booties

here I am pouting about having to wear boots. I cut my foot when I went to the beach. So now, they want me to wear boots when I run through the marsh.

Guess who this is?

It's Ella under that lamp shade! She's always getting into something, like the time she ate the razor blade. But this time I am the culprit. Or part of the problem. I stayed at her house while my yard got new grass. I wonder why we need a new lawn? Anyway, Ella and I played rough all day, hours and hours outside. After I went home, she began scratching and itching face where I had been pulling her around by her jaws. She broke out and need this collar to keep her from
ruining her complexion. Now I can't see her until she is all healed.

Our First Birthday!

Ella and I are one year old.

In human years, that is about 10 to 15 years old. We do see the world like a kid. Always eager to try something new, and to meet a new friend. We are very curious and interested in what our family is doing. We love attention. And we eat like teenagers!

Waiting patiently for our birthday cupcakes. This is my first taste of "people food". I am usually content to clean up the kitchen floor, as mom cooks supper...

Birthday partying is tiring! We are ready for our morning nap....and another year....!

wash day

It is too cold outside to get our bath in the backyard, so we find a "dog washing station" at a local hardware store! After the bath we get a treat from the lady at the check out!

Ladies first

I am always eager to try something new..!

Inside the tub.

The dryer worried me.

a walk in the sunshine

.... is this autumn?

.... can't we go for a swim?

I always keep my eye on Princess, she tells me what to do....

...crossing the bridge back home

Ella ate a piece of a razor blade!

But she is okay! The vet xrayed her tummy to see where it was.
And it was on it's way out...

puppy casualties

My mom's glasses and a scrub brush. I am always thinking of what can I eat next...

I'm a bionic dog, or a micro-chipped dog

This visit to the vet I got my new hi-tech micro chip!
That's the doctor and the technician, trimming my toe nails.
For about $60 you can get a tiny chip implanted in your shoulder,
that will tell your address and owners telephone number.
If I get lost I can be reunited with Mom and Dad.
This time I weighed 29 pounds, and I was almost 14 weeks old.

I like this boat thing

My family didn't just toss me on the boat and expect me to like it.

They took time to gradually introduce me to the motor noise,

and the unstable surface of the deck.

They watched me to see if I was stressing about the new surroundings.

After several visits, where we all just sat in the boat, we finally had a short ride.

Now I can take a little trip to the beach.

More shots at the Vet

The vet's kitty wasn't happy about my barking!

I now weigh in at 19.7 pounds! Princess has lost two pounds, I think because she is now playing with me! And she doesn't get as much people food as she used to.

I'll not get any either, so I won't end up overweight and a "begger".

My treats come as praise for learning new commands. I'm a fast learner!

Friendly Stores

Some stores are "pet friendly" This nice lady fixed the vacuum cleaner for us, and let me in the shop to pick it up. She showed us pictures of her dogs.
There were two Vet Techs at the store getting cleaning stuff for their hospital and they made my tail wag! They reminded "mom" that I will eat way too much and get really fat if she is not careful. I guess Labradors really like to eat. "Mom" promised them she would take good care of me and feed me just the right amount to help me grow big and strong.
I will never know what chocolate cake tastes like, oh well...

The learning begins, not for me but for the family...

My first week as a "Carter Dawg" was full of new discoveries! Not just for me but for my new family. Our friend Barb the trainer, came by to help them understand why my sister Ella and I can not learn at the rate that they thought we would. For instance, my ear canals just opened completely at 5 1/2 weeks. And most importantly our little puppy bladders will not be totally controllable for another several weeks!

From Eight to Ten weeks is when my brain will imprint fear. Anything that scares me at this stage will stick with me for my entire life. It could be the cat slapping me, or the sound of a boat motor firing up!..

Hank, wisely, decided not to take me for a boat ride this week end. If I was frightened by the unstable boat motion, or the sound of the motor, it would keep me from being the water dog that he wants me to be!

After all I'm only a baby.

Visit to the vet, and playing with Ella

Princess and I waited for our turn in the examination room. She was nervous, but I was chill.

I weigh 12.5 pounds. Princess is 56.

It's all in your attitude, but Princess was still unsure. Poor old girl.

When Ella got to the house, we played until we dropped fast asleep...