I love fall. The cooler weather brings out all of my puppy energy. In most ways I still feel like a young pup, but I am noticing my age in a little bit. The other day, I was riding in the car and there was a man at bus stop. He was standing with a backpack by his feet, listening to his iPod. I was so sure that the red and black pack was another dog and that iPod cord was its leash. Foster mom tried to tell me that it wasn’t a dog, but I growled at it anyway just to make sure. I wonder if they make glasses for dogs?

I am sharing a picture that foster aunt sent of me at the cabin this summer. She is a much better photographer than foster mom. Foster mom has been trying to capture me in action for years without much success.

I am feeling very inspired by the Olympics and am thinking that I may just want to work toward participating in the 2014 games.  I am all set with my helmet and now just need to pick a sport.  

 I am thinking that the bobsled may be a good choice.  Riding in a car with my head out the window—what dog wouldn’t love that?  Snowboarding looks like it would be fun, but I think I would get too distracted and would be tempted to stop and eat snow, which is one of my favorite pastimes.

Then there is always the Summer Games, but those probably wouldn’t involve my snazzy helmet.  Hurdles come to mind.  I am very good at jumping and can leap the laundry basket with plenty of room to spare.  I would be a good sprinter too, but am getting a bit up there in years and don’t have the endurance I once had.  Swimming is also a possibility as I love that.  I only know one stroke though.  Oh, and diving.  I can dive very far off the dock.  Mastering the flips might be a bit challenging though.  So many possibilities!  

I had better go find foster mom and prance until she takes me for my walk.  I think I am going to have to push her to go further than two miles though now that I am in training.  Plus, both she and I are looking a little thick around the middle.  Now, eating…why hasn’t anyone made that an Olympic sport?   I’d love training for that.

 Jerad & Holly Fields                                                          Merry Christmas to the Golden seniors

I have been having a great summer and haven't had much time to write.

A few weeks ago, we had visitors at our house from South Carolina.  They had 3 kids that kept me very busy.  They had me doing tricks from morning until night.  I don't think I have ever sat, shook hands, or rolled over that much.  I loved all the attention, and even rolled over without making a fuss.  Normally I refuse to roll over until I know that I going to get a treat for it.  Connor, who is 9 years old, told me that he wished he could take me home since his dogs are stupid and don't know how to do anythiing. 

Then last week I got to go to my grandparent's cabin.  I think it is the best place in the world.  One morning I got tired of waiting for someone to take me swimming, so I opened the screen door with my paw.  Off to the lake I headed.  I was just about to jump in when foster mom called me back.  I was tempted to make a break for it, but being a good listener, I ran back to the cabin.  Foster mom was very impressed and took me swimming a short while later.  I included a picture of me going after my ball.

I am sad that summer is coming to an end but the cooler weather makes for good walks.  Soemtimes, I can even convince foster mom to go an extra few blocks.

I like snow but this is getting a little ridiculous.  I know it is still February but I am ready for it to be warm—check out my new spring look!

   Not much new to report, so I thought I’d remind you of some of the finer points about myself: 

• I do not like other dogs or cats but am working hard to be calm when I come around them. 
• I have a lot of energy for a gal my age but am remarkably calm if I get a daily walk.
• I have a lot of puppy playfulness still in me and love to swim, play fetch, and be a big goof.
• I know all of my commands.  I will remain in a “stay” even if you leave the room and I have food in front of me.
• I do fine when small children come visit but would do better in a house that doesn’t have any little ones around full time.

Enough about me…cross your fingers that we get the spring I am hoping for soon.

Bailey loves all the snow we are getting.  She loves to tunnel through the snow with her nose, roll around in it, and she even likes to eat it.  The cold weather outside doesn’t seem to bother her one bit and she is itching to go for her walk every morning.  Inside the house, it is another story.  The warmer she is the better.  She loves to have someone cover her up with a blanket or to lay by the fire.  Yesterday morning we woke up to find the house a nippy 54 degrees.  It turns out our gas meter was stuck and it wasn’t allowing any gas to flow into the house.  We set up some space heaters, including an oscillating heater we borrowed from the neighbors.  Bailey parked herself in front of that heater and nothing would get her to move.  I think she was imagining herself on a tropical vacation.  After a few hours, the gas was fixed, much to Bailey’s chagrin, and her heater was returned.

