Monty

Here's Monty out back watching his friends!  He had a great weekend.

Our Guest Angel

Amy with Missy and Monty

A weekend guest

Amy dog sat a friends chocolate lab - Angel for the weekend.  A whole new experience.  The two dogs got along great and played with each other.  At one point, while outside a dog named Missy came by and the three played. Of course they were playing by Amy and jumping all over her.    I enjoyed having a second dog in the house although our cat Sundae would beg to differ.  She was non too thrilled with the added house guest.

Monty Playing in the Dog Park

The Dog Park

Monty has been with us for a year but he is still having new adventures.  We took him to a dog park recently. He loved running with new friends.  Of course he lived up to his nickname "Sir Marksalot".  He ran and played until he came up to my feet and literally PLOPPED down.  He had so much fun, we'll bring him back on other weekends.  The park was clean and right by a river.  A great photo op, although that day, we just did the park.

One Year!

Today, Monty has been our dog for a full year.  It's the longest he's been anywhere.  He was rescued when he was 9 months old.  We got him just after he turned one year.  Now, he's been here a year.  What a year!  After months of anticipation, he picked him up and brought him home.  Started training, classes, bonding, then took him with us to so many places: airport, beach, long walks, the pond.  Then he took ill and I feared the worse, but like so many Britts, he fought to live.  We finally got him eating... a bit too much because he got to be a bit of a barrel. He ran on top of  and through the snow... when he wasn't eating it.   Now that the warmer weather's here, he's running off the extra pounds.

He is loved.  He is family.  I can't imagine life without him.  I can't thank NBRAN and his foster Mom enough.  They took care of my dog!  Tonight, I will make a donation to NBRAN in appreciation for all they do for the dogs in need of a home.

A good roll

with the nice weather, the snow is gone, leaving us with dry grass and dirt.  Monty loves rolling in it.  Here's his back after one good roll.  The stuff sticks like velcro.  Only a brushing gets this out.  Monty is now a very well brushed dog!

Fetch or Keep Away?

Great day to play with Monty.  First I went out to take photos of new spring shoots (to be posted later on my facebook page Lisa B. Merrill Photography).  As always I "get lost" taking photos so when I finished and called for Monty... no response.  Nowhere to be seen.  I was heartsick....sure he'd crossed over the fence after something and was running.  I went to get Jay and there was Monty, lying by the back door, looking at me as if to say "where have you been, I'm bored"   Later we went out to play fetch.  He has a very interesting version of the game.  He runs after the ball, gets it brings it almost within reach, and won't let you take it.   A turn of the head, and short run around you and sitting again... just out of reach.  We are working on drop it.  But I think he likes the keep away version!

Two Year Old

As near as we can figure, Monty turned two yesterday!!!  It so nice after what he's been through that at two he is healthy (ok, he can still afford to lose some pounds), happy and still follows me around like a puppy.  I think through this winter he has totally lost all of his leash manners so its time to start working on that again. I want to celebrate his birthday this weekend with time at the dog park in Hooksett!  Hope its not snowing!

Happy Birthday Monty!

My very own dog park?

I brought Monty out to play this afternoon and all of a sudden this young pup comes running into the yard.  A few sniffs and they became friends and were running through the yard like crazy.  While rolling over in play, I noticed the new friend was a she.  It took lots of running, but I finally was able to grab her enough to read her tag, she belongs to neighbors down the street but had not intention of being held.  She ran off.  Monty, I'm proud to say stayed in the yard.  I hope he would do that if I wasn't with him. She kept running in and out of the yard, playing with Monty.   He whined when he couldn't follow her.  I threw the tennis ball, she wasn't interested.  Monty went after it, ran past me, and dropped it at her feet!.  Well, in spite of treats and now a lead in hand, I wasn't able to catch her again.  Monty had a blast!  I hope she found her way home safely.  I'm sure we'll see her again.  Monty was so happy to play with his new friend.

Fetch

A sure sign of spring.  I brought out a new tennis ball this morning and played Fetch with Monty.  He's getting better at dropping the ball rather than playing keep away.  Its pure joy to watch him run.  Over the hard ground you can hear the rhythm of his running.   I was very proud of him when, while chasing the ball at full speed, he turned around and ran back to me when the ball  went out of bounds!!   In three days it will be his unofficial birthday (His papers state he went to the vet on 12/23 and the vet proclaimed him 9 months, so we figured we'd call his birthday 3/23)

Signs of Spring

With all the warm weather, the mounds of snow have melted, revealing brown  grass. Monty has rediscovered one of his favorite past-times: digging.  Small holes at first and as the earth warms, they get larger and larger. This is a sure sign of spring!

Monty - Just a nice shot!

Amy and Monty

Monty Eating Snow

Dinner Time!

Yesterday, the building I work in was closed early and so I was home late afternoon.  I went to work in my studio and Monty joined me.  To keep the heat in, I shut the door.  All was peaceful.. Monty was lying between the radiator and me and I was quietly getting my stuff done.  Suddenly, Monty started barking incessantly.  I got up and opened the door figuring something was wrong.  I turned to Jay and asked what was wrong as Monty went full board down the hall.  Jay looked at me.  "Dinner Time."   I cracked up.  I had disturbed the routine.  Do not stand between a dog  and his food!

Running on the Snow

The new snow and warmer days has hardened the snow.  Monty found it could hold his weight! Now he's delighting in running on top of the snow.  Since we've kept a path shoveled to a place he could relieve himself, he now runs down the path, leaps over 3' wall of snow and run all over his yard.  His favorite game.... snow ball fetch.  Well, the snow doesn't really make snow balls but we hurl chunks of icy now out on the tundra.  He runs after them, picks them up and they are usually gone by the time he "brings them back".  Its a joy to seem him run again, sniff the winter air, perk his ears up to the occasional sound of birds.

What's a dog to do?

I love bringing Monty with me when I go out with my camera.  He gets a good walk and I have his companionship.  I was shooting in the back yard the other day, and brought Monty with me, expecting him to romp and play.  He got bored... so he made himself  bed!  Gotta love it!

Snow Day

Well, we finally had a true New Hampshire snow storm somewhere between 12-18".  Monty went out early, when there was 6" on the ground.  I brought him out late afternoon hoping to get photos and video of him tramping through the snow.  Poor guy.... He couldn't get through the snow.   It's just too deep.  He ate what he could and sat at the top of the steps trying to figure out how to have fun.  Even his foray onto the deck didn't work since that had just as much snow on it!  You can see the snow is as high as he is!

Check Up

When we got Monty last March, the vet said he was too thin at 31 lbs and that he should put on weight.  Then this summer, when he got sick, he lost even more weight and we couldn't get him to eat.  Well finally he ate, and put on weight.  Now the vet says... too  heavy...  Ah well.  We've cut down on his food a bit and we keep him running.  He's very healthy in all other aspects. 

Fetch - a whole new twist

Monty has never been interested in playing fetch  - until now.  Recently Jay had Monty out and was watching him from the deck.  He threw a snowball.  Monty ran after it.  Tried to pick it up but it rolled and got bigger. He finally got his mouth around it, ran back and then ate it!! (Well we know he loves snow and ice ... so that only makes sense)  He then stood waiting for another.  He couldn't get enough.  I was laughing so hard....I didn't get any pictures.  I'll get some after the next snow!