We really enjoy hearing about your Lifetime Companions! Slowly, but surely, pages devoted to each dog are being added in the Gallery section. Each Gallery begins with a simple postcard designed for each dog. There are two links on each postcard: the dog’s name will take you to the pedigree. The dog’s face will take you to a page devoted to that dog, including photos and correspondence. Be patient; those pages can be slow loading. I’ll let you know What’s New each time I add a dog to the Gallery.
Because it may be beneficial to others, I’d like to address two things in Caroline’s email.
In the Happy Apsos section of the website, there’s a grooming section with step-by-step instructions. Be sure to share that with your groomer, someone that hopefully understands the breed’s temperament and enjoys grooming Apsos! Her experience, unfortunately, is not uncommon. As a professional dog groomer, I’ve had to do redo some very…interesting hairdos!
It is very common for dogs to fear thunder and/or lightning. And dogs that have lived with me have experienced thunder and lightning up close and personal at 9,000 feet elevation! With the exception of a couple of housedogs, my dogs all live in the kennel. Click here for a tour. Dogs that are being shown live separately until they’re retired from the show ring. At that time, I incorporate them into the appropriate group, if at all possible. When all the dogs go outside, they are in one of two groups; male group and female group. There is a large fenced area for each group. Problems seldom arise with this arrangement. Inside there are groups that change, depending on which dogs are here with me. Currently, all the females (five) are housed together and all the males (four) are housed together (except for the show dogs). Each group’s inside area is 10′ x 9′, attached to outside covered runs.
Seth was with me for six years. When he was in show coat, he was in a show run except when he went outside with his group. The show runs are 6′ x 2′ with a working gate on the end, divided by fencing that’s 1″ x 2″ and a bed at each end. While those dogs can’t dogpile, like the other dogs do, they often sleep side-by-side. After Seth retired, he lived in a regular indoor-outdoor run.
Dear Debby,
It’s been quite some time since I reported on Samson’s new life in Florida and I thought you might be interested in how he is adapting to his new home.
He is definitely my dog. He still follows me everywhere and if I am away for a time he sits at the screened - in lanai and waits for me. As soon as he sees me he barks, wags his tail vigorously and jumps around. What a clown. He is very adept at helping me make the bed in the morning. As soon as I start he jumps up on the bed and claws at the sheets and blankets as though he knows how to arrange them. That is our morning ritual and he loves to get under the covers and hide. When I say “Where is Samson” his tail starts wagging and he pops his head out!
Last night we had a thunder storm for the first time since Sam has been with us and I was surprised at how afraid he acted. He was trembling and couldn’t get close enough to me. This behavior made me wonder how he reacted when he was with you. What kind of environment did he live in? Was he quartered with other dogs or was he by himself? He heard the first thunder and I could tell immediately that he didn’t like it.
I have to tell you that he had a such a trauma a couple of months ago. I took him to the groomer and she asked if I wanted him to have the same cut he had before. I said I did but as I was leaving she said he was matted on his chest and it would hurt him if she tried to comb it out. I said okay, thinking she would clip it there and the rest of the cut would be the same as before. When I returned a couple of hours later I couldn’t believe my eyes - she had shaved his whole body except for his head and tail! I was furious but there was nothing I could do about it. Well, anyway, he was mortified, didn’t want to go outside and was freezing most of the time. We kept him covered up as much as possible. Finally his coat has grown in enough that he is no longer embarrassed and he is starting to look and act like his old self. Naturally I will never use that groomer again. There was no reason to do that. He was not matted all over his body and I don’t even think his chest was in bad shape. We brush him every day and he looks great now. I was too shocked to tell you before his hair grew back but now I thought it was safe to confess!
Samson is a real watch dog, barking when people walk by our condo. Everyone thinks he is adorable (which he is) and they want to pet him but he is still leery of people he doesn’t know. That’s okay with me though. I don’t like animals to jump all over me.
We will be returning to Ohio in a couple of weeks for the summer. It is getting very hot here, upper 80’s every day and I will be happy to be in a little cooler area. Sam doesn’t seem to like the really hot days either and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to another home. I’m sure he will do fine.
That’s all for now from Samson and me,
Caroline
