with his good buddy, Harvey. These two spend a lot of time together and Syrus really likes playing with Harvey. Syrus then spotted me from the corner of the yard and came galloping over. He was abnormally excited to see me and then wiggled in under my legs and looked up at me. I pet his head and scratched his ears while he stood there with a big smile on his face. Syrus was really in the mood for some cuddles today! After he had gotten tons of cuddling done with me, he went and joined Indi, who was playing in the pool. Syrus didn’t splash around like Indi was, but instead just stood there, cooling off with his paws in the water. After being in the water, he joined in on a game of chase with Cai and Indi. Syrus was at the head of the pack and every one started chasing him. Syrus went lunging into the tunnel to get away from the others. I got him to go in and out and he really liked it! He was going full tilt though the tunnel and coming out the other side. One time he did it, he ran straight into Teddy, who was sitting right at the end. Syrus had a really fun-filled day and was happy to head back inside and cuddle into his big blanket. I brought him his lunchtime treat and after munching on that, he settled in for a nap.

Annie was full of cuddles as usual! She immediately bumped up against me for some petting and attention when we stepped into the yard. She pressed her head up against my legs and looked up at me with her big eyes, begging for some pets. I pet her head and rubbed all down her back. She got a little jealous if other dogs came over for some attention but it was easy for her to scoot to the side and block them out. I brought Annie to the grass yard with me, where I sat down on the rock and she stood right over me, enjoying her ear massage and back rubs. Annie was very relaxed and sat down, but not for long as it was so hot out today! Annie then took shelter from the sun in the outdoor kennels, with some of her friends following behind. Cai and Gracie followed Annie, and these three goofballs sat down on the cool floor. I sat down right beside Annie and pet her head and massaged her ears. She and I wandered around after and said hello to all the others outside. Annie was very happy she got to spend some time with her friend Kally. Kally gave Annie lots of hip scratches, head rubs and snuggles. I found a nylabone for her in our toy bin and offered it to her. Annie gently took the bone and started pacing around the room trying to find the perfect place to lay down and chew her bone. I laid out a big comfy blanket for her, which Annie gladly settled down on to gnaw away. She was quite content to spend her time chewing on the bone and hanging out with Kally.


Gracie was a little adventurer in the yard today. She was so happy to go outside and even more so because it wasn’t raining today. She started off sniffing the play structure. I tried to get Gracie to jump up and sit on top so that she could see the other dogs but she was too preoccupied with her exploring and kept her nose glued to the ground. She continued on her way and sniffed the grass as she walked. Gracie then went to visit Syrus up on the pallet. She stood up on her little perch and watched the rest of the dogs as they roamed, and spotted me sitting in the grass with one of her pals. Gracie trotted over to join us and rested her sweet face on my leg, asking for some pets and snuggles. I was more than happy to give her a scratch behind the ears and some back rubs while we watched the goings on in the yard. Gracie spent most of her yard time casually grazing and watching her friends as they did the same.
After Gracie had some fun outside, she joined Kally up front for some extra cuddles and attention. Gracie quickly scoped out the room, seeing who and what interesting things she could smell. During her very thorough sniffing, she found the treat puzzle. I pulled it out and filled it with some yummy liver treats. While I was filling up the puzzle Gracie was watching me hopefully so I gave her a cookie from the jar. As soon as I placed it on the ground Gracie instantly start pawing and nosing at the compartments to get the treats out.

Cai and Teddy both had a good day in daycare today. These two handsome boys met Lotus today and loved her! Lotus was really flirty and playful with the boys. Teddy was the first one to say hello to her. He followed his new lady friend around for a long time, trying to get her to play. Finally, she was leaping and running around with Teddy. Teddy chased her in and around the entire yard, swerving around the other dogs as they went. Cai was exploring the grass, taking in all the smells from the last time he was in for the day. Cai bumped into Teddy and then Cai joined in on their game of chase. It slowly turned into a play-wrestling game. Their playing started to slow down as the sun came out, and Teddy found a nice shady spot inside the tunnel. He ran up and down the tunnel looking for a perfect spot to catch a breath. Cai went to find a new playmate and found Indi. Indi was in the pool and since Cai doesn’t like the pool, he stood right in front of her and play bowed to her. Once she stepped out, Cai pounced on her and they play fought like crazy for a long time! Cai and Teddy then crossed paths again when they both went to the grass yard to see Lotus again. Lotus was lying down under the picnic table for some shade, and Teddy tried to wiggle his way under as well. Cai was too tall to get under so he put his paws up on the table, waiting eagerly for his friends to come out.

