Pawsitive Words

Wow, Tina...... I just finished watching Oprah's show on puppy mills. It was appalling. It gave me a renewed appreciation for you guys! One of the dogs they highlighted was a yellow lab. This dog (and many of the others they showed) had been in a crate for her whole life. DID NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO WALK PROPERLY DUE TO YEARS OF CONFINEMENT! I contrast that dog to your dogs, who are a part of your family, who are given a sense of purpose through the certifications they earn and the toys they fetch, whose puppies are only adopted to families who will love them....I am thankful for your dedication to "improve the labrador breed, one litter at a time" and wanted you to know it! Consider your back patted!

Lily is just precious! We can't imagine how our lives were before she joined our family! Can you believe - she'll be one year old this month!

Talk to you later,

Tami

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hey, Tina!! Happy New Year!! how are you doing? we are doing very well. Finnegan is VERY sweet and smart and funny. he sits on the back of the couch in front of the window just like his cat sisters, and he actually purrs. it's the strangest thing!! at first we thought he was snoring, but he was wide awake!! he's so kooky!! hee hee He weighs about 70 pounds now and is SOOOOOO beautiful. He's strong and stocky and is so well behaved. we had Christmas at our house this year, and no one could believe how good he was. We had prime rib (yum, I'm salivating) and he didn't beg at all. We saved him a big juicy bone, and it took him a while to take it because he wasn't sure he should!! He waits so patiently every day when we feed him. sometimes i forget to tell him it's okay to go and eat, and he just sits there! It has been pretty cold here, lots of snow. Finnegan LOVES the snow. He bounds around like a little pony. We do have a little treat from Mother Nature today, though. It's supposed to be close to 67!!!! Yippee!! I'll bet that's cold for you!! ha ha I've been checking your website often. i'm anxious to see your next litters. i would love to have a female someday soon. this is the best breed in the world. I still can't believe how lucky we are. I will keep in touch and hopefully send updated pics as soon as i can. Take care!! Karen

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Hi, I just got back from Wylie's second round of shots. He weighs 14.5 lbs. He had his first live retrieve the other day. Of course after he brought me the quail he didn't want to give it back but we will work on that. Guns and other loud noises don't bother him at all. He knows sit well, and come an stay are in progress. He's great with kids and loves people. The vet said he estimates that he will be about an 85 lb dog. Thank y'all so much, I am enjoying him very much. Robert Horton

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Hi Tina, Boss is doing great! You have done a fabulous job of socializing him! He is so content to be around us and so far, pretty laid back:) We're starting to pick up on his likes and dislikes, mainly that when it's time to take a nap he does not like to be held. That's hard because we don't want to put him down! He doesn't like the crate much but after a little fussing settles right down. He actually has just been in it at night. His appetite is good and of course he loves to chew!! We're still experimenting with chew toys he might prefer instead of our fingers, furniture or base boards:) I have some cute pics I'll send this weekend. Thanks for all your help and Boss was definitely worth the wait!! Cathy

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It seems hard to believe, but today was almost better than yesterday!
Lily had a very good night and, so far, has not had a single potty accident! She has gone outside to potty each time since she's been home.
Kelly set the alarm so that we were up with her every couple of hours through the night and she was just a princess about doing her duty outside, and coming back to her bed without fanfare right afterward. Soundly back to sleep with no drama.   We plan the same for the next few nights until we can stretch out the intervals in-between her pit stops and feel assured she can comfortably make it through the night without a problem.
Despite the cool temps and a little rain/mist today, she loves to frolic in the yard and has done a great job exploring her new territory. Can I even tell you how adorable it is to see her leap on all fours as she moves about?
Plus, she loves tugging on pant legs, tennis shoes, shoelaces, or nearly anything she can get hold of. It's so much fun to "let her win" just once in awhile.
We have a non-electric heating pad (it gets heated in the microwave). We've put it inside a soft pillowcase and when she comes in from the currently chilly outdoors, in addition to getting dried off and loved, we make sure her bed is nice and warm (not too hot, just warm). We are hoping it makes her think of her sweet warm sibs. We noticed how much they like to cuddle. Before she gets more body fat on her, we figured it might feel comforting to her.
Laura was out of town for the weekend but came by to see her late this afternoon. Like us, she can't believe how beautiful she is!
Lily had quite a few small excursions inside and outside today and is now wearily nestled snuggly in her crate, but in the same room where we watch TV so that she still feels a part of the action. I should also mention that I definitely noticed earlier today that she seems to be quite a Dallas Cowboys fan! She was very intrigued by the game when it was on!
She tracks Kelly's actions and voice as if he were her true parent so she already has him wrapped around her little paw!
She is feisty and full of herself today ... and it has been great fun watching her get better acquainted with her new surroundings.
If it sounds like we are absolutely crazy about her, you are right!
She is doing fabulously. has had her doses of worm medicine, eats her food with gusto (especially if being simultaneously petted) and seems to be thriving by any measure.
After only 24 hours, she is already an integral part of our family.... and we love her!
She sends her very best to all her litter mates.... and to Tesa, Tate, and her momma and daddy, Tina and Toby ... as well as to sweet Bebe.
We will continue to keep you updated with her progress every few days ...
Best,

