~*Sully*~ The Sweetheart Up-date

Hi Donna,
We just had Sully (A Sophie Pup) trimmed for the first time so that he would be more comfortable with the summer heat when he is outside. Steve said he looks like a hairy sausage with ears! He has always had a hint of brown on the top of his head, but now his body has a beautiful brown tone to it with black going right down the middle of his back.

He has been such a joy for us. We swear he understands everything we say to him. We went on vacation his past week and he stayed home with my mom. He was such good company for her and was the perfect guard dog.

Hope all is well with you and your family. I always enjoy looking at your site thinking about getting Sully a buddy.

Take care and have a great summer!

Suz

~* Milo *~ the love muffin Up-date

Dear Donna,
Milo (an Abigail puppy) is now over 8 months old, 20 lbs, and doing well. He was neutered last month, and is still the same happy playful puppy that my family picked up back in December 2005. The attached photos (one was taken in December - at 2 months of age, and the other is more recent - this past Memorial Day). Milo is a joy and blessing for the entire family and has helped us through our most difficult times. He has been the family cheerleader - keeping our spirits up throughout my father's illness and after his passing in February. A true city dweller, Milo doesn't like to get up out of bed before noon (he gets carried to the elevator banks), and can stay up playing well into the wee hours of the night. He goes out daily, and meets the other dogs in the neighborhood during our walks around the upper east side of Manhattan. He wants to play with everyone and kiss everyone. He doesn't bark much (except maybe at the passing pigeon on my balcony). He is well traveled, visiting my mother on Long Island and my sister in Philadelphia. He has ridden the NYC subway with me several times (in a pet carrier) - to Leashes and Lovers events, and to other destinations in the city, he has been riding in the car with a seatbelt harness, and he recently enjoyed an excursion out on a friend's motor boat. Nothing phases him - even the loudest of thunderstorms. With a wag of his tail and a kiss hello, all my troubles melt away the moment I step into my apartment after a long day at work.

Thank you,
Dalia

" An Absolutely Breath Taking Picture"

What a breath taking site I saw when I looked out the front window this morning!
I ran and got my camera and went outside and took a few pictures of this really beautiful Rainbow so I could share it with you all.
It was such a blessing today as I am feeling in the dumps.

My son (who is turning 17 on July 1st. - How is that possible ? - Where did those 17 years go!) left this morning for a football camp. It is an honor to be picked to go to this camp because you have to be choosen by the football coach to go and he sure is not an easy guy to impress. It has just been so hot here in Florida that I worry about them out there running around ect.... I am sure it will all work out just fine and he will have a great time! I am just being a worry wort Mom : )

I took the Zoe lads to the vet yesterday and had their tails docked and dewclaws removed, They checked out just great. We also found out Abigail who we had high hopes of being pregnant is not... : (

Best Wishes for a great weekend!
Donna

~* Mookie/Emmit Kraus *~ & ~* Davey/Belle Pohlman *~ Up-date

Hi Donna,
Here are some pictures of Davey (a Lucky pup) and Mookie (a Jezabelle
pup), along with their sister and brother Belle (A Sophie Pup) and Emmitt (A Jezabelle Pup). They seem to be getting along when they are all together. A little hectic, but manageable! They are all too cute.
I'll send more pictures as they continue to grow.
Take Care,
Jaime Kraus

~* Cooper *~ The Cutie Pie

Hi Donna,
More puppies! How exciting!!! Well Cooper (A Lucky Pup) is doing great! He is just the best puppy ever...everyone that meets him can't believe how loving and mellow he is. You really pegged him when you said he was on the quiet side - but when he's on fire watch out! He wrestles around with Bentley and Titan during the day and is so tuckered out at night that he sleeps until 6:00 a.m. or later! He is doing well with his training as well, but we do have some accidents here and there :) Overall, Cooper is such a wonderful match for Brian and I - thank you so much! I don't think it's possible for us to love him anymore than we already do :) I have attached some recent pictures of the little guy. Take care.
Best,
Erin Gallagher

The Lovely ~*Lily*~

Hi Donna,

Just a quick update on Lily (A Jezabelle Pup) - it can pretty much be summed up like this: she's the best puppy we could have ever asked for and we love her like crazy. She is so playful and incredibly smart; we even think she's started to learn her name. She bonded to us really fast, too (I think we should have named her Shadow, because that's what she is - a little shadow). She doesn't really like her crate (she won't usually go in on her own), but when we put her in there at night or for an hour or two during the day, she just whines for about 10 minutes and then settles down to eat or play with her toys. She is so funny when introduced to new things (empty water bottles, her hairbrush, fire hydrants), and she's definitely a crowd pleaser. We've taken her to Petco and to two assisted living/nursing home facilities, and everyone just goes crazy over her. And she's very receptive and friendly to strangers, which is great. Sam's parents come visit her during the day and she loves his whole family (and they love her!)

