We just got the permanent rating from Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) on Pesca's hips and elbows.  Her elbows are rated normal, and her hips are rated EXCELLENT!  She is the third dog of my breeding to rate this high score.  This is so important to me because in the earlier days, 6 out of the first 9 Lagotti imported into AZ had non-passing hips.  Selective breeding has given me all ratings of Excellent and Good.

Hooligans amongst the HooDoos!  Escalante, UT

While our friends in the NE are digging out of the snow, we are enjoying warmer than usual weather in the 60s.  We decided to take a walk down our dry wash to the cattle tank (pond) that has water in it due to recent rains.  It wasn't real deep but the dogs had fun romping in it and chasing sticks.   This was the first time for Pesca as it had been dry most of the time.  The only bad part is the place is full of huge sharp burrs.  This is part of what we pulled out of the dogs.  So much for curly coats!

Our year in dogs included Ginna now living with McLeod family in Prescott, going from being a princess in our house to a queen in their house. Vando - crisis response, comfort, and curls has completed his first year as a therapy assist dog, most lately going to the Christmas meeting of Parents of Murdered Children. Visit his FB page. Adrina still rules as first Lagotto to arrive in AZ almost 10 years ago. Pesca won Best In Miscellaneous last summer and accumulated 5 points toward her CM. She received the coveted "Excellent" on her pre-lim of her hips. We have just done a breeding and if all goes well, hope to have a litter of puppies in mid to late February.

Pesca has been bred to the very handsome Barbelo.  We will check progress in 3 weeks to see if the breeding was a success.  If so, we should have a litter about the third week in February!  It has been over 2 years since we had a litter of puppies, so we are very excited.

More good news!  Pesca has completed all her pre-breeding tests.  She has passed her elbow and patella tests, aced her hip test and now has been tested for eye issues.  The opthamologist found a couple hairs near the eye rim but states that this is not a problem.  Eyes are clear.  Now we will wait for her to come into season in the next month or so.  Today is her 2nd birthday.

Last night we attended a meeting of Parents of Murdered Children with EMM team Suzie and the Radloffs.  The dogs can be such a blessing and a loving way to share the love of Jesus with everyone we meet.  Nothing needs to be said, the comfort is just there.  Thanks Vando, for being such a blessing.