Nothing leads to a smile like a smile, and no one smiles bigger or more than our boy Barney.  That goofy, lopsided grin of his stretches so far and wide it looks like he’s trying to expose each and every one of his teeth simultaneously.  Exposure does nothing to soften the blow, either; you don’t build a tolerance for the kind of glee Barney brings with him.  We’ve been lucky enough to have had him as one of our daycare kids for just north of five years now, and as soon as he comes in smiles break out on our faces whether we want them there or not, just like always.

You can’t talk about Barney and not mention his tremendous singing voice.  He’s always been a talker and is fully capable of carrying on a conversation at an appropriate volume.  But when the mood strikes, he can hit notes that would make Pavoratti blush… and then double over, hands cupped to the sides of his head, wracked with inner-ear spasms.

If his voice can double for a fog horn, then his tail can certainly pull double duty as an outboard motor.  There has never been a tail in the long and storied history of dogs that can out-wag Barney’s.  I’ve seen that thing knock holes in drywall, dent steel and shatter bone.  Well, okay, not really, but is has raised some serious welts and mild-to-moderate swelling.

All of these traits loop back into Barney’s central personality trait: enthusiasm.  The boy is incapable of doing anything halfheartedly or disinterestedly.  If he happens to be scouting for a good spot to crash out alongside fellow Yellow Labs (and fellow couch jockeys) Larry and Wally, or if he’s getting some lovin’ from his counselors (which are his favorite activities, not necessarily in that order) he does so with unmistakable gusto.

Once upon a time, at a doggy daycare, there was a trio of the most adorable, loveable puppies ever known.  These three were dubbed the Three Amigos, as they were inseparable, as well as the Three Stooges, as they were kinda klutzy.  Time passed, and the pups grew, and though they don’t see each other as often anymore, it is still a great day whenever they put in an appearance.  Two of them should be familiar to long-time readers: past Dogs of the Month as well as Dogs of the Year Jax the Yellow Lab and Harry the Golden Retriever.  The third member of this fuzzy triumvirate dropped off the radar for a while, but at long last he’ll be given his due: Milo , and while we’re at it, his baby-sister Sadee.

You may notice that I have yet to specify Milo ’s breed.  That’s because that is no easy task, and consists mostly of speculation and guess-work.  He’s a good-sized boy, roughly the stature and general shape of a Lab.  He has a short, thick coat that you may find on a German Shepherd, but colored a deep, rich auburn commonly associated with Rhodesian Ridgebacks.  He has a deep, persistent bark, so I don’t know, Beagle?  His ears have kind of a Shar Pei cast to them, he has a soft, puppyish face like a lot of Golden Retrievers I’ve known, and… you know, this could go on for a while.  Suffice to say, whatever breeds constitute his family tree, they’ve produced a sweet, gentle, loveable and unique boy.  Milo ’s story is as unique as he.  His name is actually derived from the Spanish word milagro, meaning “miracle”.  This milagrito was found by his parents alongside a road in Mexico at a very young age.  That’s about the extent of Milo ’s history that we know – a serendipitous meeting of canine & human.  And having seen a photo taken shortly following said meeting, I think I can proclaim Milo the Cutest Puppy Ever.  He looked like a little red piglet with deep, sad eyes.  His favorite daycare activities include sitting on his counselors’ feet and being doted on by his little sister.

If asked to describe Sadee in one word, it would undoubtedly be “firecracker”.  If permitted a second, I would add “adorable”.  She is a precious, dainty little slip of a girl that will not hesitate to give a piece of her mind to anyone she feels has it coming, plus whoever happens to be in the immediate vicinity.  With her thick, soft ginger and white coat, prominent (read “huge”) ears and deep, pool-of-onyx eyes, she gives the impression of an overgrown fox.  And when she stands up against a wall or piece of furniture facing away from you and then gives you her patented neck-rotating over-the-shoulder to fully upside down once-over, she gives the impression of a shape-shifting burlesque dancer.  Sadee has actually mellowed considerably since we first met her.  She’s much more patient and easygoing, but unwavering in her dedication to Milo .  She absolutely refuses to go anywhere without him and frequently checks in with him throughout the day.  Far from finding this overbearing, Milo actually seems to enjoy his baby sister’s attention.  They’re not exactly joined at the hip, but just barely.

