A Snow Bunny

Misty is loving the chance to run and explore!

I love taking walks with my dogs no matter what the season.  But its hard to go out when the temperatures dip down to the teens.   (I know...I'd never survive in the North!)  We have such a large yard the puppies can go out to play even when it is cold.  But after I was shut in for a week, I was pretty excited to finally go for a walk again.  The thermometer was just below freezing.  We knew it wouldn't be long before the cold would take another plunge. 

Outside our back gate are several hundred acres of untamed woods with paths leading along a secluded reservoir.   It is always a pleasure to walk down to the waters edge.  You can hardly tell from the photo, but the lake was partially frozen.  When it gets like that, I always worry the dogs will walk on the ice and fall in.  The ice never does get very thick.    But today the dogs did not attempt it.

Misty blends into the landscape like a Snow Bunny.

The woods are so silent in the snow....no bugs, no birds...no rustle of leaves.    I love our peaceful winter walks.    And sharing this time with my little furry friends makes it even more enjoyable.

The Best Dog Coats and Boots for Winter

Liam looks super cozy in his new coat...perfect for the long Boston winter!

We are now in the middle of January...the deepest part of winter.  If you haven't noticed, not all dog breeds are equipped to handle the cold as well as others.  For instance, the Labrador or Collie grows a thicker outer coats for the winter and also have a super dense undercoat  These breeds with thick double coats rarely seem to feel the cold at all.   But Schnoodles fur does not offer the same kind of protection against the elements.  And whether or not we keep their fur cut short, they still rely on an extra layer of protection when the temperatures dip below freezing.

The rain also can penetrate down to their skin fairly quickly.  And every time the Schnoodles fur gets wet it is more likely to start matting.  So it is worth having a coat for the rain as well.  

My rule of thumb is that I will put a coat on my dogs for a walk anytime it is raining or when the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Recently, I received a note from Liam's Mom with her recommendations for Winter Coats and dog Booties.  Liam lives in Boston, where winters are colder and longer than Virginia...so I am so glad that Erin was looking out for Liam.  I am thrilled to share her recommendations with you.

Here is Erin's note:

We highly recommend the winter dog coat from VoyagersK9 Apparel that we bought for Liam.  It is absolutely freezing in Boston right now, and we are so happy with our purchase.  The coat is very well made and the customer service was excellent.

 It was a little pricey, but it will definitely last us a few winters.  Best of all there are no snaps, buttons or zippers!!!

We also highly recommend the PAWZ dog boots in your store*.  They are fantastic for dogs in the city to protect them from salt and chemicals put on the roads.  They also are great for muddy rainy days.  They take some practice to learn how to put them on, but Liam doesn't even notice he's wearing them.  They are not totally waterproof as sometimes his paws are a little wet (like if he goes into a deep puddle or snow bank).  But it's a wonderful product you can pick up online or at Petco (3 sets of 4 booties in each box).  Liam wears the small red ones.

Yours,

Erin

* Note from Mary:  These booties were also recommended by one of my blog readers as a big favorite of theirs.  I added these booties my store so they will be easy to find.   I can't wait to try them!

I also will resend Liam's measurements from a previous post.  Every puppy is different...but it may help someone to know the average 7 month old schnoodle measurements.

Weight:  14.8 lbs
Chest:  17 1/4"
Shoulder to beginning of tail:  16 1/2"
Floor to top of shoulder:  15"
Floor to top of head:  18"

Thanks again, Erin!  

Update on Gumbo - the Rajin' Cajun Dog

I recently received an update on Gumbo (previously known as Lucky).   It sounds like Gumbo is bringing so much joy to his family.   Here's the news!

Taken by Gumbo's nanny over Christmas

Gumbo is doing great!  He is a sweet, affectionate and happy dog.  He has a great disposition and makes us smile and laugh every day.  He is bursting with energy....Sometimes perhaps a bit too much energy, ha ha! 

 We have tons of toys for him, and his latest favorite tool of amusement is his new Kong toy.  We put peanut butter down in it, and he has a ball trying to lick it out.  He has many stuffed animals and he's managed to remove the stuffing from most of them.  We just go buy more toys for him then. 

Whimzees come in all kinds of cute shapes!

Whimzees dog dental chews

He also loves his cow hooves and a chew toy called a 'Whimzee'.  We buy Wimzees in large packages.  However, now I am thinking of getting one of those puzzles for Gumbo that you wrote about in the blog.

Nap time!

Gumbo was neutered on December 10th and weighed a little over 13 lbs on that day.  I imagine he has probably put on another pound or two since then.

He also has had all his puppy series of shots including Bordetella, Rabies and Distemper.  He eats Blue Buffalo dog food usually twice a day and drinks LOTS of water.  Funny enough as well, Gumbo loves vegetables.  He adores broccoli, asparagus, spinach, squash, green beans, carrots: he will even eat lettuce!  I should point out though, that we only give him vegetables in small quantities.  He sure relishes them!