We knew we'd love having a puppy, but we had no idea how much we'd love her - you really made a perfect match. (I now need to start working on convincing everyone that she should have some four-legged company in the form of another Town and Country Schnoodle!) :-)

Thanks again for such a great little friend. Hope everyone in your family - canine and otherwise - is doing well.

Best wishes,

Erica

~*Bandit*~ & His cat sister Up-date

Thanks so much for the information on how Bandit (A Lucky Pup) and Amber (His sister the cat) can get along I will start doing it . Here is something I am sure all the schnoodle owners would like to know. Since I have had Bandit we only bath him in onganix Thera Neem Oil shampoo $11.25 in the health food store also I put on him the conditioner and I sprinkle the Neem Bark powder same price . I have never put advantage or any other pesticide on him or my lawn. I live in Fla where you know fleas are a problem. This product also can be ordered if people dont have a health food store near them The phone # is 1-888-989-neem. I swear by this product. He is one of the family and I treat him as such. I bath him every 2 weeks. The stuff they are selling
is not safe for our pets. And thank you for giving me all the good advice since I have Bandit. He is The love of our life.
Your web blog is the best. .The pups are beautiful you put all your love in them and it shows. Thanks Again Bandit & Julia Don

~* Patches *~ Up-date

Donna,
Just wanted to give you a quick update. Patches (A Jezabelle Pup) is doing great
and had his first well puppy visit. He is perfectly healthy (but you knew
that) and charmed everyone at the vets. Molly Bloom, our Sheltie, is warming up
to him and they play together now. He is even sleeping through the night
already. We had a few accidents this weekend but mostly because our schedule was
off. He is just the funniest little dog! I think his nickname may end up being
"squeak" as he has found his bark already. No pictures this time, maybe next.
Lisette

An Up-date on ~* Davey *~

HI Donna,

Things are going really well with Davey (A Lucky Puppy) and Belle (A Sophie Pup). They get along fine and Belle is only as rough as Davey is when they play. We have them in the same crate at night and it is working well. Davey usually sleeps until he hears one of the kids. It is funny to see them in the crate together-- Belle looks at us as if to say "you're really leaving him in here with me"!

Getting a puppy in the summer is so much easier than the winter (we picked Belle up on Jan. 29, 2005). We are naturally outside a lot more so there is less opportunity for Davey to have an accident in the house- although we have had some. It is also easier because he follows Belle around so whenever she wants to go out he goes out too.

I will send pictures as soon as I have them developed.

Take care,

Alison Pohlman

~* Lily *~ Up-date

Hi Donna -

I see the pictures are posted, so your travelers must have returned safely!!! Please tell Tom and Kelly thank you again - they were just fantastic. Kelly is so professional and does all of her adoption day duties really well. It was very organized and easy. And we love the folder of information with all of the cheerful stickers and good information.

Lily (A Jezabelle Pup) went to the vet yesterday and got a clean bill of health - he especially commented on how healthy her teeth are. We left her alone for about seven hours yesterday, interrupted by two visits from Sam's dad (about 45 min each), and she did GREAT. Not one accident in the house, nothing chewed up - and she didn't even seem too mad at us when we got home! I hope today goes as well as yesterday. She's getting the hang of going out on the leash, and is very receptive to new people. She's so friendly and sweet and adorable, I know that as soon as we can take her out for walks in the neighborhood we're going to make lots of new friends!!

We couldn't have asked for a better puppy. I will try to attach more pictures to another email tonight, in case the one I sent yesterday didn't come through.

Thanks again for everything - this whole transition has been so much easier than we expected (for us and for Lily)!

Best wishes,

Erica

What Weather We are Having!

