New pictures of Easton

Big Red and I spent almost 3 weeks in Salem, OR. It was not the happiest of times, but Easton always made sure we stayed grounded and attended to his every need! It was a welcome diversion from our grim task at hand. Thanks pal, your Golden smile and happy tail greeted us every time we walked in the door. Seeing the spring in your step and the joy in you eyes when we took our walks lightened my load. You even brought the ball back every time it was thrown. I guess you knew something important was going on. 
Honoring Jim and Jeanne

2700 miles away, but always close to my heart

Just wanted to acknowledge the passing of Toby, one half of the famous Chub brothers residing at the sanctuary known as Golden Pines. I've followed their story from the beginning and became quite invested in these two Senior Goldens; hoping they could live their lives out together and never have to be separated again. These guys were so happy and resilient, making friends all over the world and providing comic relief via the GP blog. Their story is told at the following link: Toby & Bubba's story

Fly Free Toby, you can run and bark with Bubba again. I'll miss you both, but will smile knowing you are together again.

Toby

Gloomy day, Golden Boy

Windy, rainy Sunday morning, Seahawks in Chicago making me crazy (they won in OT) and Easton hanging out after our very early walk between the rain drops. He loves to have a toy with him at all times just in case play breaks out. He is so mellow and such a good boy. What a joy. How lucky we all are. Happy Monday!

Easton's favorite squeaker ball

I’ve been waiting to catch this part of Easton's playful personality on video for sometime. This weekend he started playing with his squeaker ball right next to my chair. I used my smart phone to capture his "kitty play". Had to hold the phone at an odd angle, so it's a little choppy….sorry. Very lame background noise, so you get music instead!

The dog clock.....

Easton has been with us for a year and a half now. There has not been one day that I can remember when he and I have been apart. Tomorrow I am taking a trip; unfortunately Easton can't go. His well being will be in Andi's capable hands so there are no worries. Needless to say Easton and I have become very attached, but as long as he gets his groceries, a walk and a little attention everyday, he will be just fine. The picture below is the face I get anytime I leave and he can't go. That's pretty much where I find him when I come home. A week is a long time to sit on the landing, so I'm sure he'll find something to do. After all, there are squirrels to chase and toys to honk....he'll be just fine.

The Dream

I have recurring dreams about my dogs. Sometimes they are the stars, sometimes just bit players. Most of the time, the images of dogs in my dream are a little mixed up. They never look exactly like any one of the Goldens in my life, but they always have Golden features. It’s October 22, 2012 and I had another vivid dream this morning. As usual, I’m the star of my dream, drifting around some familiar, but unidentifiable location, losing my pants, trying to tee up a golf ball and hit it, but there is no room to swing or some other bizarre, frustrating circumstance. This morning was not any different, finding myself in a historic college dorm or McMenamins type hotel, talking to Chandler and Ross about god knows what (I don’t even watch Friends anymore), ducking into a room to change my clothes and hoping the occupants didn't return to catch me. During all of the strange interactions and weird activities, I was somehow aware that one of my dogs was with me. After changing my clothes in the room that wasn't mine, I walked down a hall and began searching for my dog (he wasn't in the room with me), asking strangers in the hotel, whose face I saw, but didn’t know, if they have seen Devo! At that moment Devo became “the dog” for this episode.Immediately I began earnestly searching for Devo; peeking in rooms and hallways, crawling in cubby holes and through kitchens, seeing strangers, but no dogs. Then I went outside and called his name once. I saw a dog in the distance, camouflaged by tall grass and reeds trotting back and fourth making progress, moving closer to me. He was a thin Golden with a fox’s tail; obviously not Devo. I then turned and began calling Devo’s name loudly exactly like I've called him thousands of times. I could feel my vocal chords performing this familiar call; it was so real. Then I heard him reply! It was his bark – three times. I knew I found him. Then I woke up.

Devo

I slept in today after a long drive yesterday, returning from a visit with family in Salem OR, sleeping in a strange bed and now welcoming my familiar, comfortable home field slumber advantage. It was one of those dreams I have the last two hours in the morning after I get up to pee, pet Easton and slide back into bed. I've had a few dreams in the last couple of years where I vividly call one of my dogs in my sleep. This is the first time one of them has answered. So perfectly accurate was the vocalization of Devo’s reply, he could have been standing next to me. Then a couple of hours ago, I saw the picture below posted on Facebook. It not only motivated me to document the dream, but it’s exactly how I pictured the Rainbow Bridge to look when I arrive. Sunny would be in charge, Lady would be the matriarch, Cosmo making sure everybody was happy and Devo (who was happiest when he had a job to do) would be the messenger – always busy insuring the link between heaven and earth passed through the bridge. If Devo felt the need, he could send the message: “Here we are, here we are”. I hear you my pal, I hear you.

