Well Guys, I know I have been slacking lately on keeping you up on my smoochin adventures, and other stuff going on at the house. If you remember, my sister Ethel is a mighty busy girl. I’m gonna start at the Newfie Nationals and go on from there.

ETHEL:

We all drove up to Frankenmuth, MI, for the 2010 Newfoundland Club of America’s National Specialty. Now I was unaware that I was a member of a Newfoundland Club, but apparently it’s true! So is Ethel and Oreo (More about her later). Anyway, we got there and what do you know. We stayed in the same room! I got my personal apartment (crate) in the exact same place so I was set for the week! Anyway I’m straying off the subject, back to Ethel. Ethel was entered in Novice Obedience on Tuesday and Wednesday. She was a little nervous on Tuesday, and did not stay in place for the Sit-Stay, but did really great in the off-leash healing, and the judge told her so. But on Wednesday she was perfect, and not only did she qualify, but got First Place! Man I was proud of her! She was the “Little Miss Princess” and was strutting around like she was all that, but I guess she deserved it, since she got 1st at the national. I guess I would be proud of that myself. She got to have her picture taken with the Judge, and to top it all she got this fancy Blue Ribbon, and a Cool Dinner Plate that had a gold Newfie on it! Now I would sure be proud to eat my snackies on that! Dad said later no snackies would ever get put on it, it will be put in a case for people to see. Personally I think that’s a waste of a good snacky dish, but Ethel didn’t seem to make a big deal out of it, so I guess it’s OK.

OREO:

Oreo, has always been the Princess around the house. Sometimes, I think she’s a pain in the……………Uh well, you know……….. Anyway, she was entered in Rally novice, which even I think I could do standing on my head. Oreo on the other hand likes to train and prance around the ring, but not when the Judges are there. She thinks that she does not need to be judged, so she does all kind of silly things in the ring. I mean after all 27 times of trying to get the title, you would think that Judges would tell her “OK, let’s just get through this.”

But........... Noooooooooooooo……………………..,Oreo has to be a “smarty Pants and goof around. Well she surprised Dad on Tuesday, by scoring an 88, her best even score, and earning her Rally Novice Title. I think Dad was going to faint! Apparently Dad was so excited he gave Oreo about ten minutes of hugs and smoochies. Oreo also got her picture taken and a toy for going in the ring. She wouldn’t let me have the toy, and usually she does not care for stuffies, so she lets me kill-em for her. But she kept this one. So now Oreo gets to be Mrs. Trumble’s Oreo Cookie RN. Now I didn’t know passing some test in the ring, make you a Registered Nurse, but apparently so. Anywho, it will be nice to have a Nurse in the family, in case of emergencies, and stuff like that.

I had a great time! I got to smooch about 1,000 people, and had a blast. My smooch-o-meter pegged out at 97%. This meant that I smooched 97% of the people there, including the people that worked there!

So that’s their stories from the National. We had a nice drive home, in which I got to have two smoochin sessions on the way home, at what they called “Rest Stops.” I did not understand why they call it that, I mean I didn’t get to rest even though we were stopped. Sometimes I don’t understand why you people call things what you do. It doesn’t make newfy- sense to me.

So the next thing I want to talk about is Swimmin! Again it’s mostly about Ethel. You know, I’ve had a talk with Mom & Dad about this. I mean after all, I’m getting gyped! Ethel gets to do all the cool things, and I get bupkiss! Then on top of it, when they see the error of their ways, I find out that Oreo gets to go too! Man, when can a guy get a break! I mean after all, I complained, I get satisfaction, then I get scrooged, by havin to drag Oreo along too!

Ethel gets to go Water Training for her WD (Water Dog Title) every week. I guess that will be OK, in case someone is drowning, or having problems in the water. Personally, I know any Newfie, knows how to save people in the water, so I really don’t get why you have to:
Practice – Why do you have to practice to do something that all Newfies know how to do anyway? But Dad says she needs to. He said there was a test or somthin?