Foster and Izabelle may seem to be a bit of an odd couple.  He’s very dignified, reserved, and has impeccable posture, like a canine David Strathairn (seriously, look him up; the resemblance is uncanny).  She, on the other hand, is cheery, effusive, and possesses the grace and poise of a hyperactive 4-year-old (which, come to think of it, is exactly what she is).  So what could these seemingly dissimilar siblings have in common?  Well, you’re reading this, so that must mean that they’re our Dogs of the Month!

In addition to sharing this highly auspicious honor, both of these wonderful pups are also both sheer and utter sweethearts.  Foster may act aloof, but he lives to get pets from his counselors.  When it comes to affection, this Lab/Border Collie (?) mix is very persistent, and very insistent.  His most common approaches are to either sit on our feet and look up at us, almost inverted, until we get the message, or to simply march right up, rear up on his hind legs (he’s pretty tall) and give us a great big hug.

Izabelle definitely favors the direct approach, launching herself at us like she was shot out of a cannon.  If that doesn’t work (which is rare, believe you me), she gently but firmly takes our hands and pulls until we’re in range for her to try to lick our faces off.  I’m not exaggerating much there, either.  We’re always shy a few layers of skin after our pretty Pit Bull has said hello.  She’s also by far the more outgoing of the two.  While Foster prefers to hang out with his counselors, Izabelle can usually be found in the thick of it, romping with her myriad and diverse buddies, from beefy bruisers like fellow Bully breeds Dude and Deuce, to Molly the maniac Lab mix, svelte Siren the Husky, and Mugsy the miniscule terror, not to mention her favorite cuddle-buddy Larry the Yellow Lab.

We’ve known Deuce for less than a year now, but he’s made such an impression and has endeared himself so thoroughly to us that it seems as if he’s just always been one of ours.  His appearance is striking, to say the least, and intimidating, at least to the uninitiated.  He is, after all, a big, sturdy American Staffordshire Terrier, and looks as if he’s strong enough (and he very well may be) to comfortably tow a car.  His steel-grey back and white belly, not to mention ear-to-ear grin full of  luminous white teeth , give him a passing resemblance to a Great White Shark (funny coincidence: the mechanical shark used in the 1977 blockbuster Jaws was named “Bruce” by director Steven Spielberg, after his attorney.  Not quite “Deuce”, I realize, but only off by a consonant).

Under the slightest scrutiny, however, Deuce’s tough-guy façade reveals a sweet, playful goof whose heart is as prodigious as that big ol’ Staffie melon of his.  He loves making new friends and plays with everybody, from pint-sized pups like Mugsy the Cockapoo & Maci the Puggle, to petite Pit Bull Izabelle and Thomas the Labradoodle.  He also loves keeping his counselors on their toes by engaging in cute-yet-exasperating activities, such as his favorite game “Let’s make a chew toy out of something not intended for that purpose.”  You almost have to admire the creativity he displays.  Almost.

I would be remiss not to mention Deuce’s best friends, doggy cousins and primary role models, Diesel and Murphy, Rotties extraordinaire and December 2009 Dogs of the Month.  You see, Deuce’s dad is Diesel and Murphy’s dad’s son (still with me?).  Anyone remotely familiar with those two will see their tendencies in Deuce almost immediately.  He’s just as sweet, funny, playful, mischievous and supremely loveable, yet has a distinct personality all his own.

It hardly seems like four years have passed since we first met a crazed little Shar Pei mix puppy named Isabella (“Bella” to her mom, “Izzy” to her buddies), but the indications are hard to ignore.  For starters, she actually rests and on rare occasions even sleeps.  She’s a little taller & a little fuller, but, owing to a generous metabolism & plentiful activity, has still retained her girish (puppy-ish?) figure.  Her manners have improved considerably – whereas she used to greet us by way of charging at top speed and happily gouging us with her mole-like talons, she now merely approaches at a trot and lightly pokes with her claw-like appendages.

There are a few constants.  Izzy still looks as if a recent ancestor could have been a mouse, what with her adorable little ears & long, whip like tail.  Said tail is still a hazard during moments of happiness or excitement, as being caught by it mid-swing feels something akin to being bush-whacked with a car radial.  Most importantly, though, she’s not lost any of the sweetness that made her and instant darling to her counselors.  Her list of friends by this point reads like our daycare roster for the last several years; she makes fast friends, and will play with literally anybody who A) is willing, and B) can keep up with her.  Izzy is a wonderfully good-natured little girl whose exuberance has been tempered by a few years and a lot of patience, and is all the more lovable for it.

