Tick Master

Another tick. This makes 5 for the season and it's only part way into June! Being from NY, I always thought all flea medications were effective against ticks as well, wrong. I'm glad that I did some research when originally switching Rams to the medication he is on (Trifexis) to know that he isn't protected from ticks. Everyone should double check their medications too! I discussed this with both the breeder and the vet, and apparently the ticks in Kentucky aren't as dangerous as the ticks in New York. Good thing, because our dog in NY has had one single tick in her life and that one bite led her to getting Lyme disease. The ticks in Kentucky are not typically disease carriers (from what I've been told), therefore they aren't as insistent that dogs are protected. However.... they are still disgusting!!! We've been using tick and flea shampoo once a week, and this seemed to be working. The first 4 ticks were all very close in time to one another, the routine baths gave us about a month off. Although Greg and I have both become tick removing masters, my concern at this point is going to New York for the month of July. Ticks, and the 'non safe type' at that, are all over the Northeast. Hopefully we can come up with some type of preventative that is safe to use in conjunction with his flea meds, I don't want to overdose him on pesticides! Suggestions are welcome!

Summer Fun

It has been far too long since I've updated! As you can see we've been very busy enjoying the summer weather. Ramsey's favorite thing to do is chase/bite/jump the hose water. We finally purchased our own 'nice camera' that allowed us to capture the daily routine of watering the garden.... (With the usual phone camera these would all be random blurs!) 

That hose mist is amazing....

Yum... It's the best water I've ever tasted!

Must surround myself in mist...

Getting a running start....

Max air!

Yahoooooo!  Looooove summer!!! 

I swear more will come, sooner rather than later! 

N Litter

The breeder who we got Ramsey from names each letter alphabetically. Rams is from the 'N Litter.' This is just her personal way of keeping track of which pups came from which parents etc. Their 'call' names can be whatever you like, but she asks that their 'title' names (on their papers, and for show) begin with the letter of the litter they are a part of. I won't share what we plan on putting on Ramsey's title just yet, but once we are sure, I'll post. (If you've got suggestions, let us know! Just has to start with an 'N.')

Anyways, I found the breeder on facebook who has a page dedicated to her springers. You can search for Keswicke Springer Spaniels and you'll surely find them!

On the site, she had photos of both the Sire (Dad) and Dam (Mom) of Ramsey's litter. (I can't take credit for these photos! They are taken from the facebook page and I assume taken by the breeder).

Ramsey's 'Biological' Dad... Ch. Mystic's Just Fine.

'Biological' Mom: Ch. High Plains Rendezvous.

It's amazing how much Rams looks like his mother!

Last but not least, here is a picture of Ramsey practicing his winning stance:

Rams at 5 months.

Also, Rams turned 8 months yesterday! Holy cow, where did the time go? :)

Action Shots

I've been craving a 'real' camera for a while now but given that they are so expensive, haven't acted on the impulse. I mentioned wanting one to Greg, who immediately borrowed one from a co-worker for me to try out. We figured if we play around with one, we can decide which features we want and which we can forgo. After playing for one day, I decided I no longer want a 'real' camera. I need one! Here are some of the play shots:

We were immediately fascinated by action shots... We have missed so many potentially awesome photos of Rams because he moves so quickly! Even just a wiggle or turn or his head ruins photos taken by our phones or even our digital (not 'real') cameras! This shot, I admit, was captured by Greg. It took us a few times of making the dog hop on.. and off.. and on.. and off.. the bed to get it.

'Wanna be a Greyhound when I grow up!''

The next day I decided to take the camera outside and get some full speed action shots, the test of what it can do! I think I can still get them clearer, once I know more about the shutter speeds etc. etc. (remember I'm a complete newbie at the camera).

'Ahh, summer is so much fun!'

Without the blur of movement you can see Ramsey's personality come through. I love it.

We are headed to the dog park and for a swim today with our buddy Bruiser. Bruiser's mom, Annie, is big into photography and said she would show me some tricks on the camera today. Maybe later I'll have some awesome photos to post!

Spring in the Bluegrass

It appears to be Spring in Kentucky! (I hope I didn't just jinx us! I think it's slightly less risky to make that comment in Lexington than in Syracuse though...) We enjoyed our morning walk very much. The daffodils and tulips have been in bloom all week, but the trees have just started flowering.

We started our walk with some taunting storm clouds over our heads...

But it seemed to clear up.

Love the spring! So refreshing.

Ramsey agrees. His poor ears act like sponges though and seem to soak up all the water from the wet ground.

I didn't include the picture of Ramsey's scraped snout. He apparently sniffed the sidewalk a bit too closely this morning and rubbed his snout raw against the pavement. There must have been some great smells to smell!

First Swim

We had a fantastic playdate this morning! Unfortunately I didn't capture any pictures of Rams and his new Rottie friend, Bruiser.

I did manage to capture a few shots of Ramsey's first swim. We attached two leashes together so it was long enough for him to get out a bit deeper but I'm not confident with his 'Come' on command just yet, especially with the birds out...

"Whoa! I can't touch past here!"

Mid shake

We will definitely be swimming, and playing with Bruiser, again soon!

Doggie Decor

If you've been following, you know that for Christmas I commissioned a local Lexington artist (Enrique Gonzalez... he's awesome and I highly recommend checking him out!) to do a portrait of Ramsey for Greg's gift.

Two and a half months later we have it framed, and hung...

"Really Mom? You woke me up to take a picture?"