Rocky and Maya were in different groups today so Rocky took the opportunity to get lots of sun and to relax while he was outside. Most of the dogs went off into the yard to run around in the grass and to sniff the fence line. I sat in the gravel with Rocky near the fence and pet his back. I was massaging his head and Rocky’s eyes closed like he had fallen asleep! He slowly rolled over for me to rub his little belly. I rubbed his belly and tickled him for a few minutes, just until Coco and Timbits came to say hello to Rocky. Timbits moved on shortly after, but Coco followed Rocky’s example and sun bathed in the gravel yard. Rocky was very content to stay there until going back inside. Once inside, he was reunited with Maya. Maya greeted him into their kennel, leaping up and down with excitement to see her (not so big) big brother. Barney had a lovely day today as well! He started off having a very relaxing time just like Rocky. For the first half of his group time, Barney was unbothered by the other dogs and sniffed the bushes growing from the other side of the fence. I picked him up for some cuddle time and then brought him over to the pool since he loves it. He plopped his paws into it and then drank some of the water and strolled around the water. He began to sniff around the edge of the pool. Ringo then decided to join in and Barney hopped out. Tiffani joined us in the yard and knelt down to pet Barney.  He was very happy and his little tail was wagging the entire time. He looked up and gave Tiff a few kisses on the cheek.

Jack and Maggie had a really great time in the yard during their first big outing. Maggie was exploring the yard straight away, with her little nose on the ground and then fence, taking in all the new scents from the night before. Maggie made her way to the far part of the yard where most of the grass is and then went to work sniffing the grass and the rocks. Maggie went back to see her brother, who was hanging out with Rocky and Coco in the gravel yard. She comforted Jack and he then followed her into the yard. Jack then began to explore the yard himself. He strolled towards the pool and it looked like he was almost tempted to get in! I encouraged him to put his two front paws in but as soon as he realized there was water there, he bolted away and wanted nothing to do with it. I followed him and Maggie into the grass yard and sat down with the two of them and pet them both. Tiffani joined us in the yard shortly after and picked up Maggie and gave her lots of love and attention. Jack then had his turn getting lots of cuddles.
After their respective morning walks, Jack and Maggie joined me out in our lounge building to do just that, lounge. I offered Maggie a stuffed toy to play with, but she was much too busy exploring the room and enjoying the comfy couch. I lifted Jack up on the couch so that he could sit with us too, and he laid down right next to me to relax. I brought out a treat for Jack and Maggie and they each gobbled up their half of the cookie. We finished off our time together by roaming the front field before it got too hot out.


Penny and Pippin had a great day! These two lovely ladies got lots of cuddles in the yard and they loved it! Pippin had lots of fun with her new friend Titan! Titan was a new addition to the small dog group and Pippin was happy to meet him. Pippin followed Titan around, getting his scent and then eventually invited him to play with her. She leaped up at him and placed her paws on his back. Titan then whipped around and leaped on to Pippin and pawed at her. They danced around each other, pawing back and forth. Every couple seconds they would take off and Pippin would chase after Titan. While Pippin was enjoying her time with her new friend, Penny was with me. Penny loves to snuggle and give kisses! She put her little paws on my lap while I sat down and we stayed together, watching the others play.  Tiffani then joined us in the yard and picked up Penny. Penny was ecstatic and wiggled her bum and tail from being so excited. Tiffani gave her lots of pets and scratched behind her ears. Pippin then came over, jealous that her sister was getting all the attention. Pippin got a turn and Tiffani scooped her up and held her for a few minutes, making sure she got an equal amount of pets and love. 

Thursday, July 20th - click here for pictures

Wednesday, July 19th, 2017

Annie was feeling good and ready to hang out with me after her morning walk. She trotted up to the reception area and watched as I prepared the treat puzzle with a couple of liver treats for her. Annie shuffled around in excitement, and immediately used her nose to reveal the first little prize. She’s such a smart girl! After she nosed and pawed at the puzzle for a while, Annie was ready to relax and laid down on the cool floor, which she preferred to the comforter I’d laid out for her. Annie enjoyed lots of pets and back rubs while she snoozed. All rested up and ready for the rest of her day, Annie joined me outside in the play yard for some fun with her group. Annie spent the first little while sniffing around the yard and getting acquainted with all of her new friends. She came to see me as well, and rubbed up against my side hoping for some more back scratches. I happily gave Annie a helping hand and scratched her back while we watched the other dogs roam the yard. When Syrus the Husky came bouncing over in Annie’s direction she couldn’t help but start to bounce around with him! It was so sweet watching these new friends together.

After a morning of fun outside, it was time for Barney's extra attention session. He excitedly followed me down the hallway and into the reception area for some one-on-one time. He checked out the toy bucket and rolled around on the blanket in happiness. He even gave me the perfect sit for a treat! But most of all Barney loves to cuddle, I took a seat on the chair and he excitedly jumped up on my lap and spent most of his morning relaxing while I scratched his head! He even got to spend some time with pals Jack and Maggie who were heading up for their session as he was heading back.

Titan started his morning off with his usual trail walk, but with new partners today. He happily greeted Finnigan and Maya before heading out to stretch his legs on the path. After his walk, Titan bounced down the hall and out into the yard, eager to meet back up with his good friend Lotus. These two have been spending lots of time together this week, usually hanging around in the same areas of the yard. Titan roamed the grass and the fence line with Lotus for a while until he noticed Syrus hopping up into the play structure. He quickly raced over and stood up on his hind legs to peek over the edge at what Syrus was doing. Titan entered the play house with his pal and waited for his turn to look up on the top level. Titan was more than happy to continue roaming the yard and hanging out with Lotus and friends until his extra attention time this afternoon.

