Letters

We receive a lot letters from our customers...
and sometimes from their dogs :-)

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
I hope you and your family are well.
 
We can't believe Roscoe will be 10 years old in April! He is still a very busy boy. Covid suspended some of his Therapy Dog jobs initially. After the break he was retested last year and he goes off to work once or twice a week.
 
He visited a seniors home yesterday. Rick said there is a man there in his 50's bedridden and can't speak but has a communication board. On his last few visits there Rick puts Roscoe up on the bed. Rick said the man is so happy to feel him. Roscoe licks his face. Rick said it is very touching.
 
Today he visited a special school for students with emotional problems. The teens there love to pet him and talk about their experiences with pets. Next week he goes to the Penitentiary.
 
When he puts on his Therapy Dog bandana he seems to know he is off to work. At the Seniors home he gets a few treats and loves to find a tissue to eat. A nurse there always gets him an ice cream. He and his doggie co worker Rosie take turns licking the ice cream.
 
Roscoe is still such an energetic dog. He gets two walks everyday and demands playtime with his toys. Summer he goes to the beach at least twice a week. He still has the zoomies around the house. Not many signs of being a senior dog yet! Just thought I would give you an update!
 
Wishing you good health in 2023.
 
Take care,
Brenda Gagnon

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
Today we went for a long walk on a trail through a forest that eventually leads to a lake. We spent about an hour walking with Mousse and we were reminded of the first time we took him for a walk with you and Kitzel at your home on the Mira - 6 years ago this July.
 
From that very first walk we were amazed that Kitzel always circled back to you and never wandered off too far away.
 
We thought about that today; we walked for about an hour and Mousse happily led the way, always circling back to ensure we were right there …
 
I have sent you many emails over the years to tell you what a tremendous difference Mousse has made in our lives; we adore him.
 
Again, thank you for all the work you did taking care of him those first few weeks; Mousse is a precious gift.
 
Kind regards,
John, Anissa and Mousse MacLeod xox

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi,
 
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you both again for my Finnegan. 2 years ago today you brought him into the world and I am so grateful that you did.
 
The last year has been hard for a lot of people but it was the best for Finn, having his people around so much.
 
He’s really matured into such a lovely dog. He’s calmed down quite a bit. He’s still excitable and playful but a lot calmer. He’s a confident, loveable boy with a huge personality. He’s also talkative. Finn loves looking out the window at other dogs. I haven’t seen even a hint of aggression from him and he’s not fearful in the least. In training class he’s always willing to try new things that might make him nervous. He’s a good boy who listens well but will also let you know he isn’t happy about it.
 
He loves to run with me, love to go for walks and to snuggle. He’s a real cuddle-bug. I’m pretty sure you must have had a hound dog sneak into the lines, I’ve never seen a dog with a nose to the ground like him and we had have two German Shepherds, bred and trained for tracking and one was a detection dog too.
 
Ben adores him and he loves Ben.
 
He has trained my father to bring him treats and walk him whenever we visit. He reminds my dad to hurry up and give him a treat as soon as he walks in the door, loudly. Haha.
 
We really couldn’t have asked for a better dog and he makes our life better every day. I wanted to let you know we are giving him a good life. Lots of love, hikes and runs. He gets out to play with other dogs on a regular basis. We spend most of our summer in Port Hood where he gets beach walks and swims almost every day.
 
He’s asleep on my lap as I write this.
 
Thank you,
Sonya

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi, Sharlene,
 
I know it’s been a while but wanted give an update about our Pedro. February 18th, 2021, was his 11th birthday!! He is doing great. Healthy and still very active after all these years. He has understandably slowed a bit over the years but he still maintains his youthful playfulness. He sleeps in most days, which makes us all envious.
 
Words can’t express our love for Pedro. I know I’m biased, but he is the best dog ever. He was born in 2010, our daughter, Mya, was born in 2011, and our son, Weston, was born in 2012 so they have grown together. Pedro is the perfect companion and has provided so much joy to our tight-knit family. We can’t imagine life without him.
 
Hope all is well you.
 
All the best,
Mark, Katie, Mya, Weston and Pedro Brewster.

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Good morning, Sharlene,
 
We’re sitting here on a Saturday morning reflecting on this past year and everything we have to be grateful for and Mousse is right by our side. He has been every since the day we brought him home in July of 2016.
 
In May he will be 5; he is the kindest, loveliest and happiest pup there is; we cannot imagine our lives without him. He brings comfort and happiness to us on a daily basis and he is simply the love of our lives. Our children have remarked that there are more photos in the house of Mousse than of anyone else and that is likely true.
 
Every day he brings laughter to the home. We are fortunate enough to live on a lake and in the summer he is in it swimming or catching toys and come winter he’s down there playing hockey with the boys. He is constantly by our sides and he has provided much therapy to each one of us in many different ways. He is the kindest most gentle soul in the world.
 
You might have seen him on Facebook or Twitter for the Halifax Regional Police as he’s helped remind people to keep dogs safe in hot or cold weather.
 
We are forever grateful to you for the very special gift that is Mousse.
 
In the fall we rescued a kitten, Marmalade, and Mousse has become his favorite person :-)
 
Again, thank you! We hope this message finds you all safe and well,
 
Anissa, John and Mousse MacLeod

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello,
 
Lebowski and Praia have become great friends. He calls on her frequently to come out to play. We built a large pen to protect them from the wildlife in the area. Both are really growing (Praia was 17.6 lbs. at her vet check Thurs.) and are easy to train. Patrick likes to show off all of Lebowski’s tricks and he is of course somewhat ahead of her. They have brought a lot of joy and are so easy to love! Thank you to all of you for giving them such a great start!
 
Hope each of you and your families have a very Merry Christmas and all the best in 2021!
 
Steve & Kathy

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello,
 
I was going to wait for the one year mark to send it but I figured now was as good a time as any. I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for Finn. He is quite a dog. He has a beautiful temperament. He’s outgoing, playful and so lovable, no fear. He loves other dogs, and people. We have travelled with him, stayed in hotels. He was doing dog training until they had to close but we will start again. Our biggest problem with training is he gets so excited about praise.
 
He loves to be outside with our son and loves to run with me (we’ve only done short, vet-approved practicing).
 
He doesn’t love to sleep in our beds and likes his space but he’ll come back for some snuggles and love and then move to his spot. He’s a little love bug.
 
My son adores him, as do we. He has such a sweet nature. I am so glad everyday that he came into our lives.
 
If you remember, we had to put our 12 year old German Shepherd to sleep in January of 2019. We still had our old lab and had decided that we would get a second dog so we wouldn’t be without one. Finn adored his older brother. Chatham gradually came around to Finn. Sadly, 4 weeks ago, we had to put him to sleep as well. He was suffering from cancer and was in a great deal of pain. I had him for 13 and a half years and loved that dog so much. It was incredibly difficult but having Finn made all the difference in the world. Finn brings us joy every single day. I’m hoping in the future we can add another dog to our family I think Finn would love to have another dog around. We just aren’t ready for another pup yet. As great as Finn is there were challenging puppy times. Haha.
 
I wanted to take a minute to thank you for Finn. And I wanted you to know he is well loved and cared for.
 
I hope you enjoy your Easter holiday. Take care.
 
The Spencers

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi family,
 
So, I finally made my mom sit down and write to you guys (I had to threaten her with hiding all of her socks). I mean I understand that she is busy at work and she was supposed to go to BC for over a month this Sunday but with everything on the go worldwide, her company has banned all travel. So I woofed to her that she finally has to sit down and take a couple of minutes to write. I tried it myself a couple of times but those keyboards are not made for Porty paws and mom gets weirdly possessive about her technical devises. She keeps insisting that they are not dog toys and that I have to keep my nose out of them. So just the other day, I left her a nice nose print on her phone so she wouldn't forget 'bout me when she left for work.
 
So how are you guys doing? I am doing great; getting bigger every day and discovering new things along the way. I hope you guys are doing just as good.
 
Now, so much has happened during the last couple of weeks so let me begin. First, we got more of that white stuff outside but I have made my peace with it and actually enjoy playing outside and romping through it. The only thing I still don't like is the wind when it gets all blustery but mom is just like me and then we spent a nice afternoon inside in front of the fireplace.
 
