Happy First Birthday Bramble

"PR" BrownStone Cascade Mt. Mazama

I finished my book Little Bee and actually got a bit of reprieve for my delay in Bramble's Blog. She along with her family are camping as I type. They sent this picture earlier this evening.

Mazama (Crater Lake, Ms Orange) aka Bramble was 11 oz when whelped with the able help of Karmin.

The color of her rick-rack was a no brainer. Karmin had been accepted to Oregon State University - black puppy - orange rick-rack.

This is probably my favorite litter, puppy picture and typifies Mazama's personality.

Mazama was 5lb 3 oz at 4 weeks old...

and quite a bit larger than Cougar at 8 weeks.

Mazama's forever family was already home to Koyuk's sister BrownStone Iditarod Taknotna (Muku). When son Ben spotted Mazama on the blog, they knew they had to get the black puppy he had fallen in love with. Mazama moved to Canada and became Bramble, Muku's and Ben's best bud.
Bramble and Muku were already tangling leashes during play on the way her new home...

where Bramble moved right in.

Bramble and Cougar at 9 weeks.

At 9 weeks old Bramble's mom sent this note: "So our little monkey pup can climb out of her pen.  She can also climb up the drawer handles to reach the kitchen counter and any treats that may be up there.  She is working on opening the rubbermaid container that holds her food.  She also likes to bring us her water dish....even when it is full.
She also has learned "sit", "down" and "spin".   She is far too clever for her own good.  She and Muku.continue to be best friends and wear each other out completely with all their playing.  
Our dog trainer was very impressed with both her and Muku.....and wanted us to pass on a compliment to you about how well you raised little Bramble!"

All of the BrownStone Cascade Peaks pups have gone through periods on interesting ear sets during their first year. Here is Bramble at 3 1/2 months.

Brambles mother wrote about the ear situation: "We shall see – today is the first day her ear has behaved like that.  It seems to bother her as she keep shaking her head to try to get it to stay down. 

Oh well...she’s cute no matter what her ears do.  It also seems that she loves to run, and loves the short trails we’ve taken her on so far, leaping over logs and other obstacles with ease.  Looks like I’ll have a great trail running team once she’s old enough."

Bramble's family are endurance trail runners and outdoor enthusiasts. Muku has been joining in the serious trail running for a couple of years. Bramble is limited to shorter hikes until her joints are mature. They both wear necessary "bear" bells when they are on the trail.

"Muku took Bramble on her favourite hike/run today.   They had such fun together!"

 Bramble relaxing after her hike.

Muku teaching 3 month old Bramble about snow (the scrapings from the ice rink)

Bramble at 5 months really wants to still fit on the bed too.

 Ho-Ho-Ho a family Christmas.

The turkey has their full attention.

Over the months as Bramble matured, the hiking trips got longer, faster and more challenging.

The family sent several videos of the dogs running on a trail obstacle course with swaying bridges, teeters, ramps... but I after several unsuccessful attempts to transfer them to the blog, I had to give up.

"Its really hard to get a photo of the dogs running with me....but here is the best one I could get of them on the "stairs from hell".  muku refused to go up or down them the first few times I took her there...but bramble was fearless as always!"

Ben on the trail with Muku and 11 month old Bramble.

As a year summary, Bramble's family wrote: "Bramble is (I think, as I’ve never measured a dog before) about 22.5inches at withers, and is 22.7 kilos as at her last vet visit in early July.

Bramble is such a sweet little girl, and very different from Muku – although they get along perfectly.   Muku is still quite motherly to Bramble and watches out for her, and gives her a good wash after a muddy run in the woods.  

Bramble is a little cuddlebug, and loves to curl up as close as possible to whichever of us is convenient....Ben, Brad, me or Muku.   She will even try to push me over so I’ll get down on the ground and let her cuddle.   She always has a toy or 3 in her mouth, and even falls asleep holding one.   She is incredibly curious and not afraid of anything that we’ve come across yet.    While very vocal most of the time with all sorts of snuffling, grunting, howling and other noises, she does not have the loud singing at mealtimes that Muku has (although lately she’s been trying to learn this).  

Both she and Muku still love their trail runs, and get out about 5 times/week.   They are both so graceful and energetic on the runs, and all my friends love to run with them.    Bramble likes to stick quite a bit closer to me and won’t usually let me out of her sight, while Muku has a more independent streak and will wander off a bit more (although both will disappear if they smell something lovely like dead fish).     Muku hates rain, and wont go deeper than her belly in the water....while Bramble is a great little swimmer and loves puddles, lakes, rivers and even rain.

The two of them are rather in love, and do not like to be separated and will be rather distraught if they are.    They are both amazing dogs (with very long tongues) and we are very lucky to have them as part of our family!"

Bramble with Cougar on her first birthday.