Thank you for the e-mails asking about our weather here and my travelers making their way back home.
We have been having bands of crazy wild weather! We have had heavy rain with very windy conditions, also our power went out for about 2 hours earlier today.
I have heard from my travelers - Tom, Kelly & Simon our trying to make their way back home, but it looks like they will be stopping for another night out. They are running right into the bands of this storm. My worry is that they will be facing this storm tomorrow too!
I will keep you up-dated on the progress of their trip.
Take care,
Donna

~Bella~ Joins the Rothfeld Family

Hi Donna,
Thanks for writing us. Yes, we arrived home safely. Bella (Lucky Pup) was very sweet in the car ride home. She was either giving kisses to the girls, or sleeping soundly on their laps. Last night was rough, but we are hopeful for better nights soon. We are working on learning to go outside, but so far, she thinks it is just for having fun. How frequently was she fed and how much at a time?
Thanks so much. We love our little Bella.
Bev Rothfeld

~Buddy~ joins the Terpning Family

Hi Donna!
Sorry I didn't get to you last night. We got home fine. Buddy (A Lucky Pup) was a prince in the car. He was a little shy yesterday, but at night he slept well and this morning he was full of zoom. I can't believe how fast he settled in. He is just so sweet and affectionate. We all love him.
Thank you so much!
Ingelora

~Daisy~ joins the Abernethy Family

Donna,
Sorry I didn't get to email you last night, but my laptop's battery
was drained when we got home and the charger was at work. Daisy (A Jezabelle Pup) is awesome! Everyone loves her! I will send you a more detailed post
and some pics later this evening.
Thanks,
Barry Abernethy

~Patches~ joins the Carrithers Family

Donna,
Well, I had every intention of writing as soon as we got home but the dayslipped away. Patches (A Jezabelle Pup) is great and has adjusted beautifully already. He has eaten his dry food like a chubby little puppy without any problems and even hada bath! I don't think he loved that but he was a trooper and smells much better.He loves the toys you sent with him. It is funny, my husband who was the leastthrilled with the idea of a puppy has bonded hard with the little guy alreadyand is complete mush- totally blows his disaffected doctor cover! I'm going totry to attach some pics, hope it works! Your husband and daughter were great andI hope they get home before the storm!Hey no accidents yet either!(knocking on wood as I type) Lisette Carrithers

~Rainbow Pup~ Joins the Meisenholder Family

Hi Donna,
Thank you very much for the puppy, she is home and doing well! she was very happy and wasnt nervous at all on the ride home, very playful once we got home and eating without a problem! thanks again, David Meisenholder

~Rizzo~ Joins the Wetmore Family

Hi Donna,
We finally made it back to MA with our new puppy who've we've decided to name "Rizzo" (A Lucky Pup). Sandy (A Gidget Pup) is curious about her new sister and they were already chasing each other around outside. We'l be taking a million pictures soon and we will forward them along to you. Please thank Tom for waiting for us after our car trouble. This whole experience was as wonderful as it was last time.
We love the folder with the 2 puppy pictures on it!!
Thanks again and we'll be in touch soon.

~Cooper~ joins the Gallagher-Dubuc Family

Hi Donna!
Well we made it home - and the boys are so adorable! They romped around the car and slept most of the way home with little or no whining. They had a few accidents when we got home but that is to be expected :) They have also drank plenty of water and nibbled on their food. Cooper (A Lucky Pup) is more than we could ask for! He is the sweetest little thing - made with an extra cup of sugar :) It is priceless to see Cooper, Bentely (A Rainbow Pup - who is going to live with Brain's mom & Dad), and Titan playing together. Thank you so much for giving us these wonderful little guys! Everything was great - Tom and your daughter were so nice and informative about the dogs...I don't know how they could say bye to all those little cherubs. Thanks again! We will be in touch!
Best,
Erin Gallagher and Brian Dubuc

~Mookie~ joins the Kraus Family

Hi Donna,
We arrived home safely with the puppies. Both Mookie (A Jezabelle Pup) and Davey slept on the ride home. When we got home, Emmitt (A Jezabelle Pup) and Mookie got aquainted.
Emmitt sniffed Mookie curiously. He's still a little unsure of him, but
he's warming up nicely. Mookie toured the house and backyard. He
seemed to enjoy being outside. He ate lunch and dinner and took a few naps
in between. We hope he sleeps through the night as well. We want to
thank you again for the opportunity to adopt again. We love having both
dogs!!
Just a quick question... I know I have to feed Mookie 3 times a day,
but how many scoops does he get? I forgot since last year.
I forgot to thank you for Emmitt's gifts. He loves them!!
Thanks,
I'll email you some pictures soon.
Jaime Kraus

~Lily~ joins the Hochberg Family

Hi Donna!

