New Family Letters

Updating letters and adult pictures from families

Dear Patricia and Steve,

Now that I'm nearly a year old (January 2nd) I just wanted to drop you an email to let you know how my first year has been with my adopted human parents.

As you know, I was adopted in March of 2008. My new family consists of Mom and Dad and 4 cat siblings (two girls and two boys). I absolutely love the cats -- more so than they love me. Although after several months of being together, they have taken a liking to me and we often sleep together on the same bed.

After only one week at my new home, my parents enrolled me in puppy classes at the McCann dog training school. We went to school for 4 weeks and I learned all sorts of new things, i.e. sit, roll over, settle and lie down (my favourite). I met all sorts of new puppies and am proud to report that I grew to be the tallest in my class in just a mere 4 weeks! Since I did so well, my parents enrolled me in Grade #1. Class was every Saturday for 8 weeks. My Mom worked real hard with me each day -- I think she was stressing about the exam at the end of the class. Who could blame her. By the end of June, Mom and I took the Grade #1 exam and passed with flying colours -- I got all "excellents", with one "good" which was for walking on leash. I'm still not very good at that, as I like to pull, but Mom settled me down with a harness!

Once the summer came, my parents took me up north several times. I discovered the joys of swimming and dock diving. I also discovered what a hot spot is -- although since the first experience, my Mom and Dad ensured that after each swim I was dried off in all the right places!

One of my best friends is a Border Collie named Cole -- he's 9 years old but loves to go on long hikes with me. Mom and Dad ensure I get lots of exercise every day. But to Mom's surprise, some times when I get home, I'm still a bundle of energy.

I also have a new sister named Molly -- Mom's friend from work adopted her from you in May so we often get together for family reunions. We spent Halloween together and we're spending New Year's eve together. I can't wait to see her again. We often get together for play dates.

The Fall came quickly and Mom enrolled me in more training classes -- one was obedience and the other was trick training. Trick training was my favourite.

Now its my first Christmas -- I can't wait until Santa comes. I've been a real good boy this year!

Mom has attached a few pictures for you to look at. The winter pictures were just taken this last weekend.

Thank you so much for my new family. I love them!

Love Hudson!

(Monica  & Dave )

Hi Steve and Patricia

It's been 7 months since we picked up our pup from you.  CHARLIE has been a wonderful addition to our family. 

we spent most of the summer at the cottage where he was a little tentative about swimming but loved the space to run, chewing on sticks and even the occasional boat ride.  we think by next year he'll be all about the water.  charlie is a really lovable dog and super friendly and gets a lot of attention wherever we go.  he was neutered in september and was really patient with his cone.  i think we felt worse than he did!  our boy is very independent  but always wants to be in the same room as us which just warms our hearts.  he is rambunctious and playful and has lots of friends in our neighbourhood.

we have been so happy since charlie came into our life and think he is the best dog.  he completed two sessions of puppy training and was a stand out in both classes and even won best dressed at the halloween party!. 

i have included some pictures of charlie over the past months.  we kept him very shaggy at first but decided in november to give him his first haircut.  now he looks so grown up!

he is just a great dog that loves a belly rub and getting dirty.  he absolutely loves the snow!  at first we don't think he knew what to make of it and now he can't get enough.

charlie is also going to be a big brother at the end of february and we think he is going to be the best big brother a dog can be.

thanks again for making this decision so comfortable and helping to bring charlie to us.

merry christmas and enjoy the pictures.  charlie is also on facebook if you want to see more pictures of him.  (search charlie  *******)

Bob and Tanya

Hi Patricia.

Wanted to send you a couple of photos of Cooper for you to enjoy. He is absolutely delightful, we love him to bits. He is smart, wants to please, really wants to sit in your lap – even now!! – and is a joy each and every day. Our older dog enjoys having him around too, now that she’s ensured he knows who’s boss. Everyone who sees him comments on how absolutely gorgeous he is. These pics were taken early in November, when he was 7 months old.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Leslie

Dear Steve and Patricia,

Happy Holidays!  Sorry for the delay in response, life has been a bit crazy!

