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Before my eyes open, I can feel his breath on my face. His nose pressed as close as he dared without touching my face. He senses I’m awake. My eyes are still closed, but he knows the rhythm of my breathing as though it were his own. I smile. Slowly, I open my eyes, squinting from the bright sun pouring in through my window. It’s barely 7 am, but the Alaska sun is high in the sky.
Seren sits in her ex-pen, she’s staring at me while delivering her signature high-pitched bark. She is insisting I release her from her confinement.
“You get this prima-Donna attitude from your grandmother,” I tell her as I toss some treats into her pen to distract her. I know it will only work for a moment.
While Seren snuffles around her pen for the treats I tossed, Sojourner excitedly prances over to find out what Seren is snacking on . He stands with his four feet square, neck perfectly arched as he observes the puppy and her treats.
As a poodle owner, it's essential for me to provide not only physical exercise but also mental stimulation for my dogs. I’ve found that the best, most consistent, and most productive way to provide this stimulation on a regular basis is through the decompression walk.
You’ve just hiked a vertical mile. You are at the crest of your favorite destination, prepared to relax and take in one of your favorite views. You settle in to rest with your hiking partner, your dog.
Can you imagine the dog you have with you?
Did you imagine yourself with a poodle?
No? Well then, I encourage you to keep reading so I can alter your imagination a bit.
Take a minute, and get yourself comfortable while I tell you what makes the standard poodle the ideal hiking partner you never even knew you needed!
I understand the importance of maintaining healthy lineages; that is why I exhaustively research the pedigrees that go into my breeding program. My specific breeding process is research-based, taking into account the science behind maintaining a strong genetic pool. I enjoy reaching into the past to see which poodles have contributed to my gene pool. Sometimes I find a family of poodles that have offered a great deal to the health or temperament of my current line. And sometimes I will find a few “odd poodles out” that have not brought as many positive attributes to the overall poodle population. I weigh the good, the bad, and the mediocre when choosing pedigrees to move forward in my breeding program.
There's nothing quite like a poodle puppy. They're so full of energy and life, always ready to play and have a good time. Poodles are one of the most popular dog breeds for a reason—they really are the total package. I'm fond of saying; "a poodle will adventure in the mountains with you one day, and chill on the sofa to binge Netflix the next." However, their true love for spending time outdoors with their people is truly an extra special trait in poodles.
So you've decided to add a poodle puppy to your family! Congratulations! Whether this is your first puppy or you're a seasoned dog owner, there are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare for your newest family member. Here we'll discuss what to expect in the first few weeks after bringing your poodle puppy home, from acclimating to their new environment to their first vet visit. We'll also touch on the importance of socialization and early exposure to grooming.
Every poodle puppy litter raised here at Galavanting Poodles gets to go on several field trips as they learn about the world. But there is one field trip that takes the cake for these puppies! It’s the one that includes a visit to an airstrip, an airplane hangar, and many of the good and wonderful things that come along with living a pilot’s life.
Today we had a huge break in the rain! The sun was out all afternoon and the puppies had some serious playtime outside! We let both Sojo and Grace out to play with the puppies. Both parents loved their playtime! And the puppies enjoyed the organized chaos.
Six healthy poodle puppies were born just a few days ago and have brought us joy and sleepless nights. But we feel these little poodle puppies are worth every waking moment!
Sojourner attends his first dog show! I don’t think I can come up with the right words to describe what a special weekend Sojourner and I had in Fairbanks, Alaska at his first dog show.
An airplane hangar is a special kind of field trip for Alaska poodles!
Grace gave birth to nine lovely white puppies.
Six boys.
Three girls.
All of the puppies are healthy and thriving. I am filled with bliss as I help Grace mother her little brood!
As I write this blog entry, my sweet puppy, Sojourner, is almost five months old. Life with him has been so special! In some ways, it feels like Sojourner has been a part of my Galavanting poodle crew from the beginning. He’s such a good, biddable puppy and he fits right in.
But then, isn’t that the goal of a breeding program; to create dogs that compliment a home?
I have to be honest: I did not expect 2021 to be quite as successful a show season as it ended up being for my “baby” Grace. The fact of the matter is, American Kennel Club dog show season in Alaska is painfully short. It is incredibly difficult for a poodle in Alaska to finish her AKC Championship in a single show season. With only 16 All-Breed dog shows and 1 Non-Sporting Dog Club show between May and the end of July, my goal for the Alaska show season is usually to collect the major wins necessary for a Championship title and then take our time traveling around for single points in and outside of Alaska.
It was on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 that I learned Kluane was having a singleton puppy. All of us who were involved in breeding Kluane had hoped for a full litter of puppies from Klu. But, breeding in a COVID-19 year was never going to be easy. And the fact Klu was even pregnant, given the pandemic-initiated obstacles we had to overcome to breed her, was happy news.
I was going to be grateful for whatever I got!
When it comes to the search for the perfect dog bootie for my Alaska poodles, one could say I’m a bit of a connoisseur. The keyword here being; search.
But! At long last! I think I’ve found the best bootie for my wonderful, active, happy-to-run-through-the-muck poodles!
Fall time in Alaska has a tendency to sneak up on me. It seems to arrive each year on a day in August.. Some years it’s early, other years it’s a bit late. But one thing I know as an Alaskan; if I’m paying attention to the subtle signs, I’ll never miss the “unofficial,” but true, first day of Fall in Alaska.
It’s spring in Alaska. And you wouldn’t know it to look at the snow still on the ground. This winter gave us more snow than I’ve seen in well over a decade… and I have loved its visit. But the sun is returning and our days are getting longer. The snow is starting to melt, too slowly. I know though, like a guest who sometimes overstays her welcome, so too, the snow will eventually leave.It was to these mounds and mounds of snow that my thoughts went when I woke up in the early hours of the day. Bryce and Jupiter were at the end of their patience with the COVID-19 home isolation imposed upon their daily routines. I smiled to myself as I declared this day a day of play.
COVID-19 has hit our collective reality pretty hard.
Some people were expecting this new form of normal. Some people were caught quite unprepared. Despite our varying levels of preparedness, something wonderful has been happening these last couple of weeks;
We have been pulling for each other.
There has been so many stories shared among us about love, patience, understanding for our fellow man. In the face of such a scary time for many, our humanity is shining a beacon of hope.
I love this about our species.
A lesson about stopping for a moment, taking everything in, and finding your true north.
Have you ever met a catahoula?
Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog. This breed is the official state dog of Louisiana. And they are cool as all get out!
I’m lucky enough to have a catahoula of my own. Although, I’ll admit, it was an accident she wandered into my life. My catahoula, Jupiter was my foster fail…
Holistic is a word that has found new life in the last decade… The adjective, holistic, simply describes a philosophy of paying attention to the whole of something, in order to comprehend issues that affect a part of something. I’ve listed 4 holistic principles I consider non-negotiable when it comes to the health and well-being of my own dogs.
Winter is a joyful season for my poodles. The snow adds a new dynamic to their world of outdoor play. Every time it snows, my dogs wake up to a blanket covering familiar scents and sights. To them, each new snowfall is a new land to explore. And they take full advantage.