I also got all my vaccines now. So, we are going more to a place now where there are other dogs which is sooooooooooooo interesting. Now, I am a rather shy guy most of the time and especially on the leash I would rather bark and pretend I am a much bigger, braver guy than I am. But off-leash I try to make friends. Most of the doggies around, though, are a bit older and they can't really keep up with my energy level. We still have a lot of fun though.
 
Also, we went snowshoeing with mom and dad which was great fun. Apparently, humans need extra gear for it but I come with my own and so I was bouncing happily from snow bank to snow bank enjoying the view of the bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
 
I went on several skidoo rides but like my mom I am not the greatest fan of those loud and stinky machines. But last week it brought us to a pond where dad drilled a hole in the ice and we went ice fishing. (Now I might have dunked one of my paws in the cold water because I was so curious to see what was happening but that was not a big deal). And after a couple of hours mom eventually pulled up a weird looking creature that they called trout. In the end, they threw it back in the hole (apparently too small) and we packed up and left. Sometimes I really don't understand humans. All that waiting in the cold to just throw the catch back into the water and leave again. I, nonetheless, had a great day.
 
Last week, I spent with dad since he was off work and that was great. Sleeping in in the morning, long walks in the afternoon and fun playing in the snow and meeting a lot of his buddies who usually have a treat or two for me.
 
Mom, on the other hand, took me to her work again and I saw and heard a helicopter start, which was way too loud even behind the glass, and a bit scary. But all the guys I have met when I was just 8 weeks old were there and they all recognized me and were amazed at how big I have become. I am not a puppy anymore but a young and healthy dog. My Labrador retriever friend from next door is not so much bigger anymore. And with all that growing up I also lost a good amounts of my baby teeth. For a while there, I had the ultimate chewing power since I had my old canines plus the new ones (mom kept calling me Dracula during that time and kept laughing when she saw it) but I lost the two lower ones now. The chewing power is still good though which at the moment I am testing on this yummy kangaroo tail (I wonder if we can find this tasty animal anywhere here, mom keeps saying it comes from the other side of the world but I am going to keep my nose in the air and see if I can smell them closer by, because it is some good). Well, after all the fun this morning I am ready for a puppy nap ( I still love those) I hope you guys are all doing fine and that you are having a good start into March. Mom says it will get warmer eventually and all this white stuff will disappear but I am not sure if that is true or not. I hope so though. Because that would let me go swimming in the summer and I have a feeling I will really enjoy that.
 
Have a great week, my fam.
Love you,
 
Einstein

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Dear Sharlene and Donna,
 
Hope you’re all doing well! It’s hard to believe that tomorrow, we will have had Finley for two whole weeks!
 
Finley has been doing REALLY well. He is an absolute joy to have around. He only cried a bit on his first night with us but since then, he has been sleeping through the night. He’s doing really well with house training. We’re down to minimal accidents (if any at all) and he’s now letting us know when he needs to pee by sitting at the door and talking to us, haha. He has never pooped in the house.
 
He’s amazing in the car, which makes us very happy. It seems to almost be soothing for him - even when he’s amped up and mouthing like crazy, as soon as he gets in the car he’s good as gold. He’s met a few of the neighbours and all of our friends, as well as a few dogs that are well known to us. His best doggie friend so far is our neighbour's husky, Jasper, who is amazingly patient with Finley!
 
We took him to the vet last night, his first visit since we brought him home, to get his second round of shots. He was quite the charmer! A great ambassador for his breed, to be sure. The whole clinic loved him, our vet was very impressed with how smart he is and how well behaved. She also commented on how well socialized he seems and how confident he is! After the check-up was done, she took him to the back of the clinic to meet the rest of the staff and they all just loved him. They were all quite impressed that a puppy his age already knows how to Sit, Give Paw and Lay Down on command!
 
He has been an amazing addition to our family and we love him to pieces. He even has his own Instagram account now! (I couldn’t resist, haha - it’s @portieboyfinley)
 
XOXO
 
Finley, Amanda and Chris

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Thought I would say hi from Roscoe and family in NL! Roscoe turned 6 years old the end of April. Can't believe he has been with us this long! He has a such a BIG personality! He continues to work with St. John Ambulance at the penitentiary and seniors home. I volunteer at the Canadian Red Cross and the staff all know him there too. We continue to go on weekend walks with a local dog walking group so he has lots of doggie friends, too. He is a healthy, happy (spoiled rotten) dog.
 
We just returned from Spain and Portugal (second trip but didn't see any Portuguese Water Dogs). Roscoe's sitter loves him. Her elderly father calls her everyday for a Roscoe update. We know he is well cared for when we go away.
 
Roscoe and his buddie Rosie get lots of love and treats for looking so cute during their seniors home visits.
 
Hope you and yours are well!
 
Brenda , Rick and Roscoe

 

An update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
As you know my brother-in-law Doug Clorey recently met our furry family member Raggedy for first time. He has been researching breeds for years and Raggedy immediately sold him on the Portuguese Water Dog, and your Kennel.
 
Our Story
 
Raggedy is now 5 years old and has accomplished so much including our move from Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territory at age 6 months. He LOVES the arctic ! Obedience training mastered to Advanced Level (No other dogs ready for Intermediate Level so we continue to wait) ! Agility classes and competition. He is full of energy. Hiking, bicycling, fixated on finding snowballs we throw while walking around the frozen lakes, swimming, dock diving, diving and retrieving items from the bottom of the water, scent detecting, etc. Raggedy is always eager to learn new things.
 
Unfortunately, my husband was recently diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. During many appointments we met various dogs at health facilities and were so impressed with the unconditional love they provided to those in need. We decided we wanted to be able to give back to patients and loved ones in our community. Raggedy recently acquired his Therapy Dog Certification; He is so attentive.
 
We can not begin to thank you for doing what you do. Without you we would not have this precious soul. Raggedy is by far the best furry fella we have ever had the pleasure of having in our family.
 
THANK YOU,
Kanina and Michael Clorey

 


Raggedy is a very active dog!

An update from one of our clients' dogs:

Dear Oma,
 
It's been about 6 weeks since I came to Alberta. We had snow yesterday. I am a huge fan. I love digging my nose into it and playing. I drag the snow into the house and when my feet dry, they squeak when I run and play.
 
I love the truck; we go in the truck every morning and after school to get Mason when he gets on and off the school bus. Yesterday I wore a sweater as I had my first haircut last week and it was a bit chilly. I have included a picture. I am also great at bringing my toys to my family to play tug with me. My roommate, Arby the Shitzu, has finally warmed up to my antics and we play lots. I especially like to grab his fuzzy tail and drag him short distances. I never hurt him though and he can still pin me down. Such fun.
 
I have grown to three times the size as when I got here. I come when I am called now. I am learning lots. I also ring the bell to go outside :).
 
Hope all is well with my mom and dad. Give them love from me. Chat soon.
 
(Sharmink's) Maslow

 

A sad but uplifting story from one of our clients:
clickable photo below

On Friday July 20, after an epic day of swimming with the kids, walks, cuddles, and playtime in the backyard with family, Abbie was tragically hit by a speeding car on Cumberland Ave. Traumatically, I was 5 feet behind and could not get to Abbie in time; she had escaped the yard from a gate that we didn’t realize was slightly open. Abbie passed away shortly after, surrounded by family.
 
Abbie was born on August 25, 2011 in Cape Breton on the Mira River. Shortly after, she came home to me in Halifax and then to Hamilton when we moved back to Ontario together.
 
To say that Abbie saved my life more than once is not an exaggeration. She was my unofficial therapy dog for 6 years. Abbie has been by my side throughout my Bipolar diagnosis, a lengthy hospital stay and many ups and downs. She has comforted not only me but animals in crisis. Abbie has had a sixth sense for anyone needing a comforting friend.
 
She was the most gentle and playful dog I have ever seen with children and those living with disabilities.
 
She was the truest Water dog ... always in the pool before anyone else. She swam in the waters of the Northumberland Strait (her namesake is fittingly Abegweit - the Mikmaq word for PEI - "cradled by the sea"), ran and played in the waves all around Nova Scotia and Ontario and every backyard swimming pool in her sight. She’s been on countless road trips and loved the car, up for any adventure her loving people had planned.
 
She was mischievous and quick - many times, she’s stolen my sandwiches or smoked salmon, cheese and breads. Those were her favourite foods but she wasn’t picky. People food was the most delicious of them all.
 
I don’t know what else to say. Life without her will be bittersweet.
 
Thank you for all your sweet messages. I feel robbed mid-way through Abbie’s beautiful life here with me and all those who loved her. She simply loved everyone. Let us hope and pray she is cradling those who need her somewhere else, in the waves.
 

