Family Photos

Bright Star Zuber…

Moonshadow Kash…

Bright Star Sage…

Moonshadows Porter and Obi continue to take classes together…

Thank you to all who keep me in photos!

The ten plus ten were followed by a busy end of the semester and then the Specialty — I am finally starting to feel like a break might be a real thing. Whew. Much needed — 2021 has been action-packed and some down time will be nice.

First on the agenda — playing catch up on all the undone and delayed things. Once that is done, I can begin to look forward and make some tentative plans/goals. I think Karma and Capella are already started on their strategizing…

I moved the rehab/training space to the dining room. It is a perfect size for what is needed. I am so excited to be taking small steps towards getting Claire back to her active life.

Please have a lovely Sunday, whatever you are doing.

Four Months

Happy Four Month Birthday to the Bright Stars!

Claire and Capella

I am so pleased with Capella. Her temperament is lovely, and it was wonderful that she got to spend an entire week meeting new people and new dogs at the Specialty. I continue to be intentional about her socialization. I want her in new places and/or meeting new people at least 3 - 4 days each week.

A new-to-Capella person and dog came to her this week — my daughter is visiting from Utah with her rescue Newfie.

Our veterinarian, an excellent surgeon, did surgery on Nicole’s cat yesterday. It was a family affair when we picked up the cat — Capella got to meet people and get weighed (39 pounds — perfect) and Dr. Card also took a look at Claire to assess her recovery. I am pleased to share that Claire is finally cleared for rehab work to begin — yippee! More on the cool plans for that soon.

A PSA: My sister, fully vaccinated and very cautious, has Covid. A mild case but still Covid. She gave permission to share this news because it is such a great reminder that vaccinated people CAN get Covid and worse — they can unknowingly infect others.

The unvaccinated include several categories of people — some who choose to assume risk of Covid and some who have no choice at all because of age or immune status. I care about people in those groups and the health care workers who are exhausted by all of this. Therefore, I plan to keep wearing a mask in public and especially indoors, and THIS lovely article resonates with my reasons.

Please be safe and well — you matter.

Star Light, Star Bright

The Bright Stars and Moonshadows continue to do well in their new homes. Much gratitude for the photos and updates .

This is Bright Star Sage Mirak in Arizona…

In quite a different “A” state, here is Bright Star Suki Lyra in Alaska…

Bright Star Tobie Perseus James in Oregon…

Also a Bright Star in so many ways, Xeena Zaniah (super fun to say) in Canada, practicing her excellent “leave it” skills…

We have a Bright Star theme today — this is Fauci Orion in a Pat Long photo; he lives in Maryland.

Zuber Heze relaxing at an agility trial — socializing the puppies is SO critical right now.

Training Tip

Never force a puppy to engage. If the puppy is reluctant to meet a stranger, simply tell said stranger to ignore the puppy. If and when the puppy begins to interact, have the stranger hand over a cookie. Sometimes you have to just give cookies for looking at a stranger and build from there — puppy fear periods are real.

The very worse thing you can do with a puppy who is showing signs of Stranger Danger is to allow anyone to force attention on the puppy in any way.

…even when you are a puppy!

Confidence comes with mastery — not by being flooded by stress hormones.

This is Claire and Capella…

The local puppies are a wee bit jealous of the Boise Berners who get to see each others so often, and so we have our own puppy party planned today. Photos tomorrow. In the meantime, have a glorious and happy day.