Our Perpetual Toddler

Friendly Church in Santee

Alice is the unofficial mascot of Prospect Avenue Baptist Church. She loves all people and makes friends easily.

Looking for a good church in Santee? We are hosting a get-acquainted dinner on Saturday, 9/10.  Check out ProspectBaptistSantee.com  You might get to meet Alice :)

Still the Best Dog on the Block

What a blessing Alice has been to our family these past two years. We got her through www.apassionforpaws.org Akita Rescue in San Diego. They drove her down from L.A. and took $100 off their usual fee. Ben had located her in an online ad. This was after we had been denied the adoption of a neurotic Boxer mix because we planned for the dog to sleep in a doghouse outside. The Lord was looking out for us.

Keeping An Eye on Things

Another one from the "nice but not necessary" file: God made dogs to hang out with and serve human folks. God demonstrates His care for us in so many incredible ways. I like to look for these kinds of things in my life.

Family Dog

I understand it was one of the names given to bulldogs in times past. I can certainly see why.

Faithful Companions (and some nice dogs, too).

 

Alice at 2 years, 4 months. Some sort of bulldog with some sort of sight hound, and who knows what else.  Loves running down small animals, playing with human and dog pals - and napping. Fearless and friendly.

Toni (dream wife) with her first duck, a canvasback, with Sam, then about 3 years-old. Sam was from some major Chesapeake Bay Retriever stock, a tremendous hunter, seemed to teach himself something new every time we went. He was powerful, smart, birdie, and sort of a loner - a one-man kind of dog. Generally did not play well with other dogs though he usually minded his manners. He would guard my truck, warding people off with that teeth-baring wolf growl when I was in a store or restaurant.

 Toni and I used to take Sam down to the river and throw the bumper for him. He was a workhorse; he also took first in his class in obedience.

Sweet outfit. Ben about 4 going on 5 here; my little hunting buddy. Rocky was maybe 3, a smaller, super athletic Chessie, sparkled at obedience. Rock did not get much hunting experience but performed all manner of tasks around the yard. I used to prune our shade trees and Rock would load the limbs into our trailer. He watched out for Ben and me too - a little too much; he bit a couple kids. I had to put him down; one of the nastiest things I have had to do.

Miss Congeniality

Happy Birth Month Alice!

Two years old, July 2010!

Wrasslin' With Pal Jeff

Best Dog On The Block

The Truth About Our Creator

Dedicated to Alice.  Thank you Lord for making all things for us to enjoy.

Fearless Alice

I have never had a dog with such a powerful prey drive. Alice never thinks twice, she just dives right in and never backs down. Incredible. That was Raccoonzilla - 27 pounds.

You Picked the Wrong Backyard

We have coyotes in the yard very frequently - every day the last 3 days. They are famous for scavenging pet food and for picking off smaller dogs and cats. Not this time. This one is for all the Yorkies, kitties, etc., who went outside to relieve themselves and never came back. Chalk one up for domestic mutts!

Hopefully Alice continues to use her powers for good and not evil. Nice sit/stay, huh?

A New Training Challenge

We have had Alice for about four months; she is a lovable dog and a joy to have around the house. Her temperament is ideal, but her instincts are very different from the retrievers I am used to training. While she has little or no retrieving instinct, her prey drive is off the chart. This makes it very awkward to take her anywhere off lead as she may bolt after some small critter and become lost or injured in the process.

I plan to take her through the basics - sit, down, stay, heel, come - with the goal of making her steady and reliable off lead.