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9 Years Old

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Happy 9th Birthday to Windy Spot’s Homemade 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗰𝗵!

HOWWWWW is it possible that you are NINE?! It seems like it was yesterday when we brought you home at 8 weeks old!! With not a gray hair to be seen (any white you see are original markings) and your never ending energy, you are our forever puppy! You may not be fond of most other dogs, but you are so lovable to every human you meet. You keep us laughing each and every day with your silliness! You have taken me on so many grand adventures with dock diving…. And I look forward to many more memories and adventures with you! We love you, Hooooooooooch! Happy birthday, buddy!

𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭: Egg Cups with a side of cheesy sweet potato hash browns (pictured separately because I forgot to include them in original photo), strawberries and clementines

𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫: Bird Dog Bird’s Nest , raspberries, blueberries, pineapple

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭: Birthday West Paw Toppl

  • Rim: coated in honey and topped with chia seeds
  • Icing: mashed potato, mashed cauliflower, plain yogurt all mixed together
  • ”Chocolate” drizzle over top of icing: blackstrap molasses
  • Toppers:
    • Top: bday cookie
    • Sides: heart shaped treats “stuck” on with dollops of peanut butter
    • Hole plug: Carob dipped treat

8 Years Old

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Happy 8th birthday to Windy Spot’s Homemade Hooch! Not a day has gone by in the last 8 years that I haven’t laughed because of Hooch’s silly, goofy ways. This boy had some major confidence issues as a pup. Not only did he overcome most of it, he has excelled in everything he’s done – including dock diving, where he has ranked #1 German Shorthaired Pointer Worldwide several years in a row. Although he’s selective with other dogs, he’s the most affectionate, loving pup to all humans and is the ultimate snuggle-buddy. Happy birthday, HOOOOOOOOOOOCH! We love you, buddy… and I am grateful you picked us to be your PAWrents!

Birthday meals:

Breakfast: Bone shaped egg, sausage, sweet potato home fries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries

Dinner: chicken casserole (chicken, peas, carrots, green beans, low-fat shredded cheese) and a side of apples

Dessert: Bow-Wow Brownies

5 Years Old

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Hooch’s 5th Birthday

May 24, 2019

Birthday breakfast:

Spinach and goat cheese frittata , breakfast sausage, and cantaloupe

Birthday dinner:

Lamb slider with cucumber sauce, sweet potato fries (that I forgot to include in the pic!!), and apricot

Birthday dessert:

“Chocolate” chip peanut butter PUPcakes

Birthday fun:

Ice cream cone

Learning a new game for dock diving season (Speed Retrieve) with our new home made Speed Retrieve land training rig

4 Years Old

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Happy 4th Birthday to Hooch!

May 24, 2018

 

During his birthday week celebration, Hooch enjoyed:

An agility session, and getting some solo time on the dock for some dock diving fun with his mom!

Hooch also had 2 special birthday meals this week:

His birthday breakfast was an egg, sausage, blueberries and pineapple.

His birthday dinner was Shepherds Pie with sweet potato topping and kiwi.

Hooch also had fun exploring what was in his gift bag and playing with his birthday presents.

ONE YEAR OLD!

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Happy Birthday to our little man, Hooch!  Hooch turned 1 year old on May 24, 2015.

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Where did the time go?!  It seems like just yesterday this little guy stole my heart and  joined our family! We cannot be happier with this pooch, as he has the sweetest temperament, and a heart of gold. Not a day has gone by since we brought him home that we haven’t laughed out loud – Hooch is truly one-of-a-kind !

Hooch’s first birthday fell on a weekend when we were in West Virginia at a dock diving event, but we didn’t let that stop us from celebrating!  I baked a cake and cupcakes to bring along to share with Hooch’s dock diving buddies.  Hooch and Cello watched carefully over the oven as the birthday treats baked.

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Hooch had himself a mock-choc bone-shaped birthday cake, and peanut buttter/banana PUPcakes. Both treats had a cream cheese icing also!

