Friends….we all need them, same for our dogs. Always nice to hang out with those that accept you being “you”. During Sammy’s last visit Rocky and him did not enjoy being around one another.

Poor Sammy….last few years during his visit he has had to adjust to the pack size, as well as the pack dynamics. Last visit the pack size was just three, and through Sammy’s eyes….there was this young, big Golden thinking he was in charge.

Little dog syndrome…..Sammy puffed up and went after Rocky, he thought he would teach him a thing or two….of course there was a gate separating them…and Rocky was unafraid….actually it made him go into full attack mode. Mike was right there and sadly, was frightened that Sammy would get injured for he can stick his nose through the gate opening….Mike pushed Rocky out of the way and Rocky was just snapping….and yes, he bit Mike….bad, bad dog. This was a very serious situation. Rocky not even a year old had not ever shown any aggression….he went into full throttle in such a short duration. No dogs were injured and as soon as I made it into the room Both dogs kenneled up. Now I was not there to see what happened….no doubt it could have been prevented….so now….one bite. It will not ever happen again….while training had already been introduced…..time to roll up the sleeves and work harder.

Rocky as a puppy showed little interest in dogs other then those in his pack…..pretty much ignoring them….so unlike the typical goldens I have known. Even with people….a bit stand offish….within a few weeks to the biting incident he also growled at a woman that had come to pick up her painting….his health….allergies and pano. …which he has experienced since I brought him home.

Fast forward to Sammy’s current visit…. This visit they (Rocky & Sammy) have been walked together a few times, I have allowed contact in the yard, however Sammy is not reliable with all of his commands when with the other dogs…..I sense him not trusting me to control the situation. Several months ago Sammy was attacked while out walking with his person by two large loose dogs….he would prefer not to be in a large dogs company. Since he is not my dog….I have not pushed the issue. Keeping the duration that they are together short.. Rocky can go about his business…play, chew sticks….with what seems a normal curiosity to Sammy.

Photographs were taken with an older Nikon point and shoot digital camera….the fist photograph Sammy remained by the back door….the second he felt a little more comfortable and moved away from the door, thrid image he actually left the patio and was even closer to the other dogs. Soon after the last photo was taken I brought Sammy in for his afternoon nap….he is curled up, sound a sleep. Maybe one day they can be friends….or not, they just need to behave.

Keep your dogs playful and active, especially well into the senior years…Oh….and know that obedience training is for the life of the dog and can be a fun way to spend time together.

Contact Dee to Commission work.

The color Red…

can be warm…hot…Fire.

Feelings and emotions of

Anger, Desire, Passion…Love…

All shades of Red.

Strength…our beating heart…

Joy, friendship…femininity… Courage…Longing…

All that can be conjured up by

The Color Red!

With the warmer temperatures this afternoon I was in the moood for photographing a few flowers. While spring is not yet here, I just happened to have a few flowers from Valentines day. Opened the blinds, placed the flowers on a dog crate near the light from the window and managed a few great shots. All images were taken with a Nikon D300 and a macro lens.

***As with all images and paintings found on the Paw Prints Studio Site, Images belong to Paw Prints Studio, INC. You may not borrow, use or place on other sites, print, etc. Most images and paintings are for sale, if interested just contact us.

Contact Dee to Commission work.

Life Is Short is a whimsical painting of a Golden sitting on the Pause Table (Agility) when a lovely butterfly passes over head distracting the dog…for the dog knows it is most  important to enjoy life to it’s fullest….always taking time to play, wag and sniff….whenever, wherever!
Available as an 8 x 10 print, coffee mug and tee shirt. Purchase all three together for just $75.00 plus shipping and handling, and save $15.00 ($30.00 each).

To Purchase, please visit our store:

Paw Prints Store

Contact Dee to Commission work.