Thanksgiving, Gumbo went on a road trip to Knoxville, Tennessee.  He was a great, "car dog" and seemed to really enjoy it when the windows were opened a little and wind was blowing through the car, making his ears flop around; its a funny sight to see

Gumbo with Freyja

Over Christmas, he stayed with a doggy nanny, for some of the time.  He had a friend there to play with him.  Her name is Freyja.  She is also a poodle mix, though I am not suer about the other half of her hybrid.

Gumbo enjoying an evening on the couch

Gumbo with Dad.  Gumbo looks stylin in his new Christmas vest from Grandma

We want to get Gumbo in a Puppy Class, so we are going to look into that early this year.  Gumbo knows how to sit and shake hands.  I think he knows some other recognizable words as well.  For example, if you ask him if he would like some CHICKEN, he perks right up!

We love reading the blog, and always look forward to your updates.  Hopefully your readers will enjoy our update on Gumbo!

From
Jon Jenny and Gumbo

Thanks so much, Jenny and Jon!  I do enjoy the updates so much...and I know everyone else will too.  Thanks for taking the time to send the news!  ---Mary

Happy New Year! Sammy Update.

Sammy's Toy box use to make a great place to hide.

Happy New Year to all my blog readers and puppy families! Thank you for sharing our fun with Schnoodles during 2013!

I have received an update from Sammy, a puppy from our 2013 Schnoodle litter.   

                                        Jan 1, 2014

Dear Mary,

I am on look out to make sure NYC is safe for everyone.

I wanted to update you on how Sammy is doing. Sammy is amazing and has brought so much fun into my life. He is 19 pounds and has long legs and a bushy tail like a fox. He has the most beautiful apricot color and is often confused for a golden-doodle or Irish springer spaniel. Sammy has made lots of human and dog friends in the building and become quite the city dog!  I wasn’t keeping Sammy crated but had him in a small space between my room and bathroom and used a gate to keep him out of the main area. This had been working great until Sammy decided it do an escape trick.

I love to cuddle with my Snuggle Pet Dog!

Back to the city!

During my winter break, we took a break from city life and spent the week in Maryland with my parents who also happened to be watching Maya (2012 Schnoodle litter) while Eric and Deb were in Italy. We were all excited to see how the siblings acted together. Maya and Sammy had such a fun time together. They shared their toys, played tug-of-war and of course competed for everyone’s attention. 

Relaxing with my sister Maya

 

While I was in Maryland, Sammy was neutered and when he came home was wearing a cone, which Maya was so scared of that she kept running away from him!. She finally found safety under my dad’s desk and stayed there. It was hilarious and my mom and I couldn’t stop laughing! After the first day, she had no problems with it and realized it is still her little brother Sammy. 

My new winter coat!

        Sammy is amazing. I can’t thank you enough for breeding such fabulous dogs and taking such great care of them from day 1.  I am attaching a bunch of pictures of Sammy for you to see his progress!

Happy New Year and the best for you and your family in 2014!

Best Karen and Sammy

After my first grooming I am so cute!

I am having so much fun!

My first snow....so much fun!

I can't help but comment after looking at all these cute photos:)  It is so cute how Sammy still has that white lightning bolt on his chest,....and how his beard has grown out white.  So handsome!   Thanks again for sharing your news!  It warms my heart to see the joy that you and Sammy are bringing to one another.    Keep sending updates!  We love them!!!!    ---Mary

Happy New Year...and Happy 1st Birthday Coco!

Our little Coco turned 1 year old on Dec 31.   

We have so enjoyed Coco's first year.   She is now an adult dog....but she will always be our little puppy.  (at least she stlll looks like one)

Coco is an adorable bundle of fluff!  She endears herself to everyone she meets.  She looks up at people with her big puppy eyes, and then rolls over on her back, so they cannot resist rubbing her fluffy belly! She loves to be cuddled in our arms or curl up on our lap.  She is a real teddy bear.  Everyone who visits wants to take her home with them...but we could not part with her!  We love her so much!  

Coco has already had her first heat and will be ready for her first litter of puppies in the Spring.   We cannot wait.  They are going to be so precious!


Here is a photo gallery of how Coco has grown throughout this first year.....

9 weeks old...and  just 3 lbs!

10 weeks old

4 months old

6 months old

And now I would like to share one of Coco's cute activities...that is her hunting skills.  In this photo she has just caught a Christmas pheasant....

She throws the pheasant from side to side....

....and shakes the pheasant vigorously...

...The pheasant lies motionless. Coco is proud of her conquest.  What a funny doggie!

Coco the Hunting Diva

Every child should grow up with a dog:)

Merry Christmas from Remy and Louie!

Two handsome brothers, Remy (2011 litter) and Louie (2013 litter) all dressed up in their Christmas best.  Thank you Bob for the beautiful photo!  Such handsome doggies!

Louie and Remy , Christmas 2013

Christmas Photos from Liam

Here is Liam with his family at Christmas time.  Thank you Erin for sharing your lovely photos with us!

Liam looks so handsome in his Christmas tie!

.

.

.