I think I mentioned awhile back that Bailey likes to sleep with her paws crossed like a pretzel.  I finally was able to get a picture.  I also included a picture of her cuddled up in her blanket.

Bailey decided she was going to write today:

My idea of a fun walk is pulling foster mom’s arm off, sniffing everything in sight, and marking every single yard.  For some reason, foster mom does not share my sentiments and she has been working hard to keep me “under control”.  Boy, you would think she was the senior citizen instead of me.  Well, foster mom must be winning out, because yesterday a woman I have never seen before told me what a good walker I am!  I was so surprised and very proud.  Not to brag or anything, but foster mom has never been told how nicely she walks.

Then today, foster mom wants to take a fall picture of me for the website.  Boy, do I know how the kids feel when she wants to take their Christmas card picture.  First of all the sun was in my eyes, then I had to itch myself, then I got bored and looked at ground for something interesting to do, and finally I decided to cooperate a little bit (or so she thinks, I was actually just checking out if anything interesting was going on at the neighbor’s house). 

Bailey has been with us for close to a year.  As I reflect back on the past year, I can honestly say that we’ve had some difficult days but we’ve come a long way.  Bailey still freaks out some of the time when we see other dogs but for the most part, she is much less anxious and much more trusting.  If I had to describe Bailey in one word it wouldn’t be “aggressive” or difficult”, it would be “joy”.  We all have our short-comings, and Bailey helps us remember that despite our short-comings, we all can be loved. 

To summarize what we have learned about Bailey:

• She is a real sweetheart of a dog and a great companion.
• She has lots of personality and makes us laugh.
• She is a beautiful dog who is very athletic.
• She is very smart and well trained—she knows sit, down, shake, roll-over (will only do this one for treats), stay (you can leave the room and she won't break her stay even if food is involved!), come, and go lay down. 
• She also knows about 20 other words with food, walk, and ride being her favorites.

These are things Bailey needs in her forever home:

• No other dogs or cats.
• Dog savvy owner who is able to handle her around other dogs.
• Someone who can exercise her regularly.  She calms down nicely with even a 15 minute walk.
• Kids are fine but Bailey may be a bit excitable for real small ones.
• Fence is optional but note that Bailey cannot be left on an invisible fence and we speculate that she could jump a standard chain link fence. 

All in all Bailey really is a great dog; just one that doesn’t like other dogs.  Be sure to e-mail placementragom [dot] org if you think I might be the perfect dog for your family!

The first few days after returning from being boarded, Bailey tried to get out of going into her kennel.  Normally you can tell her to “kennel” from anywhere in the house and she’ll go to the laundry room, open the door with her nose, and climb in her kennel.  She will even put herself to bed if we are staying up later than normal.  But after her “vacation” she pretended not to hear us, would give us a “what is a kennel?” look or hide in the corner (see the picture of her hiding and peeking)—you know the old, if I can’t see you, you can’t see me.   Each day has gotten a bit better and she now is going into her kennel just fine.  I’ve also included some pictures we took this afternoon outside.  We are loving this weather and hoping that it continues long into the fall!

Bailey had a great 4th of July. We took her to my parentʼs cabin which I think has become her favorite place. She couldnʼt get enough of the water and would have swum all day if I would have let her. I tried to get a picture of her flying off the dock but my camera wasnʼt fast enough (or Iʼm not a good enough photographer), so you will have to settle for a couple of pictures of her in the water. She was a great house guest and stayed out on an enclosed deck or in her kennel without whining and completely ignored the fireworks. The only time she barked was when I tried to make her take a break from swimming.

I think Bailey likes Christmas.  She had a great time cleaning the floor with all my holiday cooking and baking.  She is not at all discriminating and will eat anything I drop.  You name it—caramels, marshmallows, pineapple, even potato peels—she snarfs them all down.  She also thinks presents are great, despite getting a gift bag stuck on her head.  She proudly ran around the house showing off her new stuffed animal, but her favorite present by far was her new bed I ordered from Costco.  It’s big enough for both kids to fit in, which they did one day while watching a movie.  Bailey was not all happy about sharing her bed and came over to me and stomped her foot and growled.  I told them to move and she promptly regained her spot in the bed and shot them a victorious smile.   We’ve been teasing Bailey that her New Year’s resolution is to start getting along with other dogs.  We are 10 hours in to the New Year and she has managed to keep her resolution so far!  (The fact that she hasn’t seen any dogs yet hasn’t hurt any either).  Let's hope the trend continues.