Test – Why can’t we all take the test? I mean since I lost my bowling balls, I have the IQ of Einstien now, so test-takin is right up my alley, so that should be no big Deal. And on top of that, why test to do somthin that is Jean-net-tick-ly en-grained in2 Newfies?

So now one of us, either me or Oreo, gets to go with every week, so we can swim, and goof around while Ethel has to work. Boy who got scrooged here? Man Ethel has to work, while we get to play and goof around in the water. I know who got the best deal here! Suck eggs Ethel!
Now don’t get me wrong, she is doing really well, for what she is doing. I just don’t see the need to do it, and then take a test. I mean com-mon guys, were NEWFIES, and Newfies go in the WATER! Duh!!! Not Rocket Science here folks. But if that’s what trips Dad’s and Ethel’s trip-l-a-tor, then I guess it’s OK, but it sure does seem silly to me!

Hopefuly in September, she will pass her test, and then all this foolishness will be over.
Now onto really cool stuff. In July, Libertyville, IL had the “Dog Days of Summer.” Now that sounded like a cool thing. Dad said we would get to go INTO the STORES, and they would have cool loot for us. Dad said he had found an event for me too! Somthin called “Dock Divin.” Wow, I didn’t know what it was, but it sounded like fun! So we went, I was kinda disappointed cause Ehtel came too, but I figured, I couldn’t suck up all of the pets to be had, but I also figured I could corner the market on all of the smoochin though, as Ethel is not “Mr. Smooch, the World’s Most Famous Smoochewr”! I did have a great day, and excelled in smooching the people there. Then I found out about Dock Diving. I guess you stand on this long board thing that has carpet on it. You run along it and go swimming! Well, HEY! That was for me! After a while they called for the group I was in. And soon it was our turn. I climbed up some stairs and stood on the Board thing. The we ran up to the pool, and I stopped. I mean Dad stopped too, so I figured I was supposed to stop too. I mean wouldn’t you??? So back to the end of the board we go, and run up to the pool again. Well if Dad wasn’t going on the pool, neither was I. Now I’m not really sure why I was thinkin this, cause I really wanted to go in the pool. I I got to putting my Einstien-e-ian brainb to it, and figured out that maybe I was supposed to go in the pool, and Dad wasn’t. So we go back one more time, and this time I jump in! MAN WAS IT GREAT!!!!!!!!! It was really hot that day, and the water was soooooooooooooooooooooo………………………COOL! I was havin a great time! Dad was callin me, but it was too nice to get out. Then some other guys wanted me to get out. I figured out that if I stayed in the middle I could swim, and they couldn’t get me. But finally I could see tey were serious, so I came out. It was then that I found out that another dog wanted his swimming time. Then I felt a little bad, cause I did not want to gyp him out of his pool time.

We hung out for a while longer, then I found out that I WON A RIBBON!!!!!!!!!!! WOW HOW COOL!!! I have never won a ribbon before in my life, and always thought when Ethel brought one home, that it was silly, but now I HAD ONE! Now I understand why she was always Nah-Nah-NANA-NAH!!!!!! When she came home. I get it now. BTW Dad hung my ribbon right by Ethel’s, and it looks really cool where it is at. Dad said he was gonna put it in a frame with a picture of me jumpin in the water. COOL! I can’t wait. So now I’ma Dock Divin Dog! Hey maybe a song could be made out of that! “I’ma Dock Divin Dog, I’m not a big hog!, I’m just a Dock Divin Dog…………………of somthin like that. So tha’t kinda what’s go-in on around here. I know there’s some other junk I forgetted about, but, when I’s remembers it, I’ll post again.

Till Next Time;

Your Buddy;

Mr. Smooch (Or as my friend Marlis in Nova Scotia call me; Mr. Smoochies)

Hey I kinda like that!

