PuppyHood

Well, I have been very, very bad about posting pictures and keeping everyone updated on Astro's progress. The good news is it was only because we were having way too much fun together. Everything is going great! Astro finished Puppy Kindergarten, with high marks of course :-), and will start a basic obedience class in late January. Astro and his big brother Zephyr are the best of buds. I can't say enough about how happy Zephyr is to have a brother. Astro has visited my 3rd grade class a few times and has a great time with the kids, that is before he gets exhausted and falls asleep by my desk. He went to his first dog show in Yuma where Zephyr won his first conformation point. We went on lots of hikes before the snow came. Astro loves the snow! Zephyr did another Pack Hike towards his certificate. Astro has been teething for about a month now, he's just got 3 baby teeth left now. I've found 12 of the teeth he's lost, for some reason they seem to fall out in the areas that he and Zephyr rough house in. ;-) So, I'm just going to post a lot of pictures from the past few months. It's all the writing that keeps me from posting so I figure the pictures can tell the story.

I hope everyone is having a great winter and wonderful holiday season!




How do you take a 10 week old puppy with a sore leg on a 5 mile hike? Carry him of course!

Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Roger.





LET THE GAMES BEGIN!








I think I'll relax now.

"I love you Astro"
"I love you too Zephyr"


The best of buds.
Bones are yummy!



Lets go hiking!


Dry Lake Hills hike with Marlies.




Our Pack Dog friends.

Linus, Sky, and Charlie wait for treats. Charlie is a Papillon, if you click on the picture you can see him.




Pablo!
Annie!
Riley!


It's little Bonnet Boy! I love those ears!

Happy Happy Winter Everyone!

Hey!

Don't forget about me!

I happen to know a thing or two about this flutter-bunny chasing too you know!

Let me show you my stuff. ;-)





Zephyr better watch out! Today 50 feet, tomorrow .... I sleep!

Signing Out,
Astro

Field Champion Zephyr!

Two weeks ago Zephyr, Astro, and I went to New Mexico for a two day lure coursing trial put on by the Albuquerque Whippet Fanciers Association and Zephyr finished his field championship! Yeah!! I actually didn't find out until this Thursday because I had thought he needed two more points. It turns out he only needed one, which he got on Saturday at the trial. I had made a mistake on figuring out the points he got for a Best in Field win from last spring. All of these great photos were taken by Shot On Site Photography, except one from Robin Greene!


Yes, I feel kind of like a dork for messing that up but, I am pretty new at all this. None the less, I am very proud of Zephyr. We're planning a celebration involving baked goods, Zephyr takes after his mother, maybe pie or muffins. :-) When we go to New Mexico he courses with some very awesome greyhounds, and that's not an exaggeration. Here in Arizona he is usually the only greyhound so, I'm really happy that he was able to finish his field championship running with such great dogs!

As usual, Zephyr was so excited to be able to go coursing that he could barely contain himself. The next few pictures show me barely containing him. It was all very fun, I felt like I was the hopping bunny.

Here's the face of determination. Thanks to Robin Greene for this picture!

Notice how far ahead of the other dogs and handlers we are yet everyone is still holding their hounds? Well, that's because Zephyr was pulling very hard and I lost balance and took two hops to get to this point. All I could do was hold tight and pray for the "Tally Ho". The next pictures shows what happened when I released him.

Pretty funny!

A much smoother release on his second run.

Putting on the brakes!

One very, very happy boy! ZEPHYR LOVES TO COURSE! It is definitely his favorite thing to do. Thanks to everyone who has helped and encouraged us along the way, I really appreciate it all. I still think one of the best things about having dogs and going to events is all the great friends you make. We're headed off to Phoenix, Gilbert really, for a trial on Sunday. Happy, Happy, Safe Coursing!