Hi Guys
  Well the potty training is going well.  We are working on our 5th day in a row without an accident in the house.  This to me is excellent!  And she is sleeping through the night without any accidents in her crate.  Last nigh we had some rain come through,  and about midnight there was a flash of lightning and very loud crash of thunder.  It did not seem to bother Sage at all.  Just a second I have a dog trying to push her way in.   OK she left.  As I was saying the thunder was very loud and... Wait a second her bell for going outside is ringing!  I'll be right back.

Sage Here!
While Ron is chasing that silly bell I wanted to tell you something!  Last night I discovered the greatest thing ever!  It's called Ice cream!  It's better than chewing on Ron's shoelaces and I love doing that.  Ron brought it home after basketball last night and.  Oh I better go here comes Ron. Till next time!

I'm back, I see that was a false alarm.  Anyway I was asked by a friend who read our blog how Sage posts things on her blog?  Well it's simple.  She uses her Lab-top.  Kacey sends her flea-mails on her I-pug.  So anyways yesterday Sage made note that labs have been voted Americas favorite breed for 20 years.  Later I read that the Lab continued its unbroken string as America's most popular dog breed in new statistics released by the American Kennel Club, claiming the top spot for the 21st consecutive year, based on AKC registration statistics.  Sorry Kacey.

All right, time for me to go.  I have to go rescue my shoelaces for Sage
Ron

Green Lab?

Sage here
The Labrador Retriever has been the most popular breed of dog in the United States since 1990. ( I know I'm going to get a Flea-mail from Kacey about this one). There are Black Labs, Yellow labs, Chocolate labs and I've heard of White labs.   I thinks the white lab is classified as a yellow lab but I'm not sure.  As far as I can tell there are no Green Labs.  So how did I end up with the name Sage?  No I did not get car sick and turn green on the way home from the shelter.  Ron says it's because I add some spice to life.  Plus he just liked the name because it is different.  I like it, although the spice of life thing is a little corny.
Till next time!

Is this to much to ask?

Rumba

Sage here!

  Boy Ron was around all weekend!  I tried my best to entertain him.  Saturday I found I had tore a hole in one of my stuffed toys.  It was really cool!  I found white fluffy stuff inside of it.  There was just enough for me to be able to cover the whole living room carpet with it.  And I had enough left over to a some hanging from my chin like a little white beard.  So just when I got the floor looking how I like It, Ron came in and picked it all up.  Then he got out a thing he call a vacuum.  By the time he was done there wasn't a sign of all my hard work.  So first thing Sunday I got out Ducky.  I found it also had the white fluffy stuff.  Plus I was able to shred ducky and leave little threads all over the carpet too.  Ducky was a canvas duck with a rope tail.  But Ron trimmed it and now ducky is a duck head on a rope.  Oh well he is still fun to play with.  Well Ron again picked up all the fluffy stuff and this time he started Rumba.  Rumba sleeps allot.  But when he dose get up he runs around the room and picks up any small things on the carpet.  He has a real funny bark too.  It sounds like beep beep!  And he is kind of pushy!  Rumba will be so busy he will bump right into you.  So I just let Rumba do his thing and I just keep an eye on him.  Rumba must have one heck of a bladder, I never see him go outside.  Earlier in the week I stepped on Rumba and he beeped at me and started backing up after me. Ron came and got him and put him back to bed.
Till next time!

Weekend

Hi Guys

This past weekend I tried to spend as much time at home as I could.  I wanted to really work with Sage on the Potty Training.  First I tried to get Sage to ring a bell before we go outside.  Let's just say we have allot of work to go on that one.  Sage is doing really good on understanding outside is for potty.  Now if I can convince her inside is not for potty we would be doing great.

  We also worked on  walking with a leash.  At first she hated the leash and kept grabbing the leash in her mouth.  But Sage is getting better about it and was walking pretty good with the leash Sunday afternoon.  She is also getting the hang of sitting on command.  I'm planning on taking Sage to a Puppy class in Valpo soon.

Hi Guys

Well above is the new bell that we are going to try to train Sage to use when she wants outside.  Rick has one next door for Ruby and he says it works great.  So starting tonight we will start working with the bell.  Any bets on how long it will take before Sage rings the bell on her own for the first time?  Wish us luck.

Kacey

Sage Here!

You know every once in a while when I’m sniffing around in the house I catch the scent of  another dog.  I really get it strong around the couch.  Then I find out I have a cousin named Kacey.  Kacey and her human Peggy use to live up here and Peggy is Ron’s sister.  Last summer Kacey took her humans and moved to Pensacola Florida.  Ron says Kacey is a Pug and a real good dog but when she was a puppy he believed there were two pug puppies guarding the gates of hell.  I just found out that Kacey is coming to visit next month and bringing Ron’s Mom, Dad and Sister.  Kacey sent me a flea –mail and said I will really like Ron’s Mom & Dad because they keep sneaking you extra treats and Peggy is a lot of fun.  I know Ron is looking forward to them coming.  I’ll have to ask Kacey why her scent is so strong on the couch.  For some reason it seems to be a bad subject to bring up around Ron.

Till next time!

Picture of Kacey trying to drive below.

Sage Update

Hi Guys

Well Sage is really getting use to her new home.  I started crate training her and she is doing pretty good.  I leave the crate open when we are home and Sage will go into the crate on her own to take a nap.  One of her favorite toys is a canvas duck with a rope tail.  Lets just say ducky is not looking as good as he use too.  Like any puppy Sage likes to chew on things.  But as long as she has her own toys to chew on she has been leaving everything else alone for now. 