Syrus did a little bit of everything out in the yard today. After he went for his walk accompanied by Indi, Syrus was ready to explore every inch of the yard, including the playstructure. Syrus poked his head into the little house and sniffed around before leaping up to the top level where he gazed out into the yard. He watched the other dogs for a few minutes and then hopped back down to give Titan a turn up on top. Syrus went running through the middle gate into the adjacent yard when he saw the Golden girls Sophie, Molly and Naughty having a game of fetch with a few of the various toys. I tossed a ball for Syrus and he sprung up like a kangaroo to be the first one to catch it. He then trotted away across the yard with the Golden trio following behind, hoping that he would drop it! After a little bit of fun with the ball, Syrus met up with a new friend who joined the group today, gentle giant Annie the St. Bernard. She’s not always keen to play, but there was something about Syrus that she couldn’t resist, and the two started to bounce around together, it was so cute!

Sophie had yet another great day today, but that’s no surprise! She spent most of her time accompanied by her two Golden friends, Molly and Naughty. These girls are the three Golden Musketeers in their group and even out on the walking trail! They walked side by side at the ends of their leashes most of the way, and only parted ways when Sophie stopped to roll in the long grass here and there. Molly gave Sophie a good run for her money when it came to playing fetch during groups today! Each time Sophie caught the ring toy she would prance off around the yard with it and Molly would be trailing close behind, looking for an opportunity to snatch it away. Molly did manage to grab the other end of Sophie’s toy a couple of times, but Sophie the smarty pants always knew where the second ring toy was laying in the grass and went to pick it up instead.

If I had to choose a perfect play partner for Kane it would absolutely be little DJ the Jampup! He was a little bit shy with Kane when they first met at the hallway door, but as soon as he saw Kane’s wagging tail and goofy smile they were off to the races! Kane is known around here for being a very busy guy, and DJ had the long legs and plentiful energy to keep up with this goofy boy’s antics. The boys made a few laps around the yards before Kane’s old pal Finnigan came bounding over to join the party. Finnigan had been rolling around in the grass with his puppy friend Barb, all while holding the blue ring toy in his mouth. Kane, DJ and Finnigan flew around the yard together and attracted the attention of the other dogs in their group, including Resa, Isis and Charly. Soon enough they were all running together in one big bunch, moving so fast I could hardly keep track of who was who. After plenty of running and silliness, Kane, DJ and Finnigan looped back around the yard to check on the quieter friends who were relaxing by the door.

Tinkerbell and Maya were definitely on the same page today. The girls were more than happy to hang out together and relax while the goofy guys ran around in the adjacent yard. Maya was more than happy to lay down with her little brother Rocky on the warm rocks, while Tinkerbell ventured a little further out into the yard at first. Tink climbed up on one of the pallets and watched DJ do laps around her. I went over to say hello and watch the other dogs and Tinkerbell stood up with her little paws reaching towards me. I snuck her a little treat before we went back over to hang out with Maya and Rocky again. I of course gave Maya a little liver treat when we met up again, which prompted Rocky to come waddling over for one too. Suddenly all of the crazy boys came flying in to take a break from their chase and Finnigan and Kane quickly gave Maya lots of big kisses while DJ said hello to his sister. 

Bella joined rescue Husky friend Lotus for her morning trail walk and she was just thrilled to zoom down the trail with her new friend; these two were on the move and definitely kept up the pace! She spotted a familiar face out in the yard a short while later; it was Chloe, her favorite play buddy! Chloe had just come from her trot along the trail with daycare pal Kane and was just as excited to see sweet Bella. Chloe started wiggling in the air as she came thundering towards Bella, Bella excitedly leapt towards her and they caught each other mid air! From that moment on these two were inseparable and definitely the stars of their group. Everyone, including sisters Annie and Zen and our lovely guest Haley wanted to join in the fun. Annie and Zen love a good group-wrestle in the yard, they excitedly followed Chloe and Bella all around the yard today. However Zen stopped dead in her tracks when she smelt something of interest in the grass and then she excitedly started to roll. Annie curiously watched her from above and then Chloe ran over and started to roll herself! Oakley found all of this to be the best entertainment, at times she would wrap herself in and around my legs and watch the others run around knowing very well that she would get some head scratches. But she was just as excited to see friend Haley, it’s been a while since these two had some fun together in the yard. They both immediately ran towards one another to say hello and Oakley got into her playful stance, ears back and tail perked right up, ready to pounce if Haley enticed her!

