ATTENDANCE: Molly Morkie, Bella Jackadoodle, Cooper Labradoodle, Lyla Greyhound/Min Pin, Gus Frenchie, Dexter Puggle, Ivy Bedlington Terrier, Lily Cockerpoo, Kaylee Westie, Lucy Jack Russell Terrier, Iko Golden Retriever, Sophie Shih Tzu. That’s 13!

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DWD will be CLOSED for the week of August 22-29.  School reopens on August 29 for the Monday class.  School will also be CLOSED for the 4th of July Holiday on Monday July 5 (observed) and for Labor Day Holiday on Monday, September 6.

OUR DAY:   A great day so far, weather-wise.  Not too hot, a nice breeze, plenty of sunshine!

The Refuge Cocktail Party & Art Auction is on Thursday night!!!  DWD is a major sponsor of this event, which will benefit the Animal Refuge League’s Animal/Medical Fund.  Please consider attending.  There is a link to the event’s website on the DWD website.  You can still purchase tickets from the site!!  Hope to see you there!!!

Today we are welcoming Cooper Labradoodle who is 18 weeks old.  He has had the BEST day so far!  Since everyone else has settled in for naps, he’s decided he’ll take one too!  He wasn’t so sure he wanted to nap, but there’s no one to play with!!  Cooper is very social and confident and is just one of those dogs that hits the ground running and never looks back.  He’s not needed me much for comfort today.  Family?  What family?!  Some dogs are just like that....no separation anxiety because they are just having way too much fun!  Cooper loves to be chased and he’s had plenty of takers for that role!  I think his best pal so far is Dexter Puggle.  He’s always willing to chase!!

Iko and Ivy have had a lot of supervision from the teacher today.  Interestingly, both have been wild and super-energetic today, which is different for these two.  Iko really likes to wrestle with the boys, Gus and Dexter, and he’s been pretty relentless.  Every match seems to end with Iko growling and getting stiff and angry.  So, I’ve had to step in many times to give Iko a “time out” so he can calm down and get himself back together and back into play.  He’s been barking quite a bit as well, so we are constantly working on that as well.  When he gets all wild and loses control of himself, I’ve been taking him over to the wading pool.  He likes to get in and just lie down in the water.  This seems to help him “chill out” too!

Ivy Rose has been FULL of zip and vinegar today!  It’s a good thing that Miss Kaylee Westie is tolerant and can hold her own because Ivy has been pouncing on her all morning.  She’s also had time to pounce on Molly and Cooper and Iko and others.  She is just feeling really confident and on top of the world today.  Sometimes the other dogs have needed a bit of a break!  Lucy JRT loves Ivy, but Ivy was even a bit much for little Lucy at times.  Now that it’s 1 pm, Ivy seems to have mellowed out and most of her wild energy has dissipated.  She was a whirlwind for several hours.  She dug some serious holes in the sandbox, too!  She has just been so exuberant and crazy/happy!

Dexter and Gus have also been seriously energized all morning.  I don’t know where everyone is coming up with all this energy today!  Dexter has been barking quite often during play (while chasing Cooper) and also at things he “hears” in the neighborhood.  We’ll continue working on “no bark” as the weeks go on.  He’s starting to understand what I’m asking.  He just gets so excited during play!!

Gus has finally decided a nap is in order after a veeeery busy morning.  He just loves everyone!  His energy scares poor Bella JD, who is a timid, cautious gal.  She doesn’t like it that he doesn’t mind her when she screeches in fear.  That seems to excite him more and he just keeps pestering.  Bella has also been fearful around Cooper, just because of his size and his young age, I think.  It’s probably a good idea for us to end Bella’s time in the puppy class now that she’s fully integrated into the Monday class, as the puppy energy is a bit too much for her at this point and I don’t want to contribute to her fears after all the wonderful work we’ve done with her.

Kaylee has been such a joyful spirit today, as always.  She really thinks she might climb into the pool today.  She and Ivy have tested the water with their paws and I see a swim date in the near future....  Kaylee likes to stay close to where I’m at during the day, in between big bouts of wrestling with her favorite peeps in the sandbox.  She loves Ivy Rose and Breezy and is napping at the moment with Iko.  She makes her way around to everyone as the day goes by.  She’s awfully good with little Lucy as well.

Lyla is another high-energy gal here in the TIny Tots class.  She loves to run with Dexter and Cooper and Gus, but she also loves to sun herself and has taken up residence on the bench up on the deck where she can view her Queendom best!  She is also a big fan of “chew time” which is around noon when we come into the lower yard/house for rest and a bit of gnawing on the Nylabones.  Lyla looooooves to chew!

Lucy JRT has been wonderful today.  She’s only begged for a seat on my lap a few times and is easily distracted and gets back into play with her pals.  She feels totally comfortable today, even though she’s meeting a few new friends who weren’t here last week.  She has napped with Molly (right on Molly’s belly!) and she has shared a chew bone with Gus, and she’s been digging Lucy-sized holes in the sandbox along with the crew!  Adorable!

Breezy is also one who likes to stick close by me, but this morning....she just couldn’t help herself and got right into the thick of things during the Cooper-led Chases around the yard!  Man, were the pups ever FAST!  Cooper and Lyla followed by Breezy and Dexter followed by Gus (trying to keep up!).  Hilarious to watch, but also amazing to see these pups at their very best -- running free and happy!

We’ve had a TERRIFIC day here in Puppyville!  I’m sorry I don’t have a ton of time to write something about every dog every week....we are outside so much in the good weather and this class requires close supervision, so....I’m doing my best to provide stories and info from our day!  Please feel free to email if you want more detailed reports on your pup!!

Ears will be cleaned and coats spritzed with conditioning mist before you come for your little cherubs!!