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(I noticed after the picture was taken I had placed the “1” backwards!!…oops!)

Hooch had an abundance of birthday toys waiting for him in our camper when he woke up:

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The announcer at the dock diving event even wished Hooch a happy birthday!

Happy First Birthday, Hooch…we love you!

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11 Months

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Our little (or NOT so little!) Hooch turned 11 months old on April 24!

He weighs 57 pounds now!

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Hooch has been absolutely loving the water this Spring! He has been diving off of our dock at home!

Hooch has also been doing very well at his dock diving competitions!

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In fact, on his 11 month birthday, Hooch competed in the Family Fun Day dock diving event, and earned 2 First Place medals, and 2 Second Place medals! Way to go, Hooch!

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Happy 11 months, Hooch!

10 Months

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On March 24, Hooch turned 10 months old… how did he get so big so fast?!?!

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Hooch is now taller than his sister, Cello, and weighs 50 pounds.  He continues to love the water and dock diving, although he still will not jump off our dock at home, and still hesitates to jump at competitions.  Hooch has picked up a stronger toy-drive, and enjoys chasing a tennis or soccer ball, and chewing on sticks.  He is the happiest, puppy we know, and he makes us laugh every day, as he is such a goof-ball!  Happy 10 months, buddy – we love you!

9 Months

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Hooch turned 9 months old on February 24th.  He’s getting so big!  He is now officially taller than his sister, Cello!

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Over the past month, Hooch has earned his first 1st Place ribbon in dock diving,  qualified for Finals for the first time – AND came in 2nd Place in the Novice Finals! Way to go, Hooch!

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Hooch LOVES playing in the snow!  And thank goodness, because we’ve had LOTS of it over the past month!  DSC03610

One of Hooch’s favorite things is playing ball in the snow!

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Happy 9 Months, Hoochie!

8 Months

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On January 24, Hooch turned 8 months old!  I can’t believe how much he’s changed in just 6 months!  He’s 49 pounds now, and slightly taller than his sister, Cello.  To see just how much he’s changed, click HERE and scroll through the pictures!

Over the past month, Hooch has traveled to Pennsylvania several times to practice his diving, went on a hike, won a contest where his painted picture will be on a greeting card, and has participated in his first official DockDogs dock diving event! Click HERE to see him in action and read the details of his first dock diving adventure!

Our little man is sure getting big!

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Happy 8 month birthday, Hooch!

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6 Months … and Team “Homemade Hooch” In the Making

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Today Hooch turned 6-months old, which means he is officially old enough to compete in a DockDogs event!  We are hopeful that he will want to jump in the 2015 season!

Currently, Hooch continues to visit new places,  travel to new states, and camp, (he’s been spent more weekends camping or staying in a hotel room, than he has spent at his house since we brought him home at 7 weeks of age!) Hooch is enrolled in WonderDogs obedience class to learn his basic commands and manners.  He continues to be a good-hearted gentle soul, and especially loves squeaky tennis balls, and Frisbees.

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Hooch was not a big fan of the water as a young pup, but gradually has ventured into the water in his own way, and in his own time!  Here are some photos and videos of Team Homemade Hooch in the making:

As a wee little pup, Hooch thought being a DockDog meant just hanging out on our dock!

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We tried coaxing Hooch into Cello’s baby pool…but he was NOT interested.

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Then one day, his love of tennis balls tempted him enough to go in the baby pool.

Hooch watched Cello dive off of our dock into the lake every day – but he would not venture in.

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One day, he fell in to our lake by accident – and we found out Hooch was not the most graceful of swimmers.

Hooch also started to go into the baby pool on his own for some summertime fun in the water!

One day, Hooch decided it was “his time” to dive into the lake like his big sis… and in he went after his ball!

While we were at Cello’s Dock Diving event in Berlin, MD, we let Hooch check out the DockDogs dock (just at the exit ramp since he was not of age to attempt to jump off the dock), and test out the pool water.

