"This Was the Best Reading Day Ever"

This morning Louie and I participated in our local public schools' annual Reading Day. We went to two different elementary schools and visited a class of second graders at each one.

Our first stop was Ms. L's class. Ms. L summed up our visit by saying, "This was the best reading day ever!" I totally agree. Louie and I had so much fun with Ms. L and her students. The kids were extremely sweet, well behaved and very gentle with Louie. I don't think they wanted us to leave. We got an open invitation to visit again and I hope we get the chance.


This video cracks me up. Louie has never had so many people petting him at one time.


After all of the kids got a chance to feed Louie some kibble and watch him do his tricks we got down to the main purpose of our visit. I read a book to the children called "Newf" by Marie Killilea that was perfect for this age group.


Louie and the book were both a big hit!


Louie was getting so relaxed with all of the lovely petting that he started getting sleepy.


"I think this one needs a kiss."


Our second stop was Ms. R's class. We had another great visit there. Louie did a bunch of tricks for the kids then we settled down on the floor to read our book. While I was reading Louie had at least six pairs of hands touching him at all times. The children just couldn't get enough of Louie. I can't blame them...he is also impossible for me to resist.






Being the center of attention is always a good thing in Louie's opinion.


"I think it's time for a nap Mama!"


We also got to briefly visit with several classes of students in the hallway. One class must have been kindergartners because they were tiny. The children looked interested in Louie so I told the teacher they could pet him if it was ok with her. She said most of them would be too scared, but as she gave her permission for them to approach him every single child in the class reached their little hands out to pet Louie. He had about 14 pairs of fearless hands on him simultaneously. It was great to see the smiles on all of those cute faces.

Now Louie is crashed out on the floor trying to recover from three hours of nonstop loving :-)

Louie's Friend (& Katie's too)

Whenever we visit our local nursing home we always make a point to spend some time with Mrs. T. She adores all dogs and always tells Katie or Louie (whoever happens to be visiting on that day) that she loves them. Mrs. T has become a good friend to me too.

During our visit this week Louie greeted Mrs. T, posed for the pictures below and then quickly fell asleep on the floor at the foot of her bed. As Mrs. T and I were chatting for about 45 minutes a few different staff members came into the room. Most of them were scared of Louie which kind of tickled Mrs. T and I since we both know how sweet he is. I finally convinced one staff member to step over Louie and he didn't even raise his head. Most dogs, including Katie, react negatively to people's fear, but not Louie. Mrs. T asked me why Louie doesn't EVER show any acknowledgment of fear and I told her I believe it is because he has lead a charmed life. He has always been treated with love and rarely left by himself. Louie is just an all around well balanced Newf. Katie gets a bit nervous when people act fearful. I think that's because she didn't have an older Newf to raise her and keep her company when we were at work like lucky Louie did when he was little.



That smile from Mrs. T makes our therapy work so gratifying.


(Our thanks to Mrs. T for giving us permission to post these pictures)

Katie's Monsoon Birthday

by Katie the Newf...

My third birthday has been an extremely wet one (5-7 inches of rain tonight alone), but I've still managed to have some fun. I got an awesome goodie box from my cousin Remy in LA which was great fun to unwrap and sample. Also, with the help of Louie I rearranged the living room furniture and we played with about 10 different toys tonight in quite a rowdy fashion. Since it's too wet for my usual birthday walk in the park, I'm going to take a trip down memory lane instead.

When I was six weeks old my Mama held me for the first time. I picked my Mama out all by myself. When she came to visit me and my litter mates I told her that she was the Mama for me and she agreed.


Then when I was eight weeks old my Daddy came to visit me and I realized I was a lucky pup to be getting such a sweet Dad.


My elderly sister Scarlett was 13 when I came home. At first I thought it was great fun to pester her, but eventually I learned that she didn't like that. We became good friends after a few months when I settled down a bit.


Even as a fuzzy puppy I loved to be groomed.


Before Louie came along to keep me company I used to go to Bonnie and Bill's house to play with my litter mate Rose. Those were fun times.


I've always been a spiritual Newf doing lots of yoga and meditation. No joke about the meditation. Seriously, I know what the word means when Mama says it. When she goes to her meditation spot I go with her and I am perfectly quiet until she is done.


I love to spend time in my backyard playing with my toys.




This is when I first learned to "Speak!"


Me and Scarlett (she was almost 15 years old in this picture)


My first snow


One of the best ever days of my life... My little brother Louie came home


Me and one of my favorite toys that now resides in toy heaven


Sprinkler fun at Grandma's house


Me and little Louie scanning the sky for alien invaders


Me with my two favorite guys. Check out my impressive flooger.


