Camano Island Catahoulas' Testimonials III

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Hey Susan!

So sorry it's taken this long to get you pictures of our little dude, Sully (after the Sullivan Street exit on I-90 - it works for him!). He's a blast and a Catahoula through and through - super smart, handsome, and sometimes a bit stubborn. We had roommates for awhile and couldn't crate train him because of the barking and crying, but he still managed to pick up house training pretty darn quick. He eats like there's no tomorrow, almost four cups of food a day and just works it right off on hikes and runs in the yard. He's confident with other dogs and loves playing with friends three times his size (he weighs about 30 lbs. right now). The car ride home after picking him up was interesting with our big Cat-cross, but they warmed up to each other quickly and now are best buds.

We'll send more onto you as he gets bigger. Thanks for giving us such a great little friend.

Jaymi and John
Missoula, MT

Susan;

Here is a pic of Mya, a puppy from Bandit and Rose. She is very comfortable lying next to the couch.

Thanks,

Eric & Family,
Illinois

Hey Susan,

Yes it has been over 3 years now. We just love Bailey to death!! She is such a great family dog and lets our little Chloe climb all over her and boss around. It is really cute. She loves playing with our older son and his friends in the back yard. She still only gets along with certain dogs of our friends, but other then that she is the perfect family dog.

I attatched some pics I just took today for you.
Talk with you soon. Take care!

Natalie

Susan,
Just a note to let you know that Bing and Pearl are doing great. Pearl is very outgoing and in the middle of everything. Bing is quiet and watches every thing and you can just see him thinking thing through before he acts. They are both very sweet and exceptionally smart! My four year old German Shepherd male has adopted them. They use him for a climbing mountain, sleeping pillow, and play toy. I can not believe how he has bonded with them. We walk our 40 acre property at least once a day, approximately 1 mile. Pearl is a hunter and has already tracked a mole and almost got it before it ran into the burrow. She just puts her nose to the ground and tracks. Bing has very strong herding instincts. I took a few pictures on our walk and I am sending them. They are not very good but thought you might like to see them. I will try to get some good pictures later. CJ Gregg

***They have learned that when we go for a walk and come back into the house if they do a good girl/boy sit they get a treat, so they run to the kitchen and sit at the exact spot I have their treat jar on the counter and wait for their treat. Yes, they are eating well and really growing. Pearl will be a full figured girl but very pretty. Bing is just my blue eyed man and so handsome!***

Hi Susan!
Here are some pictures I said I would send.Thank you for the email of Inga & Bandit.What beautiful dogs! Bret's already trying to talk me into another pup, but I don't think I am ready yet! He really wants one of Bandits. I told him maybe in the future! I'm busy,busy with Bammer! Hope all is well your way,take care, Janis

Hello Susan!
I just wanted to give you an update on Bammer and to let you how he is doing. He is growing like a weed and more fun than ever. I still cannot believe how smart he is. It's a whole lot more fun having an amazingly easy dog to work with. (more so than any other pups I've had). We couldn't ask for a better dog with our son, what a bond they have! They just can't get enough of each other,even when they are sleeping! I thought you might like to see new pics also. I was on your site earlier, and what beautiful new puppies, they are gorgeous. It's almost like seeing a newborn baby! I want one!!!! But, one is good for now. I'll keep in touch.

Thanks,
Janis

Hi Susan,

WOW what a fun summer we had, what amazing weather!!!! just wanted to drop you a note to update you on Daisy, she is doing SO good!! she has had the best summer, lots and lots of hiking, she has been all over! she had her first international trip when we took her up to Canada! I love all her energy and can't wait for her to become my running partner :) one day a week she goes to day-care where she has a blast, runs and runs and runs, her best friend there is Apple the Rhodesian Ridgeback and by all accounts they are pretty inseparable, they are about the same age and so have grown up together!