Hmm where to start! Thomas is a very happy, energetic Labradoodle. Always glad to greet new friends and play with whoever will play with him. Some of Thomas’ friends are Anya a Boxer, Dude an Am. Staffordshire, Lulu Golden, Kingston a Shar Pei, Winston a bulldog and Molly the Yellow Lab. As you see he as a wide range of friends.

Thomas always has a lot to say when he comes in, he’ll bark to greet everyone then more barking while playing with friends telling them all about his weekend. When Thomas isn’t on the go… he is being cuddled by the counselors. He is extremely smart at keeping the counselors on their toes. He will run around with a towel or a water bottle he snatched wanting you to play chase with him.

Thomas is a very happy, good boy!!

You start with a Pug, a breed as notorious for its obstinacy as it is lauded for its sense of humor.  You combine it with a Beagle, one of the most vocally opinionated, yet overwhelmingly sweet, dogs in existence.  The end result?  A happy, confident, outgoing, stubborn, bull-headed, back-talking, delightful, affectionate, crazily playful and utterly loveable little pup that is the sum of her parts and so much more.  You get Maci, our April 2011 Dog of the Month.

To say Maci took us by storm would be a massive understatement; rather she took us by hurricane.  She swept through here like a squishy-faced, floppy eared, caramel-colored tempest and didn’t so much steal our hearts as took them in a strong-arm robbery.  This 6-month old Puggle, all ten ponds of her, quickly established herself as the most adorably brash little girl we’ve ever met.  She made friends so quickly and so thoroughly that there was no transition, no getting-to-know-you phase.  Suddenly, she was just wrestling with Dude the American Staffie mix and Anya the Boxer, playing tag with Isis the blonde Ridgeback and Johnny the Border Collie mix, pestering old-timers Muggles the Pug and Black Jack the Black Lab with kisses, and just wreaking general havoc with fellow youngsters Mugsy the Cockapoo and Winston the English Bulldog.

Despite the frantic rowdiness for which she’s become known, the overwhelming impression Maci leaves is one of pure, unadulterated sweetness.  Her temperament is nothing short of beautiful, and when she slows down enough to show it, her affection will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy for days.  Her cuteness is physically debilitating and has been linked to numerous work stoppages.  Keeping up with her is by no means an easy task, but the payoff is well worth it.

Congratulations to Daphne & Trevor, our March 2011 Dogs of the Month!  We’ve been enjoying the patronage of these pampered Poodles (standard and mini, respectively) for close to ten years now!  Although they’re great with other dogs and always hit it off with their counselors, the main draw is that no one can cut their hair quite like their favorite groomer Laura.  She, and we all, deeply appreciate that kind of loyalty, especially because it means that we get to keep seeing such a great pair of dogs.

Big sister Daphne, or Daffy, as we affectionately refer to her, is an unbearably sweet girl with just a few… quirks.  She seems to be mildly obsessive-compulsive, as she is constantly washing her paws.  Not a big deal in and of itself, but she chooses to do so in the bowls normally reserved for drinking water.  And the less said about what she does in the pool, the better.  All things considered, though, she is truly a wonderful girl.

Trevor is the littlest big dog (or is it the biggest little dog?) we’ve ever met.  That’s not to say he’s got an attitude problem.  He’s one of the most consistently happy, cheerful, outgoing little guys we’ve got.  He has no qualms about asserting himself if he feels it to be necessary, but there’s no Napoleon complex to be found here.  No, Trevor is actually just a really big mini-Poodle.  He’s right on the cusp of the size differential separating miniature from standard.  He doesn’t like to brag about it, but we think it’s pretty cool.

What’s silver and chocolate and sweet all over?  A Hershey’s Kiss?  Good guess, but no.  It’s Shadow and Coco, the Paws on Bell ’s February Dogs of the Month!