Luke is doing very well.  He is a brilliant dog that is a bit of a "mama's suck".  We have taught him new tricks-sit, shake a paw, high five, roll over.  Now we're working on stay, come and find the remote LOL.  He was also completely potty trained outside by 3 months and touch wood-haven't had any accidents since then-which has been just over 2 months.  Crate training has not been an issue at all-he loves him home and will go there by himself if he needs some quiet time & on command if we need him to go to bed.

He has also almost lost all of his baby teeth-we've managed to save a few of them that I am going to put into a scrap book & come January he will be getting neutered-he's growing up so fast!

Luke has been the best addition to our family and we love him very much.  He is definately a great "Practice Child"-Mommy and Daddy are both learning more patience! :)

I have attached our family holiday picture for you as well as the video of his tricks.

Take Care and all the best for 2009.

PS..A friend of ours has fallen in love with him, so I have given her your business card and she may be in contact with you in the new year!

Sincerely,

Christine & Mark & Luke F******

Hello

Toby is doing good. He is just as much a part of the family as the rest of us. My parents even call him thier "Grand Dog". We are really happy with him. He is a very even tempered people dog, just about everyone who sees or meets him comments on how nice of a dog he is. Did I mention how happy we are with him, lol. Toby is my first dog and I can't even imagine not having him around now. Thanks so much for connecting us with this little guy.

Regards

Jason R***

Patricia and Steve;

Thank you so much for Bruin Tim-bit.  I was voted down and Bruin stuck.  He is so much more than we could have hoped for.  We are all madly in love, and it's only been a day.  He already loves to fetch his bright yellow ball and chew on the little mouse you sent home with him (thanks).  He's only had one accident, it was right at the back door as Paul didn't think to let him out as soon as he got Bruin home.  Last night went really well.  He cried for about 2 min. in the crate then settled for 2 hrs.  He whined so I let him out, he peed right away, then back in the crate. He wimpered off and on for about 10-15 min. then slept for another 6 hours, no accidents, no crying.   The kids are having a ball with him.  This afternoon we gave him a bath and clipped his toenails before our trip to the vet.  What a little trooper, he did so well, no crying, minimal fussing to get out of the tub, and nothing when I did his nails.  He was so docile and co-operative with the vet that he said "You've got one great puppy, and I don't say that to all new pup owners.  He has a wonderful temperment."  I couldn't agree more.  He is playful, sweet natured, not spooked by anything (doorbell, hairdryer), and he does love to cuddle.  I have attached 3 pictures (it was really hard to narrow it down).  One of him with his Puppy Kong Frisbee, one in the sandbox (shortly after I gave him a bath, go figure) and one of him passed out in his toy box, he just didn't have the energy to play anymore. 

I know that we will have many, many years of joy with Bruin.  Thank you for all of the love, attention, and work that you put into him.  If I am ever asked I will be giving Thistle Ridge the most glowing reference I could hope to think of. 

Thanks again,

Kathy R***** and Family

Hi Patricia and Steve,

Thought we'd drop you a line to let you know how we are making out with Cosmo (Tina's  Feb. 2008 litter).  He crate trained very easily as you can tell by the earlier photo.  He happily goes in every night to sleep, and only had about 1 week of restless nights.

Cosmo just finished his first set of training classes and was top of his class.  He knows how to roll over, high five, speak, give a paw, come, leave it, move closer and play hide 'n seek-Way more tricks than anyone in his class!  The kids just love working with him.  He greeted them at the bus stop each day by running at them.

We love his low key personality, and everyone who meets him, is very impressed.  I've even passed your name onto a few others who may be interested in the breed.

Thanks again for giving us such a wonderful puppy-Cosmo has been a great addition to our family!