 

Letter from my cousin to Abbie
 
Dear Abbie,
 
I write this letter to you with a heavy heart. Losing you in this world far too soon is going to affect so many of us in such a big way. My heart is also hurting for your mom, who will miss you most of all.
 
Let me start this letter with some of my favourite personal memories of you:

  1. 1. You helped your mom more than you’ll ever know. Just being there for her when she needed you the most. Your mom is my hero so I am thankful you kept her safe and loved. She will never forget how important you were in her life. I have no doubt that is why you were put on this planet and why I will be forever grateful of you.
  2. Our chocolate lab Jersey is relatively apprehensive and dismissive of other dogs. Until this day, I have never seen her play with another dog like she did with Abbie. I’ll forever have the memory of both dogs bounding through 30+ cm snow on Christmas holiday together. Your mom thanked me so many times for looking after you but it was you and Jersey bonding that made my holiday so special that year.
  3. You were such an affectionate dog that loved to show it. I have so many memories of having a cracking fire in my moms basement with you by my side or with half your chest on my lap as you loved to do. I remember having sleepovers when your mom was away. You would love to crawl in between my legs, curl up and fall asleep. It always made me feel very safe.
  4. You were lazy when your humans wanted to be lazy and you were always ready for an adventure whenever we were.
  5. You were a superb swimmer just as your mom was.
  6. I will forever remember your dark eyes that were constantly full of expression. Whenever I spoke to you or looked to you for a reaction, I could always tell your mind was quick at work. It was an aspect of you that made you so different and special from other dogs.

Your mom and our family always worked hard at trying to teach you not to get up on counters or sneakily steal an unsuspecting victims sandwich. Death can be cruelly ironic and work in ways we would never think imaginable. What I wouldn’t give to see you on your back legs, fully extended, trying to coax something into your mouth with that tongue of yours. You’ll forever be in our thoughts whenever a christmas ham or thanksgiving dessert is left dangerously too close to the edge.
 
We love and miss you so much already.
Matt, Lauren & Jersey

 


Sharmink´s Abbie, the best friend and companion anyone could ask for - gone far too soon to the Rainbow Bridge.
She was the victim of a tragic accident. You can read Abbie's story above this image.

A doggy update from one of our clients' dogs:

Hello Sharlene,
 
I am now a 1 year old, happy, happy boy. I got my favorite bone for my birthday. I am now 66.5 lbs and healthy. I walk three times a day and I am going back to school again (I was told to learn more about how to behave...)
 
Happy Birthday my sisters and brothers!!!!
 
Sharmink's Lucas

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Sharlene,
 
This is Fergus' first visit to my daycare. He loved every minute of it and loved the children and the teachers. It has been a very exciting (and exhausting) week as we all get used to each other. But he fits right in with our family and gets along with my Shelties. He is the smartest puppy I have ever had, he is learning our new routine and he seems to be settling in very well. We are in love with him already and it's only been 5 days!
 
Just wanted to give you a quick update,
Janice

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
Bristol slept so well last night. I will admit that she slept in my bed with me and Riley. She woke once and that was it. She was so well-behaved. She had a bath today; I put cotton balls in her ears and I didn't get her head or ears wet at all, just to be on the safe side for now. She's getting her drops and her ear looks healthy. She hasn't had any accidents in the house and she cries when she needs to go out. We all love her so much.
 
Lindsay Grenning

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
I hope all is well! It was so nice to finally meet you today. We made it home and the kids are over the moon! They both keep saying the best day of their life. Alex thought he might pass out. Sidney is doing great! He was wonderful on the drive home. Alex and Olivia wanted to send you a thank you note. I'll keep you posted! Thank you for giving him to us! We all love him so much already!
 
Stacy

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Look who is a big girl now with her new haircut? She is a beauty isn't she? I know Andrew has been wanting to write you but I think Ruby keeps him quite busy at nights when he gets home from work.
 
Ruby is doing great - she is a little pistol but has the greatest personality and is very affectionate.
 
Hope all is well,
Judy

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Good morning, Sharlene,
 
Mousse wanted to say Happy Easter! He's doing wonderfully - everyone always stops and asks where we got him. He'll be a year in a couple of weeks.
 
John, Anissa and Mousse

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
Annie Estella had her 3 month check up today; she weighed in at 7.5 kg... she's growing like a weed!! She is absolutely beautiful and adorable with just enough sauciness to keep us on our toes, haha!! Hope all is well --- so nice to see the sun -- hope you have a great weekend.
 
Happy Mother's Day,
Corinne & Bill

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
How fast the time has flown and he is already three months! He is always on the move, so it is hard to get good photos but I managed to get a few. He adores the soft balls from Petsmart (Ellen Degeneres line) as they are soft and have a squeaker inside for extra incentive. He is becoming very good at fetching although we are still working on the "give" part, lol. He is doing great and we love him very much. I hope this finds you all well!
 
Take care,
Angie

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
Hope you and your human/doggie families are well! Roscoe recently turned 4 years old! How quickly time goes. He met his sister Georgia last week for the first time while out with Rick walking around a lake. The man called out to Rick and said 'I think you are walking my dog.' They were very similar.
 
Roscoe is a happy well-exercised dog! He walks and runs in a field everyday. He LOVES a car ride. I walk with a local dog walking group every Saturday and Sunday . He has lots of doggie friends. He continues to go to a seniors' home every Wednesday as a therapy dog with St. John's ambulance. Yesterday he also went to a health fair for staff at the local penitentiary. They will have a session for inmates soon which he may also attend. He is amazingly well-behaved on these occasions. He has a huge personality and is quite the character! At the seniors' home they sang happy birthday to him. Some of the people there keep treats for him and a nurse gives him an ice cream every week. He is quite spoiled as you can imagine. We don't love him at all... ;-)
 
Take care,
Gagnon family

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
I hope you had a great summer. We have had a very busy but fun summer with our boy Murphy. He is maturing very well. I have to say he surprises us daily on his progression. He loves to swim and go for our daily walks. He will have to adjust to life in a few weeks when we go back to our house from the cottage. He will now go down to the water on his own to cool off; at home, he will not have this luxury.
 
Murphy's markings are beautiful; he is very handsome. I thought I would include a picture of him on his favourite ottoman. He can jump up now all on his own. He has his own bed, but of course its not where he likes to sit as he is a PWD and they don't need dog beds they have furniture to use, LOL.
 
We love our boy and we are so happy we decided to add a puppy to our lives.
 
Take care,
Andrea and Randy

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Hope you're enjoying this wonderful summer.
 
Finnick is absolutely amazing. He's having a great summer and has been a joy to train and socialize with. I've never met so many of my neighbors! He is adored by every one he meets and has such poise and playfulness with everyone he meets. He is very inquisitive and becoming a good counter surfer.
 
He loves to travel to the beach and people's homes just to meet new people and pets.
 
He's been doing great with his training. Gaining weight at the proper amount as we adhere to his diet diligently. His treat is a small bit of vanilla ice cream once in a while. And I have a Kong filled with freeze-dried liver, kibble and a little bit of peanut butter, that he loves.
 
He has so much energy and demands attention that we are more than willing to give. I've never loved an animal so much.
 
Thank you so much for him.
 
- The Paynes

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Sorry it's been so long since I've had an update for you!
 
Ella turned 2 on June 21st this past summer, and she is still just as loving and adorable as ever! Everyone who meets her, loves her, and the feeling is mutual.
 
I'm proud to say that Ella also became a certified therapy dog with St. John Ambulance this past spring! We go on regular visits here in St. John's and she makes so many people happy. I love seeing how excited she is to go on visits and she loves all the attention!
 
Thank you again for this beautiful dog, we love her to bits!
 
- Jill and Christy
Pouch Cove, NL

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
I thought I should let you know that Lola and I are back home in Newfoundland. She is an incredible dog! I can't believe how quickly she adjusts to new situations. Since I picked her up from Shawn on Monday she has spent a very rainy day and night in a motel. She had a short drive and a 7 hour ferry crossing, an overnight visit with a friend of mine. Lola really enjoyed this as my friend has 2 acres of land and keeps chickens and a rooster and has a small dog. The next day we had a 2 1/2 hour drive. Lola was in her crate in the backseat of the car and did not complain once. Since she's been home in Corner Brook she has met most of the neighbours, several dogs, a cat named Vince and of course my extended family.
 
