11 Months Old...

In just one more month, Kona will be 1 year old! Goodness gracious...how the time flies!

We've had so many great experiences with Kona over these last few months (and I know I've been a little behind on my posts lately!)

She's still a bundle of energy, running around the house with 2 or 3 toys in her mouth all at once. Scott took her out Pheasant hunting for the first time a few weeks ago...she LOVED it! And...though I'm not a big fan of hunting...it was so fun to see her hunting instincts come out. When she catches the scent of a bird, her nose goes straight to the ground and she starts moving really fast down the trail. I wasn't around to see her actually sniff out a bird, but Scott said it was pretty neat (and I guess her eyes got really big...I think she was so excited that she didn't even know what to do with herself at that moment!) Haha!

As you can imagine, she's become a huge fan of water! I remember her early days as a pup when she wouldn't even go near the water's edge. Now, we can barely get her out of the stuff when we're near the ocean or along a river. She's definitely a water dog!

But...though she loves to retrieve, swim, and play, I think her favorite thing to do is to lay on the floor with Scott. With the evenings becoming colder, we've started having nightly fires in our fireplace (in the living room)...and oh how she loves laying with him by the fire. It's really a special sight to behold. Though she's initially really hyper (she loves to play with him on the floor), the excitement later fades and she plops down beside him (as close as possible) with her head resting on his chest. I'll have to get a picture sometime. : )

You can just tell how much she loves Scott (and I think me as well!) The highlight of her day is when he gets home. When she hears the sound of the garage door opening, she'll race down the stairs to greet him at the door. No matter what kind of mood you're in, she really does make you feel better. I think we're both very lucky to have her in our lives...and I'm excited for the adventures that lay ahead.

Kona's Newest Movie...

Here is Kona's newest video! She is a little younger than 8 months in the clips and pictures, but still such a sweet little lady. Check it out and enjoy!

Once again, the video has sound, so make sure your volume is up!

8 Months Old...

Kona continues to grow so big! The "typical" golden fur is starting to show around her back legs, tail, and tummy...still relatively short everywhere else!

She is really starting to LOVE water! We have a little baby pool in the yard, so she can lay in it during the hot summer months...I'm sure it will become a permanent fixture there! She loves to drop her toys in and stick her face under the water to retrieve them...such a water dog!

She continues to be a lovely little lady...such a good disposition. Always enjoys a good rub on the belly, and just adores laying on the floor with Scott for naps. Just a great pup.

Watch Kona's Second Movie...

This is another compilation of videos we have shot of Kona over the last few weeks. She is 5 months old in these clips.

Once again, the movie has sound, so make sure your volume is up! Enjoy!

BIG Changes for Kona...

Kona is getting so big! Such a joy to have around the house. Scott and I have been working on her training skills...she now knows how to sit, stay, lay down, and come. Heel on walks is still a work in progress, but nevertheless, she is making huge gains! These next few months will be very interesting as she continues to develop her personality and grow into herself.

Recently, she started swimming! Such an exciting time for sure. She loves to retrieve sticks, tennis balls (LOVES them), and just about anything else. I think Jazz (a beautiful, energetic black lab) was responsible for helping Kona build confidence in her swimming. Not as much vertical swimming anymore...she's getting the horizontal swim down for sure!

Kona is such a people dog! Loves to be around Scott and me (and anyone else for that matter) as much as possible. She loves to be scratched and rubbed...she'll get all wiggly if you stop in the middle of a scratching session. Such a crazy dog!

Everyone really seems to love her. Her disposition is so gentle and calm (after a good day of running and fetching of course)...but even on her most hyper days, she has moments when all she wants to do is rest her head on Scott's knee or sit on the floor with her head in my lap.

I think we can honestly say that she was a great choice for a dog. She fits Scott so well...loves him to pieces. All for now!

Big Adventures...

Kona is getting so big! Growing so fast! She continues to be a bundle of energy and loves to go on new adventures. Always up for a walk or game of ball toss...or a cuddle with Scott. : )

Her adult teeth are starting to come in, so that's been very exciting to see. All looks healthy there! Her fur is also starting to get longer, with darker regions beginning to grow on her back and chest. I think she will be a beautiful dark golden when she finally grows up. Just like her mom!

She continues to love her toys. Finally getting to the point where she can really chew into things. It will be interesting to see how the toys hold up as she gets more playful and rough with them. Also loves long hikes where she can run and play...definitely prefers them over her leashed walks. We try to get her out for long adventures...as school allows. : )

Altogether, it has been quite the journey thus far. She continues to be as loving to both Scott and me as ever...certainly a dedicated friend. Love to come home and see her standing in the doorway. She is always excited to see us. Just great!

Watch Kona's First Movie...

This is a compilation of the videos we have shot of Kona since she has been with us. Enjoy!

Make sure to have your volume up because the movie does have sound!

Growing, growing, and more growing...

Kona is now 13 weeks old! Growing so fast! She is curious about anything and everything around her, and loves to go on long walks where she can run and play. Over the last few weeks, she has made great advances in her training. She can sit, come, and fetch...stay is still a work in-progress as she just loves to be near us (can't stand to sit as we walk away). Her toys have been keeping her busy, and she has developed a LOVE for pig ears. We give them to her in moderation...a special treat when she is really good.