These kids are two of our most enthusiastic daycare attendees – and believe me, that’s no easy distinction!  They always show up ready to play and go home ready to nap.  They do enjoy their snuggle time with the counselors ( Coco gives very gentle kisses and Shadow’s coat feels like a fleece blanket), but when it comes down to it, they’re here to party.  Their best buddy is Rocco the Black Lab; in fact, you’d almost think they were related.  They’ll break off and play with just about anybody.  Dude the American Staffie, Thomas the Labradoodle, Lulu the Golden, Chrissy the Westie, Tervuren siblings Bandit & Xena… you know, it might be easier to list the dogs they don’t play with.  At any rate, no matter with whom they go off and romp, these particular three amigos always come back to each other.

Shadow and Coco always consider themselves our welcoming committee – they’re very insistent about being among the first to welcome new arrivals, be they canine or otherwise.  Shadow is always quick with an invitation to play, and Coco tries to allay any first-day jitters with those kisses I mentioned earlier.  They are very closely bonded to and extremely affectionate with each other as well.  Coco ’s favorite past-time is pestering her big brother, and Shadow can usually be found cleaning his little sister’s ears.  What better way to commemorate Valentine’s Day than with two of the most loving Labs we’ve ever met?

Melek and Kayle are that rare, near-perfect balance between cuddly and affectionate, yet not clingy or stalkerish… playful and active, yet never approaching critical mass of puppy rowdiness.     

Melek holds the distinction of being the only dog that greets her counselors verbally. Whereas the other dogs will crowd around, try to jump up, or in some other distinctly canine way say hi, Melek will walk over, look her counselor in the eye and talk to her. Her chattiness doesn’t end there, True to her Husky nature, Melek can be quite a chatterbox. She also seems to consider herself our resident choir director, since she always leads the group in rousing bouts of puppy-singing.  While just as chatty, Kayle is more of a soloist… and a subdued one at that. We usually only hear from her if she wants her counselors to do something like a rub-down or to turning on the hose for water playtime (unusual for a Border Collie, but she’s okay with that). She really likes those activities and asks for them a lot, even while we are complying with her persistent “grrr” commands. Luckily, we love the sound of her voice, so the more “grrrs” the merrier.

These girls aren’t all talk, though, as their buddies Lulu the Golden, Bandit the Tervuren and Three Amigos Larry, Wally & Reggie (Lab, Lab and Lab mix respectively) can attest. They’re also two of our most accomplished puppy-tag players, and like to demonstrate their skills at every opportunity.

Nothing chases away that winter chill like curling up with a nice, warm pup. And you’d be hard pressed to find a more cuddly pair than Kodiak and Keira.

Kodiak has been a very good friend of ours for three years; he was, and still is, one of the most happy, playful, friendly, easy going kids we’ve ever met. This 12 year old Chow mix has more spring in his step than most dogs a fraction of his age. We’re always so thrilled to see him that it slips our minds just how spunky he can be. Then we get a pleasant, hilarious surprise when we turn around and see him playing tag with a 10 month old Boston Terrier. And the snuggles… they can’t be described, only experienced. Few things, if any, can bring you down after just a few minutes with a real life teddy bear.

Although we haven’t known Keira as long as we have her brother, she’s already become very near and dear to us. Nothing seems to make her quite as happy as a good cuddle with her counselors (aside from pestering her big brother, of course). This big, beautiful, blonde German Shepherd mix also has a distinct, quirky sense of humor. She seems to find it very entertaining to try to herd her counselors with a few unexpected, strategically placed nips. Aside from the occasional “using her counselors as chew toys”, she’s a truly delightful girl.

Black Jack is one of those guys that makes you happy you were on the schedule to work when he's in daycare. Always sweet, always friendly, always polite - if all of our dogs were like Black Jack, we'd have the easiest job in the world.

Of course, Jack wasn't always so mild-mannered. Once upon a time, way back in the "Ruff Life" days, there was once a little Black Lab puppy named Black Jack who was quite an accomplished hellraiser. Nothing serious, mind you, but he certainly knew how to liven up a crowd. In spite of his mischievous leanings, Jack was always good-natured and quickly became a very welcome camper.

Fast forward about five years, and Jack is just as sweet as ever he was. He's left his naughtier tendencies behind him and is just content to hang out and enjoy the company of his fellow daycare pups & counselors alike.

Almost exactly two years ago, an adorable little street-rat of a pup named Reggie came through our doors for the first time (NOTE: “street-rat” is one of Reggie's parents’ affectionate nicknames for her; we can’t take credit for it).

