Hi Maggie,
I brought Lucy to school all day yesterday.  Our school has a positive behavior incentive plan. The children can earn tickets for making good choices throughout the week.  The tickets are put into a drawing and then on Friday they can win a special acitivity with a teacher.  So this week the special activity was to go on a walk with Lucy and I.  Lucy did such a FANTASTIC job!  We also went to visit the kindergarten and first grade classrooms.  The children loved her and Lucy was extremely friendly and gentle with them.  She licked their ears and gave them kisses and the kids just giggled.  I wish you could have seen her with them.  I was so proud of her.  I attached a few photos of our 1st day at school.
Enjoy your day.
Kristy

Hi, Maggie.  Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.  Thought you would enjoy these photos of Henry and my daughter Zoe, who gets him to "slow dance" and "hug."  We are so thankful for Henry and hope you are doing well.

                                                                                  Sooke and Rocky

Hi Maggie,  Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.  We had visitors this weekend.  Pretty busy with them and the pups. Sooke and Rocky are doing just great (most of the time).  They do love to play, and chew and chew.  We are working on house breaking and know they know what to do, but get too excited sometimes.  Sooke seems to learn a little faster.  I think you taught them to sit because they already know that command.  Thanks!.  They have learned to fetch and return but still haven't mastered drop on command.  But they are such fun.  They do play with each other quite roughly.  Is this something we should discourage or just them them go at it?.  We have a bigger crate and they still sleep together in it, but even it is beginning to get small.  Our vet will spay and neuter them in early January.  She said we must get them accustomed to being apart because they will lick each others stiches.  We haven't begun this yet.  Should they be sleeping in separate crates?  They have always slept all through the night.  We take them out first thing and no problems then.  They are learning to walk on the leash quite nicely, but want to eat plants all the time.  That is a big concern with all the tropical plants that are listed as toxic. I think keeping things out of their mouths that may harm them is our biggest concern.  They are so good though when I stick my finger in to take out a pice of wood or plant material. Don't worry we are very careful about what they try to chew on outside. They still sleep alot, but they are very active when awake.   I am going to attach pictures.   Some were taken October 9 and some today.  We weighed them at 10 weeks.  Rocky weighed 13 lbs. and Sooke weighed 10.  If you have any questions please ask and let us know what you think about their rough playing with each other.  They are just adorable.  We are socializing as much as we can, and nothing seems to bother them.  We take them out to see the garbage truck, they are interested but not afraid.  Thunder doesn't bother them.  Had them for a ride in the car the other day, they sat on the back seat of the van with me, and seemed a little unsure at first, but then got used to it and fell asleep.  They didn't try to run around.  Also took them for a ride in our golf cart, they really liked that.  Until they get their next shots on Nov. 2 we don't take them where other dogs may have been, except on our street.  We are eager to introduce them to our daughter's dog.  I guess that's about it for now.  I hope my attempt at attaching pictures works well.  Well, I did it, but clicked on something that said to put pictures in body of message, and they turned out too big.  If you just click on the attachments they are smaller. 

Pam and Bob

Hi Maggie,

Dear Maggie,
It's hard for me to know where to start when describing my experience purchasing a puppy from you.  Initially the idea of purchasing a puppy from so far away made me nervous.  After our first conversation on the phone, my apprehensions were put to rest.  It was evident that you are a responsible breeder who loves what you do and invests time and lots of love with each pup. (Lucy is evidence of this). The hardest part of the whole expereince was waiting for Lucy's arrival.  The pictures you sent and your willingness to answer ALL of my questions made the puppy purchasing experinece personal even though we were hundreds of miles away.  I also appreciated how you listened to my desires in a pup  (a larger female puppy with the potential to become a therapy dog) and worked at meeting those "wants".  Lucy is everything I could ask for!
I have only had Lucy for 9 days and she is doing great and amazes me everyday!  She is such a joy!  She has such a sweet disposition, a playful and gentle personality, and has such a love for everyone she meets.  She draws attention everywhere we go and receives compliments from complete strangers.
Yesterday was our first puppy kindergarten class.  Already at 8 weeks and 2 days, Lucy is learning to sit, crash (lay down), stand, and give me five.  She is responding great to these commands.  We also have been working on the name game and Lucy is  responsive her name.  Her personal trainer told me before I left, "You have got a good one!".
Lucy loves her crate.  I have one crate in my bedroom and one in the living room.  She voluntarily goes in her crate and takes naps there throughout the day.  She is sleeping through the night (she was her second night here).  House training is going well.  I just need to work on "reading" her a bit better to know when she needs to go out.
Thanks so much Maggie for matching me up with Lucy and making the puppy purchasing experience so positive!  Lucy is all I could ask for (and more) in a puppy.  I will keep you updated with pictures and emails.
Kristy (all the way from Nebraska)

