Correspondence

Hi Linda & Kevin. I would like to give you an update on our puppy (aka Nicky Red Diamond Collar). As you heard, her name is Brydie. She is a wonderful addition to our family, great temperament, very bright and playful. She likes to be around all members of the family. She is a social being, with people and with other dogs. She likes to retrieve things, on land and in the ocean. She has been in ocean a lot this summer. She has been to puppy classes and now is in the midst of dog training classes. Thank you again for your choice and for your breeding practices. If I remember right you kept a member of the litter? Here are some pictures from within the last month. Norm, Vancouver

Hi Linda and family Here are a couple of photos of Lucy - the sandy one was taken on Hornby Island. She Loved camping and was adored by hundreds. We kept her away from dogs, but allowed small girls to worship her! They are already over a week old. We'll send some current ones soon. Michelle

	Hi Linda, I meant to email you sooner but this past week has flown by. Charlie was amazing on the plane ride back. He whined thru the long security line, but once we got him on the plane, he slept for virtually the entire flight. The stewardesses were so nice - they let us keep the top of the carrier open so he could stick his head out the entire time. He is quite a smart and wonderful puppy. He seemed to understand immediately that he was to pee and poop outside. He has picked his favorite spots. He has met the cats (who he tries to play with as puppies),

then feed Reilly her food. In the meantime, we started watching "The Dog Whisperer" and I was very happy to see that we think the same way as he does, so it was refreshing to see a common sense approach to training a dog. What it did for Chris was showed him that he needed to become more calm assertive instead of intense assertive. Once he realized that he was constantly tense when working with Reilly, he started to relax. We would go on walks together with Reilly. He watched me walk her with a very relaxed state of mind, and when she stepped out of line, I would snap the leash and get her re-focused. He then took the leash and learned how to relax..... I kept him talking about work (which he enjoys) and after awhile he realized she was walking with him and wasn't trying to get away from him.

Treats are only given when Reilly earns them through sitting, coming, staying and then of course I like to do the fun tricks such as shaking a paw and rolling over. She is a quick learner and we are having fun. I am trying to figure out how to teach her to put her toys away in her toy box.... she sure knows how to get them out!!!! Chris is working with her on staying. She sure likes when he comes home and has a treat for her..... even when she has to sit and stay in another room while we sit and chat in a different room until he releases her from staying. When he comes home, she goes over and greets him. We are all practicing not petting her until she is sitting.

Our 15 year old daughter is also learning to establish a calm assertive role in Reilly's life. At times she gets frustrated and vows she will never have kids or a puppy..... it is too much work!!!! We chuckle and then set her in front of the TV to watch Dog Whisperer. We see Reilly finally responding to her the proper way. Still a lot of work but progress has been made.

There are times when Reilly needs the leash on around the house to remind her that she is the dog but for the most part she is doing great.

Since I am a stay at home wife, I spend a lot of time with Reilly so she naturally gravitates towards me, but I am learning how to step aside when the rest of the family is home. I don't mind her liking me so much, but I want the rest of the family to feel like they have a pet also. Our last dog Trixie (shepherd mix) was my dog and no one elses... the problem was she couldn't relax unless I was with her. She was a very obedient, well trained dog, she just wanted her "momma" .Had I known what I know now, I would have helped her not be so co-dependent on me.....but she died from cancer July 21 and there is nothing I can do to change that now. So in her memory, we are going to do things better for Reilly.