DIY Poinsettia Collar for Dogs

I have been wanting to get my doggies holiday collars for a long time.  I have admired all kinds of adorable collars on Etsy, but when I add up the cost for all my doggies to get a new collar with a bow tie or flower embellishment...I just cannot justify the purchase.    So this Christmas I decided to give it a try.   I made Poinsettia collars for the girls...and a Bow Tie collar for Toby.







Making the collar:

Rather than buy several kinds of fabrics for each dog, I found a Christmas fabric that had many designs combined into one fabric.  Now all the dogs will color coordinate with each other.


I cut the fabric 4 times the width of the collar I want to make and twice the length of the finished collar.  I folded each strip in half lengthwise and ironed in the crease.  Then I folded the sides toward the crease to create the hem.  And folding the hems together I sewed down the length of the collar to create the collar band.  Then I threaded the ends of the bands through the buckle and sewed them in place to the finished width of each dogs neck.  Since these collars were just for a few weeks of indoor use, I didn't bother using adjustable parts and D rings for collars. If I wanted stronger collars for walking the dogs, I would use nylon webbing inside the fabric.

Meet our newest puppy....Misty!

Misty is 5 months old.

I have been wanting to introduce the newest member of our doggie family for some time .....finally.....
here is our adorable Misty!   She and Coco will be the future mama's of our Schnoodle puppies.  

Should have been named ANGEL!

Misty is a Miniature Schnauzer who comes from Schnauzer lines bred for AKC conformation.  So her adult shoulder height will be 12-14" and her weight will be about 14 lbs.   She is only 5 months old at present, so she has not met her full size potential....but she has already grown taller than Coco (our Toy Schnauzer).


So let me tell you about Misty!  In one word, she is a dream! 

Coat: Misty's coat is beautiful soft and wavy. The cost of the silky fur is that she does need to be brushed more often as this gorgeous fur does tangle rather easily.   She is a beautiful bright white...and she will produce lovely apricot shades when bred with the Red Poodle. 

By nature, Misty is laid back and easy going.

Temperament:  Misty is super sweet loving and docile.   She loves everyone, is super quiet...and so far, doesn't even bark when strangers come to the door.  That is unusual for a Mini Schnauzer.  This breed is typically characterized as a watch dog.  I am really happy she is a quiet example of the breed.  My Toby's barking is so loud, he is all the watch dog we need in this house!   

I have to say, I have never met a puppy that can do NO wrong.  But Misty is one in a million.  She has never had an accident in the house. She only chews on her own toys. When we go on walks she doesn't pull on the leash.  And when we walk off leash she follows close to us.   And I did not teach her any of this.  She was like this when we first brought her home at 11 weeks old.

Coco and Misty are best friends!

The only thing I am still working on his her COME command.  It is as if Misty is on a satellite.  I call her and it doesn't register for about 3-4 seconds.  She has to think about it...and then she comes running  at least she comes with great enthusiasm.  I am already seeing much improvement on this.   Coco, on the other hand, always beats Misty inside, because Coco ALWAYS has to be first....LOL!  But this really works to my advantage, because Coco is teaching Misty to respond quickly to the COME command!  (Ha ha!  Love that!)

Whenever I call the puppies inside the house, the routine is they run over to the treat cupboard and I drill them on their SIT, DOWN and STAY.  I never call them inside without their treat routine.  Some day I will be able to wean them off the treat expectation.  But for now, I just want to ingrain the right habits.   I don't ever want them to associate COME with a negative (having the door shut behind them).  I want them to get way past the door, and put their minds on something else.   By moving into training mode, it turns the negative of coming inside into the positive a fun time with Mom.  Since my puppies go outside a lot during the day, it helps me remember to work with them throughout the day....and it really takes very little time.    

Love having 2 puppies to expend puppy energy on eachother!

Coco was already about 9 mths old when I brought Misty home.  It is always easier to train one puppy at a time.  So this way, Coco was already potty trained and leash trained, and chew trained before the second puppy came home.  When you have two puppies at the same time, it can be especially more difficult to potty train.

When I brought Misty home that first day, Coco was thrilled!  Finally a puppy that was smaller than she was (though not for long!)   Dixie and Toby don't seem to care or notice the puppies if they can help it.  They mostly just hope they won't be jumped on...LOL!   So Misty and Coco run and play together all day.  It is nice.  They will always be good friends.   Of the two Coco is the bossy one.  If Misty is getting any attention, Coco is sure to push her way into the mix...and try to take over.  Coco is definitely my alpha female... a big dog in a little body:)





It is wonderful to have a few silly little puppies to bring our family laughs.  I so enjoy watching them wrestling with each other around the house....stealing toys from the other one....getting into a tug of war.  I love it when I sit down and feel a fuzzy little bodies curl up on my feet.  I sometimes think I am super lucky to have such fine little dogs....but then I remember how much time I spent in searching for the right puppy from a quality breeder....and I realize that quality is no accident.   Good breeding and a breeder who starts good habits from the beginning, makes a huge difference in the resulting puppy.