News from the AKC

Hi All,


MOM said that SHE read, on facebook over the weekend, that the AKC was going to allow English coon hounds into the breed rings and they will be at Westminster Kennel Club dog show next Feb!!!!


MOM said that since the AKC has recognized English coon hounds as an actual breed of dog, that Travis and I can go to the AKC sponsored shows and get a title. When MOM told Travis this, he asked if he would have to get up on a bench, like the UKC uses. SHE told him that at the AKC dog shows the dogs, unless they are small dogs, are shown standing on the floor and that whoever is showing them can use bait (food - Travis' ears really perked up at the word "food") to keep the dog's attention on the handler. He thought about it for a while and then he told MOM that he would like to go to one show and if it's all that SHE said it was then he might go to more shows. I told MOM that I was ready now to go.

I can't wait to go bye-bye with MOM to a new dog show. It will be fun. The only thing MOM said was that SHE would not be able to take both me and Travis to the shows at the same time - I told her that was fine with me and Travis said he was OK with that too.


I don't know when we'll get to go to these new shows but I'm getting my show collars and leads ready for that day. I hope it will be soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Bye for now,

Gracie

Show Results

Hi All,


MOM took me to a dog show last Saturday, it was around the corner from home. It was fun. I saw several coon hounds - many I didn't know. As we walked around waiting for classes to be called, everyone came up and told MOM how pretty I was and they wanted to know what variety of coon hound I was. MOM told everyone that I was an English coon hound and that I hadn't been to a show in about 1 year.


When we were called to the class - it was for registered coon hounds - there was a nice bluetick girl, me and another girl. I won my class and breed and received 25 points toward my championship title, so now, I have a total of 50 points.


MOM says we will be going to more shows this summer so I can hopefully be finished by Autumn Oaks and, MOM said if that happens, then I can have babies over the winter. I'm so excited, even if I do have to have Travis be the babies dad (hey, watch it, I can be a good dad. I will play with the babies and teach them to bay, chase squirrels, wrestle and give MOM kisses).


Better close for now, MOM is going to mow the back yard and I'm trying to convince her SHE needs my help.


I would also like to send out hugs and congrats to my Newfie friend, Leroy for having a great show this past weekend - WAY TO GO, LEROY!!!!!


Bye for now,

Gracie.

The Itches, part II

Hi All,

Well, I went to the doctor with MOM the other day and she (the doctor) gave me a shot after looking in my ears and at my rash. She kept asking MOM if SHE knew what I had gotten into and if SHE was sure it was an allergy. I think MOM was getting upset with the doctor with the way the doctor was speaking to MOM. I know I didn't like the way the doctor was talking to my MOM.

Anyway, I feel much better now. I barely itch at all. MOM gives me half of a tiny pill at night with my supper so I won't have any more itches.

Now, if MOM could only do something with Travis. He barks at me after MOM puts us in our crates. He's so mean. But when we are outside, he chases me and tries to knock me over until I growl at him and pull on his ear to make him play nice. Just because he's a boy doesn't mean he can be so ruff with me. I have told him to be easy or I will bite - he just doesn't remember it from one day to the next. MOM says it's a boy thing.

Well, I'm going to take a nap so I can play outside later.

Bye for now,

Gracie

The Itches

Hi Everyone, Gracie here.

Well, I finally convinced MOM to take me to the doctor to get me something for my itches.

I've been itching for about 2 weeks and now have red areas on my body. MOM said she didn't see any red spots just the red areas.

All I know is I ITCH!!!!!

Travis doesn't like it because I get to come out almost every night before MOM goes to bed to cuddle with HER as SHE rubbs my itches ...... it feels sooooooooooo goooooooooooood.

Travis got so mad the other night that the next morning he peed all over his blankies as he was eating his breakfast. EEEEWWWWWWW. That was nasty.

MOM said that I might get to go for a ride with HER after we leave the doctor's office. Hope so.

Well, I'd better go, Travis is looking for MOM so he can tattle on me. He is just so mean.

Bye for now.

I want to lay down

Hi All,
Travis here.

Well, Chloe and Gracie have decided to plot against me!!

I have been watching for the blasted mousie to crawl out of the furnace so I can escort him outside and get rid of him. Unfortunately, he doesn't think he needs to go outside, so I sit with my nose next to the bottom of the furnace just in case he wants help to go out.

Anyway, after all this hard work, I want to take a nap but Chloe and Gracie are stretched out on the couch so there is no room for me. I talked to MOM and told HER the problem but all SHE said was to ask Chloe real nice and she'll let me up there.

I walked over to where Chloe was and asked her real nice like and what did I get??? Gracie looked up and made a face at me and I heard he tell Chloe not to let me up there. I told MOM but SHE said to try again.

I decided I'd rather not so I went out to see if the mousie wanted to go out yet. No such luck.

I think I'm gonna ask MOM if I can go to bed and talk to my blankies - they always have good advice and cuddle with me.

Bye for now.

What Celebrity is Your Dog?

Well, MOM has been at it again. SHE saw on www.dogster.com/quizzes, a test to see what celebs we are like. SHE did it for Gracie and me, so below are the results.

