Everything is well here. Nemo just got a big haircut that he has needed. With school, work, and my business, I have not had the time to groom him properly, and Victoria

Is not fast enough to catch him, or strong enough to hold him when she does ;-)

The groomer took seven inches from his main, and cut his coat down to 2 inches. His belly was shaved to relieve the mats that have developed. He got into something, or got a hold of something in the yard that had a horrendous smell with it, which lead to the shaving. With our spring time weather we have had the last couple of weeks (70's), he is in dog heaven. Since the groomer got a hold of him, he has been sleeping flat on his back, spread eagle, and snoring louder than I do. He is very happy right now. He waits for me to come home at night (as always) so he can have a cookie (his favorite treat), and wants me to come out and play at 1:30 am when I get home. Victoria has him trained to sit, shake, and fetch (kind of), and they play in the yard sun or snow. I have some pics to send you to let you see how he has grown. He really wants to be a lap dog, but my gosh, he has gotten huge. In a way, I am sorry he was not picked up by someone who shows dogs professionally, but I would not change it for the world. He sleeps in Victoria's doorway, and watches over her with conviction. His traits as a Chow came to full view in the early stages of winter this last year. My experience with Chows has always been "protect the children." In November, there were about 10 children in the backyard, all of them happily playing about. In my cul de sac, everyone knows everyone, the way it should be, and Nemo is friends with all of them. His instinct to protect came around 5 pm, when kids are supposed to come home for dinner. Well, parents came into the house without knocking, which they do in a close neighborhood. They were not "invited" in when they knocked on this day. They walked in, and saw everyone in the back yard, so they walked that way to get their kids. Nemo did not see me or my wife with them at the back door, and that is where he held them, until one of us came to see what the commotion was. He would not let anyone near the children without prior authorization from me or my wife. He stood his ground with fearsome animosity, and would not give an inch. He didn't bite anyone, but the children weren't going anywhere without his, mine, or my wife's permission. Just like I wanted it. The neighbors loved it, and wouldn't have it any other way. He has been a proven babysitter since his arrival, and the kids all love him. Victoria still tries to "dress" him with scarves, necklaces, and anything else a child likes to see on her favorite "puppy", and he eats it up cause he knows he will get a cookie when it is over. And, Victoria makes sure he gets his treats when he needs one (I had to put the cookie box out of reach, she was spoiling him, like I do her, imagine that).

 

As soon as I download the pictures from the camera, I will pass them on to you.

P.S.- Victoria says Nemo needs a playmate to keep him company;-)

Charles