Yesterday was our day for appointments. I was on the road by 7:15, with Ken's insistent urging, to be at the Vet's by 8:00. London greeted the staff and was summarily weighed, introduced to the frozen canister and the surgery completed in the blink of an eye.

We were out by 9:15 and home by 10:00 in time to sort out the house before Darby Airedale puppy arrived at 11. Darby is one of Hailey's puppies who returned for a haircut and to have the ears put up for two weeks. He depended on his good owner for great courage and managed to get through his first big adventure with flying colours.

By early afternoon, Duke had come from Truro and met the same fate. Having had a morning of trail walking, he offered little in the way of resistance and was able to bear up stoically. The question of the day was 'how in the world does Chantelle manage to get all of those Airedales into the house when someone is at the gate - only the Shadow knows was the response.

Chantelle spent most of her day trimming clients, polishing her presentation for tomorrow's grooming seminar and lastly working on Regalridge dogs before making her way with her menagerie up the stairs late last night.

Ken and Reg spent the day with power tools in the dining room. Laying new floors appears to be a thirsty job, requiring more planning and analysis than many surgeries. This is indeed a big undertaking and without Reg simply could not have happened. He works cheaply and appears to sit only for hockey games. They were, of course, supervised by Nicholas Airedale who managed the project ostensibly wearing the white hardhat, all day and into the evening. Einstein the big tabby managed a couple of forays into the kitchen in Nick's absences for dinner or an outside break while the rest of the dogs pointedly ignored the construction.

Cool and overcast much of the day, the dogs were delighted with the weather and played outside until they were brought in for the night. The swallows are nesting in the eaves over the back door again this year and are trying out the flight path as the dogs go in and out. Amazingly, all co-exist and appear to be tolerant of each other. I expect each year that they will swoop through the house but to date we have been spared.

Willie agreed that a package of Cesar food on his kibble would work last night as long as it was the filet and not old turkey! Kelsee continues to outsmart all of us humans and has worked easily into Nemo's routines - requiring her being carried inside rather than using the two way door. She has made friends with the Cirneco and spent the afternoon with Abby and Trebia.

Moses and Naomi got their usual share of exercise in 'their run' as Moses tried to figure out where Ken had gone and why he wasn't working in the garden. It's hard to supervise someone who isn't there!

The day ended with Ken and Reg, the Norwich and Paula Welsh watching the hockey game.

Reg arrived from Calgary and added a pair of hands to the delight of the Airedales and Welsh. An East Coast dinner of fiddleheads, stuffed barbeque salmon, risotto with new peas and rhubarb pie was a good start to a Westerner's visit.

The kennel welcomed a few more visitors for the week end. Old Willie is here so the kitchen will be busy. Willie is an ancient fellow of undetermined origins. He has had various senior ailments and is using his infirmities to manage his humans. we cook for him according to his whims, generally starting with the addition of hamburger and basmati rice cooked in chicken broth and moving to more exotic fare as hamburger fails to capture his interest. He also has a preference for his space in the kennel - on the end with only one neighbour.

Following the old fellow's arrival, the Nangreaveds circus landed. With four terriers and assorted relatives, the arrival is always something to anticipate. The two Airedales bounced into the kennel anticipating a reunion with their friends and the two Cairns followed behind encouraging everyone present to move along nicely. All in residence greeted them warmly! The Cairns continue with their polar oppostie personalities - one nosy the other equanable.

London goes to the Vet tomorrow to meet her intended frozen husband.
Paula fell in love with Reg and has requested that we determine if there is enough in her piggy bank for a one way fare to Calgary.

Kelsee has figured Chantelle out and can no longer be tricked into the inside run. Nemo has been coaching her and she has adopted his routine happily. Chantelle lost - Kelsee is up two points.

Good Morning and welcome to Regalridge Kennel

Chantelle decided last night that a blog would bring us up to date and developed this page. We will offer daily looks into the activities of a dog breeding and boarding facility, the antics and news of our own dogs and of our boarders.

At the moment, it is 'terrier boarding week' with an Australian, four Airedales and two Wheatens in residence. Moses and Naomi have appropriated yard number 4 and are the apprentice gardeners. While Moses keeps a close eye on Ken, his planting and the machines needed to make that happen, Naomi barks her encouragement.

Annie and Higgins are alternately sharing yard number 3 with Lucy and Baron. All are supervising the fruitstand business across the road, marvelling at the number of motorcycles and enjoying the bird migration at this time of year.

Kelsee Australian is settling in for her first boarding experience. She brought her own food, toys and treats so feels very much at home next to old Nemo Welsh. As any young Aussie puppy will tell you. managing an old Welsh is a lot of work but she is game to give it a go. Nemo just looks at her energy level in amazement and goes back to sleep.

On the house dog front, London is going through a textbook heat and will be bred tomorrow providing all of the logistics work. Spencer died many years ago but his progeny 'live' in a frozen state in Virginia. They are, as I type, winging their way via Fed Ex to our Veterinarian Eric Carnegy. He will do a surgical implant tomorrow and we will, with luck and lots of science, have Norwich puppies in late July.