Reggie’s story is a favorite of ours.  One evening, about two years ago, PAWS campers Larry and Wally were out for their evening stroll with their parents when an adorable little mutt came over to say hello. She was an interesting looking little girl, most likely the descendant of generations of unplanned litters: the size and build of a Lab, curly-cue tail and ears that stuck sideways off of her head like Dobby from “Harry Potter”, and beautiful Jack O’Lantern-orange eyes. Larry and Wally's parents originally took her in with the intention of finding her a new home; needless to say, it didn’t quite work out that way. Shortly thereafter, Reggie started tagging along to daycare with her brothers, eager to be wherever they were. Although it took a little time for her to warm up to us, at this point, you’d be hardpressed to find a dog that’s as happy to be here... or that we’re as happy to see.

Xena may look dainty & petite, but don't let this gorgeous pup fool you; she's as tough as they come. This two-year-old Belgian Tervuren is the baby sister of Bandit, DoM for April 2009, and Cody, a sweet but cranky old Lab mix who went to the Rainbow Bridge earlier this year. She was an instant darling at PAWS, partly owing to how much we love her brothers but mostly because she was such a sweet, timid little pup. Her early activities consisted mostly of shying away from and barking at new dogs and people. She eventually caught on to that daycare is a fun place if you give it the chance. Since then she's been steadily shedding her old apprehensions and cutting loose, and is now totally comfortable running with the rowdy kids. Her circle of friends now expands beyond her big brother and includes Lulu the Golden, Dude the Staffie, Bodie the Rottie mix, Danny the Shepherd mix, and long-time sweetheart Johnny the Border Collie mix.  In fact, those two lovebirds may be the first couple to have a PAWS sponsored doggy wedding (don't ask, it's a long story).

The most telling testament to Xena's charms, though, isn't her burgeoning playfulness, but her comforting affection and sweetness. When Cody became very ill and ultimately passed away, we were all deeply concerned for Bandit. As it tuned out, Bandit wasn't given the opportunity to despair; he had a baby sister who demanded constant attention. Xena helped him, and all of us really, to say goodbye to a very dear friend.

While we love every dog that comes to play for what they bring to the table as individuals, it’s always interesting (and usually fun) to see what happens when they get a younger sibling. Sometimes there’s no change. But in some cases, like when Kellogg the shy little Miniature Pinscher got Mille the mini Dachshund for a baby sister, we get to see a side of them that we otherwise wouldn’t, a side that doesn’t just bond the new siblings to each other, but to us as well.

When Kellogg first came to daycare just a little over three years ago, we were immediately stuck by how sweet yet painfully shy she was. You had to pretend you didn’t see her or weren’t looking at her to get her to approach you. You had to use you peripheral vision to see when she was near, then very slowly & deliberately give her the attention she sought. Her timid & unconventionally affectionate nature quickly made her a darling among the staff. When her mom told us that Kellogg would be getting a baby sister, we all hoped that the new puppy would help counterbalance Kellogg’s introverted tendencies & maybe coax her out of her shell a bit. 

There were actually a few false starts for Millie coming to play dueto a lingering stomach bug. But when she finally did arrive, she was all we hoped she’d be and more. She was outgoing, cheerful, bright, happy and curious about everything going on around her. She’ll play with just about anyone, from her & her sister’s size on up to 90 lb. heavyweights. If she wants attention from her counselors, she runs right up & scratches at their legs until they notice her. She adores her big sister & has helped Kellogg loosen up a bit, both with the group & with us. Kellogg will even walk right up to us for attention, even if we’re making eye contact with her!

Mismatched thought they may appear, distinctly dissimilar thought they may be, you won’t find two more dedicated, devoted sisters than Chloe and Olivia.

Chloe, a teddy-bear of a Chocolate Lab, is definitely the strong-silent type. In the five years (!) she’s been coming to PAWS on Bell for daycare, she hasn't barked more than a handful of times. She’s usually much too busy exploring, seeing if everything is the same as last time, saying "Hi" to the counselors and other daycare kids, and in general scouting ahead for her baby sister Olivia. Christine, one of our counselors, commented that if a dog wants to say hi to Olivia, Chloe has to OK them first... “check their references,” so to speak.