Anne
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Well, miss Lily was a true champ on the ride to Fairview!!
Despite a huge traffic jam due to a wreck in downtown Dallas, she either slept on my arm, or Kelly's, the entire way home without a whimper. Per your guidance, we put the radio on and she just loved it! (we had it tuned to country Christmas music on satellite which she seems to especially like!). Kelly LOVES country music so he is extremely pleased she has such great taste in music!.
We were prepared to stop along the way with her for a potty break if need be, but it never became an issue. She made the whole trip without needing a potty stop!
Once we got clse to home, we decided to stop by Kelly's parents who live only minutes from us so she could get acquainted with her new "grandparents". Of course she was a HUGE hit with them and their neighbors who all came running to see the "new baby".
Once home, she went to her new bed (yummy soft crate) for a long nap. When she awakened, she went outside for an exploratory visit and her potty duty (plus chasing some leaves which seems to be a real fascination!). She has now had her dinner, done her business, and is once again fast asleep.
Please know that she already seems extremely well-adjusted to her new surroundings ... no crying or drama so far! Only a few whimpers.
She has had a very large day and will likely miss her mama and her sibs more tomorrow once she gets a better sense of what is happening. You know that we are totally focused only on her and, should it become necessary, will help her get through the next couple of tough days with nothing but unconditional love and attention.
I know you can imagine how sweet she looks at this moment as she sleeps so soundly in her new home (and she has a new pink collar in honor of Tesa!)
By the way, the rag you sent with us was a godsend! She has toys in her crate with her, but she favors the scent of her clan and plays with it sweetly. It is, as you knew it would be, very reassuring to her!
We already LOVE her unbelievably -- and you can count on her being loved and extremely well-tended to for all of her life.
Again, we thank you for the privilege of having one of Bebe's pups! Officially, Christmas is still a ways off, but we celebrated Christmas all day today!
Thanks for mking this such a special day for us ... we are absolutely thrilled with our newest family member!
We hope you, Bebe and Tesa are not missing her too much.
We will keep you updated on her progress as she continues to acclimate to her new surroundings.
Best to all of you,
Anne
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Dear Tina-

Just letting you know how "Buck" and family are doing. We are a big, happy family! Buck is doing great! He has been such a wonderful addition to our family; however, I think Frank our cat might have a few other things to say....

Buck loves the country, loves swimming, riding in the Ranger, loves going for walks, love fetching sticks, he is everything we were looking for. He weights about 85 lbs, and am going to cut him back on his eggs I think. He is getting just a tad "fluffy". He goes on walks everyday, as well as jogs. He really is a great jogging companion. Sam walks him down to the river every morning before school.

We are going to be in Hico for the Christmas holidays, and plan to travel to Athens for a few days. We are going to need to find a place to kennel Buck for two days. Do you and your husband ever kennel dogs, and if so we would like to ask if he could come for a few days, and if this is not possible, can you recommend a good place to kennel him? I know there are kennels listed, but not really interested in just any kennel. Any recommendations you may have would be greating appreciated.

Also, do you clean your dogs ears on a regular basis, and what do you use to do this? I know that floppy ear dogs have a tendancy to have ear infections, particularly those who enjoy the water (Buck). Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.

Susan Howard

Happy Owner

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Thank you for keeping us so up to date with the pics and the puppy facts. Not being all that familiar with “the process”, this is hugely fascinating to me and I have been secretly wondering how Bebe is holding up with these six hungry little ones to feed. Your inclusion of the fact that they’ll soon transition to “mush” answers the question! I’m also curious about how much sweet Bebe must be eating while she is nursing this brood. She must really be consuming the calories in order to have enough nutrients to share with these six hungry babes. Poor thing, she must be exhausted! One last thing … I’ve been (liberally!) sharing the fabulous puppy pics with my work colleagues. Each time I do, someone always mentions how BEAUTIFUL Bebe is …!!! Really, she is so regal, beautiful and serene. It’s easy to see why she is so very special to you. We are thrilled to be getting one of her puppies. With her parentage, we just can’t miss! Hope you all have a blessed (and quiet!?) Thanksgiving. We will be “giving thanks” for you and your family – and for all you are doing with these sweet puppies to give them such a great start! Best, Anne

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Wednesday it is! Plan to see them closer to 11 -- how about if I have Kelly call you when they are about ½ hour away to confirm? He’s like a homing pigeon -- now that he’s driven to your place once, he will know how to find you. We will get your number from Laura. And I promise they will be out of your hair shortly thereafter. But you may have to get a shovel and scoop him out --he will be like a child in a playground! Tina, you have been so wonderful about sharing the photos and stories during this whole process. This is very helpful to us “prospective parents” as it keeps us totally engaged and informed and allows us to share the big news with all our friends and family. All of which adds to the growing excitement! Thank you, thank you, thank you -- I know this is a ton of work for you. We appreciate that you and your family are giving our new family member such a great start. I’m convinced that’s why your dogs are so special -- they come from great stock and such a special environment. It’s so evident in Gertie. Her loving and sweet nature was nurtured at your place long before she came to Laura’s. It’s a special gift you have. We appreciate all of you!

