iPup TENTH Birthday TAG

Mary-Ann Sontag July 2, 2023

Baby Tag

This is Tag with his littermate, Kidd — they used to do agility trials together in southern California ❤️

Tag is retired from agility — but it was his favorite!

Tag at a Specialty Veterans Parade.

Tina shares: “Tag is doing really well, I feel so blessed. He is active and playful, has a great appetite, and loves getting out and about.

He is hands down the most loving dog I have ever had. He wants nothing more than to be with me all the time, preferably on my lap with his head on my shoulder. His only health issue is recurring bouts of pancreatitis, but as long as I am careful with treats and he eats his prescription diet, he does very well.

“This is a picture I love of Tag taken a couple of weeks ago.”

Thank you, Tina — and HAPPY TENTH BIRTHDAY to TAG ❤️🎉

Epic

Mary-Ann Sontag July 1, 2023

Sigh. I posted Tag’s birthday update from a cabin in the Cascades and see now it did not post! Sorry Tag (and Tina)! 😳 Tomorrow — I promise 🙏🏽

Here is why I was at a cabin…

After more than 18 months, Future Ex-Husband FINALLY got his stuff out of the three-car garage. It took four truck loads!

Although we arranged for a deputy sheriff to be there, it still seemed like a good plan for me to be far away.

And so I was.

A family friend stayed at my house with Pozy and Harper, Sparkle stayed with Suzanne, and I took Claire, Capella, and Dear Daughter on an adventure.

First stop — Bend.

We met family there — one of my Perfect Sisters and Bethany, Berkeley and Lincoln.

Meanwhile, Sparkle was having fun with friends!

We left Bend and went to a rustic lakeside resort — hence the internet issues.

When the coast (and garage) was clear, we started heading home — by way of Boise.

Three Bright Stars — Capella, Atlas and Dallas Nova Jr.

We did this so that those three could have cardiac clearances completed. All good ❤️❤️❤️

The girls have been happy to have Dear Daughter hanging out with us.

Sparkle had a great tenth birthday — here she is doing one of her favorite things, which is rolling in something inappropriate.

And I have that clean and empty garage to turn back into an inside dog training space!

Happy Saturday to all of us 💚

iPup Tenth Birthday: Tristan

Mary-Ann Sontag June 26, 2023

The iPup Birthday Week is underway — today we have this wonderful update from Alison:

“I have such fond memories of the multi-day iPup pick-up party in 2013.

New friends, gobs of puppy play, hikes, river floats, cakes, gift bags. Little did I know what a life changing addition Tristan would be.

His sweet puppy face disguised the blazing inner fire which propelled him to adore agility to this day. As a tiny puppy he begged me to take up that new sport.

Tristan is a dynamo in everyday life as well. Everything must be engaged with maximum energy, be it walk, car ride or agility run. I really did think I had high energy Berners before Tristan. Ha! He substantially raised the bar. He keeps me fit and alert. Running agility with him is a glowing high.

In Draft Tris started as a chariot racer then settled and with time and the help of his brace buddy, Kelyn, became a Grand Master Draft Dog.

Mornings are a treasure with Tristan. As soon as my eyes ease open I need to roll onto my back as his morning joy is to bounce up, stretch out lengthwise on top of me, power wash my face, then roll onto his back at my left side with my arm wrapped around him, power wagging as we cuddle. Tristan has the best wag and early on Tom christened him Sir Licks-A-Lot. I guess that's a wag at both ends.

In recent years he started heading up to bed ahead of me and lounging luxuriously on the bed, getting a rub down when I arrive. When the light goes out he hops off but is always back in the morning.

I started obedience training with Tris as a pup and then set it aside to play just agility and tracking. His version of heeling featured vertical leaps at my side! When I decided to dust off obedience I spent a month in my front hall helping him figure out how to keep four on the floor while in motion - an exercise in patience.

For his entire obedience career that was first priority in his warm up - four on the floor. Between covid and his true joy in agility I chose to retire him after his UD.