Olivia is definitely the talker of the pair.  If she’s happy, excited, unsure, anxious, curious, awake… she has to tell you about it. As loud as she can! She’s a very sweet girl, but she does not possess her sister’s confidence. She prefers to tag along as close to Chloe as she can manage. It’s not very often you see a big brown dog with a little fluffy white shadow.

It’s no stretch to say that we here at the Paws on Bell have a soft spot for pugs.  With their mushed-in little faces and bigger than life attitudes, not to mention the quirks and idiosyncrasies they often display, they are some of the most loveable, endlessly entertaining little dogs around. So this month, we’ve selected two of the puggiest pugs we’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing: Stella and Elroy!

Stellroy, as they’re collectively known, have been coming to us for nearly 4 years now, ever since Stella was just a puppy and Elroy was a half-crazed young man.  And since that time, not a whole lot has changed. Stella is still cute as a button, and Elroy’s still playing with a few cards shy of a whole deck. When they come to play, it almost seems like time has stood still. Aside from hitting a slight growth spurt, Stella doesn’t really appear to have grown up at all. Most of this can be attributed to her adorable eyes; they look like they were drawn on by a Disney animator, embellished to appear way cuter than is physically possible. Those eyes have gotten her out of a lot of trouble, and will probably continue to do so for a long time. Elroy, on the other hand, does look a bit more, let’s say, distinguished. He’s gone a bit grey, as is typical of dogs his age. But aside from that, he hasn’t changed a bit. His favorite means of making new friends, and greeting old ones, is to grab them by the tails when they’re playing with someone else.  And he’s still trying to catch his own tail. One of these days…

Vacation season’s almost here, and what better way to herald its arrival that naming Spike and Chili Lewis, two of our favorite boarders. The boys have been coming to stay with us for almost three years and from the very beginning have occupied a special niche in our hearts.

Spike is the rowdiest, craziest, friendliest, happiest Beagle you’ve ever met. He still looks and acts like a puppy, even though he’ll be four later this year. He thrives on the copious amount of affection he receives from his counselors and cannot stand not being the center of attention. If he’s not on your lap or in your arms, he’s pushing and shoving and flat-out bulldozing his way there. Or he’s busy wrestling & playing tag with the biggest, craziest friend he can find. He prefers the company of the big kids, particularly Diesel the Rottie; in fact, Diesel is the only dog besides Chili next to whom Spike will curl up for a nap.

As a counterpoint to Spike’s lunacy, Chili is a calm, sweet, easy-going little Dachshund who divides his time among naps, getting doted on by the counselors, and keeping an eye on his brother. Even though he’s a little younger than Spike, he’s definitely assumed the big brother role. He’ll occasionally join in the fracas that usually surrounds his brother, but for the most part he tries to act as a buffer between his brother and the trouble that follows him everywhere. When he decides to take a break from wrangling his brother, Chili is happier doing nothing than curling up on or near his counselors & taking a well-deserved nap. He’ll share if he must, but he prefers to be able to sprawl out and have an entire bed, couch or counselor to himself.

“Super” Cooper Sullender holds the proud distinction of not only being one of our most fun daycare kids, but also “Most Miniature” of any mini-Schnauzer we’ve ever met. At almost three years old, Cooper weighs in at a whopping 12 lbs but the attitude this guy packs is more proportionate to a bull elephant than a tiny terrier.  And contrary to the popular “Napoleon-complex” theory, Cooper isn’t overcompensating for his pixie-ish size with overly-assertive behavior.  He’s just a confident, self-assured guy. To him it makes perfect sense to play with Elilee the Chihuahua, and then Diesel the Giant Schnauzer, or Johnny the Border Collie mix and Larry the yellow Lab.  It may be that he just can’t tell that they’re (sometimes drastically) different sizes.  Or it may be that he can tell & he just doesn’t care.  Either way, it’s always an entertaining (and noisy) spectacle.  True to Schnauzer-form, Cooper is an opinionated individual with a lot to say and a perfect willingness to say it. He’s got a tag on his collar that says “Sir Barks-a-lot”; that about sums it up.

Like a true tough guy, Cooper is also completely comfortable displaying his sensitive side.  Few things make him happy like wiling away the hours cradled in his counselors’ arms.  Sometimes it seems that he would be perfectly happy if his feet never touched the ground again.  Of course, as soon as you put him down he goes diving headlong into some new melee, barking happily & in general having the time of his life.  But he enjoys the calm while it lasts.

