Amazing Koyuk

Last night while I was working on the blog, Trask was straining his vocal cords downstairs. He was obviously distressed but I did not want to acknowledge his crying thus rewarding his screaming. I did my best to ignore him. Koyuk on the other hand was distraught. She repeatedly came up to my office then trapped and pushed my right hand so I couldn't type. I hated to ignore her but I knew the screaming fit would pass.

As I hit "publish" on the blog, Trask settled. I ran down to reward and praise him for being quiet. I then went into the bedroom to grab my pillow and blanket for my upcoming night of crate training from the couch. Trask's Buck was on my pillow. It had been in the living-room, high-up, out of canine reach. Dave said "Koyuk is amazing. She was so upset over Trask's anguish that she found and brought his Buck to me as if to say 'my puppy associated with this needs you - now!.'"

I am pleased to announce that Trask did make it through his first night alone in the crate; has learned that the outdoor kennel is the potty place and how to use the dog door to get back in from the kennel. He too is pretty amazing.

error correction: Tiki has her 10th birthday today. I figured Pahto would not make it home until after midnight thus would truly be a birthday surprise for Tiki. My math was off on her age. Happy 10th Birthday BrownStone Thanksgiving litter: Kalama, Lolo, Ali, Tiki, Hatshiput (and Rodain, who tragically died in a house fire).

Goodbye Pahto

Yesterday record rains were predicted - and that is saying a lot for our part of Oregon - so I set Trask and Pahto up on the patio as I dismantled the puppy play yard and put away lawn furniture for the season.

That night was their last night together. This picture was taken with the flash because it not only rained and blew, we lost power.

This morning I let Koyuk and Pahto have all kinds of together time. She knows me so well. When I get sad and play special attention to a puppy, that puppy is about to go away.

Trask and Pahto, unable to go out because of the rain, made the most of the limited room in their x-pen.

Frequently Koyuk joined their play sessions...

and stuck by the x-pen when not inside.

In and out. The puppies got all kinds of attention.

Their last nap together.

BrownStone Cascade Mt. Pahto is joining his forever family which includes BrownStone Tillamook River (Tiki) on Tiki's 10th birthday. 

Little did I know when I assigned Chinook mountain names to the puppies that in the end the BrownStone Cascade Peak litter would echo the Native American lore. Wy'east, Loowit and Pahto were the last puppies here. According to legend, Wy'east (Trask) and Pahto competed for the love of the beautiful Loowit (Tule Loowit). Ultimately, Wy'east and Loowit were together - in Eugene - and Pahto left in sorrow (Our sorrow not his. Though if Pahto is crying and screaming as much as Trask is right now - and I suspect he is - his sorrow too.) Pahto you are so missed but I know you will have a happy, adventurous life with your wonderful family and big sister Tiki.

Pictures From Home

My favorite pictures: happy puppies in their forever homes.
Alaka'i (BrownStone Cascade Mt. Karuk) taking a potty break during his 14 hour drive home.

 Alaka'i resting in his crate on the way home.

 Alaka'i happy in his crate 9/28/2013.

CaNooks Bramble (BrownStone Cascade Mt. Mazama) with Muku (BrownStone Iditarod Takotna), her aunt now big sister, during a break in their long drive to Canada.

Home at at last. Muku and Bramble 9/23/2013

Bramble 9/27/2013

What's not to love about this crate? Check out the stickers.

Bramble week 9 pictures

 Bramble and Muku 9/27/2013

Laika (BrownStone Cascade Mt Koma) finally made it to the home airport 11 hours after leaving here. 

Luca (BrownStone Cascade Mt. Klah) also had a long drive/flight home to Colorado.

Ms Silver Moonsong is now Moonsong Mighty Mouse. She got to ride with Bramble up to her breeder in Stanwood, Washington.

 Mouse reunites with mom Kila.

Both Kila and Mouse love to run and play.

I am so lucky.  Pampered Pink Tule Loowit (BrownStone Cascade Mt. Loowit) lives in Eugene. Someday she and Trask will be pulling my sled as members of Team Nookies.

Tule Loowit with Greg in Puppergarten where bedsides "sit" and "come" we learned about the importance of the dreaded crate training.

 A little reluctance the first night.

This picture was sent with the note: "Here is our crate not trained dog at bedtime. How can you mess with such utter contentment?"

 And the next night...

BrownStone Cascade Mt. Pahto leaves for his home tomorrow. He will be living with Tiki (McKenzie's daughter BrownStone Tillamook River) I have a hunch our crate will get a lot noisier with only Trask in it.

Day 64

Little did these two boys know when they awoke that a day of adventure would end up right where they were born.

Trask and Pahto were moved to the kennel to take advantage of the morning sun. Mom Koyuk supervised every step of the process...

then jumped in for some play time. "Play" was not what was on the boy's minds.

Koyuk fled the incessant sharp teeth by fleeing into the crate but the hungry boys were right behind.

To rescue poor trapped Koyuk, I brought out an early lunch.

 The kids were not the only hungry ones.

While they ate and played, I started the demolition of the backyard play yard. I made a small area for them on the back patio so I could watch them as I worked.. (Yes they are actually using the newspaper. - Yeah!)

 Dowager McKenzie accepted kisses from the adoring boys. 

That even Trask and Pahto met up with Tule Loowit at Puppergarten held in the waiting room just feet from where they were whelped.

 An hour of puppy manners class and all three crashed.

Homework for the week: "sit", "come", and the all important crate.

Day 63 - And Then There Were Two

Day 63 found Trask and Pahto alone in the mudroom play area. Koyuk was so excited to see that not all of her puppies had gone away. After breakfast she went into the x-pen and gave each boy a bath.

 Then it was play time.

 "Hey Trash, you distract mom while I check out the milkbar."

While everyone was playing, I searched through old collars for something for the boys to wear. I ended up taking apart and resewing a couple of Willy's old collars. Late in the day, when the rains stopped, the boys went on their first leash walk.

The older girls showed them many of their favorite spots. The boys weren't at all pleased with the leash/collar limitations to mobility but once they settled down, I was able to get some pictures.

 The rains returned. Time to go in.

Goodnight.