Sandy, Rob, Rachel, Luke and Sarah

Hello Steve and Patricia

I've been meaning to send you a picture of Sadie and a little note, and we've just been soooooooooo busy with the puppy and enjoying our summer that we just havn't found the time until now!

Sadie is doing fantastic! We can't beleive how fast she learns everything, truly a very very intellegent dog. We had only 3-4 accidents inside the house, which were more our own fault than hers, (we just didn't get to her in time after she rang the bell) She really picked up on the bell training right away!

She now knows how to sit, stay, down and come...and learned these in only a few short lessons.

We are truly enjoying all of her funny little antics, she loves to play and is also fetching frizbee's as well and returns it to us to throw again and again.

She was at the vet this week, is doing wonderful, clean bill of health and just had her 2nd vaccinations. She has doubled her weight already as well

Thanks so much again for our new addition, we are truly loving every minute of it.

Michele

Hi Patricia,

Thanks for the Xmas card.  Its great to see pictures of Winnie on your website.  He is now almost 8 months old and is 49 lbs. (you will recall he was the largest puppy ) and has adapted brilliantly to the structure and pace of life in our family. We just had him neutered, a process that has shown what a great dog he is.  Winnie used the edge of his cone to scratch at his stitches which resulted in three trips to the vet last week where he had the top layer of stitches removed and was reshaved, poked, prodded and covered with ointment.  This could have been quite traumatic but not for Winnie.  He whimpered a bit, never growled or used his teeth and bounced off the table and wagged his tail seconds later.  Our vet looked at Winnie and said, 'now that's good breeding', and we agree.  He is remarkably even tempered and he rarely barks and has never growled.  And he is a very fine looking boy as well.  Thanks again for such a great dog.

Helen

Patricia and Steve

Just a quick note to let you know that everything is absolutely perfect!!!  Izzee (a.k.a. the puppy from heaven)  got all the way home, a 5 3/4 hr. drive, without so much as a wimper.  She wasn't scared at all, she slept, looked around and cuddled with Shauna.  No car sickness, we stopped twice because she wasn't adverse to the car ride at all, for her to have a drink and a little piddle.  When she got home she pooped outside (absolutely normal), had supper and checked out her new home with no fear at all.  She has met two of the cats, and again, no big deal.  We found it absolutely unbelievable that she was so good and so unfazed by anything!

And then came nightime and bed......

You won't believe it I'm sure, because we still can't, but she slept all night in her basket (it was my kid's bassinet) on the floor, without any crying or fussing, nothing.  I took her out in the middle of the night in case she needed to piddle - she did, and she went right back to bed and sleep until 7:00 when we got her up.

Now our first full day is underway, and again is going unbelievably well!

Just wanted to let you know and say thank you again.  She is everything and more that we had hoped for!

Thanks for the picture, I'm about to download it now...

Have to go outside and play now, but I'll update you later in the week!

Sincerely,

Carolyn

Happy New Year to you.

We finally landed on Mimzy as her name.  Named after the movie ‘The Last Mimzy’.   We were watching the movie, and It struck me, ‘MIMZY”!  so that was her name from then on.

Her personality is quite unique.  As you know we have always had dogs, but Mimzy is quite smart.  She does many things that our previous dogs did not.   

About knee height to her back and is very very gentle.  She is quiet as well.  Only barking when playing.  She is really great with Kaidan who is constantly trying to ride her. 

The part I really like, is she does not shed or smell at all.  Really great after having 2 cats.  Right now she is curled up at my feet as I write this email.

We love her.  Thank you.    Shawn

Hi,

We Love our little Bailey...Bailey is house trained and can do tricks.  Bailey can shake a paw, sit and Lay down on command.  This week Bailey and I have been able to go in the Field and leash free play ball and soccer and walk together.  He returns to home on command and is very smart. 

I love him and We are so Happy!   Doug

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