Just wanted to report that Lily (Jezabelle's #2) has arrived home safely. She slept most of the way home, aside from two rest stops where she had a drink and did her business. Now she and Sam are rolling around on the kitchen floor, wrestling with a stuffed soccer ball (I think she's getting ready for the world cup!).

Thanks for making everything so easy - the packet of information was really helpful, and she loves all of the toys, and it was great to meet Kelly and your husband. He is so nice and gave us lots of great information.

She has her first vet appointment on Tuesday, and she seems like a totally happy, curious, fun pup. We'll keep you posted on her progress, and I'll send pictures as soon as I get them developed!

Thanks again!

Erica and Sam

~Davey~ joins the Pohlman Family

Hi Donna,

We made it home safe and sound! The puppy did fine on the ride home. He even slept next to Mookie for a while. We have named him Davey. Belle (A Sophie Pup) is doing okay with him so far. I will keep you updated.

Thanks,

Alison

~Shayna~ has joined the Schoulder Family

Hi Donna!!!

We just wanted to let you know that we (myself, Michelle, Murray & Shayna) arrived home safely today. She is just so precious and brings back so many great memories of that first day when we brought Murray (A Sophie Pup) home. She made herself right at home, making pee pee after pee pee after pee pee!! We almost forgot about that part of puppies too!!

Murray is slowly warming up to Shayna (A Lucky Pup). He doesn't quite know what to make of her. He has progressed from ignoring her to peeking at her to sniffing around her. Murray doesn't stand a chance of not loving her as much as we arleady do because even as this is our first day together, Shayna has a way of melting hearts.

We will forward some pictures soon.

Many thanks to your entire family for bringing another bundle of joy into our lives.

Our very best,
Andrew, Michelle, Murray & Shayna

~Scout~ & her sister ~Shelby~

Hi Donna!

Well, Shelby (A Gidget pup) and Scout (A Lucky Pup) are doing GREAT!! Yes, Scout. Can you believe we changed her name, AGAIN!? We did not get a nice response from people about Snickers, so Scout it is (I loved the book To Kill a Mockingbird and the little tomboy girl in that book is named Scout).

Anyway, I swear Scout already knows her name! It was nice seeing Tom again and meeting your daughter (and Simon!) Thank them again for the gifts for Shelby, she loves them!

I keep Scout in the kitchen sometimes, but right after she has done her business I let Scout and Shelby play together. I don’t know if it’s because they have the same daddy (Sunny) or what, but they act so bonded! They just play and play and play and the crash, and then start all over. Their tails wag the ENTIRE time!

I took Tom’s suggestion and put their crates next to each other. Last night they both slept from 10-6:30! We are crate training Scout and she has not gone in their once, she is so smart just like Shelby.

Attached are some photos of the two playing together (that was the very first night!)

Thanks again for the second wonderful addition to our home!

Stephanie (and Steve, Shelby, Scout) Doyle J

~Louie~ & String don't mix!

Right after I posted on the website the new page "Living and Learning with your pup:
http://www.townncountryschnoodles.com/LovingLearningwithyourPuppy.html which one of the topics it covers is Puppy Proofing your home - I received an up-date from Kris about her man Louie (A Jezabelle Pup). She stated that two weeks ago Louie gave them a scare, He ate some string and had to spend a day at the vet's office! So you can see these things can happen at any age not just puppies.

~Bandit~ & His sister the cat are not getting along any ideas....

