-Kari

Hi Barb, I hope this email finds you & your family doing well! I enjoy getting your Christmas card every year & also like going on your website to look at the photo gallery & seeing what’s new at Rolling Oaks. I thought I’d send some snapshots of my “Gentle Giant” Sawyer. (Banner/Lilly, D.O.B. 7-20-03) Have a great day! Kari

Maddie is six years old, an Ivy/Banner pup. She starred in the play “Annie” and received this Tony award!

Well, our sweet Luca (from Copper and Banner –September 2001) is now nine years old, and he is still happy as a pup. Here is a photo from yesterday, on his birthday.

-Diana

I thought you would like to know that Riley (Banner and Brandy 01/2002) just completed the training and testing to become a therapy dog. Never too old! Due to a couple of relatives being in nursing homes we had already visited many times (not all nursing homes require dogs to be registered therapy dogs). Since we went so often we got to meet many of the other residents. Riley has brought many smiles to many faces and we hope to continue that now. There are many opportunities for therapy dogs working with children, physical therapy and visiting with patients in hospitals. We will probably continue to visit nursing homes but would also like to work with children in some capacity. Riley is 8 years old and is starting to slow down a bit, just like his owner. Over the years we have had so much fun running/walking/swimming together, trying agility we which we had to quit because I kept getting injured (too clutsy) and now our new adventure becoming a registered therapy dog. I am so glad we talked to you at the state fair 8 years ago!!!!!!!!

My theory is all goldens think we were put on this earth to pet them and they are just trying real hard to help us out. I don’t know what I would have done with out his help!

Marilyn

Wanted to share with you some new photos of Belle (Ivy and Banner Dec 2006).

Belle is doing wonderfully and is such a good dog! We couldn’t be happier with her and her temperament. Everyone who meets her loves her. Belle has many many friends in the neighborhood who come to visit her each day. Every time I look out the window when she is outside I see someone who has stopped to greet her or play with her, this includes other dogs. kids and adults. The neighbor kids often take her across the street to the park while they play lacrosse, football etc so she can run with them. She loves it of course!

As you can see from the pictures- Belle and our daughter Natalie are truly best buddies! Natalie just turned two and has taken over feeding Belle. She makes sure that Belle gets her breakfast and dinner everyday Natalie also got a big girl bed recently and Belle is pleased as now it is easier to snuggle!

The fourth picture is what we call her “alligator” pose. She lays like that all the time and we always think she looks like an alligator laying around the house. She has always been a pretty big girl but she did put on some winter weight that we are working on taking off now that spring is here. Everybody comments on her size as she is a very big dog but we couldn’t imagine her any other way We affectionately call her our ” big yellow moose”.

Take care, we hope all is well!

Chad and Jamie

Hello Barb!
Wanted to share with you a few great pictures I got of Belle today on our walk. It was a beautiful November day

Her nose is already turning pink for the winter as it usually seems to do. It is much darker in the summer.

The last photo is of Natalie (19 months) walking her, as she loves to do. Belle never pulls and walks right at Natalie’s pace! She is such a great dog.

Take Care! Happy Thanksgiving
Jamie

Belle is from Banner and Ivy’s Dec 06 litter.

P.S. Cute story for you… we took Belle to the groomer two weeks ago and when the gal took her to the back room and we tried to leave, Natalie started crying hysterically. She could not figure out why we were leaving Belle there. She cried and kept pointing to the building as we were trying to leave. She continued to cry all the way home. When we got back home, she looked all over the house saying “Beh Beh Beh” (Belle) It was very sweet. Natalie was so happy when we went back to get her doggy The bond these two have is amazing to me!