“One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.”
~William Feather
…and many Adventures were had! This post is Cello and Hooch’s 2014 Year-In-Review. The bold print links you to the original post for that particular event.
2014 was all about growth. Our friends multiplied, as we met new people while competing with Cello in dock diving. Cello’s titles increased as she continued to achieve and amaze us with her dock diving ability. Our family ballooned as we added our son, Hooch, who also blossomed himself, from a rowdy little pup, into our “Big-Man.” Most of all, our passion for each other and our “unique” and sometimes crazy family increased greatly. Thank you for joining Cello and Hooch on their 2014 adventures!
In it’s first year, Cello’s Corner blog has over 300 posts, and attracted over 11,000 visitors from 96 countries! The most popular post was MEET BOB on March 25th.
In it’s first year, Cello’s Corner Instagram account skyrocketed to over 1,700 followers.
In it’s first year, Cello’s Corner Face Book page achieved 246 Likes.
In it’s first year, Cello’s Corner on Twitter gained 71 followers.
During the first year on Pinterest, Cello’s Corner acquried 50 followers.
Through the months of the year…
JANUARY
January was extremely rough in the weather department. Cello did not participate in any dock diving events, and we had snow-covered ground for pretty much the entire month. Temperatures the entire month were either freezing, or below freezing, and the lake we live on remained frozen. There were only 2 days in January that were above freezing AND there was no snow on the ground – so we made sure to get Cello to the dog park on those two days, as we had MAJOR cabin fever!
- Cello was featured as the GSP of the Day on Instagram
- Cello had her first sleep-over
FEBRUARY
February continued to bring more snow! Cello did not participate in any dock diving events, but we still had some noteworthy happenings to share.
- Cello was featured as the Bird Dog of the Day on Instagram
- Cello got to play with Max, the English Pointer we transported for Pointer Rescue, Org
MARCH
The winter had been brutal (and that’s putting it lightly). We had “HAD IT” at this point! South Jersey had over 18 days of snow, with snowfall totaling over 75 inches by March 9th. If it wasn’t snowing here, or there wasn’t snow and/or ice on the ground, it was uncomfortably cold (got down to -4 degrees one day!). The lake we live on was frozen most of the winter, and the streets were full of BIG potholes and cracks. These types of conditions do NOT make a GSP happy! Cello did not go to the park – or walk – or run WAY too many days this winter. We had to get creative with indoor physical activities like hide-and-seek, our version of the doggie stair-master (throwing a ball up-and-over our balcony so Cello has to run up-the-stairs/down-the-stairs to retrieve her ball)…as well as mentally stimulating indoor activities like practicing basic commands and “tricks.” On a positive note, Cello participated in her first dock diving event of 2014.
- Cello stayed in a hotel for the first time
- Cello visited the Pennsylvania Capitol
- Cello shopped in Bass Pro Shops
- Cello celebrated her 3rd birthday!
- Dock Diving
- Cello earned her Masters Title in Big Air at the Club level
- Cello won 2nd Place in the Masters Division Finals at Keystone DockDogs Winter Meltdown
APRIL
Possibly our most adventurous month yet…we took our annual Easter camping trip, and finally we could spend some time outside!
- Cello spent a week with foster pup, Clara
- Windy Spot Cabin’s flagstone patio got a make-over
- Easter camping in Staunton, VA
- Cello’s first spelunking adventure
- Natural Bridge
- Virginia wineries!
- Favorite hike of the year
- PhiladelphiaDog-Friendly-Bar-hopping
MAY
May is when dock diving really got under-way for us. We had a great time at dock diving events, and, of course, were sure to fit in many other adventures.
- LocalDog-Friendly-Bar-Hopping
- GSP REscue of NJ Event at Working Dog Winery
- Winery and Brewery in Delaware
- Bellview Winery
- Dock Diving
- 2nd Place Masters Finalist at Puppy Palooza
- 2nd Place Masters Finalist at Dover Days Dip
- Cape May Wineries
JUNE
A HUGE dock diving month for Cello! She made her first Elite Division finals, obtained her Masters Title at the National level, and earned her personal best Big Air distance of the year.
- Dock Diving
- 6th Place Finalist in the Pro Division at the Celebrate Fairfax Festival
- Cello earned her Masters Title at the National level
- Cello made Elite Division Finals for the first time, and came in 4th place at Codorus Blast
- Cello earned a new personal best Big Air distance of 23’7″ at Codorus Blast
- Capitol City Brewing Company
JULY
Of course, the biggest highlight of this month was bringing home Hooch!
- Welcome home, Hooch!
- Detour Winery
- Cello was featured as PackDog.com’s “Best of Pack” on Instagram
- Cello was featured in the German Shorthaired Pointer Pack Newsletter
- Hooch was featured as Gundogs_hunting forever’s puppy of the day on Instagram
- Cello was featured as Gundogs_hunting forever’s dog of the day on Instagram
- Cello was featured as Pointing Dog’s dog of the day on Instagram
- Cello was featured as Gundogs_hunting forever’s dog of the day on Instagram for a sceond time
AUGUST
August was a busy month – a lot of traveling and dock diving. We were happy to still be able to fit in some time to volunteer for the GSP Rescue of NJ.