She is just about to complete intermediate obedience, I think we will be repeating this class, she has done really well but gets very distracted with sniffing the floor - you can't remove those inherent breed traits can you :) but what a quick learner she is, we love to do training with her everyday as it is so rewarding. Out on her walks she is super well mannered and when I ask her to do something she immediately responds.

I have also completed 2 lots of puppy agility with her, 14 weeks in total, its a gentle introduction to the equipment and OMG she LOVES it!! and is super fast I can't keep up with her, next week we are starting Agility 101 so she will be so happy to be back to classes. I am also thinking of trying flyball with her next Spring, I think she will be amazingly good at it, although I might have trouble getting her to hand over the ball to me :) so we are definitely keeping her busy busy busy as she is us!!

Anyway, she is about 50lbs at last weigh in, not sure how much more growing she has to do - what do you think? also did you find a home for your other little male that you had on your website for a while, you have NO IDEA how close I was to taking him, I think we will wait a while though, Daisy is still a puppy herself!!!

I hope this finds you all well, I have attached some photos, looking through all our summer pics I realize most of the photos of
Daisy have lots of scenery and ME in them :) at the moment she is flat out asleep next to us on the sofa and looks so soft and cuddly!!! I would love to see some updated photos of Spice Girl, take care and Happy Thanksgiving

Debbie, Gareth & Daisy woof woof!!

p.s. Yes definitely go ahead and post my testimonial, I love Daisy so much and I can't believe how lucky we have been to have her come into our lives. She is so sociable, loves all dogs, I have noticed she is getting more wary of strangers the older she gets, but BOY once she knows someone she NEVER seems to forget them even if its been a while since she saw them, dogs are so amazing, we could learn so much from them!

Hi Susan,

I can't believe it but Daisy is already in her 9th week with us, it feels like she has always been part of our family!

So I just wanted to let you know that she is doing sooooooooooooooo fantastically well, she is going to puppy school and learning all the basics. She is incredibly quick to learn and seems to enjoy all the training we do with her (I think its the treats :)). I am continually amazed by how much she changes weekly, not just in her growing but her manners and her mental growth! After puppy school we are going to do obedience and then agility which I am sure she will enjoy a lot!

She is a super happy fun dog, she loves to dig (I have built her her own sand pit to dig in), she loves to play with the ball, and LOVES LOVES LOVES her walks! she is GREAT with other people/kids and all other dogs, although she likes to check out the bigger dogs first before she lunges in to play, I call it assessing the situation first (sensible puppy), she isn't scared of anything and is a very well balanced puppy!

Everyone wants to meet Daisy, and she is always complimented on her calm, sweet temperament and how pretty she is (of course!) and naturally no one has ever heard of a Catahoula so we are doing our bit to promote the breed so she is always on her bestest behavior!

I can't thank you enough for putting us together with her, we are LOVING every minute we have with her she makes us laugh plenty!

I will update you again in a while, but here are some photos for you to see how much she has grown. I weighed her last night and on our "rough" scales she is 25lbs, I am thinking you are spot on with her getting to be about the size of Rose!

Hope all is well with you and all your pups!

Debbie, Gareth & Daisy.

p.s. She was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo easy to house train, she goes to the door and goes out to the same spot everytime, its under the Rhoddie bush and so occasionally I go out and pick off some of the flowers and spread them in her bathroom! God I spoil my dog!!!!!!!!! She had very few accidents in the house, and all of them I put down to us :) we needed more training than her!

This week with puppy school she is learning to wait at the door until we say ok, etc. and I realised - you know what - she has NEVER pushed her way out of a door! she likes to stretch out of her crate in the morning, never pushes her way out :) - Angel taught them manners before they arrived in their forever homes!

Yes please do use my photos and letter!! Everyone needs to know that you and your dogs produce such great pups!! Well done Angel and Spot

LOVE the photos of Spice Girl on your website - her and Daisy look so alike in their postures and facial expressions, but boy she has got a few good lbs on Daisy - last week at the vet they weighed Daisy at 25.6lbs, she has a super shiny coat! although this week she seems to be shedding everywhere :))) it has been hot hot hot!

