Happy National Napping Day!

Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap. ~Barbara Jordan (quoting Robert Fulghum)

Happy National Napping Day! (Okay, so I'm a day late!) I guess someone thought we needed some extra sleep following Sunday's time change. Someone was right!

Duncan, age 6.5 weeks

We had a little photo shoot of Gus and Duncan on Sunday night. They are becoming used to new surroundings. Now that Ellie has left for her new home, the boys have been moved to a bigger play area. We've also begun separating them from Raven for longer periods of time. They've been sneaking little tastes of her food for a while now, so weaning them should not be a huge problem. The photo of Duncan does not have the best contrast. Gus is black and, although Duncan looks black, he is actually a dark gold with a black overlay over his back. It will be interesting to see what color he becomes as he matures.

Gus, age 6.5 weeks

Ellie was a great one for dashing under my feet at inopportune moments (like every time I'd put my foot down!) and these little guys seem to be following in her footsteps. What is it about puppies that they don't seem to understand the cause/effect associated with my foot stepping down and their foot hurting? So now I'm doing the "puppy shuffle" again.  We are also teaching the puppies to use the piddle pads. They are actually doing a decent job of it and have not yet discovered the joys of piddle pad shredding!

Next week we'll have to begin training all over again in a new area of the house. The crew is coming next week to tear out the flooring that was installed incorrectly in our family room. They'll then replace it with new tile. So the puppies have to be relocated since their room is right off the family room and I do not want them breathing in all the dust and whatever else may be floating around from the demolition.

Here's a cute (short) video of Rafe playing with Ellie a couple days before she left. Rafe is the only male we have that wants to play with puppies - perhaps because he is still close to puppy age himself. (I apologize that the TV was  on. Turn down your sound so you don't have to hear it!)

Snickers (aka Max)

Winter is still alive and kicking in the midwest. States around us have had more snow. We've had a great deal of rain, so we are lucky in that we are getting much-needed moisture and are not having to scoop a foot or more of snow. The ground is saturated now and most people in this area are hoping that the temps do not drop. The ice would be awful! The dogs don't want to go outside and when they do go out, they come in soaked. The ones that are clipped are easily dried. That is not true for the coated dogs! Again, I am thankful for the exercise pen in our garage!

After bad weather causing our training class to be cancelled two weeks in a row, Windy and I are headed for Peoria tonight to her first class since last fall. We're hoping to get two or three in before her next show so she'll feel more comfortable in and out of the show ring and actually show off that "attitude" that so defines her!

Life is better when you have a Lhasa to love you.

Joyce

P.S. If you would not mind, it would be appreciated if you supported efforts to stop the PUPS Act as currently written. It may be (or not) a well-intentioned bill, but it has language in it that needs to be changed to protect small hobby breeders. This link will take you to a form letter posted by the Calvary Group. You can change the letter if you desire or send it as is. Once you fill out details about yourself, the program automatically addresses the letter to your Senators and Representatives. It's easy to do. If you are from Illinois, Senator Durbin will send you his usual form letter acknowledging your stance. At least this year he didn't send me one thanking me for supporting his bill. Evidently he found a new aide who can actually read and interpret constituents' letters.