Isabelle and Henry have grown to be impressive Wolfhounds. Izzy is still more feminine and sleeker in size, dark in color and fits her name daily, Isabelle Sacagawea Shenanigans. Her eyes are full of mischief but her heart is bursting with pure happiness and love. She still has a lot of growing to do; she acts at times like she still has a 6 month old puppy brain in a one-year-old 120 pound Wolfhound body! She loves to snuggle though and dearly loves Joey, following her everywhere.

Henry registered as Behemoth Geronimo James Henry Barge, has grown massive and is growing daily. He weighs about 160 pounds now and is just now getting some of his mass. His neck is thickening and his frame is bursting out all over. He is so manly and surveys the lay of the place. He is still quiet and gentle, and has become very protective and possessive of his household and his ladies. He likes to lay his head in my lap and get lots of back scratches. He will grow we think to 180 to 200 pounds easy.

Sarah has really come into her own. She now has started muscling her way on the couch. We added a second couch to the living room to make room for us, 3 Wolfhounds and the Labs. She is such a lover and should come into heat soon; we are looking forward to Sarah babies, hopefully this spring.

Christmas Day we took Sarah and Neo, Kenny’s Silver Labrador and Dances With Dogs Retrievers dog and puppy wrangler, among many other well earned titles as hard working partner and friend, to the nursing home in Gibson City to visit the residents. They did great, Sarah can reach the beds so the residents who can’t get up can still reach her, and she gave everyone kisses. Neo did ball tricks in the lobby for about 20 residents and they just loved his energy and his talent. It was a great Christmas Day for the residents and for us as well. We hope to test Isabelle and Henry for Therapy Dog certification this spring so they can go visit nursing homes and hospitals too.

We’ll keep you posted!

Dances With Dogs Retrievers would like to introduce our newest edition to the Dances family, Cherokee Farms Ceridwen or just Sweet Sarah to us. She is AKC registered as well as APR registered. She comes to us from Denver, Colorado. Sarah is a bit on the smaller side for a Wolfhound, she weighs in at 130 pounds and is 35 inches at her withers. But, she comes with Champions in her background and both her parents are OFA Excellent on hips. She is the sweetest girl, and she loves to jump on the couch with you. Not to lie down though, she jumps up and stands over you with a toy wagging her tail waiting to play.
 
Henry and Isabelle are growing literally every day. They are 7 months old now and Henry is already bigger at the withers than three-year old-Sarah. He is going to be a big fellow. Henry kind of marches to his own drum, slow and steady seems to be his motto, but when he lays his head in your lap his eyes are mesmerizing, you can almost see Medieval knights battling in the background. He has such ancient eyes, gentle and kind. Henry seems to learn lessons quicker than Isabelle.
 
Isabelle, sigh, Isabelle!! She is just a ball of curious energy. If something crashes, it’s Isabelle, if something gets mysteriously pulled off the counter top, it’s Isabelle, she just gets so interested in what all the other dogs are doing at dinner time she forgets to eat until we shoo every one else outside so she can eat her dinner. She is my shadow, if I move to another room so does Isabelle. Izzy has decided that it would just be rude to let me use the bathroom alone so she stuffs herself in the bathroom with me, so proud of herself. Getting Izzy to focus and learn tasks is a challenge. Henry walks along calmly on a leash; Izzy bounces just like Tigger all around you tying both of you up in the leash. Yes, in the photo (right) that is Isabelle with her head stuck between my knees. Sarah and Henry waited so patiently for the photo while we took pictures of Izzy’s hindquarters and everything else, until Kenny snapped this photo. It was so Isabelle! We just had to leave it as it was. She is a lover though, and stays close enough for me to reach down and scratch her ears at almost anytime. She sleeps with me on the couch; her dark eyes are filled with love and curiosity.
 


Sarah will be bred in January so watch for Wolfie puppies.

Isabelle and Henry are now 17 weeks old.

My how time flies! They are both about 27 inches at the shoulders and weigh about 60 pounds, Isabelle a little less. They literally grow everyday. The way they grow is at times genuinely hysterical. One day Izzy’s rear end will be all jacked up in the air, or right now Henry’s tongue has grown faster than his muzzle so it constantly hangs out just a bit, one day their tails will be dragging the floor and two days later their tails are 3 inches off the ground. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that they are already what would be considered a big dog, but they have tiny 17-week-old puppy brains full of fun and mischief. They have passed up the Retrievers in size, but still roam and play with their Labrador buddies.

Read More...

Our Wolfhound babies are finally here! Meet Isabelle and Henry.

We placed our deposits when one litter was two weeks old and the other litter three weeks old, knowing the wait to bring the newest members of Dances With Dogs Retrievers home would be excruciating!

Read More...