I hope all of my friends have a Happy Valentines Day. I hope someone did something special for you today…and vice a versa…or maybe just do something nice for yourself!  I have never really been a big fan of Valentines day….although I like the idea of wishing all a Happy Valentines rather then just that special someone, although that is nice as well.  The above image was taken with a  Nikon d300, wide angle lens….oh and the use of a few small pieces of hot dog was used…hey Rocky demands treats when he works

Below, something special I made  as a Valentines gift….a good meal, good wine and a wonderful desert…what a great gift. The desert is not low cal….but oh my, very yummy (recipe follows).

Tiramisu….rather then use lady fingers crushed Amaretti cookies were used (if using the crushed cookies you do not need as much of the coffee and rum…and I went to the local coffee shop for the espresso…cookies were purchased online, although you could make them yourself).

6 egg yolks (room temp), 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup good dark rum, 1 1/2 cup brewed expresso, 16 oz. mascarpone cheese, 30 itl. ladyfingers…or crushed amaretti cookies, shaved bittersweet chocolate.

Whisk the yolks and sugar on high for five minutes until thick and light. Lower speed to med. and add 1/4 cup coffee and 1/4 cup dark rum, cheese…whisk until smooth.  Dip one side of the lady finger in remaining coffee and rum mixture…line a bowl (or a layer of crushed cookies….drizzle rum/coffee mixture over the crushed cookies). Pour cheese mixture….then repeat with a layer of lady fingers, or cookies….more cheese. Top with crushed cookie and shaved chocolate. refrigerate over night….then enjoy!

Contact Dee to Commission work.

Love is like a single Red Rose….

So beautiful to behold,

It’s fragrance, Oh it’s fragrance…

so subtle…sensual…

Breath in deeply it’s perfume

and allow it to cloud your senses.

So very delicate that with each passing day…

time takes its toll…

Petals float to the ground, one by one….

leaving nothing more then a stem and thorns.

Love is like a single Red Rose….

So Beautiful to behold!

Happy Valentines Day!

Yes…a couple of days early….still taking a a little time off….sort of anyway. Don’t forget to do something wonderful for that special someone….Gift Certificates are available for Valentines Day!!

Contact Dee to Commission work.

Time goes by so very quickly….Sammy and I are very old friends. He has been visiting me and my pack for many years now. Yesterday was Sammy’s 10th Birthday, he is spending it with me because his people are on vacation for two weeks. In celebration we did a few of his favorite things….went for a few walks, ran with Niki and Gemma and did a little bird watching, kept the squirrels away from the bird feeder. All in all….it was pretty good day. Happy Birthday Sammy

The above portrait was taken with a Nikon D300, 70-200….below, Nikon D300 with a sigma wide angle….birds Nikon D300, 70-200 lens.

** Our beloved furry friends are with us for such a short time, do not miss an opportunity to photograph (check our class schedule on How to take better photographs of out furry friends) or make an appointment with Dee to have your furry friend photographed, remember….February’s special savings is $25.00 off the sitting fee.

Contact Dee to Commission work.

After having problems with the site….took the rest of the day and just hung out with the dogs…playing, doing agility and a little bird watching.

Contact Dee to Commission work.

****Update….OK, so not even 3:00 PM on a Friday and web site woes fixed. Poor guy who designed this site is no doubt very much wishing I would disappear just like my sidebar issue Glad all is now well. I was  also given  the code so if this happens again….hmmm could it happen again, I can fix it myself….hoping it does not happen again the fix was $50.00. Fast and efficient….what more could you ask for. Several things I would like changed about this site….in time it will be the way I want.

Once again I find myself in a pickle….this morning found me with time to spare so I decided to work on the web site….connection kept timing out. I could go anywhere on the web, just NOT my site. So….every once in a while gave it a try….finally managed to get in. I was trying to add an image to a text box….and the html was incorrect…and got an error, then once again it times out. So….having had enough, thought I would try to get in to remove the box so as there would be no errors showing, get in remove the text box and poof….times out. Visit the site once more to see if before it timed out it actually removed the box and boy, what a surprise, not only did it remove the text box, but the entire left side bar…just vanished…..what a mess. Now….I have had a web site or two and I have never had sooooo many issues as I am having with this site. I keep looking to my little story board from the other day…..thinking positive thoughts….but my mind keeps drifting to I really should have taken the entire day off Which is what I am going to do now….sunny out…so getting my camera, the puppies and heading out. Hopefully the individual who put this together has a clue and will fix this….’til then….I know it is just a little tough now to navigate around, hope to have it fixed ASAP, with it being Friday….well who knows.