Anyway I just wanted to say - LOVE the photos!!!!!!! I will show Daisy her sister when I get home!

Debbie

Hi Susan,

Here are pictures of Inga in New York. I'll send more later!

Thanks, Colleen

Hi Susan!!!

How have you been? Our internet has been down for awhile and it is up and running now so I wanted to let you know that Jewel is doing great. I have started to train her and she learned sit in about 5 min. and laydown in about fifteen. She surprises everyone with how smart she is. My brother is actually wanting to get a male in the next year or so. Jewel and my golden retriever (Lola) get along excellent as suspected. She also gets along with my bengal cat as well. I could not imagine our family without her. She is just so GREAT! Have you had lots of updates on Rose's other pups? How is Rose doing? Well I will update you again in a couple of months and hope you enjoy the pictures!

Susan,

Here are some pictures I took this morning on our first walk of the day. Between 0600 and 0630, I take Thibodeaux (a pup out of Camano Island's We Saw and Dry Creek's Levi), up over the ridge in back of the house. I have a mile and a half loop mown through the grass. I don’t take the other two dogs for a walk in the morning, because they have been couch potatoes for over a year. Maybe in a couple weeks, after school is out for the summer, I’ll see how they do.

Moving up to the top of the ridge.

An interesting sniff at the top of the ridge. Hidden Valley Boy Scout Reservation is about three miles away in the background, on the far ridge.

He loves running through the grass off our mown path.

The village of Loysville, PA in the background (population. C. 400). As you can see, Perry County is VERY rural. The county population is just under 50,000 – none of the communities, even the county seat of New Bloomfield, has a population much over 5,000. Our major claim to fame is that we do not have even one traffic light in the entire county!

Our path goes all the way to the treeline you see off in the distance (upper left), then cuts to the south (left and down the ridge to an intermittent stream at the bottom. This is the view to the west.

Heading down the ridge to the house, looking to the north.

Ali Da is not quite sure she likes this. SHE used to be the aggressor when she and Desiree would “play fight”. Now Thibodeaux is the aggressor. But, she has started “play fighting” right back. I haven’t seen her do this in over a year. He has reinvigorated both my aging ladies. (They are both 12 years old now.)

Thibodeaux has that Catahoula curl to his tail – Ali Da normally has it, also, but she’s not quite happy having to defend herself from his play.

Desiree has not yet adjusted to Thibodeaux. She has grown quite obese over the past year. She’s about 115 pounds (she was 85 lbs in her prime). I’m hoping that the renewed activity she and Ali Da have experienced since Thibodeaux arrival will help her work some of that weight off. She is no longer plopping down in the grass, refusing to walk up the ridge. She is walking along with us on our long evening walk, and is even “snooping and pooping” through the tall grass again.

When I’m on the computer, Thibodeaux likes to lie on the floor at my feet. When I read on the sofa, Desiree and Ali Da have sat on either side of me for years. (As you know, Catahoulas like to be CLOSE to their person.) Thibodeaux (who really seems to like Ali Da), curls next to me and Ali Da.

I hope this sets your mind somewhat at ease about the former Rambo. I think he has a found a VERY good home. He is a very sweet boy and is fitting in quite well. My vet says he is in outstanding health. [On road trips] Ali Da and Desiree have always gone with me; Thibodeaux will also go along this summer.

Semper Fi,

Joe Burroughs
Loysville, PA

DUKE
Golden Catahoula
Catahoula Leopard Male, Camano Rose and Camano Island's Rufus, born 9/2008
Congratulations Cindy and Dennis on adopting Duke and giving him a forever loving home! We wish your family the best!
Duke is a great dog, good with kids, excellent with other dogs, weighs 62 lbs, housebroken, vaccinated, rabies, leash trained, & neutered.