Dude is a relatively recent adition to the Paws family, but he’s made a lasting impression already. This three year old American Staffordshire (with probably a bit of Bull Terrier in the mix) is the living embodiment of playfullness, goofiness, friendliness, gentleness, bull-headedness, and just downright loveable-ness. He is the sum total of what happens when one of these wonderful dogs is given a fair chance by an equally wonderful parent to be what he is meant to be: a playful, energetic, devoted, happy, outgoing clown.

Dude’s favorite activity by far is wrestling with his buddies, or MMMA (Mutt Mixed Martial Arts).  His sparring partners come in all shapes and sizes, from miniscule dynamo Cooper the Mini-Schnauzer to Diesel the powerhouse Rottie; from novices like Johnny the Border Collie mix to experts like Anya the foxy-Boxer, from committed couch-potato Larry the Lab to equally athletic (and goofy) Fitz the Pit/Akita mix.  Dude tailors his tactics to best suit his opponent, and, most impressively, neither he nor they ever push the activity too far or take it too personally.  The first and most important rule is that when it stops being fun, it stops.  Luckily, that doesn’t really come up.  After all, when it comes to keeping the fun going, the Dude abides.

You couldn’t ask for a better Valentine than Morgan, so then who better to be our February Dog of the Month?  This dashing little Goldendoodle has been winning hearts since he started here as a 5-month-old pup, and now that he’s almost 2, our little lover-boy is finally getting the recognition he deserves.

Morgan is the sweetest, most easy-going little guy you’ve ever met.  Even when he’s playing with his pals, he’s always composed, always relaxed.  His buddies Johnny the Border Collie mix, Zoe the Pug, Lulu the Golden, Bodie the Rottie mix & Danny the Shepherd mix love to play with Morgan because they could do so for hours and never have to worry about anyone getting too rowdy or too rough.  He just wants to hang out and enjoy their company.  Every now and then he’ll politely request his counselors to pick him up and carry him in their arms for a while.  It’s very touching when he does this because he does so to express his trust and affection.  It’s also immensely funny, because Morgan looks like even more of a Muppet than usual (which is meant as a compliment; after all, what’s cuter or more hugable than a Muppet?).  Morgan frequently treats his friends & his counselors to his winning smile.  It’s caught a few of both off guard at first, but they quickly realize that it’s just Morgan’s way of telling them he’s really happy to see them.  It is also, quite literally, an infectious smile; several of his buddies seem to have learned to smile since meeting Morgan.

Jordie is one of our more vocal doggies at Villa La Paws. She has different barks for all her moods. She is also very affectionate and loves being picked up and carried around. Jordie just loves all of her counselors and proves it whenever she gets close to their face, she does everything possible to lick their nose!

These kids sure love daycare! They engage in every activity: water play, bubbles, puppy tag, chasing tennis balls, and taking naps. They also both like to lounge around in the playground equipment and alert the counselors every time someone is approaching the resort.

As with human children, there are some definite differences between brother and sister. Curt likes to play with the other doggies while Chasie prefers hanging out with her counselors.

Bandit will also playfully nip the counselors in the rear to get them to play with him! But his favorite activity is chasing and catching the tennis balls. He gets very vocal over the toys! He will go after them all day long!

Bandit has a younger sister, Xena, also a Tervuren and an older brother, Cody a Lab mix.

She is a very active pup who will play fetch with the tennis balls all day long! She will chase a ball down, bring it back to the counselor and bark at them until they throw it again. Roxie enjoys a short break from playing to get her back scratched by the counselors. She won’t waste much time, though. She doesn’t want to miss out on fetching the toys!

Roxie also has an excellent sense for finding lost tennis balls. She will find every hidden one! When it is time for Roxie to go home at the end of the day, she likes to help get ready by grabbing her own leash and collar off the leash rack. We all love Roxie!

All the staff love Nilly because she is so sweet and laid back. She has a look of intelligence in her eyes. She is one of the preferred dogs to help do temperament tests on new, shy dogs and an excellent dog greeter for the morning daycare introductions. She'll sit on one side of the room and observe all the activity. Thinking she is a counselor, she'll let other dogs know when their behavior is inappropriate.