Hi Guys;

Ricky here, yes I know it’s been a while, but things have been hectic here, and well, I just sorta ran out of time, to update things for you. First it’s been an exciting few months for me. Lot’s of things have happened to me and the family, that I almost don’t know where to start. I think I will cheat some, and copy some posts from my other favorite place to be; “Newf Net.” That will save me some word thinking and I know you know, that my paws get tired trying to type on this keyboard, since it’s designed for people and not Newfs.

First I’m going to post about “Bowling Balls.” Yup that’s right, bowling balls. I posted this on Newf Net a little while ago, and I didn’t get a whole lot of help, though I did get sympathy from a lot of Newfies, and people. So hear goes:

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!! Help me!

Guys, this is Ricky. I need someone to HELP ME!!!!!! Everything was OK this morning when I got up cause Dad had to go to his new job. Well....at least I though so.First, I didn't get my usual gallon of water, which, while important, wasn't the end of the world. Then........NO SNACKY or breaskfast!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck????? I think.So Dad's leaving for work, and he calls me. Well I thought this was great, cause I thunked that Dad and me were going out to breaskfast or it was take a handsome smoochin machine to work day, or somthin like that.So after a while, I notice that we pull into the parking place when my favorite Doggy Doctor is (he has these great snackies). I didn't think mucxh of that cause we go there to use the big scale all the time. BTW I'm 108 lbs of slim trim smoochin machine (eat your heart out Nanook!). So I get weighed, and then Margureet (she's my special smoochin Vet Tech), comes and gets me. She tells Dad that they'll call when I'm ready. So I ask "What-do-you-mean-When-I'm-Ready???? Dad says that I'm going to have my bowling balls CHOPPED OFF!!!!!!!!, and have my hips and elbows xrayed.What ta HECK! does that mean???? I'm tellin ya, I'm sorta nervous now! I didn't even know, I knew how to bowl! Anyway, I'm askin for some help here. I understand the xray thing Mom & Dad have a T Shirt with a Landseer and an Xray, so I get that, but this Bowling Ball thing, I jus doan get! So I think I need someone to come and rescue me. PLEASE!!!! Now I'm wondering why Dad handed Margureet a pair of Underware that belongs to some guy named Calvin?


These were some of da replies I received, mostly from other Newfies:

Poor Ricky! You're not that dog who rides off in the car (taunting yer buddies) saying "Nah-nah, I'm going to get Tutored, and you're noooottt!", are ya?What a nasty surprise this is going to be for you. I think dad could have at least prepared you for what was about to happen, and given some reassurances that the ladies will still love ya.We'll still love ya, Ricky.signed,Maggie, Lucy, and Brenna

Dear Ricky - I don't know what ta tell ya, buddy. You'll still be able to smooch tho'...

Dear Ricky, I hear that this whole bowling ball removal thing, in the end, turns out ok. I'll be praying for you. Let me know how it goes. I may be having my bowling balls chopped before long.Best,Boaz

Commander Murph here.. Man up Ricky.. The whining does not befit one of my top soldiers. Yer cryin like a girl for Dawg sake.. Anyway Dude. I lost my bowling balls and we all know the ladies still love me.

Bowlin' balls are just baggage, Buddy!~Mom says testosterone causes brain damage anyway; so maybe you're better off without 'em? The Tugster...

I hear that once they are removed I'll be able to think with my top head again when I'm older. They say I'm a movie star pin-up boy and will be shown and be a Champion so they are not planning to mess with my family jewel bowling balls but I'm also going to be a service dog so my balls' future is up in the air. They say it will depend on how I behave and if I become so much of a Champion that ppl will line up to solicit my bowling balls' services. Ricky, do you have any idea why your human pack units are relieving you of those bowling balls? Has your personality changed? Are you randy roamin? Orka, 10 weeks old today and concerned, giving them a reassuring lick


Ricky, those things really do drain the brain. My human dad and brother have them and they aren't the brightest bulbs in the pack. Just go nighty night and you'll wake up smarter.