Here are some recent pics of Mango. I'm in a photography class and he LOVES being my model. Even tells me when he's done with the photoshoot, but he's such a little gentleman that he's polite about it. ;-) After 10 mins of me snapping pics of him, he put his head under the pillow. As you can tell by the pic of my husband and Mango sharing a stick, we have no issues with Mango guarding anything. He is so good with people and kids. Dogs and territorial issues we are still working on. He fiercely guards his turf and is very protective of me and so he constantly is keeping me on my toes and making me work. He's one smart cookie though. The other day, he tried to bring one of his outside jolly balls inside (a red one) and I told him to leave it outside. So he immediately dropped it, and went and picked up the blue ball and tried to bring that one inside. I just cracked up. That's Mango for you! Always finding a loophole in the rules and reminding me I have to reinforce EVERYTHING with him and that he's so smart I have to be very specific with him. One of my favorite things about Mango is that he happy growls and howls when he's excited. If I'm talking with a friend and he feels left out, he just lets out a long howl to be part of the conversation. Or if he's happy, he just tells us all about it by singing. It's HILARIOUS.

Just recently, Mango and I have begun tracking class. We've only gone 4 times, but he's a little superstar! Other classmates are so impressed that after only 4 classes he can follow a track perfectly. There is still a lot for us to learn, but he LOVES it. In fact, when we are still 20 mins away from the field, he starts howling with excitement. I've got a lot to learn about tracking too, but it's definitely something we are going to stick with. It's so different thatn the other things I"ve done with him cause I don't even really teach him anything!

And on kind of a funny note, I'm taking a photography class and have always taken tons of pics (since the moment Mango arrived at our home). Well, like a true little catahoula, he seems to think it's his job to pose for me in front of the camera. So whenever I take the camera out, he starts sitting in front of me. One day I couldn't get him out of the picture!! He's a hoot. Seems he's even taken on the job of "supermodel

Michelle

Hi Susan,
Here are some lovely pictures of We-Sa (Way Saw), a daughter of Camano Rose and Skeeter. Wa-Sa is a very loving dog with a sweet temperament. She loves people, other dogs, cats and baby calves. She is an excellent mother and family pet. We-Sa is a good watch dog at night and quick to alert her family. She is also a very beautiful dog.
Lucy, Oregon

	.

Hello Susan & Vince,

Hope your New Year in 09' has started out beautifully. We just wanted to send you a current photo of lovely Abbygail who'll be turning 2 years young this February. She has turned out to be such an excellent member of our family and we wanted to thank you again for breeding such well behaved, easily trained & stunning Catahoula. Everywhere we go she never misses a compliment. She is certainly a gift from above.

Wishing you the best of everything,
Jay, Suzanne & AbbyGail
~Via Breathtaking Alaska~

PS. Please feel free to post her photo on your website testimonial page.

Hi Susan, Been trying to get a decent picture of Sierra, she doesn't sit still for long so I have to be quick. She sure is progressing quite well, 30 lbs and oh what a sweetie. She loves hiking and is really good about staying close , when she gets a little far I hide from her & she is getting really good about finding me. Have signed her up for classes in Jan, she will probably be a brat but the main thing is for her to be around other dogs and people other than myself & Dan. I have attached a few more photos for you , I also included one of my old guy ( going on 13), Sierra just loves him, at first she was peeing when he barked at her now she just ignores him and just gets in his face wanting to play.
Sounds like we are going to get some really cold weather, maybe some snow so you guys stay warm and have a wonderful christmas. Maybe after the first of the year I will make a trip over with her. Keep checking your website for new photos. Talk to you soon Kim

