Supreme happiness, + Merry Drafty Christmas!

Cascadians

Cascadians

New member
Supreme happiness, Merry Drafty Christmas + Happy Newf Year!

Oh my beloved Orka, such a fine kayaking partner and working happy Newf!

Today enjoying the wintery Willamette River, and recently our 2011 Family Portrait: ( photo credits Leah Nash )



 
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R Taft

R Taft

Active member
Gosh you guys must be so very proud...Awesome first pic and a great FAmily photo, love it.
Merry Christmas form all of us :)
 
NewfieMama

NewfieMama

New member
Love both pics! In that first one he does have that Lewis & Clark look about him, doesn't he? I am Orka, the great explorer, surveyor and lord of all that I see...
 
Carole Macomber

Carole Macomber

New member
WoW!... and such a handsome Kayak Partner at that! Fantastic photos. Thanks for sharing the happiness. Season's Greetings to you and your family.
 
Bojie

Bojie

New member
He looks so majestic on that kayak! I love it! You've done such great things with him in this year alone, Love Orka!
 
Cascadians

Cascadians

New member
Thanks! He's such a good, happy boy. Bringing a lot of pleasure to a lot of ppl these days. So much more opens up after the 2 year birthday.

Today the newspaper article featuring Orka as a Newf Service Dog is running in print. It will go online later. I've been so busy with that, sorry have not had time to be on the internet much.

Today Orka made his Christmas Therapy Visit to Mary's Woods. It was a challenge because some halls are narrow and twisting and we have not learned how to maneuver the cart perfectly yet. I'm totally spatially challenged and Orka is always in a hurry! So Lynn guided from behind. Haw, Gee, Easy!

Orka has been going here since he was 14 weeks old. He is familiar with everyone and dearly loved. Today his job was to bring Christmas cookies and laughter.























 
R

RamonaAnne

New member
Hi Leska,

Great shots! Thanks for sharing them!! He looks like he loves his "job" so very much!!

What kind of kayak/kayaks do you have?....In your profile picture, I see a yellow one, but in the picture here I see a reddish/orange one...and I noticed you sit differently in the reddish/orange one...

I think when I finally get myself a kayak, I want one that will be easy for my Newf to get in an out of (when I get my Newf!!) ... Which one seems easier/better for Orka?...

I live about nine miles from a GORGEOUS flat water paddling spot...If I'm still living in this area when I get my Newf, I know where we'll be spending quite a bit of time!! :)
 
Cascadians

Cascadians

New member
Thanks RamonaAnne! Orka does seem to be enjoying drafting more and more. We plan to decorate his cart and wagon for every holiday and have some fun! And for me it will be a huge relief to go grocery shopping and have him haul the produce home.

The Therapy Visits are so much easier since he blew his previously luxurious coat. He doesn't get as miserably hot as fast in there as he used to.

The yellow kayak in my profile picture is a recreational sit-in, and Orka immediately outgrew it as a puppy.

Had to do a lot of research and try many kayaks before finally finding the red one above, which is a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 130T rotomolded plastic tandem Sit On Top. The front half is modified by a closed mini cell platform carved to fit in the footwells, covered by dog turf and a wet fatigue mat to provide Orka with a large stable draining platform with enough traction to dive off and jump on without capsizing the kayak. Only kayak I've been able to find large enough to train a Newf for water rescue.

Most neurotypical ppl train their Newfs from a rowboat with a raised carpeted platform. But I don't drive a car yet and do not have the space for a rowboat, and already love to kayak. Also here there is far more water access via kayak.

Sane ppl do not paddle a Sit On Top in cold waters. I had to buy a drysuit because the waters and air here are now in the 30s. Dangerous. Also have hired the most renowned water rescue kayak instructor here to give Orka and me private lessons. But it will all be worth it!

We have had so far the driest December on record. It continues the extremely weird weather streak we're having the last few years. But snow is supposed to start tomorrow. Orka and I will be switching our attention to skiing and skijoring. Gotta catch that snow while we can!
 
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