Grandparents and Boat Parades

Last night we went out to celebrate Melisa's birthday and by pure happenstance we ran into Coach's mom's family.  It was very cool.  Nancy and Steve (pictured below with Coach) were in St. Pete waiting for their table at the same restaurant we had just finished eating at (400 Beach, very good and a great Southeastern Guide Dog supporter). 

Coach is sitting in front of Nancy and Steve who are kneeling in back of him.  Steve is on the left and Nancy on the right.
Coach has a big smile on his face. Nancy and Steve are also smiling.

Brittany is Coach's mom and Coach is from her first litter.  We talked a bit about how we thought the golden retriever in Brittany made Coach as sweet as he is.  Evidently Brittany is super gentle and sweet as well. Considering that Coach's dad is Jack and that Jam's dad is Jack, he could have been a rowdy boy!  So we are sticking to our story of Brittany giving him all his sweetness.

Judy, Jerry, Melisa with Bo at their feet in a Xmas collar.  Fred and I are on the far right with
Coach who's eyes are glaring like lasers.

We also walked along the bay side hoping to see some of the boat parade, but alas, our dinner took too long.  We had just missed it.

It was an interesting dinner because Coach's nemisis Petey came.  As soon as the two of them locked eyes on each other there was barking.  Fortunately, they had us in a room that had some high walls.  I would say that everyone except Coach behaved very well.  Petey gave one bark to Coach's three.  Plus Coach whined because he wanted to get near his BFF Bo.  Bo, however, was playing hard to get and was spending time with Coach and then Petey.  So, neither boy knew which one was the ultimate winner.

Overall, I say it was a great night for all: seeing Brittany's folks, catching the last two boats of the boat parade and being able to celebrate a good friend's birthday.  Good end to a great day.

Christmas Eve Boat Parade

We were invited to a party on Christmas Eve at Duke and Eric the Red's house.  And since a puppy raiser was throwing the party, Jam was invited and this time Willow got to come as well (Willow is our 10 year old chocolate lab)!

Jam lying down on the deck with his Christmas collar on.

 All told, there were six dogs at the party, five big dogs and one little puppy.  Well, let me rephrase that.  four crazy, boy dogs, one lady, and a little puppy.  Whenever the boys got too rambunctuous, Willow would remove herself from the rolling, kicking whirling mass of boy-dog craziness and come sit next to me or Melisa's mom.

Eric the red was too small to be let off leash to run with the big dogs.  So he watched from the deck.  But he's so happy, he didn't mind.

Eric the red sitting pretty with a big smile on his face.

What was so fascinating about this particular grouping was that there was absolutely no aggression in any of the boys at all.  When they played with the toys, they all wanted to play together, but they were all really sweet about it.

All four big dogs (Jam, Dawson, Trapper and Duke) playing with the same blue tug toy.

 When one of them would end up with the toy, that dog would go over to another and wave it in their face until the game was on again.

Dawson, Trapper and Jam with the tug toy.

This game went on ALL NIGHT.

All four of them wrestling with the tug toy again.

We did make them sit for a photo.

A six dog sit on the steps of the deck: Willow, Jam, Dawson, Eric, Duke and Trapper (and various humans).

I may have Duke and Trapper mixed up.  It's hard to tell them apart.  I'm not sure which one is lighter in color.

I was a little worried about having them all in the house, but they actually did pretty well inside.  There was only one incident of puppy crazies (not Jam!) involving couch jumping, but other than that everyone was on their best behavior.

After a delicious dinner during which the dogs acted very good under the table, we went outside to watch the boat parade.  Music, flashing lights, boats driving back and forth, dancing Santa.  None if it phased the dogs.

While Willow was content to nap during the party, Jam would absolutely not!  No napping, no stopping, no turning it off.  So, when we got into the car to go home, he crashed.

Boat parade = successful exposure! (And a lovely party with delightful friends 8-)  A good time was had by all participants.