I've discovered that she loves feet and shoelaces and can already get up a flight of 5 stairs. She will sit on command for a Cheerio but would rather play with than eat the Cheerio. She has a wonderful appetite, likes to know where I am and will call out to me when she can't see me, is super-friendly to everyone she meets and is a very quick learner.
 
I was a little anxious about how she would do on the Ferry ride across the gulf. I needn't have worried. She whined for a minute or so when she went in her crate in the kennel section of the boat and never complained afterwards. The kennel area is on the main passenger deck and, as most people opt to leave their dogs in their cars, she had the area to herself and I was able to check on her frequently and let her out to stretch her legs and have a drink and a pee.
 
I am attaching a picture that was taken in our motel room in North Sydney. You can add to her list of accomplishments that she knows how to pose for a picture.
 
Thank you so much for this wonderful treasure. Its obvious that they get wonderful care from you and Donna and Shawn. It was great fun seeing Cali, Mia and the other puppies and I am extremely happy with Lola. She is curled up by my feet as I am writing this!
 
Deborah

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Sharlene,
 
This is a picture I was able to capture of Luna a few minutes ago. Normally, she is a lady on the move, so photography is a challenge. She had a light once-over at a groomer who lives close to us. The groomer just wanted to do a touch up to introduce Luna to the world of puppy make-over.
 
Now that we have had Luna in our lives for about a month, we have become familiar with many of her character traits. We are quite struck by how attached she is to the members of her family. Even an absence from a room for only a few minutes will prompt her to go into her welcome back routine. My wife and son are amused by the fact that Luna seems to have chosen me as her favourite. She will always sleep at my feet if I am in the room. This loyalty has its costs as I am also the one she prefers as a chew toy.
 
We are also amazed by her various vocalizations. She has a great repertoire of sounds that she uses depending on the occasion. One odd habit is her tendency to slap her water bowl with her paw after she finishes a drink. At least this ensures she will always have fresh water even if we are going through paper towels at a rapid pace.
 
In a note to one of our Dutch relatives, I stated that Luna is not a dog she is a lifestyle. I think we all expected her to have a big effect on our lives. Nevertheless, it is necessary to live it to fully appreciate what having a PWD brings to your life. She constantly dominates our thoughts and we could not imagine life without her. Thank you for for the gift of this happy active presence in our lives.
 
Gerry and Angela

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene!!
 
I hope you'll remember me. I'm Kristin Roe (also known as the 'marathon swimmer' in Nova Scotia) and I bought one of Crusader and Schatzie's puppies born 4 YEARS AGO TODAY!!! I bought one of the "silver" females and named her Abbie (after 'Abegweit - the Mikmaq name for PEI which means 'cradled by the sea').
 
I wanted to give you an update, since its the litter's birthday, on how Abbie has been doing.
 
I know so many owners likely tell you this but Abbie has been the light of my life and my best friend since the day I drove her home in that little carrier from Cape Breton to Halifax.
 
In the fall of 2012 I was diagnosed with a chronic illness and needed to urgently move to Hamilton, Ontario to get better treatment and to be closer to my family. Abbie handled the move in style, (she looooooooves car rides) and while I was in the hospital for 2 months she stayed with my parents and would come to the hospital almost every evening to see me and the other patients. My entire extended family considers Abbie "their dog" so there is definitely no shortage of love going around however, besides me, Abbie's favourite person in the world is my 84 year old grandmother (Oma in dutch) and goes crazy even when I say the word "Oma".
 
Abbie, as many PWDs are, is truly the 'velcro' dog you warned me about! She wants to be touching whoever she is near and loves being snuggled. In the evenings, when I'm watching TV Abbie is curled up on my feet on the couch and both of us couldnt be happier.
 
In the Hamilton area we are lucky to be part of the Bruce Trail system so there is no shortage of beautiful trails and waterfalls for us to hike in and splash in. We do long hikes on the weekends (up to 15 km at once and Abbie is ready to go for more!) and we have walks in my friendly neighbourhood during the week which always ends at the large park a block away from my place with a game of fetch.
 
Abbie is rarely home by herself for more than a few hours at once as I didnt want my dog to be alone a lot. So when I have a long day at work she goes over to my parents where she sits with my mom in her home-office or goes on car trips with my dad (she gets to sit in the front seat in his car so she loves that!).
 
Once a week Abbie goes to an AMAZING day care in Burlington which is situated on a family property that is filled with evergreen trees, splash pools (abbie's favourite) , heated/cooled Barn, and generally amazing place. She even has a boyfriend there, "Ray" - a silver labradoodle (I guess silver runs in the family!). A few weeks ago, a dog suddenly developed a case of bloat. The staff urgently called the owner and arranged to transport the dog to an emergency vet clinic. While they were doing that, Abbie laid with the dog the entire time and wouldn't leave him. When he left to go to the vet abbie stood by the gate for a half hour. She is very sweet and loving and we are starting the process for her to get certified as a Therapy Dog.
 
Of course Abbie still loves to jump up on people from time to time and she is lightning fast at grabbing food from the counter. One famous Easter she ate 1/3 of the angel food cake off the counter!!! Our whole family has now been trained to move the food waaay back. Other than that, she is a very well-behaved dog. She can be gentle with toddlers and elderly people and exuberant with the rest of us playing in the backyard or at the park.
 
I just wanted to say Hi and thank you for giving me one of the greatest gifts I've ever received. Abbie has helped me get through my illness and is the best friend a girl could have. She is really so beautiful too, if I say so myself. We get stopped all the time on the trails and in pet stores, people always wanting to ask me about her and tell me how gorgeous her markings are.
 
I'm writing this from work but when I get home tonight I'd love to show you a few photos of how Abbie has turned out.
 
Also, please let me know how you are your family are doing and how all the dogs are.
 
With great thanks,
Kristin Roe

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
I think you gave me the best puppy ever! We had a great first night. She settled almost as soon as she got home. Only one accident (has been successful every time since!). We played, napped and went to bed early. She slept in her crate with very little complaining (less than 2minutes) and only got up once during the night. She ate about a half a cup last night and maybe that much this morning. She loves her toys!
 
We love her!!
 
Talk soon,
Hannah

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
Just wanted to let you know that Teddy is doing great and thought I'd send you a picture from this past Sunday when we went for a little hike in Peggy's Cove (it was a little windy!). At 13 weeks he's grown quite a bit and he weighs 19lbs.
 
He loves going in the car, sleeps through the night no problems and already knows so many words and commands. He's the smartest dog I have ever owned. He's learning knew things in Puppy school and is having a great time meeting a lot of new people and dogs.
 
He's very playful and loves to cuddle, so clearly what's not to love?
 
All the best to you, Armin, Loki and Kitzel,
Monique, Jason and Cameron

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
So sorry that it's been so long since I've been in touch about Ella, but since today is her first birthday I figured it would be a great time to catch up!
 
I cannot express to you completely how totally in love with this little dog we are. In my job training dogs, I've seen a lot of different breeds over the last year or so, and nothing compares to the Portuguese. In particular, every one of your dogs that I've met has been beautiful, healthy and has a wonderful temperament.
 
Ella is absolutely no exception! She's settled in at around 45lbs and most of her white patches are gone! Her coat is lovely and soft and a reddish brown color with white flecks right now. He eyes stayed a gorgeous hazel/gold color and everyone says she has people eyes!
 
Of all the dogs I've trained, including my other two, Ella is one of the quickest learners there is. She learns new tricks in five minutes flat most of the time, and while she still has a little puppy-ness to grow out of, I get compliments every day about how incredibly well-behaved she is.
 
If we didn't already have three dogs I'd get another one from you! I absolutely adore her, as does my fiancé. I am hoping to sign her up for a therapy dog program here in the next couple of months and I have her on a waiting list to do agility as well, because I think she'd love it.
 
I've attached a couple of pictures for you, and I have more but the email probably won't send if I put too many in there!
 
If we ever get a chance to come up to Cape Breton we'll be sure to let you know so we can drop by with her.
 
Thanks for giving us this wonderful dog. She's my baby and my buddy and I'd be a poorer person without her.
 
Cheers,
Jill and Christy
Pouch Cove, NL

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
Cruz is now eight and Rosa will soon be six! I cannot believe it as they still act as though they are both puppies!
 
They are typical brother and sister and get into little arguments but otherwise they are glued to each other's hips! Best buddies when they need to be most!
 