I knowz how you feelz, da mama did this to me and I lost everything, nothing left , the vet techie stole them .felling your pain Beau
OMG Ricky, that was a nasty surprise............i hope you will feel better tonight from Annabelle. Tessa and KatyHey he will be two stone lighter Ronnie


Deer Ricky,Dude, it will be okay. Chicks will still dig you, I promise. Fer the next foo days be sure to roll over and show yer people yer ouchy underside. It will get you extra lovins and maybe even some extra treets.Oh, and remind yer dad to stop and get you some bags of froze peas. Don't ask..you will find out why sune enuf.Gabriel


Now I mean that was a nice response from a lot of my Newf friends. I didn’t include the ones, where some of the girls laughed at me, but I took it as “That’s a Girl Thing.”

Since everyone really was supportive I wrote back and replied:

An Open letter from Ricky; First off I'm fine, I don't understand what the fuss was about. I was told that I was a very good boy by all the Vet Tech, and I got plenty of hugs from them (they are all girls, so it was a bouns day, as I SMOOCHED THAM ALL!Hello everyone! I just wanted you all to know how proud I am of my Dad.He is the best. Now I understand why he took me to the Vet yesterday.He was having me Tutored! I'm tellin you I'm so smart now, I almostcan't stand it.When I came home I was sorta tired, and not really hungry. I'm not sureexactly why, but I was told it had to do with the Tutoring. I alsofound myself when I woke up wearing someone named Calvin's underware. Idon't know who this Calvin guy is, but he does have taste, and a fashionsense.My sister Oreo also knows how smart I am. I told her I was Tutored, andthen jumped up on her back. She fell to the floor and with all fourlegs in the air was laughing so hard, cause I knew she was thinkingabout how jealous all the other dogs would be knowing I was Tutored andnow super smart.So far everything's OK with being a super brain, but I noticed when Iwalk, I don't have that big bag between my legs bouncing back and forthwhen I walk. It's sorta distracting, but with the "Calvin's" (at leastthat's what I call them), I can now store a bag of ice there, so it'skinda convenient. I heard Mom saying something about frozen peas, personally I like Limas better, but what-da-hey!Anyway, I got off the subject. I just wanted to let everyone know howcool my Dad is and Mom too.Signed;RickyMr. Smooch - The Worlds Greatest SmoocherSuper Brain - Tutored for smartness!Receiver of extra treats and lotsa girl hugs!

PS - Anyone want to know the value of Pi?

So anyway that’s the story of how I replaced Albert Einstein as the Smartest Newf in the World! I’m telling ya, Tutoring pay off!

OK, Now on to my Sister Ethel. She just recently earned her Rally Advanced Excellent Title. I’m proud of her! Since finished her Title with an Advanced B score of 95, and then went on to score a 95 in Excellent B! WhooHoo for her. She was nice enough to share her special dinner snacky with me, and the rest of the guys. We had both Fresh Pacific Salmon, and a Filet! Wow-wee! That was sure yummy on my tummy!!!!! Sorry I don’t have a photo of that, but Dad said they didn’t really come out well, as they were taken with a camera phone. Her next trials are at the Newfoundland Club of America National Speciality in Frankenmuth, MI. I get to go also, due to my fans requesting my appearance, so I can have a smoochin booth, and get my quota of smoochin in for the month. You know guys, Mr. Smooch, the Worlds Greatest Smoocher is a very time consuming career. It takes a lot of dedication to be Mr. Smooch. I mean you never know when or where a smoochin opportunity will take place, or even when an adoring fan will recognize me when I’m out and about. Ya know, sometimes sunglasses do not conceal your identity.

But I digress, I have a bunch more to fill you in on, but I think this is enough for today. I promise to post more often, and give you lots more photos soon.