Last night we welcomed Jack and Maggie back for another visit and I was thrilled to see their sweet little faces bright and early this morning! Perky as ever, they followed me out into the yard for their first outing and started exploring the yard. We took a nice and slow trail walk this morning and little Olive joined them and they were glad to have her company! Jack saved just enough energy to have a friendly wrestle with Cooper and Maggie excitedly ran over to join in! After some fun outside, they were ready to head back in for a quick rest and then head up front for their extra attention session. They said hello to Barney as he just finished up his session. Prior to heading up front for some cuddles, he had a blast running around the yard with the rest of the small dog group. He is a sucker for human companionship and excitedly followed me around the yard. He spent some time perched up on the picnic table so he could get a better view of the yard. Daycare pals Penny and Pippin followed Barney into the far grassy yard and thought it was hilarious to watch him jump up on the table, they happily wiggled their tails watching him from below. Earlier in the morning, Penny and Pippin enjoyed their walk with energetic pal Cooper. They could hardly contain their excitement when I approached their kennel door with leashes in hand. After a nice walk, they were excited to see that fellow Spaniel brothers Casper and William were still here. You had to take a double look when the four of them were together since they are so similar and share such sweet fun-loving personalities! Rocky was happy as can be to find his favorite spot to lounge out in the sun by the door. He was very happy to have spent his time sunbathing this morning before the rain hit. Although he does love to lounge most of the time, when I headed out into the far grassy yard, I saw that he had left his spot to do some exploring. After a few laps, he was exhausted and ready to head back inside for an afternoons rest! 

Pictures for Wednesday, July 19th, 2017- Click here

Tuesday, July 18th, 2017

Titan and Sophie had a wonderful start to their morning by heading out for a trot along the back trail bright and early. It was a warm one, but they enjoyed feeling the breeze in their faces as they excitedly paced along together. The fun continued for the two of them when they met back up in the yard for a pool party! Sophie raced friends Syrus and Indi into the far grassy yard so she could be the first to splash into the cool pool! Sophie is fearless and immediately plunged her whole body in until just her eyes were poking out from under the water. Syrus and Indi on the other hand took their time to test the temperature out with their paws before jumping in. But soon enough the three of them were all splashing around in there together. Meanwhile, Titan was off chasing his new best friend Lotus around the yard. These two were inseparable for most of the morning and had a blast whipping around the yard together. After running so many laps, Titan was hot and decided to come splash around in the pool for himself! A few gulps of water later and he was ready to find Lotus again for another round of chase. Syrus, the smiling boy loved when I lifted the hose out from under the water, both him and Sophie tried to bite and catch the water in their mouths straight from the hose. After a few dips in the pool, Indi was ready to play and found a wrestling partner in Molly the Golden. When Sophie saw Indi and Molly running around the yard, she quickly joined in and the three of them spent the rest of their morning running and splashing around in the pool together.

Titan was quite the happy boy when I went to get him for his extra attention time. He came dashing down the hall as I followed closely behind. Before I knew it he was up in the big comfy chair and waiting for me to come give him some TLC. However, once Titan heard the treat jar, he jumped up off the chair and ran right over to me. I got Titan to show off a few tricks such as sit and lay down. Once he did, I gave him a couple of treats. I gave him the rest of the treats in the treat puzzle. This kept Titan busy for a little while. He was successful in getting every little piece of treat that he could. Once he was done with that, he nose started to go wild. Titan was following different scents all over the room for the rest of his extra attention time. 

It was the perfect sunny day for daycare pals Boris, Tasha, Percy and sisters Issy and Mocha to have a play session out in the yard today! After coming in from their respective trail walks, they were ready to hit the yard and like the group before, have an epic pool party! Mocha and Issy are creatures of habit and to no surprise; Mocha spent most of her morning lounging out in the sun. However her feathers got ruffled when Tasha came running around the corner and tried to entice her to play. If anyone’s is going to get Mocha’s tail wagging, it’s usually either Boris or Tasha! Issy followed Boris and Percy into the far grassy yard to check out the pool. Boris and Percy playfully fought one another to see who could get into the pool first but they both ended up in there and excitedly splashed around. There was even enough room for Issy, and the boys moved over to let her in. Well then Tasha came barreling in from around the corner and forced her way into the pool as well. Boris leaped out in excitement and then the grand chase around the yard began! Percy and Tasha darted after Boris and lets just say there were a few more dips to be had in the pool for the three of them to cool off after a ferocious morning of play! 

Finnigan loves a few things here at daycare, and today he managed to squeeze them all into his schedule. We started out on the trail for his morning walk, as usual, followed by a little rest time in his kennel before groups. Finnigan was pleased to see a few of his friends out in the yard today, including Magic the Husky, Charly the Golden and Barb the lab puppy. He was even happier though when he saw a brand new squeaky toy in my hand! I tossed the toy for Finn and he flew across the yard with Charly in hot pursuit behind him. Finn snatched the toy first and went to lay down in the grass with it, though he had attracted an audience who seemed quite keen to try and grab the toy away. I managed to sneak in and pick up the toy to throw again, and everyone flew off across the yard once more. Finnigan and Charly went back and forth between catching and chasing the toy, and Finnigan even took it for a little cool off in the pool.