I hope all is well and hopefully we can pop over sometime this summer for a visit! We hear that Zorro MacLaughlan (Wade and Duncan) will be getting a new brother and sister this summer, Cruz and Rosa also look forward to that. Zorro comes over in the mornings and knocks on our door to see if Cruz and Rosa can come out to play… our little place on earth has gone to the dogs! Ha ha...
 
Take care,
Jennifer, Brian, Cruz and Rosa Hawrylak

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Louie wanted me to let you know how much fun it is to live in Moncton. His activities so far:

  1. Playing in the yard and taking drives in the car (very good in the car).
  2. Meeting all sorts of people (from young to old) and other dogs. Louie is very calm when being held by others and loves to meet new people.
  3. Going to the beach for the first time (curious about the water but not ready to go in yet lol).
  4. A play date with Murphy...his brother from another mother.
  5. Going outside to pee and poop (no accidents in the house for the past few days) and starting to go to the door to go out.
  6. Sleeping in his crate without any fuss.
  7. Getting spoiled by his moms but also participating in training sessions (Louie can sit, pee and poop on command). Loves liver as a training treat.
  8. Going up and down the back steps by himself.

Louie is an absolute joy, calm and very smart. We are having lots of fun together.
 
We will keep you posted!
Anita, Dianne and Louie

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
I thought I would send along a message updating you on Molly and how she is doing.
 
This morning was Molly's first Spa Day; she's been clipped all over she looks completely different, her fur is now like a light , light brown mixed with white all over, her ears and mouth are the darkest brown on her:).
 
I have enrolled her in a puppy class once a week at Petsmart, just to learn how to walk her properly without her choking herself, and a few other tricks besides.
 
Most of her puppy teeth are now gone thank goodness so when she "smiles" it looks like she has a mouth full of dentures, hee hee!! She's come a long way; her puppy look is slowly going, especially when I see Jill Ryan's puppy Ella Molly's half sister. Jill is Molly's puppy class teacher on Tuesday nights.
 
The number of people that stop us to look at Molly is unreal, and they always make the comment about her colour - how they have never seen a dog like it. She is always playful and loves the children.
 
She has her bewitching hour, as we call it, between 9:30-10:30 where we are constantly taking from her things that don't belong to her, the little devil, but that's the puppy in her :-) She loves to camp and we had her in the ocean about 2 weekends ago. She wasn't out far but she swam into us on the beach. Her vet appointment for her neutering is coming up next month so I'll keep you updated on that. I hope all is well with you and your family and we will talk to you soon.
 
Allison Higgins

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Good morning, Sharlene,
 
Hope all is well with you and your family.
 
Maestro is fitting in well and is over 10 pounds now. We switched him over to Grand Canin puppy chow for now as he seemed to be not interested in the salmon but will probably go back to it later.
 
He and I went to our first puppy obedience class this week and as yet no scholarship offers.
 
He has all kinds of verbal noises and we have had him in the water a few times - his whining while swimming would not make his ancestors proud but we will get over that.
 
He has more toys than our children and is a big help with Sandi gardening - an excellent pruner .
 
All the best.
Ken

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
It's been a looooooooong time since I've been in touch! I hope this email finds you well!
 
It's hard to believe Alfie turned three this past summer. He continues to be our very best buddy, and such an important member of our family. Speaking of which, Alfie became a big brother last year. Our son Henry was born on February 8, 2013.
 
It has warmed my heart to see how Alfie has taken on the role of guardian with Henry. It is truly amazing. When Henry was a newborn, Alfie wouldn't let anyone leave the room with him! I've included a few of my favourite Alfie/Henry pictures for you to see.
 
My parents are looking to get a new dog this spring, and after 40+ years of having Springer Spaniels, they have decided the Portie is the breed for them - thanks to Alfie! So I suspect you will be hearing from them in the coming months.
 
I hope all is well. Thank you once again for breeding such incredible dogs. We really couldn't imagine our lives without Alfie.
 
Take care,
Kate, Clark, Henry & Alfie Udle

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Luna Pearl is doing wonderfully. She's a Puppy Kindergarten graduate and is doing her continuing education at the same school. To earn her diploma, she had to perform a trick of our choosing that she only had one week to learn. She was crowned valedictorian when she rolled over on command at just 3 months of age! (Most of the other puppies were instructed to give paw and not many actually complied)
 
This girl is not just smart but beautiful too. We continue to get people asking to take her picture and even grown men who have asked to be photographed with her!! We've been traveling weekly to my son's college football games in Maine and lower New England. People have run from across the stadium to come and meet her and have taken down the name of your kennel and website more times than I can count. To this day, the most common expression we here is "that has to be the cutest dog ever" (pronounced EVAH in these parts!) She is truly a remarkable dog, so thank you for letting us have her!
 
We can hardly believe that in two weeks she'll be 5 months old. It was suggested to us by the vet to have her spayed between 4-6 months, however the people at the training academy and some of the research I have read says that too early neutering can have unhealthy consequences to a dog's grow plates/bones. While I don't want to take any unnecessary risks, I am not sure that I want to deal with her going into heat either. Can you please give us some advice on this matter? I would really appreciate it.
 
One last thing, when do you expect your next litters? I have a friend who lost her PWD about two years ago, and is getting ready to consider welcoming another one into her family. She definitely wants one of your pups!
 
Hope all is well in Cape Breton. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
 
The Romero family

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hello Sharlene,
 
Jorja is doing great. She has been to the vet and has had her second needle and will get her third needle this week. She is a little over 15 pounds now and has grown so much.
 
She loves our family and is thriving. She sleeps great at night, loves to go for a walk and loves water. We can't keep her out of the sprinkler. She is doing well with the training. Hardly any accidents and asks to go out now. We are having no problems with the crate training. We love her so much. She loves to be right in the middle of things all the time.
 
We are doing Puppy Training with PetSmart. She is doing great. Has already learned to sit, lie down, come when called, leave and loose-lease walking. Of course there is still lots of practice to do with all of it. She is certainly a chewer(ha ha) but that is to be expected.
 
Sharon and Neil Kent

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Modo is an amazing addition to our family. He fits just right. The kids each have their own special bond with him as do Heather and I.
 
Every morning he watches as the kids leave on the school bus and you know immediately when the bus is close to home! He loves his family bike rides, running with Isaac in the mornings on the paper route. Olivia loves to brush him and take him for walks. Solomon loves to throw the ball for him and the two of them will sit and talk for hours, (well, Solomon will talk and Modo is the best listener!) Modo and Dominic seem to have this amazing bond and out of all of the kids he seems to be able to teach him new tricks in a matter of minutes? I have taken Modo out fishing with me and am amazed at how good he is out on the boat, and how he has no issues with going for a dip in the middle of the lake with me. What a perfect addition to our family. Thank you!
 
Best regards,
 
Robert Parker

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Well, I’m just now getting a free moment. What a busy couple of days here as you can imagine! The kids named our puppy Molly and she is fitting into the family like a charm!
 
She is well occupied so far and naps well between playtimes. We are training her to her crate and now she goes on in on her own for her naps and at night time. The first night was quite rocky with lots of crying but now, after the third night, she is sleeping right through the night in her kennel. One small accident on the floor the first day (my fault for not noticing her) but other than that she is going to pee outside. We settled on a spot way down in the bottom of the garden at the edge of the trees for her to do her poop and started by carrying her there each time. Today she went all the way on her own. Lots of praise for that! Thank you so much to you and your neighbor for giving her such a good start. She is a beautiful, teachable puppy and we are very pleased with our choice of breed and breeder.
 
Kindest regards,
 
Dana Bougie & Family

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Our little girl is doing great! She is a little ball of energy... Not the subdued young lady her big sister is, that's for sure. She has a lot of personality and is soooo adorable, we can hardly stand it.
 
We named her Luna Pearl, but the boys are already coming up with a bunch of nicknames for her too. (Lulu, Looney, Muppet to name a few) We considered changing her name to "Oh my God" as that is the most common reaction strangers have when they see her. (followed by "that is the cutest puppy I've ever seen etc..."). She has been to a road race, several dinners at local cafes, on our boat to Martha's Vineyard, in the pool and in the ocean already. Yesterday she and Daisy came into a doggy boutique with me (Rocky is not much of a shopper) and the owner took her picture and featured it on their website. I am afraid her head is swelling with all the "pupparazzi" attention she gets everywhere we go! Perfect strangers are whipping out their cell phones and shooting her picture constantly.
 