Me with Louie, my partner in crime


In my first Rally Novice Obedience competition I won second place!


Last spring we watched the Little Rock Marathon. We lifted the spirits of many runners.


My first Rally Advanced qualification.


I love being a therapy dog. Here is a picture of me on a recent visit to Easter Seals resting between play sessions with the kids there.


This is what a three year old Monsoon Birthday Newf looks like. Mama keeps drying us, but we just keep getting wet again.

I let my 1 year old sidekick be in the photo 'cause unlike some Newfies we know (cough...cough...Louie) I don't always have to be the center of attention.


Part of our play session tonight. See how clever I am... I got under the coffee table, so my brother couldn't jump on my back.


Thanks for sharing my birthday with me. I hope you all are somewhere warm and cozy surrounded by the humans and animals you love.

Do Newfies Take Up A Lot of Space?

People are constantly asking me if we have a big house because they think Katie and Louie must take up a lot of space. I've always tell them that Newfies don't need as much space as you would think and here's proof:



At the dog show last weekend Katie was hanging out in her crate. When Gary opened the door Louie decided he wanted to join his sister and shoved his way into the eight square feet of crate space.


It's a good thing they love each other :-)

Our New Rally Advanced Newf

Louie earned his third Rally Obedience Advanced leg today to complete his Rally Advanced title. He also won 1st place! We are so proud of Louie. He has qualified all six times he has been in the rally ring.

I'm laughing as the judge hands me Louie's ribbons.


Mama and her baby boy share the joy.


Me, the judge and Louie (making one of his rare serious faces)


Louie looking like a conformation dog as he poses with his ribbons


By the way, we lost three points today for redoing a station because the first time we did it our friendly baby decided he would like to go say hi to the judge :-) We got back on track though and still managed to win 1st place.

Tomorrow Louie will get his first experience competing in Rally Obedience Excellent. Send some good vibes our way please :-)

Hospice Sweetheart

Katie wore her kerchief which says "Arkansas Hospice" on it and her red hair bow to a recent Hospice visit and brightened the evening for many patients and their families. The staff is already madly in love with Katie, but when she pranced in with her kerchief and bow they were completely bowled over by her cuteness. Our gentle giant is such a sweetheart to share her soothing love with those who need it the most.

Remy & Sketch (aka Mutt & Jeff)

Remy the 5 month old Newfoundland plays with his 4 month old mini English Bulldog friend, Sketch. I love watching these two together. They crack me up!

Remy is Louie's half brother and Katie's cousin who lives with Maija and Jason in Los Angeles.

Time for a Puppy Fix

Gary and I were having Newf puppy withdrawal until we recently got to visit with our breeders' (Wilbon Newfoundlands) most recent litter. At the time we made this video they were four weeks old. Gary was teasing me about which one we were going to pick, but I think two Newfs is enough for now :-) They are adorable though. The parents of this litter are Katie (a different Katie...not ours) and Bleau, the star of yesterday's video.

Lil' Boy Bleau

When we went to the Hot Springs Dog Show recently we got to see one of our favorite Newfies strut his stuff in the conformation ring: Bonnie and Bill Bennett's Newf Bleau (CH Magnolia's Bleau Bayou of Wilbon Newfoundlands). Not only is Bleau drop dead gorgeous, he is also a total cuddle-bug. I enjoyed snuggling with him once he was done looking handsome in the ring.

The music in the video is "Doggin' Around" by Count Basie... very appropriate since Bleau was in high spirits and was really hamming it up in the ring.

A Special Birthday Gift

My dear friend Maija sent me one of my favorite birthday presents of all time. When I opened a little box from her yesterday and saw a bracelet inside my first thought was that it was very pretty. As I looked at it more closely I saw my name floating in a little glass vial. Then Katie, Gary and Louie's names became visible - each one painted on a piece of rice. Maija knows that my family is very important to me and that the Newfs are as much a part of it as the humans, so I was very touched by her thoughtfulness.

I went outside to do some work in the yard and while out there Natalie popped into my head. I thought to myself about how Natalie already feels like part of our family even though we haven't met her yet. When I came back in the house I picked up my bracelet to admire it again. As the grains of rice shifted once more the name Natalie came into view; I was so surprised. Maija knows me even better than I thought :-) When I wore the bracelet to work today on my birthday I glanced down at it often thinking of the day when our family of five will finally be complete.

Thank you Maija for this beautiful gift. I will always cherish it.