Dear Susan,
Hope that this finds you and yours well and happy and healthy. Angus and Cassidy are great!!! they rule the beach here and truly enjoy their lives. The photos that I am attaching are not the best...but it is hard to take their picture because they both keep walking up to me and the camera.....too funny. May have a friend try to get some photos of the 3 of us as that might be easier! Angus is somewhat of a "mama's" dog and Cassidy is very independent!...she has been a tad bit harder to train and then she surprises you every once in awhile.....I think she just learns at her own pace. They run the beach everyday and there is no keeping up with them!...anymore...OMG are they fast! Just wanted you to know that they are doing very well and they are terrific dogs and companions. Angus keeps trying to talk.......it's too funny to hear...it's not a bark...if he had speech...he'd be talking. this started about 5-6 months ago. Also they are excellent watch dogs...if they could just see that it is either me or my caretaker[who is somewhat of a dog guru] that they are barking at half the time......but this comes with age. I so love them.....I can't thank you enough!! Try to come visit!

always and ever,
chrissi

Angus and Cassidy in Costa Rica

Dear Susan,

Well, at long last, some really bad photos of Angus and Cassidy[along with me] from the beach in front of my house in Costa Rica. They are both really growing!!!...and are so wonderful and funny! Cassidy is ever the same....always 'up', awake,.....like the hyperactive kid in the classroom! and Angus is laid back, yet he's the "force" and using his bark now. When he barks, right at this time, he's in the 'practice, practice, practice' mode of learning as he's usually just barking at people he knows.....and Cassidy will always run to him, stand in perfect stature next to him and then run like heck to the house. It's too funny to watch....but they are both so adorable and I can't thank you enough!! Their eyes are incredible!!....Cassidy's have remained the 'Paul Newman' blue, so to speak and his are not true brown, they're more like a honey-gold color.......gorgeous. I think that they probably have doubled in size, as much as they still want to get into the kennel carrier together, it's impossible....and soon Angus won't fit in at all.....his head is always out when he goes in, but they still like it so I keep it up in the house for now. Cassidy is a "might" smaller than Angus....but not by much.

May your holidays and the New Year bring health, happiness and may all your wishes and dreams come true.

As ever,
Chrissi

Sorry I haven't talked to you sooner, but once he came out of his shell I have been busy, and loving it! He eats like a pig just as you said. He loves to play and is on the go, then he will sleep like a rock. He has made no messes (except when he tried to retrieve his water bowl) and will let me know when he needs to go outside. He still gets a little whiny if he is in a room alone or if I walk too far away from him outside, but each day he ventures farther. He loves his toys and his bed. He rarely leaves my side. Can't wait to see him on a live pheasant, or out with the cows, but he needs a few more pounds first. Thanks again!

Chris

Hi Susan, Here are some pictures of Chugger at a fun match today, he is at the point where I find as many fun matches in as many different locations to get him use to competing in a place he has never been. This lets me know what I need to fine tune for him. So when we start in March going pro he will be ready. His very first pro trial is the second weekend in March, I just entered him. He is a head turner for sure. He also has done a tracking workshop to see if he would be interested in that and man he took to that like a duck to water. So I sign him up for classes. This is something I have never done, so if he does well we could very well go to the next step which is search and rescue. Take care Cheryl

see attached pictures- there should be 4 to view. Check out the last one of
Macy- she is so pretty. She just turned 7 months and already weighs in at 45
pounds.

Hope all is well...........
xoxoxoxox
Cory, Caleb, Travis, Bristol and Macy

Hi there,

Thank you for saying such nice things about us. That makes me feel good that you are happy with where Macy ended up. It must be hard as a breeder and always thinking about the owners and if they are treating your babies good. Macy is our precious angel and she is so happy and full of love. She is not only a house dog, but a couch and bed dog. She is on the sofa with us all night and then on the bed and under the covers with us as we sleep. Cant imagine life without her.

Anyway below is a link to my public online folder- I made a folder of some cute pics of Macy and I think there are a couple videos. http://picasaweb.google.com/gordonracegirl24/Macy
I tried to attach the pics but for some reason it will not send with the attachment. I will figure it out when I have more time. Have a great night and we'll talk soon

Cory

Hi Susan;
Here is Onyx, a puppy from Camano Rose and Dry Creek's Levi. Dooza is doing great also.