Rocky is slowly coming around to co-existing with her, although she sets back their relationship every time she latches on to his tail. Daisy is a lot more patient with her nipping. We are hoping Luna will soon figure out that she is not the alpha dog she pictures herself to be. Or maybe not. Time will tell.
 
We couldn't be happier to have her and we thank you again for breeding such beautiful, healthy pups. She is making the transition to an empty nest much easier. I've hardly had time to miss my human baby who left last week for college.
 
Thanks again for everything. I hope this email made sense, I am after all, a wee bit sleep deprived!
 
Warm regards,
 
Loretta

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Well, its almost two weeks since Maddie became a part of our family. We smile, laugh and play with Maddie each and every day. She has brought our family closer together (if that's possible). Her friend Skippy is a black lab mix and owned by Robert's sister, Marion. She visits Skippy every day and has a great time with her. We are planning on visiting her brother Fergus some time soon.
 
She starts her day at 6 AM with a trip outside to do her business - she has her breakfast and we play with her until it's time to leave for the day. I drop her off with Robert - who has been at work for at least 3 hours by the time she sees him - and then she is with him in the truck for the day. She loves her kennel, she has several toys and is doing well on her leash.
 
We are starting obedience with her as a family on Sunday. Right now, she is almost house-trained, she will sit and lie down - almost each time with no treat - although she looks for the treat most of the time. We are still feeding her the 'Go' food and use these kibbles to train her. We also have chicken flavored puppy treats for her - which she gets a few times each day.
 
I can't tell you how much we all love her! She has brought such joy to our lives. Her personality is fun, loving and energetic for sure!
 
One of these days we may look to get another Porty, as we are beyond happy!
 
Rojean, Robert, Zack and Anna

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Pluto is amazing as you well know by now we are true Porty lovers forever!! He is so smart, loving, and loyal!! He is not even 8 months old yet and very "relaxed", but still needs his exercise. We cannot say enough!!! He is the most amazing dog Joe and I have ever encountered!
 
Take care!!
 
Jill Joe Frank and Pluto (O'Brien/ Barter).

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Ciara, in the past week, has decided to cut the apron strings & wonders off on her own, down the hallways at the nursing home. Outside she has really taken a liking to the snow & plays in it, eats it & loves to get me to chase after her (I am really trying to round her up to get her back inside).
 
On Saturday we walked down to the farmhouse (a little shy of 1 km) & then back (another km) & she totally refused to have me carry her. Every time I picked her up she squirmed & cried &. When I would put her down she would just prance along. Boy, she was really tired when we got home & slept for over an hour. She now weighs about 9 lbs, so she is growing well - cannot wait for breakfast & supper. She cries & barks at my feet to tell me to hurry up &, then she jumps & bounces all the way to the garage. She cries at the door to go out most times but we still have a few accidents. I am so proud of her; she is a fast learner & just loves the car, now. Sleeps as soon as I start it up. I do have to put her on a lead now because she is getting too fast for me to catch her & of course it is a game to her. She keeps part of the lead in her mouth & really preens as if to say "see what a big girl I am." Thought you might enjoy these pics. Hard to get her to stay still as she is a very lively girl.
 
Take care.
 
Lynn

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Hank is a wonderful boy and is growing up to be quite the intelligent man. He knows how to put his toys away at night and is very well behaved when he wants to be. lol :-)
 
He loves to go zooming on the ice and we are looking forward to him learning how to swim. He loves the shower and has at least two a day by stepping in with Mommy and Daddy. He has a very good appetite and although small for the breed he thinks he's the biggest dog around. We've been training him a lot and he is very, very smart. Our trainer actually wants to start him on training as a search and rescue dog as he responds so well to commands (except recall which is just his stubbornness) I've included some recent pictures. Thank you so much for bringing him into our life. He's spoiled but knows that he's ours and we can't imagine life without him. He is going to be fixed (oh, no) on March 7th and I'll be working from home for a few days after he is released from the hospital.
 
Hope all is well with you and Armin.
 
Thanks again and hope to talk to you soon.
Dawna, Greg and Hank

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Just an update on Tito. He is a remarkable dog! I hope he is full grown now... He has really filled out these past few months; the vet says he is not overweight, just a big dog.. he was 62 lbs at our last visit!! We are still having an issue with the counter surfing.. He is still convinced that if he can reach it, it is his! So funny, we can drop food on the floor and he ignores it, but anything it on the counter and he is all over it. He really has figured out who in the family are a sure bet for treats too... He doesn't bother myself or my sons when we have food, but he really gives my husband and the grandaughters the sad puppy look when they have food. He will sit and stare at them until they give him some, and there is usually a puddle of saliva between his feet!
 
We are still involved with the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program. This winter besides visiting the local seniors homes, we also took part in a pilot program at Memorial University Library for students away from home and finding the stresses of exam week a bit much. Needless to say Tito basked in the attention from the students... A little bit different than visiting the seniors... The students are a lot more active so he could let loose and play! He loved it!
 
I have attached a photo of Tito's newest passion... Riding on the snowmobile. He really hates to be left behind if we go for a ride and will usually jump on my snowmobile as soon as he sees me put on my helmet.
 
That's all for now. I will keep in touch.
 
Cindy, Robert & of course Tito.

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
I hope that you had a nice, relaxing holiday! It was great to have a new addition over the Christmas break and Santa even found Will! He is getting along great, he loves the snow, digging and going for drives. He weighs 20.4 pounds now, much bigger than our cairn terrier, Fenway! After some time, the two dogs have finally learned to become friends and even cuddle together in the evenings before bedtime. We could not have asked for a better pup! William is healthy, happy and growing fast!
 
Thanks again,
Kate and William

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Just an update!! Pluto is doing amazingly well; he has been house trained at exactly the 16 week mark as expected. He was 20 pounds at the last vet visit at 16 1/2 weeks. he is absolutely lovely and wonderful and of course so very SMART!!! We just love him. I only wish I had 2!!! We met his uncle Taggus (son of Fritz) who lives nearby. He is gorgeous as well and so sweet. I had no idea what an amazing breed this was until we met Pluto!!
 
Anyway; like all Porty owners we will always have/love this breed and no other.
 
Thank you Sharlene and I will send a photo soon!! All the best.
 
Jill, Joe, Frank and Pluto

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Just wanted to give you a quick update. Moose is doing exceptionally well... I couldn't be more pleased with his training. Within the first week of him being here... he was LOVING the real duck wings I'd saved and I had him fetching them to me that very first week.
 
He's very smart and has challenged me to move him along quickly and he's responded so well I'd say he's definitely ahead of all the labs I've trained for hunting. My vet is very impressed.
 
The special "retriever-training" duck he's carrying right now is laden with duck scent and it is his favorite thing to do... have me throw it in the thickest weeds and bush I can and he works out the scent and fetches it. He's tenacious, not scared of thick brush and so far has no problems with the cap gun I've now introduced as I throw the training duck. This bodes VERY well for him having no problems with the real gun later when he's more full-grown. This isn't his "toy" - I only bring it out when we're going to work on hunting training...so he gets very excited when I get it out.
 
So basically as long as he's good with the swimming (which I know should be the easiest part, due to his breeding) he should make a great duck dog for me.
 
Just wanted you to see him in his "glory" right now... Whenever I say, "where's the bird" and "fetch it up" - he comes unglued with excitement!
 
Thanks for a great dog.
 
God bless,
Carl (and Amy)...and "Moose"

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
I wanted to send you a quick note to let you know that Ginny is doing very well in her new home.
 
When we saw the videos and pictures of her as a pup we thought she was a very quiet and laid back dog. She is not! She is full of energy and is already running the roost at the house. Miley does not have a mean bone in her body so she is taking to her new friend very well. Sometimes when Ginny is jumping all over her wanting to play when she is tired I wonder why she does not set the tone with her but I think she is just too nice and just goes along with it. It has been a shame that the winter has been so cold because they love to run through the paths in the woods together behind our house. Ginny has to take two steps to Miley’s one but she strives to keep up and usually does. There is no quit to her. They are going to be great buddies as she grows up.
 
Well, we thought Miley was "special" when as a pup she climbed onto a chair and then to the middle of the dinner table. Turns out that we got another "special" one who has done it twice so far. They are agile dogs, these porties. She is doing well with her training and already knows to go to the door to go outside. She still has the odd accident but it is usually because we are not paying attention. She is saucy but is such a good-natured dog. When she nips on something she shouldn’t, or jumps up when she shouldn’t and gets scolded by us she just does a lap of the room and comes back with a wagging tail and a look on her face "you still love me, don’t you" and of course we do.
 