- Dock Diving
- Cello participated in the North Eastern Regional Event
- First Place Masters Division Finalist at Cabela’s End of Summer Splash
- Cello earned her Elite Title at the Club level
- Cello participated in the Dutchess County Fair dock diving event
- Hooch’s first hotel stay
- Hooch’s first bar/restaurant
- Cello was featured on Zuke’s Performance Pet Nutrition’s Instagram account
- Cello was Pack Dog’s Editor’s Pick
- Hooch was featured on Puppy.Photos on Instagram
- Bar-hopping in Boston
- Hooch was featured as Bird Dog of the Day on Instagram
- GSP Rescue of NJ
- Doggie Appreciation Day
- Cello and Hooch were featured in the GSP Rescue of NJ’s newsletter
SEPTEMBER
This month was yet another busy one, as Hooch was beginning to grow into a energetic puppy. We enjoyed traveling with him, as he watched his big sis compete.
- Hooch jumped into the lake for the first time
- Hooch graduated from Puppy Head-Start class
- GSP Rescue of NJ
- Dock Diving
- Cello tried Extreme Vertical for the first time, and came in 5th place in the finals at the Ocean County Gunning and Decoy Festival
- Cello was the 3rd place Elite Division Big Air Finalist at the Ocean County Gunning and Decoy Festival
OCTOBER
October brought on many dock diving events, and Hooch’s first Halloween trick-or-treating adventure! Hooch made his first plunge into a DockDogs pool (just from the exit ramp, of course!) We got a chance at some of these events to solidify friendships with people we had met during the 2014 dock diving season.
- Hooch’s first visit to the beach at Assateague National Seashore
- Macky’s Bar and Grill
- Dock Diving
- Cello was the 3rd Place Finalist in the Cadet Division Extreme Vertical finals at Pooch Palooza
- Cello was the 1st Place Elite Division Big Air finalist at Pooch Palooza
- Cello made the newspapers
- Cello was the 2nd Place Finalist in the Elite Division Big Air finals at Monster Splash
- Cello was the 1st Place Masters Division Big Air Finalist Chesapeake DockDogs Halloween Fun Jump
- Jenny jumped Cello for the first time, and Cello was the 3rd Place Masters Division Big Air Finalist Chesapeake DockDogs Halloween Fun Jump
- GSP Rescue of NJ
- Foster pup, Bella
- Hooch was Editor’s Pick on Pack Dog
- Hooch was reunited with his brother and litter-mate, Ruger
- Cello was Editor’s Pick on Pack Dog
- Jenny and Cello made the cover photo for Super Fly Suits Facebook Page
- Hooch’s first Halloween
NOVEMBER
This month we went on our annual Thanksgiving camping trip (Hooch’s first Thanksgiving holiday), as dock diving began to wrap up for the year. Although we were disappointed that Cello did not qualify for the World Championships, also held in Nonmember, that did not stop us from having yet another fun, adventure-filled month!
- Annapolis trip and Ram’s Head Tavern
- Nourse Farm
- St. Michaels Crab House
- Dock Diving
- Cello was the First Place Finalist in the Elite Division Big Air Finals at the Easton Waterfowl Festival
- Cello was the 3rd Place Finalist in the Cadet Division Extreme Vertical finals at the Easton Waterfowl Festival
- Cello was featured on Barking From the Bayou
- Brewery and Wineries in Maryland during our Thanksgiving camping trip
DECEMBER
Hooch celebrated his first Christmas and New Year’s Eve this month. December flew by, as we not only hosted the Christmas Holiday, practice began for the 2015 dock diving season, and Hooch started to come into his own as a dock diver.
- Cello was featured in the Dog Show Journal
- Cream Ridge Winery
- Hooch’s first Santa Photo
- First time Hooch saw snow
- Cello was featured on Barking From the Bayou for the second time
- Hooch graduated from Terrible Teens class
- Cello’s Corner Instagram was featured as Instagram Account of the Day on a new German Shorthaired Pointer blog
- Dock Diving
- Practice at Green Leaf Pet Resort
- Practice at Canine Spa
- Practice at Mountain Trail Training Center
- Hooch’s first Christmas
- Hooch’s first visit to a dog park
- Play date with former foster pup, Bella, now Pepper
- Hooch’s first hike
- Hooch’s first New Year’s Eve
CAMPING
We stayed in many different and wonderful campgrounds this year!
Click HERE to see the 12 campgrounds Cello and Hooch visited!
CELLO’S CUCINA
Cello’s Cucina tried some new recipes this year!
- Nutty Squirrels
- Valentine’s Day Peanut Butter Honey-Hearts
- Banana Biscotti
- Mutt Meatballs
- Puppy Pizza
- Cheesy Sandwiches
- Mock-Choc Peanut Butter Treats
Click HERE to see all of Cello’s Cucina’s treat recipes!
These are just some of Cello and Hooch’s 2014 Adventures and achievements…we’d love to hear your 2014 re-cap!
…Here’s to many more adventures in 2015…
I am also excited to join Thoughtless Thursday Blog Hop hosted by Ruckus the Eskie, Barking From the Bayou, and Love is Being Owned by a Husky !
You’re next! Join the Blog Hop!
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I am so excited to see you on our blog hop! I was planning a post to show you how to join us. I saw you were wondering in a comment somewhere. ☺ I’m sure that you will be on many upcoming BFTB news segments. Have you considered coming to the BlogPaws conference in May? Let me know and I can give you my 10%discount. ☺ Happy New Year!!
Thanks so much! I followed the directions on the link in your post and it seemed to work! I tested out the link I put in my post and that seemed to work as well!! Not as difficult as I had thought!! I didn’t know there was a conference!? I probably could not make it anyway since the dock diving season will be in full swing at that point 🙁 Thanks so much for letting me know though!!
Wow, what a wonderful 2014 you had! The puppy photo at the end is precious, and the photo under “CAMPING” is glorious! Bow WOW! *wags* – Gilligan from WagsAhoy.com
Thanks so much!