Maya and Rocky were delighted to each go for their separate walks after breakfast this morning. Maya trotted out onto the main trail accompanied by spaniel sisters Penny and Pippin, while Rocky went for a more relaxed and slow-paced stroll on the front lawn, followed by a snooze on his big comfy bed beside his big sister. Penny and Pippin wiggled out into the yard this morning and quickly greeted their walking buddy from earlier in the morning, and each stopped to say hello to Rocky too. He was already getting settled in his customary sun-bathing spot by the fence, while Maya wagged her tail and sniffed her friends. Penny and Pippin continued out into the yard, wiggling away and saying their greetings to a few new faces that joined the group this morning. Penny was approached by a very small girl named Barb, who was beyond excited to be meeting new friends, while Pippin zipped past her sister and went to sniff around by the wall and in the longer grass by the fence. Penny didn’t stick around with Barb for long, though and made her way out to the agility jump. I encouraged her to hop over the bar, but it turned out that Pippin was feeling more agile today and cleared the jump a few times. Meanwhile, Maya had left Rocky to hang out in his spot while she went to cool her paws in the pool. Maya met up with Timbits and Barb and hopped right into the water!

I was so happy to see Barney’s big smile as he came down the hallway this morning! He’s such a fun and positive energy to have in our small dog group. After his walk on the trail to start his day, Barney joined his friends in the play yard. He went around and said hello to everyone before coming to visit with me. I walked farther out into the yard with Barney trotting along beside me, until he spotted the pool! He bolted over and jumped right into the water to splash around and cool his toes. Barney had a few visitors in the pool, including Maya, Timbits and Barb. Once he’d reached his ideal cool down temperature, Barney hopped out of the pool and shook off before running back to hang out in the shade on this very warm day! After his play time outside, Barney joined me upfront for some extra attention. He bounced around the reception area from chair to chair. When I opened up the cookie jar he hopped off the chair and start prancing around my feet. I put some liver treats in a kong bone, this entertained him for a majority of his time up front. Once he ate all the yummy treats from the bone Barney cuddled up beside me for some extra pets and back rubs. 

Coco and Timbits were full of energy on this beautiful and sunny Tuesday! After their trail walk with their good friend Miko, it was time to head out into the yard for our first group outing of the day. Miko led the way out into the grassy yard, followed by Timbits and their new pal, Barb. Barb was ready to race, and Timbits didn’t waste a second before taking off after her, while Miko and Coco watched from the comfort of the cool shade. Timbits and Barb wound up underneath the picnic table, which is one of her favourite spots to wrestle, and Coco came sprinting over to poke her head under and join in the fun. Miko stayed put for a little while, but eventually came out to run around with the group for a little while. Timbits and Barb raced and raced around the yard with Coco and Miko joining in occasionally, and finished off their play session with a good splash around in the kiddie pool. Barb leapt into the water, making a big splash, and Timbits didn’t waste any time before climbing in after her. 

To view todays pictures, click the link below:
pictures

Monday, July 17th, 2017

Keegan and Dugan started their day off bright and early for their morning trail walk with good pal Olive. They were thankful that the rain stayed away long enough for them to enjoy their daily trot; Keegan and Dugan were all smiles as they galloped along the trail! A short while later they were ready to head outside again, but this time to join the rest of the little ones for a morning of fun and play. Dugan was ecstatic to see daycare friend Bailey the Beagle since the two of them always have a blast together and today was no different. Dugan and Bailey raced one another out into the far grassy yard to make sure they got first dibs on all the toys. Both of them spotted the rubber ball and went for it, which turned into a playful game of tug-of-war as they both held on to opposite ends for dear life!

While Dugan and Bailey were busy running around together, Keegan hung back and made friends with Spaniel siblings Penny and Pippin. The three of them noticed that I had treats in my pocket and excitedly followed me around the yard with hopes that they would get a treat! It was a spaniel party today! Pippin and Penny were thrilled to see brothers Casper and William and of course silly Ringo. It’s been a while since we have seen Pippin and Penny and they enjoyed their visit, lots of smiles and great energy and it was a blast to watch them all interact together!

Maya and Rocky, our usual daycare friends are in for boarding this time and we are thrilled to have them! They were happy to start their day off with a morning trot along the back trail. Maya joined Casper and William while Rocky enjoyed a one-on-one stroll out front. It was a hot and humid day and Maya and Rocky took their usual seats to lounge out in the sun. They were in good company, most of the small ones, apart from Bailey and Dugan hung out together by the door, some in the shade and some in the sun. Both Maya and Rocky wanted to be right in the sun, and of course they didn’t mind all the extra attention they got, they both adore head rubs and belly scratches; the perfect way to start their day!

Sophie is one of the happiest girls I know, and it was so nice to spend my first group outing of the day with this sweetie. She was ready for just about any activity on this sunny Monday, including playing fetch and running around with her friends. Sophie said hellos to everyone in the yard before scooping up a toy from the grass. She carried it around in her mouth, holding it up high for everyone to see. I went to throw the toy for Sophie, but she instead tossed it for herself and rolled on top of it when it landed in the grass. She was feeling frisky after her roll and went running off to join Finnigan, Titan and Lotus in their prance around the yard. Sophie didn’t stick around for long, though and went sprinting away to meet up with Syrus and Molly, who had found another toy. She eventually made her way back across the grass yard to sit by my side and ask for some pets. It was getting pretty warm out so Sophie and I spent the rest of our outing just relaxing and hanging out together.