That’s all for now – thanks for the great addition to the Scholten family!
 
Willy Scholten

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Sending over all the very best to you and yours for 2013!
 
Una is growing like a weed! She is 16lbs now and taller than our Cocker Spaniel! Before we know it she will have caught up with our Lab! She is so smart, Sharlene! I'm sure we all say that but she really stands out in a crowd! Ha! Everyone in our puppy classes ooh and aaahs over her...cause she so darn cute! The vet as usual made a huge fuss over her yesterday.
 
Santa found her too...and she also helped herself to some unsupervised jelly beans and chocolates (iiish)! Needless to say the puppy food wasn't looking so great for her that day, being so full full of jelly beans! She loves to take off with the toilet paper ha! Does she ever bolt when she gets a hold of it! Cliff is always far too slow to catch her...hee hee...I sit back and laugh.
 
She is holding the "sassyness" well! She will sass right back when I correct her for something...ha! Cute as all get out! Just heading out for a morning walk with her and was thinking about you and the rest of the clan in Cape Breton! Hope everyone is well! Haven't seen Hank yet...have you been getting any updates from them? Curious as all get out to see how much he has grown! Take care,
Michelle and Una X0X0

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Sharlene and Armin,
 
Compliments of the Season and every good wish for happiness and health in 2013.
 
As you can see Bailey loves her new digs and is not lonesome for the Mira here on the Saint John River. She loves the outdoors and is a great walking companion. She wants to go twice a day which is good for both of us.
 
Snow has been quite an attention factor and she is like a rabbit jumping through it.
 
I am also thankful that she enjoys the car. She really enjoys the following words Treat, Walk and Drive. What joy she has brought into my life and all who meet her. I feel we both won the lotto!
 
Gerry

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Just to let you know that Pluto is fabulous! We have been walking him lots since his booster on the 21st of December He was 15.7 pounds then. People stop us to ask about him; he is so very friendly and gorgeous; loves meeting other dogs and people, and did extremely well here for our annual Christmas Eve gathering with 25 people including 8 children. He is absolutely perfect. I will send a photo when I get the "'show stopper" for you.
 
All the best,
Jill, Joe, Frank and Pluto

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
just to let you know that Adele is doing great. What a good dog. She is beautiful and very easy. She is already housebroken and is able to do her thing outside by herself. Of course she gets a lot of little treats when she does it... and she knows it. At night she sleeps in my son´s room in her own cradle (cage) and is able to sleep 7 or 8 hours straight. I got her a lot of toys so she won't chew my chair and sofa !! She makes us very happy.
 
Thank you again for this great choice !! Josée

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
I hope all is well with you. Guff and I thought you might like a little update on Divot... She has settled right in and we couldn't imagine life without her. She's become fairly comfortable with her crate, she's doing excellent with house training and hardly ever has an accident, she's getting used to the leash - still not a huge fan but definitely making progress, she does great off leash and pretty much always comes when she's called and is very good at "sit". She has an adorable little personality and is super social, she loves meeting people and other dogs. All and all we couldn't be happier.
 
Thanks
 
Sara

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Hope all is well; I wanted to give you an update on Pluto. He is a wonderful puppy. He loves to be with people and loves to cuddle.He loves marrow bones and we now give them to him frozen to help with teething. He loves running in the backyard and lately loves chasing a soccer ball; plus loves running with his chewy toys and sticks. He chases leaves and tries to chew them off the trees. Interestingly he stops whatever he is doing when he hears a loud vehicle ( there is a road with some traffic somewhat nearby) or an airplane. I imagine it was quieter where he was initially living near you.
 
He is eating well and all systems are working perfectly. We see the vet on the 26 November. He has been a bit "bitey" but seems to really understand a firm "no" so it is way better now even after the past 48 hours. We have a trainer coming on the 24th to give us some tips. Pluto even allowed me to brush him a little tonight.
 
We absolutely LOVE him. Here is a photo of him in his room; it is not the best photo; we will send more soon.
 
Thanks,
Jill Joe and Frank

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
I thought I'd send along this recent photo of our boy. He's loving the new house and living in Mira! I can't tell you how nice a dog he is. Everyone comments, from kennels to strangers. He's such an obedient and loving boy too. He's calmed down a lot, content to snooze with the cats in the evening or follow me around while I do chores. We hope to visit again some day soon. Hope all is well with you and Armin and the dogs.
 
Bye for now.

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
It's been a little over a year since Daisy and Revis joined our family and have given us more love than we ever imagined. I would love it if you could send their picture to the other families who took their siblings. We would love to see how each of them have grown. Hope you, your family, Schatzie, and Crusader are all well.
 
Thanks!
 
Paula Bergstein
 
P.S. I gave your contact info to my vet. There is someone in his practice that is looking for a porty
P.P.S. Everyone that sees Revis comments on how gorgeous he is!

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
I just had to e-mail you. Pluto is incredible; he actually comes when we call him in our backyard. As he was not too used to the leash and we have a huge fenced backyard, we had him outside for a little run several times and he actually comes running when you call him without a treat or anything. Genius dog we are thinking. :)
 
I will be sending you little updates as you would be so proud of him as his breeder. He is so smart. Thank you!!
 
Jill Joe and Frank

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene and Armin,
 
Just wanted to send a quick email to let you know that the girls are doing just great. Both love their new homes and had a wonderful first summer growing up at the family cottages. They are such adorable and loving dogs.
 
I attached a picture that I thought would be a great fit for your website. It was in the summer on the sand flats so Mira was still quite little. She now weighs about 27lbs and loves the boys and has been such a wonderful pet. She cracks us up all the time with her silliness.
 
We are so lucky to have Stella across the street too. They wrestle and play every day and simply wear each other out.
 
Hope things are well for you down at the Mira (River). I will send some more current pictures of the girls on another email.
 
Mark, Deanne, Jack & Nate

 

A doggy update about our very first PWD:
who is owned and loved by Sally McPhillips

Hi Sharlene,
 
Haven't been to your web site in quite a while until today. I really enjoyed the videos as I always wanted to see where Maggie lived. You have a beautiful spot and a wonderful area for dogs.
 
While looking at the photos I saw a photo of Samatha (Darby & Doury) owned by the Hargartys of Cornwall, PEI. She looks just like our Maggie, except Maggie has a white paw.
 
Maggie is starting to show her age, just like the rest of us. She is hard of hearing, but I swear she can hear the cookie jar open. She also does not see well. As I have told you before, she is the BEST dog we ever had. She is gentle, kind, and loves me to death. She will be 13 next June.
 
Hope you are well. All those beautiful puppies must keep you young. I see you have a new dog named Maggie.
 
Sincerely,
Sally McPhillips

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Just thought I would drop you a line and a new photo of Tito. As you can see from the photo, Tito is now an official St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog.
 
We visit a local Seniors home ever week for a couple of hours. He absolutely loves the attention!! All I have to do is to show him his kerchief and he is beside himself with excitement, but it is so wonderful how gentle he is with the residents. They all love him! It seems like he realizes how fragile they are and is extra careful not to bump anyone. We had a visit last week with a lady who is bedridden. Tito put his paws on the side of her bed and laid his head by her hand so she would not have to move very far to pet him. It was so wonderful to see the big smile that lit her face and the tears that filled her eyes when she petted him.. She said "Oh! he likes me!" I had to turn away so she would not see the tears in my eyes! He would have stayed there all day, but we had more people to visit.
 
That’s all for now.
 
Thank you for letting us bring Tito into our family!
 
Love,
Cindy

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
It’s been a looooooong time since I’ve touched base with you! I hope all is well in beautiful Cape Breton, and that you and Armin and the pups are enjoying this glorious summer!
 
It’s hard to believe this weekend marks two years since we came to pick up Alfie! Where has the time gone??? I honestly have such a hard time remembering life before him; he’s such an important part of our family.
 
For the first year we were worried we got a Portie who didn’t like the water! He would never get more than his legs wet, and he certainly didn’t like the waves. Fast forward a year, however, and we can’t keep him out of the water. We start every Saturday and Sunday with a long walk in Point Pleasant Park, and Alfie makes a beeline for the water as soon as he can see it! He even likes to lie down in big puddles after a heavy rain! He just likes to be wet all the time.
 