Your Pal;

RICKY

Catching Up

Hi everyone, Ricky Here;

I know…I know, it’s been a while since I posted, but life happens as they say, and I’ve been pretty busy. Where to begin, first let me say that I will be posting pictures for this portion soon. I guess we’ll start that I’m happy it’s summer now, as I get more face time out and about, cause Dad takes me more places. In May we went to a place called Frankenmuth, Michigan where they had the Newfoundland Club of America National Specialty. WhooHoo what a fun place and boy did we all have a great time!

First, Ethel got two more Rally Advanced Excellent Legs, and Miracle of all Miracles, Oreo got her 2nd Rally Novice Leg. For those of you who know Oreo, this was a major event, as she has a mind of her own sometimes, and has to be “In the Mood” to get a qualification. But I was proud of her.

Personally, I had a great week. There were tons of people to smooch, and if I remember correctly, I went 250% over quota for the week. My tongue was tired on Sunday after all that smooching. Ethel surprised me and gave me one of the “Fishies” she won as a prize for completing her RAE Legs. It’s a pretty cool stuffie, and I have decided to keep it around for a while, as it has a nice fuzzy feel in my mouth, so I won’t kill it like I usually do.

So it was a good trip for the girls, as they came home with a bunch of ribbons, and I did pretty OK myself. So on to the next adventure……………….

In June, the North Central Newfoundland Club had a Water Training Seminar. I didn’t get to go, but Ethel did. Dad says they are going to enter her in the water trials this year so she can get her Water Dog title. Now that would be cool. So she gets to go every week to the lake to train. I get to stay home with “G-Ma.” She is cool and gives out apple slices, blueberries, and such. Yummy in my tummy stuff!

Then a couple of weeks later, I got to go to the Annual North Central Picnic. I had a great time, and got to play games. I didn’t win the Hot Dog Drool Contest, as there were some really good droolers out there. I was impressed with some of the floogers I saw. They were IMPRESSIVE! Then we had the best contest ever……….The Team Peanut Butter Eating Contest!!!!!!!! Boy I was a champ at that, in fact (I was so good, not only did I eat my PB (clean as a whistle, I might add), but cleaned off a second spoon, cause another newfie wasn’t into PB. I of course was shocked that a Newfie didn’t care for PB, but to each his own, and of course I got two spoonfuls! I had a great time, and so did Mom and Dad. Ethel received a plaque for earning her Rally Excellent Title in 2008. It was pretty cool, even if it wasn’t for me.

Also I have to BRAG about Ethel she is working on her Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE) Title, and she got several legs in addition to the National. Below the Water Pictures, Dad put on a picture for me of Ethel, Dad, and the Judge at her last trail. She got 4th Place! She was pretty tired that day as we had a show on Friday, Water Training on Saturday, and then this show on Sunday, so she was pretty tired by the time she showed on Sunday, and I though she did pretty goot to place.

Well that’s it for now. I have some stories I need to write down, about the girls, and I’ll try to get that posted soon.

Your Pal;
Ricky (aka Mr. Smooch)

North Central's Regional Speciality

HI GUYS! Ricky here again;

Well I must say at first I felt VERY GYPED, when I didn't get to go to the North Central Newfoundland Club's 2009 Regional Speciality 27-28 February, as I knew there would be a ton of people to smooch. Oh wait....let me digress a minute. First I apologise for not posting for a while, a lot of stuff has happened and I will try to catch up soon, I promise..............so anyway, back to this...........

Yep, I was sorta put out that I didn't get to go, but, and a hesitate to say this, as I know it will go to her head, but I'm proud of my sister Ethel. She was apparently in top form, and took three First Places in Rally on Friday and Saturday. So that's more Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE) legs for her. Then my Uncle Terry was there and even took pictures of her and Dad! So I got to see them, and will have Dad post a couple, as my paws are so big, they mess up the keyboard sometimes when I get excited.

So here you go, enjoy.......................................

So anyway, I do promise to catch you all up on my exploits soon. After all my adoring fans need a Smooch-up periodically.