Best,

Anne

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We just returned home from the vet (just getting shots). We always receive so many compliments on our beautiful baby! Just thought I'd share the flattery!

I have yet to find a "durable" toy that can withstand the jaws of Lily, but we have found a miracle shedding "helper" - Furminator! My goodness! I couldn't believe all the fur that was under the layers ready to come off! No wonder my baseboards end up with a white furry trim.

We are enjoying Lily so much! I am anxious to see pictures of your newest litter (and sorry to hear about Bella)!

I hope your family is doing well! First grade is kicking my tail. Nice to hear from you!

Tami

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Hi Tina,

Hope all is well with you. Charlie and I were walking on the beach this morning in South Padre Island and a lady stopped to ask where I got Charlie. I told her all about you and she actually lives 30-45 minutes away from Waco, so she was going to visit your website. She's been looking for a yellow lab for a little while. We highly recommended you and your dogs!

Charlie loves the beach/ocean! She was a little timid of the waves at first, but now she runs at them and jumps over them -- she is so cute! I bought her a frisbee that is supposed to float, so we're going to try it out this afternoon after it cools down a bit. We also have a soft-mouth trainer that she loves to chase -- we're still working on her bringing it back, she's getting more and more interactive as she gets older -- she's such an amazing dog!

We actually get a lot of compliments on her and her behavior -- many people cannot believe that she is a 9/10 month old lab b/c she is so easy going & whenever we're having a conversation with someone, she just lays down. I think the fact that she is a little "shy" makes people really like her b/c she wags her tail and wants to be pet, but she doesn't run and jump on anyone, like some other dogs.

I forgot my camera on this trip (I'm sooooo bummed) otherwise, I'd send you some pictures of her playing in the waves! Next time....

Enjoy your weekend,

Mollie Carey

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Hi Tina, I've attached some pictures of Cady and I from yesterday. With the cool weather it was difficult to get Cady to calm down and stop chasing after the ball to pose for a picture...See what I ended up with. She is so funny, I just love her! As expected I'm so attached to her and I spoil her rotten. I'm over protective and I worry about her well being all the time. But she brings me joy! Every morning she and I take a walk to the end of the driveway where she wonders in the field to do her business. She stays in the house during the day. So when we get home in the evening she is excited to see us and she demands "Cady time" with her wiggling, growling and back talking. I take her out and throw the ball or frisbee until she's had enough or I've had enough. She loves being outside rolling in the grass and soaking up the sun. Dogs sure get into a routine. I hope all is well with you and your family. Lisa Boenker

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Hi Tina,

First, a very belated but most sincere “thank you” to you and your lovely family for allowing Kelly Laura and me to meet Bebe, Bella, Boscoe and all the “B gang” recently. What a fun, fun day for us! I am sorry we stayed so long and kept you and your family from other Sunday afternoon activities. I guess we just got caught up in the excitement of it all – including spending time outside watching your husband train and work with the dogs. What mutual love and respect! I’ve never seen such happy, well-adjusted and well-behaved dogs! It’s so obvious that all your dogs are so loved and secure – and so beautifully integrated into your family. It was just a joy to watch. A favorite memory of the day is of your sweet kids playing … and Bebe with the floppy hat on - just walking around, business as usual – totally unfazed by it. Talk about a sweet disposition! Laura sent us the photos you just sent her of Bebe . . . oh my gosh! What a happy, healthy mama to be! We always knew when our Lucy was smiling - I’d certainly say that Bebe is smiling in those pictures! She looks so proud and regal. Hopefully, you can imagine how excited we are about the impending birth! Kelly talks about it ten times a day. Of course we do understand that there are no guarantees about girls, but Kelly is fairly certain from the looks of her puppy belly that Bebe must have at least two girls in there! We sure hope so. We will be so proud to have one of her pups if it all works as planned – and I hope you know how much we will love her and care for her. I know we will hear of the news from Laura the moment that events start to occur. We will hope that all goes smoothly for sweet Bebe – and for you. I know from your description of events that this is quite a process for you, too. We appreciate that you take such good care of your dogs – and the fact that our puppy will come from such a wonderful environment – and such a fantastic mama – is just really a blessing for us.

Our best,

Anne and Kelly Towery

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