When he’s not swimming, he can usually be found chasing balls – it’s his second favourite thing to do! I swear, if we let him he would chase balls until his paws bled! Fortunately it’s a really great way to tire him out! He’s such a good boy when he’s tired!
 
I’ve attached a couple pictures so you can see what a handsome little man our pup has grown up to be. A few months ago one of our neighbours stopped and asked us what happened to the little white dog we used to have! They were shocked when we told them Alfie was that little white dog!
 
Hope all is well. Thank you again for breeding such wonderful dogs.
 
Kate, Clark & Alfie

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Just a quick note - Tia's doing excellent! She's grown so much. We went to Florida for 10 days and left her with my husband's sister & her 2 dogs. Well, Tia had the time of her life! She was quite happy to see us again though & didn't skip a beat when we arrived in the driveway to meet her again. She just about licked our faces off! I've attached photos for you too.
 
Everyone that met Tia while she was at my sister-in-law's wanted to keep her, including my sister-in-law! Carl has already passed on your name for people asking him where we bought Tia, so you may have some new customers from NL!
 
Take care, chat soon,
 
Jacqueline

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
By now I'm sure that you have received a photo of Harley, one of your recent pups, together with Clancy, a five year old who apparently has some memory of his origin by the way he greeted his kennel-mate Harley at the beach in Westport a few weeks ago.
 
Son Rob was occupied with a houseful of his wife's relatives who were visiting because of the arrival of his firstborn, a delightful baby girl named Reese. As a result Pat and I had Clancy with us for three weeks during August. I have previously observed how he moves back in and blends into our routine as if he never left.
 
He attended outdoor concerts with us causing quite a stir. After one such we were surrounded by about eight couples while exiting and I employed the latest trick which I have taught him. You already know about his responding to the comment "Oh, he's soooo cute" with my response "yes but I think he knows it" and asking him, "Clancy, are you cute?" This results in an "Arf" from him but now when asked what kind of dog he is I respond, "Well, let's ask him", followed by a multiple choice "Are you a poodle? Are you a shepherd"? (he is frequently mistaken for a miniature English sheepdog) "Are you a Portugese Water Dog?". At the latter he responds with an "Arf" which is really a show stopper.
 
That particular evening I could have taken orders for 10 Clancy clones. In fact you may have heard from one who strongly wanted to know the breeder and got your web site address. One of the men confided that he and his wife would be up until midnight debating since on the way to the concert he had said to her that they should get a dog but she demurred. Now after seeing Clancy, his resolve was strengthened. He really is a remarkable dog and the little children on the block at Compo Beach love him to death but thanks to the early socializing he received from your neighbor's children he is very relaxed around them no matter how much they hug him. Now Rob is getting him accustomed to the baby since he has a slight streak of jealousy manifested by barking whenever Rob holds another dog or child bur he's getting there.
 
Well thanks for putting up with my ramblings---Pat joins me in wanting to know how you and Armin are doing.
 
Bob Gillin

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Thought we’d share some news of Tia, who is now 3 months old and growing like a healthy puppy should… very fast!! She’s already 12.5 lbs & about 15 inches tall.
 
Tia is certainly getting comfortable with our family quickly & coming into her own personality! She's such an adorable little pup. Our 2 younger boys really enjoy her playfulness. The kids in the neighborhood love her and every child wants to take her home!! Tia especially likes the little girls in the neighborhood….I think it’s because they pay special attention to her.
 
She's doing well with her crate, using it as her personal space as she needs it. She loves mostly to nap next to wherever she can find someone's feet, or the cutest place of all… in a laundry basket full of clothes!!
 
We've successfully bell-trained her to go outside for bathroom breaks; she's also learned to use the bell as a way to just go outside & lay about the patio or to watch the birds!
 
Her first night with us wasn't too bad, some expected whining during the night but nothing that kept us up all night! We did get some sleep! Her first weekend at our cottage proved promising, as she quickly made new friends with 2 female golden retrievers...Maggie (18 mths old) and Shelby (8 yrs old). I think with all their playing and romping around, it really beat Tia out and produced a full night's sleep for her! She's been sleeping soundly all night ever since! Recently we’ve been able to move her crate just outside our bedroom door at nighttime and it’s going very well.
 
She enjoys her rides in the sailboat, and is slowly warming up to the water....paws only, but it's a good start! However, she has lots of patience when it comes to bath time at home in the tub.
 
Carl, Tia & I usually head out in the evenings for a 3 - 5 km nature walk, where she meets up with bunnies, frogs and birds of all sorts. It certainly is cute watching her stare at all things new to her, and she's doing great both on, and off her leash.
 
She's so playful and learns very quickly, she's a smart puppy for sure! However, sometimes she likes to get into a little mischief with chewing on things that aren't hers, or jumping up to the kitchen counter; but other than that she's fitting in beautifully. Even our 17 year old has taken a real liking to her... he feeds her fresh blueberries, strawberries & cherries! Tia really likes Christian for those special treats!!
 
We are certainly happy to have her with us, it’s the best decision we could've made!
 
People ask what type of dog she is and where she came from and we always tell them about you and your kennel, and how pleased we are with such a beautiful person and breeder. Tia is a great pet which comes from being loved and cared for by a great breeder and then great family members!
 
Hope you & Armin are having an enjoyable summer.
 
Take care and we’ll send more news at a later date,
 
Jacqueline, Carl, Christian, Adam & Thomas

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
I haven't had a chance to e-mail you very much since André and I went to pick up our little furball at the beginning of June. Reef is doing very well. His last shot is in a few weeks and he's been doing remarkably well every time we bring him to the vet. He eats like a horse and is growing like a bad weed... He was close to 13 lbs. at his last visit to the vet a few weeks ago. His favorite (non-dog) food is the crust from peanut butter and toast. However, he likes to try to eat rocks, dirt, sand and seaweed, as well as his own leash every time we bring him for a walk. He's also incredibly smart and a devious little bugger sometimes, but we love him anyways. Everyone just loves him and we get people telling us the time that they're going to kidnap him. He's finally stopped eating grass like it was going out of style and his chewing and biting had slowed down quite a lot in the last month or so. That probably has to do with the fact that he has chew toys scattered all over our house and his "grandmother's" house to chew on. He gets along well with other dogs too, though he prefers the dogs that are 5 times his size to any small dog or puppy. We're pretty sure he thinks he's a 160 lbs. dog. And he's FINALLY starting to like the water! André and I were worried the first few times we took him to the beach or the lake and he ran from the water with his tail between his legs. We had started referring to him as a Portuguese Water Chicken actually. But one day, André was walking him and he dove headfirst into a stream. He seems to have gotten over his intense dislike for water almost overnight. Now he's in the water almost every day. If only he could get over his hatred of being brushed. That's always an experience.
 
We'd just like to thank you again for what you do. Not everyone that wants a dog can have one and I really thought that was going to be the case for André and me because of his allergies. I'm so happy we were able to find a breed that was hypoallergenic and suited our lifestyle so perfectly. He's such a joy to have in the house (even if he does like to chew all of our socks) and we love him dearly. I already don't remember what it was like before we had our bouncing ball of furry energy.
 
I attached a recent picture of Reef, covered in salt water and sand (as usual) at Mavillette Beach. It's the only really good picture we have of him since he VERY rarely sits still long enough for us to get a good shot.
 
Ashley, André and Reef

 

A doggy update from one of our clients:

Hi Sharlene,
 
Just thought I would drop you a line and send a couple of pictures of Tito. He is doing great.
 
His favorite place to relax is on the arm and along the back of the love seat. If anyone is sitting there he paces and whines and grumbles until they move or I tell him go lie somewhere else.
 
He did really well in the beginner & intermediate agility training, but at the beginning of the advanced session, he got spooked by the noise of a new teeter totter and refuses to have anything else to do with it. So we are giving him a break for a while. He is still doing really great in obedience, but I still can't get him out of his habit of counter surfing.
 
He goes everywher with us and all the family are used to making sure there is nothing left on the counter for him to reach. And he is so sneaky about it. If there is anyone in the kitchen, he lies by the door waiting until the way is clear, then makes a run for the counter. As soon as I tell him "off", he gets down, and manages to look so guilty that I can't help but laugh. I can't believe he will be 2 in July!! Time has gone so quickly.
 
Bye for now. I will keep in touch.
 
Cindy & Robert Pike & of course Tito