The above image is actually a painting I did a year or so ago…decided to make a sign out of it to use on the site (how I got into the vanishing side bar trouble). This will also be available on teeshirts, sweatshirts and coffee mugs….coming soon.

All images…photographs and Paintings are property of Paw Prints Studio, INC and cannot be used with out permission.

 Contact Dee to Commission work.

That is what I did this afternoon…and also took the day off tomorrow.

Niki is slowly coming back from her set back of a few weeks ago. I am unsure of just what she does, twists wrong….but it sure slows her down and I always wonder if she will make it back to where we were.  Once again, time will tell.  Sun was shining… play and agility was a must. I must admit, my dogs are more then a little spoiled. Now…while they have a good amount of toys, that is not at all what I am talking about. They get my time…one on one and as a pack. Daily exercise, training and play….pretty darn spoiled if you ask me!

Online Dog Obedience will be starting up again… very soon.

Contact Dee to Commission work.

Like so many that are self employed I have been a bit worried about the economy. While I do not at the moment have any employees….my company consists of me, myself and I….going out of business is not an option. Still I cannot deny the fact that I am actually seeing a decrease in business….and that more people are grumbling over prices, money issues of their own. People trying their best to negotiate lower prices….sigh, it is not that I am unsympathetic to everyone’s financial issues….I too must put food on the table, and care for the three dogs as well….not to mention pay the dreaded “Bills”. As an artist….well not really sure one needs to “purchase” my services or products, although surrounding yourself with pretty paintings, and portraits of those you love will make your living space one that is a joy to be in

I am NOT a financial expert…still, I hear so much negativity….these are indeed scary times…..but I wonder, do they really have to be? Below are just A few things I have been doing….

*Support you local small businesses.

*Support your local Artists. Many of the prints, artwork purchased through many stores, flea markets…well so many artists here in the states have such wonderful artwork for sale, for those on a budget most also sell prints. Even I sell prints which are printed on Epson paper and sold through the
Paw Prints Store.

*Buy American Made products whenever you can….
<<I go more then out of my way on this one. Harder to do these days for we are no longer buying US made products….and when we complain about it….well it is our own spending habits that have been the cause. The American companies have left the states for inexpensive labor and we have gobbled it up for cheaply made products where employees make next to nothing….cause and effect dear friends.>

So…now back to the secret….while grooming Niki the other day, due to her being partially paralyzed her coat must be kept short due to sanitary reasons….I also had the TV on….Oprah to be exact. I never get to watch daytime TV…..I was not really paying attention for grooming Niki is a challenge (she is very hyper sensitive to the touch along some areas of her spine and her rear legs).

I overheard them discussing the Secret and how it changed their lives….now I could not stop and pay attention….got the jest and moved on to the chore at hand….made a mental note to look up Oprahs web site and get the info. I ordered one of the books that was being discussed…then looked up info on the net.

This morning I made a little story board of my wants and desires… mine was pretty modest….sort of like writing goals. On my board is a computer for I am in the market for one (wanting an Apple), I would like to sell more prints, create more portraits and paintings…..a larger studio .office…..on a beach, or in the mountains On my board I also placed heath issues for I have been so struggling to take better care of myself, loose weight…..get organized in all areas. The board is about your hopes, dreams and possibilities, or making all a possibility….Being POSITIVE and Thankful. As I await the arrival of my books I would hope that many of my blog readers are doing the same (if so share your tale), or for those that are interested…..give it a try….take control of your life, your not alone, I am on the same journey!

The Secret can be purchased through the Paw Prints Book Store. (Just click on Paw Prints Book Store and it will take you directly to The Secret).
If purchasing book through Amazon, please do so through our site so that we can get “credit” for it.