Somebody has grown a lot!

This was the very first photo I took of Pip, the first moment I saw her, on February 7 when she was 5 weeks old.

 And here she was on November 18, when she was 10 1/2 months old.

My sister-in-law Jean took this photo on February 7.

Jean took this shot on November 18. Pip has grown a lot since then, but weighs just 6.4 pounds.

Pip is not just a birding dog—she's also a Cubs fan!

Pip's vacation report, informed by her love of Jane Austen

Pip is excessively diverted by the Florida wildlife. 

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.

 

Pip is all astonishment meeting BB-8. 

 

Pip is most seriously displeased with the nasty thorns wherever she stepped.

 

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. 

Milestones

Today Pip got up to 10,000 miles in our car. She hurt her front paw somehow a couple of days ago--maybe a nasty thorn, and maybe too-hot pavement (we have been carrying her almost all the time after the sun gets up--it's been pretty unpleasantly hot in Florida right now). But she's such a plucky little dear that she's been soldiering on, and we got her lifelist up to 230--that is more in little over 6 months than I got during the first two years of birding, so I guess that proves who's the better birder.

Eventful Day

Pip the Birding Dog isn't much into girlie stuff in the stereotypical sense. She is an outdoor kind of dog.

 

 But every now and then, she has to get groomed or her fur gets too matted for me to manage. And yesterday was the day that happened.
 

 The bow on her head was actually rather pretty, but Pip did not approve. Fortunately, she managed to forget all about it when she went outside.

 









Pip has been going to obedience class at the Twin Ports Dog Training Club, and last night was the final session, a mock obedience trial. Pip did not sit once when I stopped on heel, and she lagged behind a few times. She also broke from the long sit-stay. But she was great for the stand-for-examination and the long down-stay, and ended up getting First Place!
  


That was a very nice end to a long day!

Last night at beginner obedience class

Twin Ports Dog Training Club: First place in beginner obedience class! Now it's going to get harder.

I love my grandma, and my grandma loves me!