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Hooch went in with no hesitation from the exit ramp:

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He was very proud of himself for retrieving the bumper!

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We hope Hooch will not be fearful of the dock, and love the sport as much as his Dock Diving Diva sister, Cello.

The 2015 Dock Diving season should be an interesting one!

Stay tuned to see if Hooch jumps!

Go Team Homemade Hooch!!!!

15 Weeks

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Today Hooch turns 15 weeks old!  This has been a VERY exciting week for us because Hooch decided that he FINALLY likes the lake – and dove in all by himself!  It started with Hooch jumping in to follow Cello.  Then Brian started throwing a ball – and Hooch dove in off the steps to retrieve it!  We are VERY excited! This week we continue to work on name recognition, “come,” “down” with duration,  and will be adding “leave-it” to our practice schedule.  

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Here is Hooch diving in after his ball!  The ball is still a bit big for him – so it took some effort to grab it!

We call Cello our little Dock Diving Diva… will Hooch be our little Dock Diving Dude?!   We are anxious to see if in the following weeks Hooch will attempt to dive off the dock!

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We are so proud of this little nugget!

14 Weeks

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Hooch is now 14 weeks old!  I can’t believe 7 weeks have passed since we brought this little nugget home!  

He has grown and changed so much in those 7 weeks! 

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Here is a side-by-side picture of Hooch the first day we met him and today, at 14 weeks!

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This week Hooch mastered “Down!!”  Check out the video below:

3 Months

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On August 24th, Hooch turned 3 months old!  He is making great progress with “sit,” “down,” and “come!”  He has even ventured into the baby pool, and has gotten over his fear of the hose! (Hoping by 4 months he jumps in the lake all by himself!)

Not the greatest picture, but you can see the water droplets on him from going in the baby pool:3 months

Hooch playing in the baby pool and the hose:

11 Weeks

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Today Hooch turns 11 weeks old!  I can’t believe how much he has changed since the day we met him!  

This week Hooch has perfected his “sit,” and has begun to understand “down.”  He has had less potty accidents in the house, and has grown SO much!! He was watching his sister, Cello, this week jumping off the dock, and decided to jump in himself!!  Of course I missed recording the jump – but I was able to catch his not-so-graceful swim back to shore on video! (video below!)

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Out on the dock at dusk…Hooch watching Cello swim:

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Hooch swimming back to land after he dove in off the dock:

9 Weeks

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This week Hooch regressed in the crate a bit.  He’s only making it about 1.5 hours during the day in the crate with no accident, and about 2-3 hours at night.  However, he is also very inconsistent with this.

Hooch discovered he had a “voice” this week and has barked a few times!  Hear his “voice” here:

This week Hooch has also discovered his love of tennis balls!

Hooch with is new “love,” the the Kong squeaky tennis ball:

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...and the the “joy” of digging  in the yard 🙁  (Something we will continue to work on correcting).

Hooch proudly laying in his newly dug hole in our yard:

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Hooch learned “sit!” this week.   He will respond to the verbal command, and will sit any time he sees Cello sit.  I will continue working with him the next week to learn the hand signal for sit as well.

Hooch learning “sit:”

Hooch is still not fond of the lake.  (AAAHHH!) He will watch Cello jump in after her training bumper, but Hooch will not get in the lake yet!

Here is Hooch watching Cello swim:

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Hooch thinks the step is much safer than that scary dark water:

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Cello’s Training bumper, however, DID spark an interest in Hooch!

He had a ball trying to “sneak” away with it before he was discovered by Cello:

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Although the Lake didn’t go over well again this week, Hooch did finally get in Cello’s baby pool after some serious coaxing with the squeaky tennis ball!

At first, Hooch thought Cello’s pool was just a big water bowl (Cello was disgusted by this!):

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Then his love of the tennis ball took over and he got into the pool:

Happy 9 Week Birthday, Hooch!