She has really grown fond of Beau and Sadie...just adores them. She loves to sit on the grass and watch Beau run around. As she has grown, she has become incredibly observant...watches things around her and reacts after seemingly analyzing the situation. Quite the smart dog, I think.

Hasn't quite developed her swimming legs yet, but is becoming more and more comfortable with the water. She likes to walk around in the shallow parts of ponds...any day now she'll jump in.

Loves the snow too! Sticks her nose in, jumps, plays...it's quite entertaining to see her in action. She's still little, so the deep snow really wears her out after a while. That's great for Scott and me since she is a bundle of energy right now.

Kona is at the point now where she is starting to push the boundaries around the house. She tries to jump up on things, loves to pull at blankets and garbage bags, and tries hard to get her nose into the bathroom garbage can. A typical puppy...but we have been working tirelessly to keep the behavior to a minimum. She's always getting better in regards to this behavior...a work in-progress.

Overall, it has been a busy 13 weeks. She is a fast learner and continues to grow into a lovely little pup. Her adoration of Scott continues to grow...she gets SO excited when he comes home from a day at school. Such a sweet dog...puts you in a good mood even on the dreariest of days. A real joy.

First beach adventure...

Today, Scott and I took Kona to the beach for the first time! We went to South Beach and Nye Beach, both of which are located near Newport on the Oregon Coast. Despite being a little nervous about the waves, she handled everything just fine!

She still hasn't developed her swimming legs yet, but I'm sure that will come with time. We took her towards the waves a few times, but she ran away on each occasion. With so many new smells and sights around her, I can certainly understand why she'd be uneasy.

We were proud of her nonetheless as she did get her feet wet and play in the sand! She seemed to enjoy running around in it, getting her nose dirty and jumping around in the tall beach grass nearby. It was entertaining to see her so excited about things! With time, I'm sure she will be a true beach dog!

Altogether, it was a great first experience for her and us! What a day!

Growing so fast...

Kona is now 9 weeks old and growing so fast! School started for Scott and me this week, so we have been busy trying to balance our studies with taking care of a little puppy. So far, so good.

She is starting to really enjoy being in her kennel. We have been putting a rubber Kong toy in her crate right before we put her inside to help keep her distracted (and maybe tire her out a bit) while we are away from home. The toy gets stuffed with peanut butter, so she spends a ton of time trying to lick every bit of it off and out of the Kong. This special toy stays in her kennel, so it is a reward for her when she goes inside. It has been a great training tool because it is helping her to associate the kennel with happy experiences, not to mention lessen her barking!

She has a ton of energy right now, and is always looking for new things to chew on. Her toys have been doing a nice job of preventing her from biting on the furniture and other important items. We'll see if this continues...

We have been taking her on a number of walks each day, usually managing to fit in both morning and evening jaunts to help her unwind. This has been great for her leash training. She is continuously showing more acceptance and control of herself on the leash. I don't think it will be long before Scott is able to start working with her on the "heel" command.

Overall, the week has been eventful. As I mentioned previously, she is growing so fast, always wanting to go on new adventures and meet new people. When I pick her up, I can absolutely feel a difference in her weight from just a week ago. I think it is safe to say that she is developing into a sweet and beautiful little golden. : )

First vet visit...

Kona had her first veterinary exam today! The vet said that she is healthy and growing just as she should be. Her overall physical features are said to be in ideal condition, and the vet expressed that her diet is excellent. We are so relieved that she is on the right path towards healthy living!

The first few days...

It has been a busy and unpredictable first few days for Scott and me. Kona has been such a joy to have around, and I think she certainly feels the same way about us. She has really taken to Scott, always wanting to play with him or cuddle in his arms. I can tell that he definitely made the right choice with her!

She is sleeping for about 4-5 hours at a time throughout the day. Food is always out for her, so she is eating fairly frequently. For the first couple of days, we were always outside with her when she had to go "potty", but that is now being lessened as we want her to be confident to do her business without us being around...a work in-progress.

Her kennel training is going quite well. She is having fewer and fewer accidents inside the house, a sure sign that we are getting closer to having a potty trained pup!

Scott has been working with her on various commands. After just two days and about 20 minutes of total training time, she knows the sit command. She is such a bright dog, wanting so badly to please Scott. I can tell that she will be a fairly easy dog to train...thank goodness! Leash training is next on the list...also a work in-progress.

Kona has had a number of "first experiences" since she has been with us. We took her up to Mary's Peak to play in the snow. Scott had to carry her some of the way because she was cold. Never thought I would see the day when Scott Christianson would be carrying his dog in his jacket...a sure sign that he adores his new friend! She has also been on a number of hikes, most notedly a lengthy walk on a trail by Greg and Rose's house. As you can imagine, she got tired shortly into our journey, so both Greg and Scott took turns carrying her up the steeper hills. No one seemed to mind as she is so cute and peaceful when she sleeps...a real joy!

Altogether, we have been having a blast with her. She brightens up our days and is always ready to give us a few wet kisses or to be held for a nap. It has been a wonderful first few days.