Hey World Here I Am...8 months Old

I just turned 8 months old. Feeling good...Looking good...and Ready to Go!!!

O'Boy ,O'Boy My Own Pumpkin

Mom and Dad bought Parker and me Pumpkins because they said something about today being Halloween (whatever that is?). All I know is that this orange round thing with stringy cold stuff in it was alot of fun to play with and eat!

Fall 2009

The leaves are falling and its getting cooler...I don't mind that too much! I really don't like the heat unless I can swim ..which I love to do! My sister Parker and I always play ball..well really tug...she usually lets me win but sometimes she puts up a real struggle...just to test me!

6 Months Old

I am now 6 months old! I'm about 91 lbs and getting taller all the time. Parker can't push me around (all the time) now! Look how handsome I am!

My Puppy Class

On August 30, 2009 I graduated from my first puppy class. Rich was my instructor and he is nice and really likes me! When I got to my first class most of the puppies were much smaller than I was so their owners got a little scared and thought I was the big dopey new kid who didn't pass and was back again! Well, I put on my best behavior and won them over and made lots of new friends ! There was Tucker, Violet, (my favorite), Maui, and Daisy. Here are some pictures of graduation day!

4 Month Birthday Pictures

I thought I would like to show everyone my monthly birthday picture taken on June 27, 2009!

I am now officially 4 months old! What do you think?

Dirt Ball Before & After

Well ..the other day I really distinguished myself and earned the nickname Mom gave me...."Dirt Ball". I don't see what the big deal was..it was raining then the sun came out and I got hot so I crawled under the deck and scratched in the dirt to cool myself! I was pretty comfortable but Oh boy was Mom surprised! For my next trick maybe I'll learn to oink!

Swimming? Not so sure yet

My big sister Parker LOVES to swim. She races around the deck of the pool and will jump in (most of the time) to get something that my mom or dad have thrown in. I have fallen in a couple of times...but I'm not scared. I just don't think that I'm going to start jumping into water to retrieve some silly little object! I might just wait until Parker brings it to me though!

Look 'Ma' you were right...My ears are up!

Lots of people were doubting that my ears would come up. But when my mom asked Ma Shiloh the breed founder of the ISSR Shiloh Shepherd, she said just to be patient and guess what??? they came up about 2 weeks ago when I was 14 weeks! I think I look quite regal! My mom says I look like a dirt ball cuz I'm always sleeping in the mud! Hey its cooler!

Rabies Shot Ouch!

Today, Monday, June 15th I got to go for a ride with my Mom. We left early (after a really good breakfast) and I got to sleep while Mom drove. We went to see the Dr. Vet who takes care of me. Everyone in the office was so excited to see me and said how BIG and handsome I am. I got on the scale and weighed 45.5 lbs! ( I don't think I have to go on a diet yet though!) Everybody in the office was amazed at my ears! I don't think they believed Ma Shiloh that it just takes time and patience to wait for the best...Shiloh Shepherds of course!
Then..some lady stuck two needles into each of my hips!!!!!! The 1st was my lyme booster and that was OK...BUT..the 2nd was a rabies and that HURT! I was pretty brave but I am only 15 weeks old and had to let out a "little" yip! My mom held me and talked to me the whole time AND gave me some treats so it didn't hurt for too long...Don't think I want to do that again too soon!

Busy Pack Weekend

My extended pack came home this weekend! Christopher & Brooke and Peter & Lisa. They came to see my/our parents, Liz and Chip, because they were going to have a party (something called a shower) to welcome babies into our pack later this summer! It was really busy but fun too. I got to go into the pool (twice because I fell in chasing after Parker)...Christopher pulled me out both times but I wasn't too sure what the big deal was except everyone said I wasn't too strong a swimmer (yet)! Then I got carried into the pool and got to cool off..It was awesome..I was getting really hot! Lots of people came to the house and thought I was really cute..I think so too! My ear is often up now and EVERYONE comments about how "mellow" and easy I am! (They just don't see me all the time when I'm torturing Parker, running away from Mom when she calls me, and teething on some of the wicker furniture!) It was really fun! I was sad to see some of my pack members go to their homes in Boston, Ma. and Savannah, Ga! I think I really like them and parties too!

Holy Cow ! I'm not supposed to be the chew toy!

Sometimes I think Parker forgets that I'm a real puppy rather than a chew toy... mmmm...May-be she doesn't!

Growing, Growing and...

Dakota :
9 weeks- 19 lbs
10 weeks-24.5 lbs
11 weeks- 27 lbs
12 weeks- 31.4 lbs
13 weeks- 36.1 lbs
14 weeks- 41 lbs
15 weeks- 45.5 lbs
16 weeks- 50 lbs
17 weeks- 54.4 lbs
18 weeks- 60 lbs
18 1/2 weeks- 62.8 lbs
Next update: July 27, 2009...5 months old!

Dakota's Homecoming

Dakota was formally adopted on May 2, 2009 by Liz & Chip. At 9 weeks of age he made the trip from Western New York to Eastern New York a 5+ hour drive. He was a little (really alot) verbal as he left New Zion and Liz, new mom, was a little concerned that it was going to be a REALLY LONG trip home. But in true Shiloh fashion Dakota talked a little every hour or so and kept a lookout the entire way home. (Probably making sure he could find his way back in case he didn't like his new home....Very Smart! but definitely NOT necessary...he loves his new family!)

As soon as we pulled into the driveway, new dad, Chip was there to greet us and take pictures! Then of course there is my new sister a REALLY BIG (uh-oh) German Shepherd named Parker...(not too sure how thrilled she is to see me here..but I'll try hard to win her over!)

Dakota...Previously Known As Marty

Dakota was born on February 27, 2009 at New Zion Kennels, Fillmore, NY. Home of Shiloh Shepherd Breed Founder Tina Barber better known as "Ma Shiloh". He was one of 2 puppies whose dam is Dora and sire is Acer. He is a black and gray dual ISSR Shiloh Shepherd. Shiloh Shepherds are "the real deal" and so is Dakota!