Ethel’s 3rd BoofDay Party!

Saturday was Ethel’s 3rd Boof Day. And while it wasn’t mine, it was pretty cool! We all started the day with a special breakfast. We got pumpkin, yogurt (vanilla my fav!), Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Fresh Broiled Red Salmon, as well as our regular junk. Man-o-man! It was a Yum-o-licious Taste Treat!!! I can’t tell you how yummy that was!

Then we got the opportunity for some relaxin time. Later in the day, Ethel, Elise (my little pest sister) got to go to Pet Smart to pick out presents. Ethel cause it was her birthday, Husker, cause Mom & Dad thought he was a “guest” and got special treatment, and Elise cause her Birthday was on Monday. So I guess under the circumstances it was alright that I did not get to go.

So after they scarfed up loot, they came home. Apparently Ethel & Husker were a hit, cause they got all of the hugs and smooches I would have gotten if I had went. After that it was Party time!!!! WhooHoo!! Boy Mom and Dad know how to throw a party! Dad made Ethel a cake with frosting and it had this cool bone candle. Everyone sang Happy Boof Day, then we had the cake and Boy it was good! Ethel and Elise got to open their presents, and Ethel let me play with some of them too, which I thought was nice. So all-in-all it was a great day, and I had a lot of fun. I hop my birthday in January is just as good.

Cousin Husker Come’s-a-Visitin!

It was an exciting week here. Dad tells me Husker is comin to visit for a week! Man I like him, so I was really excited. I mean after all, it will even up the odds around here some. He’s our cousin (Newfy Cousin that is) from Wisconsin, and his Mom and Dad were going out of town for a week so he got to come and stay with us. Last Monday evening he arrived, and we greeted each other like old pals. Actually more like an older brother who has a cool younger brother. So we sniffed around, and had a good time. Saturday was a particularly good day, as we got to play for a long time in the yard, and had a lot of fun. It was cool having him at the house.

A Day Without Ethel

Well Sunday was “Education Day” for the North Central Newf Club. That’s the Club I belong to. All of the Newfs in Upper Illinois, Eastern Iowa, and Wisconsin belong to this club. The nice thing is that we let our “human” minions (Mom & Dad) come to these club events, which is cool, as they bring snackies, and other things to eat, and of course there is Newfie things to do.

Like last years for education day, we had everything Newfies do day. There was swimin, cart pullin (I think we used to pull carts in the olden days to haul our treats and snackies), Obedience, and somthin called Con-4-mation. Anyway it was way cool last year, I had a Blast! I got in 4 hours of Smoochin and went well over my smoochin quota. Sometimes it’s tuff to get in a good days smoochin when you’re the “World’s Greatest Smoocher.”

So this year, I wake up on Sunday for a rip-roaring day of smoochin, and snackies, only to find out, “I’M NOT GOIN!!!!!” Mom tells me; “You went last years, it’s someone else’s turn.” Man I was devastated, I was all worked up for a day of smoochin, and instead I get to spend the day with my “G”Ma, and Oreo and Luci. I don’t even count Elise the Mini-Newf, cause she’s so small. Mom says Ethel gets to go this year, cause she’s never gone. Oh Well, Rats!

So while I’m hangin with my “G”Ma, Ethel got to go. After she came home, she told be what went on, sounds like I would have had a great time. She said that Mom & Dad drove for over an hour, and she got to look out the window the whole time. Then she said they got to the place, and low and behold they had Draft Day for Education Day. She got to wear a harness, and get hooked up to a real cart! WOW!! She said she didn’t really like the cart, but I think that was because she wasn’t used to it, so she was nervous. She’s like that, a little chicken, but when she’s used to something she is really good at it. Then they got to have snackies, which I missed! Mom & Dad took photos, and I got to post a couple here for your entertainment. Not much else going on, other than our cousin Husker is coming to visit in a week, so I guess I’ll report on that next. Pictures Later!