Chicadoro/Sonrisas Picnic

Well, this is a fine mess I've gotten us into!!
Due to the impending arrival of my two litters, we have to change the date of our Annual Picnic!!
According to the latest ultrasound, Maggie is due either on or just before the date we had chosen originally!!! Bad planning on my part but again unfortunately, Mother Nature does not tend to co-operate when it comes to a bitches season and when she will accept being bred. I really think that Maggie decided not to participate in this years picnic, LOL, and the only way she could accomplish this was to have this litter on the "most" inconvenient date possible.
So dear people, the new date of our picnic is August 23/08 and it will be held at the home of my dear friend, Rita Thomas. I do hope that this does not mess with your plans and sincerely hope that all can come (and perhaps those who couldn't come, now can!!).
Directions to Rita's new home can be found at:
If you're coming from the east(Montreal)then directions can be found at:
Don't forget, it's a pot-luck picnic so bring your favourite picnic dish and don't worry what you bring as it all works out in the end. We provide the soft drinks, water, cutlery, napkins, plates, etc....

OH NO, What have we done?????

Puppy Fever has struck the Chicadoro household!!!
Maggie went to visit Michelle, our wonderful vet and an ultrasound showed that she is carrying at least(!) 7 puppies!!!!
The pitter-patter of little paws will be a thundering herd come the end of August. Now that Maggie is also expecting we should have Hav babies by the handful to give wonderful puppy kisses. Puppy breath is sooooo lovely and it looks like mom better start saving those newspapers!!

Oops, I did it again!!

Well, it's official, I'm gonna have more babies!!! Mommy took me for a drive to the nice vet's clinic today and they did something to my belly called an ultrasound. Vet Michelle was watching a little screen with fuzzy black & white pictures on it and saying "there's one and there's another and another and another". She thinks I've got 4 or 5 babies in my tummy!!! Oh boy, I love babies. I'm ever such a good mommy. I love to feed them and clean them and....oh yeah, did I tell you I get lots & lots of food. That's my favourite part!

Boy is mommy nuts or what!!!??!!!
We finally get some relief from the humidity and it's off to some place called Orono for another dog show! And this time, mommy's taking me!! She knows I hate the car!! Why oh why can't I just stay at home with daddy & everyone else??? We wanted to play in the back all day and get dirty & smelly and covered in grass clippings that daddy so thoughtfully spread all over the backyard!! We love having green feets, it's like a salad in a bag only it's all over our feets. LOL
I guess it was worth the trip cause my big sister, Flora came back with some pretty ribbons and mommy was all happy cause she gots something call Winners Bitch. Boy I don't think I ever wants to be called Winners Bitch??? Well then mommy picks me up and starts washing the drool out of my beard and combing me and fluffing me when all I want to do is snooze in the pen. It's so very hot here but the breeze feels so good.
Finally, we went over to the big tent and mommy made me walk around on the grass and stand pretty for this nice lady called a judge. She called me cute!!! I'm not cute!!! I'm a hooligan!!! At least that's what daddy calls me, his little hooligan!! and daddy's always right!! So nobody better call me cute!!
Anyways, then she looks at mommy and says Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, Best of Breed, Group 1 and Puppy Group. I don't know what she was talking about but she gave mommy all these pretty ribbons! I like ribbons, daddy likes ribbons and I'm bringing them home to him!!
Back in the car (did I tell you I hate the car?) and we finally gots home around 7pm. I was soooooo exhausted I couldn't eat my din-din and it was my favourite, ground chicken wings, mmmmmmm, yum. Finally, mommy picked me up and we all went to bed and dreamed of our exciting day in Orono!!!! ZZZZZZZZZ......

Dog Daze of ???????

Here's one little girl who's nose is totally out of whack as mommy won't let her stay out in the heat for very long!!!! Flora can't understand why a black coated Hav can't stay out in the sun when it's so very beautiful in the backyard.

This time of year is dangerous for our furbabies in that they can become overheated and dehydrated very quickly. Make sure that there is always some shade available along with fresh water. Signs of dehydration are lethargy, vomiting and excessive panting. Many people do not realize that dogs cool themselves by panting and this is one way they have of perspiring. Another way of perspiring is through the pads on their feet.

If you think your furbaby has become dehydrated, take them out of the sun into a cooler area immediately. Wet or immerse them in cool (not ice) water and then fan them vigorously to help cool them. Give them small amounts of fluids every few minutes but do not allow them to drink excessively as this could cause vomiting. If you have any electrolytes you can add them to the drinking water to help restore the bodies' nutrients quickly. If improvement is not almost immediate, get them to a vet ASAP!!! They may need subcutaneous or intravenous fluids!!!

An excellent site with very good information is at:

http://sandiegoschutzhund.org/references/heatstroke.htm

On another note, I don't know how many of you smell your doggies feet but I think they smell like Frito Lays Corn Chips!!! Frito Paws!! A new flavour treat!!

WOOFSTOCK !

Well, we finally made it to Woofstock and boy what an exciting trip that was! Everywhere you looked, people, dogs, booths, it was soooooo busy. Flora and Downsy made their first trip to the big city and boy did they have a ball, especially Downsy.

When we got to the St. Lawrence Market we met up with Darlah, Nathan, Katsura & Downsy's sister, Fiona. From the moment we entered the market area, we were handed bags and treats and samples. It was dog heaven with vendors carrying everything from doggie popsicles and yogurt to doggie caterers, clothing suppliers, leashes, toys, beds and even a woman called the "Dead Dog Lady" singing about pets at the Rainbow Bridge and unfaithful husbands!?!

Downsy, of course, had to sample everything that was handed out. She gave her seal of approval to just about everything but the peanut butter popsicle. That was definitely a 2 paws down! We still have a strawberry one in the freezer to try later. Trying to control myself from buying one of everything was the most difficult and I succeeded by buying two new beds for the girls and that was about all except for a bag or two of treats!
Check out this bed! It's now Downsy's favourite!!!