Kali is doing very well, and is a total sweetheart.  She follows me around everywhere, I just love it.  We affectionately call her Kaligator - she is constantly chewing on something/someone.  She weighed in at 5.2 lbs at the vet, and they said she was perfect.  She doesn't seem to shed either - yippee!!  Corduroy, our toy poodle, is like a grumpy old man - he doesn't understand her yet.  Paddington, our labradoodle, has really warmed up to her this week.  He lets her jump all over him and chew on him.  It is really sweet to see them bonding.  She wakes up once during the night needing to go outside, usually between 3am-6am, which is pretty good.  House training is going really well.  She is starting to go to the back door when she needs to go outside - at fist we thought it was just a coincidence, but she seems to understand.  I think she is brilliant .  I have been at home all week working with her, and I think that has really helped.  Joe is off work next week, which should help her further get acclimated.    I am attaching a few pictures of her.  One of my employees gave me a gift basket for her arrival/my birthday, and the t-shirt she is wearing was one of the gifts.  I am not one to play dress-up with my dogs, but gave in for this one.  It is finally not raining today, so I am going to take some outside pictures with my other dogs today..  Thank you again so much for everything!!  It has been very stress free working with you - you are just wonderful!!  Kali was truly the best birthday present ever!

                                      Thanks to Jodi & Ray & Teddy for the beautiful flowers ;-)

Maggie,
Lucy got her 9 week shots today and also a physical. The vet told me she is a very healthy pup.  (I wasn't surprised :) ).  While the vet was examining her, Lucy laid on her back the entire time----her paws were all flopped over.   The vet told me that this was a really good sign temperment wise.  She told me that she could tell she was a very well adjusted pup!   (Thanks again!!!)   The vet held her when she gave Lucy the shot.  Lucy yelped a bit but then gave the vet lots of puppy kisses and wagged her tail.  Lucy is 6 pounds now.  She has her second puppy kindergarten class tomorrow.  Did I tell you that she already knows how to sit and give me "five".  I'm working on having her walk on a leash/lead---She isn't quite used to it yet.  She likes to bite and chew the rope as she is walking.  She's getting there though---I just need to practice with her a little each day.
I gave Lucy her first bath---She loved it.  I have attached a few pics for you.  Hope you enjoy them.
It won't be too much longer and you will have another set of pups at your house! 

Hope you're doing well.
Kristy

 Hi Maggie,
I hope you are doing well.  Lucy is doing great!  She went to the vet  yesterday to receive her distemper and rabies vaccination.  She just laid there on the table. . . didn't whimper or anything.  The vet seems to enjoy her just as much as I do. :))
We had our fourth puppy class tonight.  She is learning to stay and come and also the "heel" command (that is a tough one!).
Lucy was introduced to my family last week and my nieces and nephews LOVED her and had so much fun with her.  She pretty much creates friends and attention wherever she goes.
Lucy loves to fetch a ball (she is doing really well with this) . . . chase leaves and bugs. . . and drink from the outside faucet.  She also enjoys playing with the neighbor puppies and dogs.
Here are some pics just for fun.  Hope it doesn't fill up your mailbox . . .its just so hard to just send one :).
Enjoy your Friday and the weekend ahead!
Kristy