 The other day Shari from down the street came by and brought Bailey one of her dogs to meet Sage.  Bailey wanted to play and Sage did not know what to think of this.  At first Sage was scared and was trying to climb into Shari’s lap to get away.  Then all of a sudden Sage started running, jumping and barking at Bailey and poor Bailey did not know what happened.  Bailey was backed up against the couch and had a look on his face like what in the world did I start.  Bailey did not know what to think of the puppy jumping all over the place.  The two of them ran around and chased each other for a little while.  In the end I think Sage found a new friend to play with.

A Word from Sage

Hi Sage here!

  I thought I tell you some of the things I’ve learned.  First if your human is not moving fast enough for you all you have to do is squat. Boy will they come flying after you. 

 Second Daisy next door told me about the great big water dish in her house.  She said it’s a big white dish and it never runs out of water.  There is a lid but the guys never put it down so you can get to it.  Daisy told me never drink from it if the water is not clear. I checked when I got home and sure enough we have one and Ron left the lid open for me.  But I’m still a little to small to use it yet. 

  Third thing I’ve learned is you don’t get the same traction on the kitchen floor as you do on the living room carpet.  I found this out after running full speed through the living room and hitting the kitchen floor I went skidding right into the cabinets.  Ron seemed to find this funny.

Oh also two paws up to Rick next door.  He comes over during the day and takes me out and lets me play with Ruby. Ruby lives next door and Rick is her human.  She has been giving me tips on how to train my human.  We have a lot of fun playing together.  So thanks Rick

Till next time!

First checkup

  Sage had her first trip to the Vet.  I told the Doc about how Sage has been sneezing.  Sage even helped out by giving a demonstration.  The Doc checked her out and said she was not congested and she would be fine.  The nurse took her back to the puppy scale and found Sage is a whole seven and a half pounds.  The Doc gave her a clean bill of health and next thing I know she is getting a pedicure and snacking on doggie treats.  Of course every one wanted to see the cute little puppy and Sage was more than happy to oblige them.  So that’s how Sages first trip to the Vet went.  She got all the treats and I got the bill.

Whats This Stuff?

Hi Sage here!  I finally got my paws on the computer.  I'm just getting settled in here.  I already have started training my human, it will take a little while but I think he will get it.  All was going well until yesterday morning.  We got up and for some reason Ron wants me to go potty out in the yard.  It would be a lot easier just to go in the house but that seems to get Ron all excited. He starts yelling no no no and rushes me outside.  Any way we go outside and it is still dark but I can tell there is something different.  The ground is all white!  And big wet fluffy white things are falling from the sky. Ron called it snow!  I looked up and a great big one lands right on my nose.  I did find a way to turn some of it yellow but we won't go into that right now.  I sniffed around and ended up with more of it stuck on my nose.  Anyway I'm a little guy so I get cold pretty fast so  we went back inside for some breakfast.  Ron set up my crate so I could see out the window.  It wasn't long before all the snow was gone, even the yellow stuff.  Well I have to go.  I think Ron left a sock on the floor!  We have a contest to see if I can chew a hole in it before he finds me with it.
Till next time!

Sage on the ride home. 9 weeks old

Finding Sage Part 2

While still deciding if I really wanted a dog I started visiting the local animal shelter. Checking out what kind of dogs they have. The people there were great, always willing to answer any questions I had. I found they have allot of labs in their shelter. So my next decision was do I want a puppy or an older dog.  I was leaning to an older dog.  One that was past the puppy stage but young enough to train.  That was until a four month lap puppy came in.  She was beautiful!  You could tell she was smart and would take to training well.  At that time I was not ready,  so I did not get her. But that night I decided she was to good to let go.  So I called the next morning to have them hold her, but she was gone to a new home.  I saw many very nice older dogs, but most of them you could tell had very little training and developed some bad habits.  It's sad people get a dog and pay little attention to it. But now I knew I wanted a puppy.  And I preferred a female because they tend to be smaller and don't mark their territory as much.  Well after three months of looking at Petfinder on the web and checking the local shelters.  I stopped at the Hobart Animals Shelter almost daily.  I found her in Michigan city.  There in the Michigan City Animal Shelter was a little nine week old black Lab with a little pointer in her.  I took one look at her and knew I found Sage!

Finding Sage Part 1

First off I have wanted a Lab for a long time.  But I lived in a smaller house and I was very busy coaching basketball, football and baseball.  A few years ago I gave up coaching football.  And now I have backed off on the baseball.  I have also recently moved to a larger house with a larger yard.  Late last year I started thinking again about getting a dog.  So I started checking into the cost of having a lab.  Food, Vet bills dog toys, training.  I also needed to know what I would do if I got stuck at work and could not get home to let her out.  Luckily I have great neighbors on both sides of me who are willing to help out if I could not get home.  Next what to do with her when I fly to Florida to visit my parents and sister?  My good friend Mike said no way am I putting her in a kennel, she would stay with him when I’m gone.  That just left the big question.  I’m I ready for responsibility of having a dog.  It’s not all fun & games.  You have to feed her, take her out and make sure she is getting enough exercise, train her and there are always those little surprises she leaves in the yard for you.  My answer, Yes I’m ready!