Will Smith - Leading Man

A fresh prince in the persuit of happiness, Travis is megastar Will Smith!

Putting the jazz back in jazzy, Travis is always moving anf grooving to the beat of his own internal drum. Not one to settle for 2nd best, Travis only takes on projects that are sure to draw attention and improve his pawpularity in the pack. Travis's broad appeal across breed, age, and gender lines means that his actions often lead to his being named best in show. Smooth, suave, and debonair ... he's the perfect pet to take home to Mommy. Not lacking in the looks department, Travis's toothy grin would send even the most furious group of alien invaders spinning helplessly back into space.

Oprah : The Host With the Most

When Gracie barks, people listen. Yes, indeed, Gracie is Oprah Winfrey.

A true rags-to-riches story, Gracie is a comeback pet who has not only survived a troubled start, but uses her success to lend a helping paw to others. Well-rounded and hard-working, Gracie has re-written the rules of stardom and continues to spread her influences throughout the animal kingdom. Still a down-home country girl, Gracie's one weakness is the chow that she knows from her youth, and she's not afraid to gobble up a little gravy every now and then. Gracie manages to keep her positive reputation intact, despite being hounded by the press and her thousands of die-hard fans everywhere she goes. Gracie is smart, creative, and innovative and has used these qualities to build up an empire the likes of which have never before been seen.

Personally, I think Gracie should have a description of "diva that tries to destroy anyone who gets in her way. She loves the high life of adoration, pleasure and being waited on hand and paw."

Mine should have been " Travis enjoys being outside hunting, fishing, chasing cats and rabbits. For a good time, he likes to be with close friends, watching the sunset and barbecuing."

But, NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, MOM liked these descriptions for us.

MOM keeps telling us that she is going to find a job and then we will have to spend more time in our crates. I think SHE is full of it, because when she sits down to listen to the news, SHE will give tummy and ear rubs. How could SHE ever think of leaving us to go to work???? I don't think SHE would last 2 weeks being without us.

Well, I'd better go or I will end up in my crate again. (The reason I'm in it, in this picture was because Gracie said I was picking on her. Little Snitch!!!!!). Gracie is in her crate because she grabbed a ball of MOM's yarn and wouldn't give it back (couldn't happen to a better dog!)

Bye for now, Travis.

Rosie, the newfie

Hi All,

Vinnie here. I'm upset about something MOM read on a blog she follows. Here's what she found.

Today, on http://newfies1.blogspot.com/, Jen posted an article about a newfie, named Rosie, in Des Moines that was shot last week by the police simply because she had gotten out of her yard and a neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymus, called the police to tell them the dog was out and they were afraid she would get hit by a car.

It seems the police, being the "brave" souls they are, tried to catch Rosie and when they couldn't, they decided to tase her. Oh, how appropriate THAT was. And, they weren't satisfied in trying to tase her once but they had to do it 2 times - and then wondered why she wouldn't come to them when they called to her. Personally, if it had been me, I'd have walked up to that cop and bit him in the ass but good.

According to the police report, which is on Jen's blog, this brave cop felt that Rosie was vicious because she came up to him at first and "showed her teeth". Oh, please. Have they never seen a dog smile??? I had a dog who would show her teeth when she was happy - that was her way of smiling at us and there wasnot a mean bone in her body.

Anyway, this cop said he got permission to shot the dog because he felt he was in danger. If it had been my dog, you damned well better believe he would have been in danger but not from the dog but from me. So he shot Rosie 4, count them 4, times before she died and then went and told the family they HAD to put her down because she "ATTACKED" him and he felt in danger.

Now, I don't know about any of you, but the newfies I've met at dog shows are the most lovable dogs, second only to labs and coonhounds, that are on this Earth. They will slobber you to death but as for being vicious - no way. My labs and coonhounds don't realize there are people out side of the yard that would hurt them simply because they are alive and wouldn't bat an eye at doing so. In fact, I have a neighbor who is petrified of my black lab who, now, is 12 1/2 years old and will walk up to anyone wagging his tail to say "Hi, I'm Vinnie, who are you? Can we be friends?"

I am absolutely sickened by the actions of this policeman. How would he feel if it was his child's dog that was shot simply because it was being friendly? I bet he'd raise holy hell with the shooter. I'd also bet this gets swept under the carpet.

What I'd like to see is everyone who has a dog or is a friend to someone who has a dog go on facebook and write a comment about this article or send a letter to the police dept and complain about the way this cop acted. Think about it folks, if it can happen there, it can happen in your own backyard as your dog sleeps in the sun.

The police don't like big dogs and if they happen to be black to boot, the dog doesn't have a chance.

Let's all remember Rosie as we pet our dogs tonight. She didnot deserve the treatment she received.

As you can see, MOM is very upset.I know she wouldn't let anyone hurt us and I know she was crying this morning as she read what happened to this poor dog.

Let's not let Rosie be forgotten. Do something. Make a stink about the police actions in this case.

Thanks,

Vinnie, Chloe, Gracie, Stylle,and MOM