Titan and Finnigan were inseparable boys today! Finnigan was in the mood to run, and Titan couldn’t pass up on a good chase. The pair were never far behind Lotus the Husky, always taking off running when she did. I offered Titan and Finnigan both a couple of toys, but they were more focused on their run than on playing fetch today. It was quite warm outside today, so Titan eventually looped back around the yard to have a sit under the play structure for some shade, while Finnigan went and had a seat next to the tunnel. Titan was watching Finnigan in the other yard and spotted a puddle, which he of course couldn’t resist laying in! We went and got the hose out and rinsed Titan off under the cool water, which caught everyone’s attention. Soon enough almost the whole group was trying to catch the water in their mouths and get underneath the stream. Later on in the afternoon Titan joined me upfront for some one on one time. He was much more active today and didn't feel like snoozing on the chair. I grabbed a kong and filled it up with some liver treats. Titan was thrilled to push the kong around with his nose and watch it wobble around the room, dispensing a yummy treat the more he pushed it around. It didn't take him long to get all the treats out of the kong. He posed for a few pictures and then trotted back to his kennel to wait for his next turn outside. 

Syrus was ready to go go go right off the bat this morning. He was very eager to get out onto the walking trail next to his walking buddies, Riley and Rosco. Syrus loved to pounce through the long grass and weave back and forth across the trail to sniff everything he could get his nose on. He was still in an exploratory mood later on in the day during his time in the yard. Syrus ran his nose through all of the long grass around the perimeter of the yard and took his time before going to greet his friends. Syrus was happy to see Sophie the Golden playing nearby and quickly trotted off to join her. Syrus pounced on the big red Jolly Ball that Sophie was batting around until she picked it up, prompting Syrus to start chasing after her. He wasn’t too worried about getting the ball back, so Syrus veered off course and went to join Finnigan and Titan over by the play structure. Syrus watched Titan as he wove in and out of the bottom level of the play house, and decided to follow him inside. Syrus jumped up onto the upper level and looked around at the rest of the dogs from his new point of view.

Annie and Zen get more and more playful every time they come in for daycare! They met up with their friend Tango from last week, who was very happy to see his fluffy friends again today. Tango immediately went to greet Annie and Zen, and play-bowed in their direction, ready to play. Annie was more interested in gazing out into the field for the time being, but Zen showed a little interest in Tango’s request. She gave in to Tango’s play-bow and started to pounce around with him for a little while. Meanwhile, Annie left her post by the fence and went to go and say hello to her new friend, Riley who was laying down in the grass and enjoying the breeze. Eventually Annie decided to join Zen in a little play time with her friend Tango, and she was even more excited when she saw Riley hop up from her spot in the grass to come and join them.

Pictures for July 17, 2017 - Click here!

Sunday, July 16th, 2017

Syrus had a blast today! He played with so many different friends today. He met Lotus, our rescue husky and these two hit it off right away. Syrus chased Lotus around the yard for a few minutes. They are both so fast that none of the others could catch up to them. Lotus then veered off to hangout with Titan so then Syrus looked for another friend to play with. Syrus was standing alone in the yard so I went up to him to pet him. He thought that I was going to grab his collar to go inside so he leaped away and stuck his bum in the air while crouching down, with his tail wagging. I looked at him and then we had a little fun wrestling match. Syrus and I played together until Stella came and stole him away. Stella was in a very playful mood so Syrus was happy that she wanted to play. They pawed at each other and Syrus kept putting his two front paws onto Stella's back and then pushing off a few times and racing away. Stella bolted right after him each time, with her tongue hanging out like a goof ball. Soon Indi came barrelling right into Syrus and then Indi became the one chasing Syrus. Syrus is so quick and agile! He would leap over the agility tunnel, over the picnic table. One time he landed right on the table and he slipped and went flying off. He leaped right up and took off towards Indi again like it never happened! When we were nearing the end of our time outside, I got the pool out and started to fill it up with water. The hose was on and Syrus walked by and I accidentally sprayed him. He thought it was a game and he started to paw at the water, so I waved the hose back and forth and he pawed at it and tried to eat the water once. As soon as he realized that this game involved him getting wet, he slowly walked away and stayed clear of the pool from that point on.

Reese had a really great day! We started our day with a morning outing and a walk with his friends afterwards. He was accompanied by Sophie and Rosco. Reese led the way the whole time, never pulling on the leash. He stayed out of the long grass but made sure that he smelt lots of interesting things along the way. He was tuckered out after his walk and settled in on is cot for a quick nap before going outside again. Once we got outside again later in the morning, Reese was happy to see all his familiar friends once again. He saw us all go into the right yard but he stayed back in the other yard for a bit to explore. Rosco stayed too and these two handsome fellas stuck close by. Reese isn't big on playing with the other dogs but he is always happy to be out with his friends. I encouraged him to come over and see everyone and he came and stood by my side. Reese was happier to be cuddling me. I pet his head and massaged his back and ears. He loved getting his back massaged and scratched. His tail never stopped wagging once while we were out!