Gros Rouge et la pomme (Big Red and the apple)

Dog Friendly Cities

Osprey up close and personal - Incredible video

And you thought your Grandpa was a skilled fisherman! This guys puts us all to shame. He even shakes water off himself, in flight, like a dog. WOW
 

View full screen on YouTube

View from the bottom of the pool!

In case you haven't seen these pictures yet, please allow me.....

Seth Casteel decided to gather a few of his furry friends, a ball and a high resolution underwater camera to create a few breathtaking memories. 

Seth Casteel's website is here: Little Friends Photography

Enjoy !

Easton demos a doggy treadmill

For those of you not on Facebook, here's Easton At the Phoenix Pet Expo, April 28th, 2012. He was the first dog to demo that day. We walked him in and out of this special treadmill three times, treating him each time. This is his fourth trip in, where the ground began to move under his feet. He was a little startled, but recovered nicely. He looked like a newborn fawn trying to get those long legs to adjust to the moving tread. He never panicked and tried real hard to make it work. Thanks to www.dogpacer.com for being so patient and kind.



Click here to view directly on YouTube

Flowers for Leontien

Because my beautiful wife is a cancer survivor

Phoenix Pet Expo today

Phoenix Pet Expo today at the fantastic Cardinal Stadium in Glendale. Easton and I are going; we'll be talking to rescue groups about the Animal Rescue Media Wall at Kimbur Pet Wash and Suites (powered by CoCollage). Hope to see you there! If you can't make it, check out the upcoming Expos at a city near you.

Pet Expo web site

Will there be cookies there?
> Yes Easton, more than you could eat in one sitting.
We're taking a trick or treat bag with us!!

Our daily dose of Jack!

As you know, Easton and I were in Tucson last week and had the special privilege of meeting a legend. Yes, I'm talking about Jack; the (almost) four year old Yellow Lab who's sole purpose on this earth is to bring excitement and exercise to The Tall Guy's (Jack's Dad) life.
Jack and The Tall Guy's blog

We met up at McDonald park in NE Tucson. KT, Easton, Debbie (our Tucson hostess), Sophie and Mia piled into the dog bus and headed out for the short 3 mile drive. As we approached the dog park, we noticed a few dogs and humans having a barking good time. There was no mistaking Jack, the only Yellow Lab, running around with a plastic dog bowl in his mouth being pursued by a big guy with a camera around his neck. The rest of our visit was absolutely delightful as we came to this immediate conclusion: the Tall Guy takes no artistic license when he creates his Jack posts and in writing his wonderful BOOK. Jack is all that and then some.

My favorite Jack moments:

• Emptying the large, stainless steel water bowl by planting both front paws in the water filled bowl and digging like crazy until every drop is gone.
• Trotting around, socializing and then suddenly making a beeline for something plastic or wood that he carries off to "modify" as only Jack can.
• Jack is a good natured dog who is very social and loves everybody. He'll share his muddy paws with you, usually around the area of one's er....... underwear!
• Just being around Jack's energy will put a smile on anyone's face. He truly is one of a kind.

Here are a few pictures that I took. Thanks for the play date Jack. We'll never forget you.

The park, nice size, grass, pleasant owners, fun dogs - a good time was had by all

- JACK -

Easton and Jack - eyeing the poor, plastic red Frisbee (it had a short life that day)

TG and Jack with Easton - refilling the water bowl one more time!

Refueling the Jack machine, with Easton looking on.

TG and Easton - "smile"

Dog park fun, from L-R, Jack, Daisy, Easton, Dallas (the zoomy king), Sophie and Debbie
(notice the pink poop bag holder, Nice Touch)

Wet Dog in the Desert

Hi everybody. Sorry it's been so long since our last post. Recently, Easton and I were invited to visit some old friends who now live in Tucson. Jon and Debbie have two beautiful Rottweiler girls and a swimming pool. Easton was in heaven. I don't think there was five minutes when he was outside that he wasn't soaking wet from fetching up whatever toy was floating in the pool. We sure had a wonderful time.

This week I will be posting some Tucson pictures that I took, our staff photographer Michael took and a surprise contributor AKA "The Tall Guy" took at the McDonald dog park! Jon, Michael and I go way back to our US West days in Seattle in the late 80s. Jon and I worked together at Thousand Trails before that. Wow, how time flies.

PS: Everything the Tall Guys says about Jack is true. Debbie and I witnessed it first hand. We are available to testify at the Tall Guy's trial when they commit him to the loony bin.

Here are pictures from the swimming hole and the lovely Sophie and Mia. Dog park follies tomorrow.
Will post Michael's pictures when I get them (they are always way better than mine).

Sophie and Mia

Big Girl Sophie - she is so mellow and sweet

The lovely Miss Mia - sassy, full of mischief and sweet as pie