Birthday Week: Zeus

Today we hear about the Life and Times of the Mr. Congeniality of the Wildflowers — Zeus! Penny sends us this report:

“It's hard to believe a whole year has flown by since we anxiously awaited the arrival of the Wildflower litter and were overwhelmed with how precious and perfect each puppy was. We knew we would be so fortunate if one of them became part of our family, but we never could have imagined how Mallow would fill our hearts so completely. I'll never forget receiving the word from Mary-Ann!

Baby Zeus

Zeus (Mallow) immediately became the center of our family's universe- our son, Raymond (now 9), and daughter, Ada (now 6), have never stopped doting on him.

Looking back through our photos is bittersweet, seeing how he's grown this year. It's just like with your children when you see them everyday and don't notice how much they have grown until you see a photo! Wow!

Over the last year I have been fortunate to be able to telework. Each morning after the kids go to school, Zeus is ready to "go to work"- which really means laying at my feet under my desk while I type away at the computer.

We enjoy walks together and he loves the beach. Fetch with his orange ball continues to be his favorite game in the yard...and sometimes keep-away from the kids, too...or keep-away with my sock…or shoe.

Zeus has never met a person or dog he didn't want to be friends with, but no one holds a candle to his best friends Georgia & Patty and his sister Buttercup.

We have been so very fortunate to live near enough to Georgia, Patty & Buttercup to visit frequently and to take classes with Georgia. Zeus and I are really loving Scentwork right now. He is doing great with inside and outside searches and I can tell he enjoys it. Plus he gets to romp in the hayfield with Buttercup! It's most definitely the highlight of his week- and mine, too.

Just like when he was a puppy, he is a happy and friendly guy- full of love. He also loves to nap and still thinks he fits in our lap!

Happy Birthday to all the Wildflowers and best wishes to everyone! Thank you for welcoming us into the Berner community. We are so grateful for all the support.”

Thank you so much, Penny and family, and also to Patty, Georgia and Buttercup. Zeus is a great example of how a puppy can be a community builder to the benefit of all involved. Well done, Zeus!

Birthday Week: Kadi and Chase

We continue the Wildflower Birthday Celebration with Kadi (Mariposa) and Chase (Larkspur)…

Baby Kadi

Eden sends us this report about Kadi…

“What did Kadi do to top off her first year of life? How about an epic road trip to the National Specialty in Colorado; 4500 miles, 10 states,  8 hotels of a road trip.  It turns out Kadi is a very good traveler. Elevators made her nervous at first but she was a pro at the last hotel. She was very curious for all the new creatures she saw cows, elks, deer and little furry things.

 Things did not go as planned for the specialty as Kadi decided to come into heat before leaving. That meant no Rally, no group pictures with Dad and brothers, no watching working events, etc. but she did get to spend a lot of time with Chuck taking walks all over Estes Park. I don’t want to forget to mention the weather during the specialty, typical spring time in the Rockies and the most snow Kadi has ever seen.

After the specialty we drove down to Colorado Springs to visit old friends and do some hiking.

Kadi and Jannu hiking in the Garden of the Gods by the Siamese Twin formation. Note Kadi did not seem to inherit the extra-long tongue of Aunt Jannu.

Summer heat is fast approach here in NC so outdoor training starts to become limited.  Not a lot of plans for agility and tracking until the fall.  I have started introducing her to the cart in the house and will see if we can get her to like to swim at the nearby lake.  Other than that it will be early morning walks and enjoying the air conditioning in the house.”

It was wonderful to see Kadi and Eden at the Specialty…

I am sorry we would not get more family photos due to Specialty hormones but it was still wonderful to see them. Thank you so much, Eden.

I am struck by how certain areas — like North Carolina — shut down in the summer while here in Montana, summer means life is opened up again. Wildflower Chase lives in Great Falls, Montana with the Duncans and his dad, Major. I know Chase will be having some serious adventures this summer!

Baby Chase

Chase also went to the Specialty and competed in the Scentwork trial where he did quite well. Here are some photos of Chase at home in Montana on the occasion of his first birthday…

Thank you, Lawrence and Bea!

Birthday Week: Lupine and Buttercup

Wildflower Birthday Week continues with Lupine and Buttercup.

We start with Lupine…

Baby Lupine

Alex shares (and likely we can all agree): "It’s hard to believe the Wildflowers are already a year old, time has flown by!

A little bit about Lupine’s personality: she is so full of energy and genuinely one of the most athletic Berners I’ve ever known.

She is constantly flying through things, over things, around things etc. (usually being chased by one of our other dogs, who can’t catch her).

She is so full of life and always happy, bouncy and wiggly.

Lupine may also be one of the most intelligent dogs we’ve raised. She picks up on things so naturally and you always get the impression that she just “knows” what is going on no matter what in a very fluid, dynamic way — her mind is always working.

Anyways, I don’t want to ramble too much, there is so much more praise I could give her.

She has made a perfect best friend and companion. Happy birthday to all of the Wildflowers!”

Thank you so much to Alex and all of the Graffunders for giving Lupine such a happy and interesting life.

And now we get to find out what is up with Birthday Buttercup!

Baby Buttercup

Georgia (and Patty) send us this update…

“When I think of adjectives to describe Buttercup, the words that come to mind are clever, bright, loving,quick-witted and smart. She is also cute as a button, always cheerful and happy but overall I think her defining attribute is her intelligence, and secondly is her sweet disposition.

I've had dogs my whole life (well, not quite my whole life...I grew up in a family of nine children and my mom always said that if we got a dog we'd have to name it "Mother" because that's who it would replace :-) but as for the rest of my life with dogs, Buttercup is la crème de la crème.

We've been doing a little of everything with Buttercup; scent work, tracking, agility and obedience and going forward, who knows? We may add rally, barn hunt, dock diving and/or FAST Cat. She loves going to scent work classes with her brother Zeus. They are so excited to see each other every week that we have to arrange a romp through the hay field before class so they can concentrate.

It's been difficult for us not being able to go to shows. I think Buttercup would be ready to compete in scent work if there were any trials. (sigh!) She doesn't mind though, she's more than happy to play the "Find it!" game around the farm.

In a celebratory show for the wildflower birthday, the pasture is awash right now with buttercups and daisies. How perfect!

Here's to many more years with this little firecracker. She puts the wild in wildflower. Cheers!!”

I knew that Buttercup needed an extra enriched life and she sure has it — much gratitude to her Georgia and Patty for being exactly what Buttercup deserved.

It is so fun to see these young dogs — still puppies but big ones!

Have a wonderful day.