Sophie was a very good girl outside today. She did all of her favorite things! First she met some new friends, Titan and Lotus. She sniffed them a bit and said her hello's and then ventured off to the the far yard to sniff the longer grass. She came to me for some attention after some time and rested her head against my leg (her favorite thing) and I pet her head and rubbed her ears. The two of us sat in the sun together for a few minutes, while I rubbed Sophie's back. She then turned over for me to rub her belly and then she began to roll in the grass. While she was rolling around she found a broken tennis ball and instantly fell in love with it. She carried it around, and lied in the long grass to chew on it for a few moments. I tried to sneak up on her and throw it for her but she was having none of that and raced away from me! I let her be by herself with the ball. After a while, she joined in on a big game of chase with her friends. Syrus and Lotus were leading the pack and Sophie wasn't far behind them. She had a big smile on her face as she was running around and her tail was sweeping from side to side the entire time. Later on in her group, I began to fill up the pool and Sophie was absolutely ecstatic! She could not wait for it to be full and when there was less than an inch of water, she already lied down in the small pool with her tail wagging. She had put herself in direct line with the hose and she started to bite at the water that was coming out. It was very cute, and funny to watch. It was time for us to go inside after that so Sophie didn't get to go in the filled up pool quite yet, but during her afternoon outing, it was the first thing she did!

Stella is so cute! I love when I get to spend time with her outside. It turned out to be such a beautiful day today and Stella loved the sun. Everywhere she went in the yard, it was super sunny and she stayed clear of the shade. Like usual, she followed me wherever I went. She loved to walk beside me, and because she is so tall, her head comes to the perfect height for her to nudge my hand aside and tuck her head underneath it, so that it's like I never stop petting her. We continued wandering together, stopping to pet the other dogs and to throw some toys for the others. After lots of cuddles, she got a sudden burst of energy and took off running towards all the dogs. Stella got all of them up and moving and they all started a big wrestling match. She pranced around Syrus and pawed at him. He was the first one to play with her. At first he didn't want to play, but she cornered him in the yard and then he play bowed to her and they took off running around each other. Soon enough, Riley, Sophie and Indi were all playing too. Stella loved that all her friends were playing with her. She is such a gentle giant, and she let Syrus and Indi chase her around for a good while. Stella soon grew tired of her playing and returned to my side for some more pets. Syus came around a few times looking to play, but both times she planted her bum on the ground and sat there, content to sit in the sun and get lots of attention. 

Titan had a really good day today in the yard! First he stuck to his usual routine, walking the perimeter of the fence and picking out the really good spots to sniff. Titan noticed that all the rest of the dogs were in the other yard during his travels around the yard so he came trotting over to me. He began to make his rounds around the next yard too. I went up to him to give Titan some snuggles and he stood there while I rubbed his ears and stroked the top of his head. He walked away, eager to continue his exploring. He eventually bumped into Lotus, our rescue husky and the two of them exchanged some sniffs. Titan was quite smitten with Lotus and followed her around for the rest of the time they were together outside. Titan play bowed to Lotus and she was hesitant at first but then her paws did a little dance in the grass and Titan was happy she was playing with him. They jumped on each other and ran through the grass. Lotus is pretty fast so Titan was giving it his all to stay caught up with her. Titan would stop for a break and Lotus came to tease him as she pawed at him to play more. When they settled down, Lotus was wandering the yard, looking for a nice shady spot and Titan led her over to the outdoor kennel. Titan sat down for a few moments on the cool concrete and I went over to sneak in a few cuddles before we had to head inside.
Titan was so excited for his extra attention today. He headed straight up to reception as soon as I let him out of his kennel, knowing exactly what time it was. He seemed to have extra pep in his step as he trotted up front. Right away Titan began sniffing around, finding the blanket and toy bin to be quite interesting. I offered him a few different toys and Titan politely took each, gave it a little shake or dropped it on the ground, and then continued to explore. Once he had covered the entire room Titan was happy to relax and enjoy some cuddles!

Keegan and Dugan were eager to get the day started! They are always such fun dogs to have staying with us. This morning, the boys were bouncing around with excitement before their walk. They raced out the door and made a beeline for the gate, paws itching to reach the trail. For most of the walk, the two of them were zigzagging back and forth as they attempted to explore every inch of grass while walking. After that it was time for their big group rotation. Keegan and Dugan happily joined the rest of the little dogs in the yard, trotting around to greet everyone. While Keegan was more inclined to stick around and socialize with the others for a bit, Dugan was more than ready to start playing. I know that he loves his toys so I found him a fun rubber ball, which immediately caught his interest. Dugan’s friend Ziggy also had her eye on the ball. The two of them got ready for me to throw it and had a blast racing each other. Eventually Dugan decided that he didn’t want to share his toy anymore, and snuck away with it while Ziggy was distracted. He played tug-of-war with me and after proudly claiming his victory, marched around the yard with the ball in his mouth. Keegan was busy sniffing around by the fence with his friends Ringo and Coby. He wandered towards me and enjoyed a nice back rub,before heading over to check out the picnic table. Keegan was in the mood to take things slow and have a more relaxed time outside, although Dugan felt otherwise! Dugan left his ball in a safe spot and went bounding after Ziggy,who was more than happy to pounce back. The two of them were going absolutely crazy as they flew around the yard. Soon their pals Coby, Coco and Timbits were all joining in. They ran past Keegan at one point and Coby broke away from the group to pounce on him. It didn’t do very much, as Keegan is much bigger than tiny Coby, but eventually Keegan was encouraged enough to chase the others around.He and Dugan had a great time playing with everybody!