Yes he got here and is doing great. Keeping me on my toes. Even more of a natural herder than Dooza. Thanks again. Look how big he's gotten more photos to come. Thanks again.
Dre from VA

Hi Susan,

Just wanted to send you some pictures of Dooza. Dooza is a very friendly dog. Although Dooza thinks he is human. It is mainly because we treated him that way. He is full of energy and life. He gets along well with our daughter as you can see in the picture of her sleeping on the couch and him sleeping on the floor. She is a lot older now. I will have to find more pictures of the two of them together. He is a great family dog. When I was pregnant, he kept me company a lot. He was very protective of me and watched everything I did. That's our Dooza gotta love him.

Einna

Hi Susan!
We took Mango out on the boat with us for the first time this weekend. He absolutely loved it. He had no problem jumping off the back to fetch and he'd even tow me around. He loves to swim and fetch. In fact, he'd become a bit impatient if we didn't throw the ball and so he'd pick the ball up and drop it into the water and then jump in after it. He didn't have any fears of kayakers going by, jet skis or other boats. Just thought I'd share some pics. The life vest allowed us to pull him back on the boat.
Michelle

Hi Susan,
Just thought I'd send you some recent photos of Mango. One in our living room, being a good boy and then another with one of his buddies, Bart (as you can tell, Mango was ecstatic!). Mango is SO strong that you can't even tell there is a 35 lb difference between Mango and Bart when they play. Mango is about 80 lbs now. They both run full speed at each other and Mango doesn't even get knocked down. Guess all that muscle probably came in handy when these Catahoulas hunt those wild boars!!!
Mango is still full of energy!! I walk or jog him for 45 - 60 mins a day and run him in the back yard (fetch). He still surprises me with how smart he is and I swear he does things cause he thinks they are funny. Last week, he would run into his crate when I gave him the crate command and then he'd wait to get his treat and then run back out of the crate and around the room and then would go back into the crate. He's a prankster! He will also slam his paw down on the tv remote if he feels we aren't paying enough attention to him.
What surprises me the most about Mango is how in tune he is with me and my emotions. It's really amazing. Now that I've had him for over 2 years and we've really spent some time together, I can see this. He picks up on any little thing that I'm feeling, sometimes before I even realize it. And it helps me be more aware of when I'm starting to get angry, frustrated or sad. My husband even commented on this and said Mango is way more in tune with me than he is with my husband. Mango is definitely my best little buddy and EXTREMELY protective….I've got to watch that a little bit and remind him that somethings are not a threat!
Anyways, Mango's a GREAT DOG!!
Michelle

Hi Susan,

Chief is doing great. Growing and happy! We love him! He starts puppy
kindergarten on Tuesday. He's very smart, and rowdy. Lots of long walks!

Kim and Neal

Hi Susan, I finally got a couple of photos of Sierra to show how much she has grown. It is hard to get a good shot of her she is always moving around. She is already sitting for me, we are working on coming to her name, she is still a little young so I am trying to keep it fun for her, we will just keep working on it. She is our little spoiled brat . I have been looking at your site thinking you would have your new photos added, I did see you had one of angel eyes and spot, I really like angel eyes. How is Rose doing ? I think Sierra is going to have a nice temperment like her, she doesnt show any signs of aggressive behavior. Will keep in touch Talk to you later Kim

Well, our camera just went capoot. But, I have one pic of Twist from about a week ago. Not an awsome pic. but o.k..
Talk to ya later.

Laurie

Hi Susan,

Well, we are married. We had to put Razor outside, he was being too shy and just kind of wiggy. HE is coming up on two years old and is acting real bratty right now anyway.
We kept Twister inside with us, we had about 30 people here, Twister was totally awsome. He followed me around most of the time, but greeted everyone as they came in. He wasn't shy, wasn't wiggy or agressive, he also wasn't overly friendly and stupid. I am so loving this dog. He hasn't been in a setting like that before and he could not have been a better pup. I just thought I would send that along. A temperament like this (combined with his structure being so correct) does NOT come around very often. We are very happy with him.
Laurie

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