Better Late Than Never....

Okay, for the record, I apologize - this blog is way overdue and I am way behind on posts. To catch up this will be a hodge podge of updates, Penny grows so fast (she weighed in at 40 pounds a few weeks ago!) that it is hard to keep up with all of our many adventures and successes. Lauren and Linds, stop complaining - here it is!

She is pictured above with her favorite Grandma at a recent Agility event. Doesn't she look like she is having fun! Her Grandma looks pretty proud as well.

2010 has been a great year thus far, Penny has traveled like crazy and is quite the car dog. She loves nothing more than to jump in the car and see where the trip leads. We have gone to Atlanta several times to see her Aunt Lauren and Niece Lily, not that Lily is excited to see Penny. (You will know why when you see the picture below). Lily and Penny chase each other endlessly. Lily's favorite game is to stalk Penny while she is asleep - she is shown below checking out Penny's crate while she wasn't looking.

She loves exploring new places and does so well on the city streets, don't be fooled though - she is a country dog at heart. We are headed to Charleston in two weeks for the Cooper Bridge Run, so she will get her first look at the Ocean. Sullivan's Beach has several dog friendly beaches and I just know she will love the water!

The beautiful weather has allowed for many outdoor adventures and Penny loves being outside. We have spent several lazy Sunday afternoons reading outside while she got the pleasure of chewing on every stick in sight! Have I mentioned that everything she sees goes in her mouth?

We have also starting walking around Athens on Saturday mornings. Penny loves these walks as each walk is different and we always stop for brunch or coffee downtown at the end of our walk. She just adores people watching, probably because know one can walk by her without giving her lots of love. Today we did 5 miles - impressive.

Sandy Creek Park has some awesome hiking trails and Penny LOVES them. It offers her a chance to be off lease and explore new areas. She loves to tag along with Kris and her dog Wilson. They run wild and even get to take a swim.

The first time we went I was so nervous that she would run off and never come back but she totally surprised me. She will run ahead a few yards and then race back, always staying within sight. I think our bond grows stronger each day and she is always making sure I am near by.

My favorite adventure so far has been the Atlanta Golden Retriever Club's Agility Fun Day. It was Penny's first experience with Agility and she went nuts! She did so well and was not scared of any of the different equipment. The A Frame might have been her favorite out of the bunch but you will just have to ask her.... We got to work with both Terri Everline and Elizabeth Downy who are both amazing! Elizabeth has a Speaker son so Penny also got to meet one of her family members! She was the youngest dog there but did so well and her obedience training really showed.

Penny graduates from obedience class next week and has done so well in class. She is such a fast learner and trys so hard to do what you ask her to do! I am not sure which class we will take next but there are definitely more to come.

We are still struggling with her mystery bouts of diarrhea....Her vet thinks that it may be caused by an intestinal organism that causes Coccidia but her cultures came back negative. She has taken the dewormer and has one day left on the antibiotic - please say a few prayers that the treatment worked. She never is in pain, still has her appetite and doesn't act sick but the diarrhea isn't healthy!

I will try and do better about posting pictures, there are just to many adventures and not enough days! Stay tuned....