My brother called me about a month ago and said "your neice is looking for a place to stay in July"  I immediately started thinking of my Sweet Adorable Innocent 2 1/2 year old niece who I get to see about 3 times a year for a minute at holidays...........YES of course I'll take her!!!!

Throughout my week with my little toddler I just kept thinking about all of our puppy owners out in the world and I know that most of you probably feel like I did this week.  Overwhelmed and second guessing how great it was to get a puppy!!  Most of the puppies are probably still in the major chewing and biting stage.  This stage can be one of the most difficult to manage because they can and DO chew on everything.   It will pass,  just like my niece is going to seem like a teenager by the time I see her again at Christmas. 
But in the meantime:  Let's face it .   IT SUCKS.

There are a million suggestions on the internet and YouTube has some great videos to help with showing some great techniques.

https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-behavior/biting/nipping-nipping-in-the-bud

But the bottom line is that you have to spend the time with your puppy NOW in order for you to have the 
Great With Kids   
Wonderful Family Dog
We Take Him Everywhere With Us
People LOVE our Doodle  etc etc 

Our Leighla was brought back to the breeder by the family that adopted her because they said that she was not good with kids.  Leighla is EXCELLENT with every human and dog that she comes in contact with. When my niece was here last week,  she didnt move from her side.  She sat while she played,  she followed her around the yard and she would have slept with us had I let her.  I dont know the family or their circumstances but I do know that maturity, time and training has produced an superior family pet in Leighla and it will in your dog too.  Dont give up.  Spend time with your puppy. Take them to training classes.  Find people with dogs to interact with. 

Peace Out
​Sherry 

Somehow over the past few months, 
I seemed to have re-gained the weight I lost last year. 
Im going to call it the Puppy Pooch because I know exactly what I did..or didnt do to add this weight back on my body. 
I didn't prepare meals or food for me and Todd while I was cooking up all those sweet potatoes and chicken feet for Leighla and Willow.  We ate things like, frozen pizzas, chips and salsa, granola bars,  Jimmy Johns and To Go Chinese food instead of veggies and healthy meals.       

                     .. And wine!!  You know,  just a glass (or 2) in the evening.

I actually just went in and added Meal Prep to the Getting Ready for Puppy tab on the website.   It might seem crazy but these little guys take a lot of time and attention.  It's the only way that we can make sure that they will be well adjusted adult dogs. 

As we are now, almost, puppy free around here.  I decided to do some  meal prep for the upcoming busy week.  Then...........I got a craving!!

CARAMEL ROLLS!!!!
-- What else would one make when they need to lose some weight right???
​
I thought it would be fun to bake up a batch of caramel rolls and surprise a few friends of ours with some fresh baked treats this weekend.   My mom makes that ULTIMATE caramel rolls.   They are light, just perfectly sweet and part of all the holiday and family events that I can ever remember.   I grew up in a small town,  Storden Minnesota,  population 147.   If we wanted to eat it,  we cooked it!! 
The Norwegian, Swedish and German women of the Lutheran or Baptist churches in that little town could cook like no other!!

​So either Im just really homesick right now or truly needed some good ol baked up goodness.  I whipped these babies up!!   

Here's a picture of the finished products.
Now I need to go find some salad ideas for the rest of the week!!
​
Have a great week everyone and 
HUG THE PUPPY for me!!!

Peace Out!
​Sherry