Hi Donna,
Do you have any solutions on getting a cat and dog together, I've tried but Bandit (A Lucky Pup) just takes off like a bat and of cause the cat runs away. Tonite I had him on a leash in the living room ,and she was on the arm of the couch, and I know if I didn't have the leash he would of taking off. He is such a great dog in every other way. I would just like them to get along that they could both be in the room at the same time. I hope I am not being a pain writing you . She just wont stay still once he is off the leash . Or should I just let him chase her around for a couple of days until he get tired of doing it. The new pups are great wish I could have more than one there so cute.
Thanks for listening Bandits Mom Julia
***********************************************************
I found this info. below on a website, maybe it might help - Our dogs kinda pest our cat Joe too, but we just let them roam around the house together. When they get a bit rough for Joe he let's them know it by giving one hiss and then his nails are coming out.
If anyone has any other tips or ideas for Julia please send them to me and I will forward them to her.
Introducing Your New Dog to Cats
You'll need a highly controlled environment to introduce your new dog to a cat. It helps to have two people so that one person can hold the new dog while the other praises each animal.
Keep the dog on leash. A chase may ensue only if the cat runs, but dogs with a stronger prey drive pose a greater threat. Firmly correct your dog at the first hint of undesired behavior, and don't unleash her around your cat until they are interacting calmly.
While you shouldn't keep the pets entirely apart, make sure you are supervising when they are in the same room in case trouble breaks out. Warning signs in cats include a direct stare, elevated hindquarters, and fur standing on end. If the pets seem to be accepting each other, praise each animal and reward them with treats and petting.
Litterbox accidents are likely, since cats will be disturbed about the newcomer. Your cat may hide or seek higher ground for days or weeks until she is ready to accept the dog. Make sure she has places to retreat that the dog cannot access. Also be sure to block the dog's access to the cat's food and litterbox. You can attach a bell to the new dog's collar to keep track of his whereabouts.
Be careful not to praise undesired behaviors. For example, petting and soothing an agitated or growling animal will reinforce the wrong response. Reward only calm, desirable or at least neutral behavior.
A dog with a high prey drive can be taught to coexist with cats; this requires concentrated practice involving the assistance of another person. First, you must train your dog to understand and obey the "Leave it" or "No" command. Put a training collar and leash on the dog and place him in a sit/stay. The other person stands at a distance, holding the cat. Do a firm leash correction at the start of any suspicious behavior and firmly state "Leave it" (or "No"). Praise and treat your dog for remaining calm and in the sit position. When the dog behaves, the other person can move closer; praise or correct the dog as needed. Continue for 15 minutes and try to end the training session on a positive note.
Training a dog to leave small animals alone requires patience, as it can take weeks. For the animals' safety, don't leave them alone together, and separate them at mealtime.

A Reference Letter from Harpo's Mom (4/25/06)

This is a reference sent to an inquiring new puppy family by Harpo's mom - Marie.
Harpo is a pup from Abigail & Sunny
*************************************************************************************

Dear Ms Hathaway,
I apologize in advance for a short answer to your questions. This is a very busy time for my organization and I spend my evenings at my computer working. But in a nutshell here are the answers to your questions:When I am ready for a second pet, I'll go straight back to Town and Country Schnoodle and get another one of their babies. Everything you read on their website is true. Harpo, a 15 month-old chocolate puff, is 15lbs of sweetness. He is smart (learns fast), athletic ( outruns all the Dobermans and Retrievers on the dog run because he has the light built and long legs of a poodle), sociable ( hugs all that is alive and comes near hugging distance of his front paws), and loving (would cuddle with us around the clock if we let him). He is the toast of the neighborhood. He stops traffic (literally :-)). He makes passers-by smile. In addition he seldom barks (mainly to indicate he wants to play), he doesn't shed and takes grooming and bathing very well. Did I mention that he is gorgeous and that his coat is like a silk velvet? I have nothing remotely negative to say about Town and Country Schnoodles. I don't even have an advice for you because if you just follow their guidelines, you'll be fully satisfied. Donna is available at all times. Before, during, and after the purchase of the puppy. I could go on for ever on the topic of Town and Country quality of service, but I really have to stop now. All I can say is that you will not be disappointed.
Hope that helps.
Marie

~Midnight~ Up-date (4/3/06)

Donna,
It looks like your crew had a busy week! 10 baby Schnoodles within two days. Wow.
Midnight (A Zoe Pup) is thriving. She’s still at about 8.5 pounds, bouncy, and full of energy and love. She’s turned out to be even greyer than her mom, Zoe. While absolutely adorable with her long winter coat, she much prefers a short do during the hot summer months (my daughter gave her a good clipping last week). As small as our little girl is, that haircut (about 3 inches off everywhere) makes a huge difference in her size—and makes her look more like a schnauzer.
Take care—and keep up the good work.
Joy

Loving & Learning with your Puppy

Hello there Town and Country Schnoodle Families & future Families,
Well it's count down time now for this batch of love muffins to go to their forever homes.....
I sure hope all you families who are getting a puppy this time are resting up : )
I have added a new page to the website with some helpful tips & links you might want to take a peek at it covers puppy proofing your home, What items around your house that might be poison to your puppy ect...., I will add more soon: http://www.townncountryschnoodles.com/LovingLearningwithyourPuppy.html
Take care,
Donna