See our pictures here:
Pictures for July 16, 2017

Saturday, July 15, 2017

It was definitely a fun-filled day for Keegan and Dugan! The two boys were excited to join me in the yard for one of their play groups. I could barely keep up with them as they ran down the hallway and into the yard. First of the list of things to do was sniffing. Keegan set off into the further grass yard to sniff along the fence line while Dugan sniffed each and every one of his friends. Once he had greeted all of them, he met up with me to give me a sniff as well as a few kisses. Keegan joined us once again as it was time to play. I brought a ball out for the two of them and Dugan hopped up to grab it immediately. I didn't even know how high he could jump until we started playing a game. I kept putting the ball higher and higher to see if he could reach it. Every time he was successful the two of us started a fun game of tug of war. Boy is Dugan ever strong! He could nearly rip my arm off if he wanted to. I held my own for a little while but Dugan ended up beating me at tug-of-war many times. Just when I thought I should go get Keegan to play as well, I saw him running laps around Dugan and I. I'm sure he had been doing it the whole time. He seemed to like keeping an eye on us. Keegan and I trotted over to the agility jump to show off his moves. I'd get him to wait on one side of the jump and once I was on the other, Keegan would fly over top! He did an excellent job and definitely gave his brother a run for his money. Dugan joined us for a few jumps of course. To end of their group time, Keegan and Dugan jumped all the way into the pool to cool off. The two boys splashed at one another, me and a few friends that walked by. Each of them was trying to get the other as wet as possible, silly boys.

Sophie had so much fun today! She was very excited to start the day, and went on a nice walk with her friend Reese, the chocolate Lab. During her walk she stuck pretty close and enjoyed taking her time to sniff around and enjoy the sunshine. There was a cycling race happening today so and she was very curious as to what was going on. Every time a pack of cyclists went by she stopped and peered over the long grass, trying to figure out was going on. As we were walking along  she decided she wanted to take a little break, so she had a little roll around in the grass instead. During play time she was very eager, like always, to play fetch. We can always count on Sophie to get everyone playing, and she's also very nice about sharing the toys with the other dogs and lets everyone have a turn. Whenever she's ready to chase the ball she jumps around with a big smile on her face and then tears off after it. After she got tired of playing fetch she came looking for some cuddles, which I was more than happy to give her. She sat beside me while I scratched behind her ear with what looked like a big grin on her face. She really is such a sweet girl, and brought so much fun to the group today!

Boris and Tasha were content with doing a little bit of everything they could during the day. When they realized it was time for one of their group outings with me, the two of them went completely nuts! Boris sped out of the hallway like a speeding bullet with his momma, Tasha, following very closely behind. Right from the moment they got outside, these two were full of beans. Tasha darted into the yard after Boris and a race ensued. The two of them ran from one yard about 10 times before finally coming over to see me. However, Tasha was a bit tired so she decided to cool off in the pool for a little while. Of course once Boris saw that Tasha was in the pool he decided that he simply had to join. This led to another game between the two of them. This time it was a game of "King of the pool". Tasha was in the pool first and did her best to keep Boris out of it. However, sometimes he was just lucky enough to sneak by her and jump right in. Once Boris was in, Tasha hopped out and the game continued on except Boris was now trying to keep Tasha out. This game went on for quite some time and the two of them got completely soaked from all of the splashing. There were sometimes where Boris would dunk his head all the way into the water! To end off their group, I got Tasha and Boris to show me their skills. We walked over to the agility jump and Tasha knew exactly what she was supposed to do. She waited on one side until I told her to jump over the bar, a second later she was over the jump and by my side while waiting for a treat of course. Boris jumped a couple times but ended up getting distracted. Tasha ended up doing this with me for the rest of the group time while Boris spent his time sniffing in the yard.

Syrus started his day by going on a big walk with his new friends Riley, the German Shepherd, and Rosco, the Bernese Mountain dog. They had a blast and followed each other around the whole time, chasing after movement in the grass together and walking side by side. Syrus was also in a very playful mood while outside today and was always ready to chase after the ball with his buddy, Sophie. They played very nicely together, and had lots of fun playing fetch and chasing each other around the yard. Syrus was also feeling a bit adventurous today, and after checking out the tunnel a little bit he decided to try going through. At first he got halfway through and then decided to turn back but he very quickly figured out how much fun it is. He ran through it over and over again, and would give me a big slobbery kiss whenever I was waiting on the other side!