A Moonshadow Named Maple

Mary-Ann Sontag February 1, 2022

I have known Lee and Adri since we had the iPups — they live in the same town as me — and was so thrilled that we had the right puppy for their family in the Moonshadows. They send us this happy report about another puppy who is making a difference:

“Maple (first known as Portia) is ever the lover in our family. She openly displays a broad range of emotion, and is quick to come in for a reassuring touch, pet, or hug to make sure we are all still on good terms.

Maple spends the work days at the office with Adri (Professional Counselor) helping the individuals and families seen there with getting comfortable sharing their stories. The most incredible sessions to witness are those with kids, as Maple often stays very close and wants to be touching the kids playing in the office at all times. She is still a little nervous around some folks (mostly strange men she hasn’t met before) but she is adept at setting her own boundaries and retreating to her special corner of the office when she needs space.

Hopefully, after turning one, and helping her get a bit more used to startling noises, she can complete her therapy dog training with a certificate and start going to the primary school with Lee (school counselor) to share her love with the kids there. At home, Maple keeps our old lab (Flannel - 10 years) on her toes with regular wrestling matches, and “cleans up” the kids’ toys whenever they are left out too long. She loves getting out on hikes and runs or pretty much any activity we are all doing together. She’s a pretty attached (slightly codependent) canine!

Maple has many other notable qualities that make her lovably unique:

Strongest tail around, once sending a jar of salsa sailing off our coffee table across the room into our HEPA air filter.

Purrs like a kitten especially when hitting just the right spot for ear scratches.

Outstanding gross motor control as it relates to paw placement on lap when needing a hug (She regularly asks for hugs).

Fastest eater around, mastering most puzzle feeding bowls in under 45 seconds (likely a product of growing up with 10+10).

We all love Maple as much as she loves us, and we are so grateful for the trust and opportunity Mary-Ann gave us to bring a Kaibab Berner into our family. Wishing all the Bright Star cousins and Moonshadow siblings a great birthday!”

Thank you Lee, Adri, and boys! Capella hopes we can have a playdate soon — and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAPLE!

More Birthday Fun

Mary-Ann Sontag January 31, 2022

We interrupt our Moonshadow Birthday Bonanza to congratulate Team Lucas (Sparkler) on the completion of a tough obedience title: CDX!

GREAT JOB, Team Lucas. I know well the work that goes into that title — very impressive!

And speaking of impressive, I suspect this boy is heading for great things: Moonshadow Andy!

Jasen shares:

“Andy – Kaibab Moonshadow Man on the Moon

Andy is a happy boy with lots of energy. He has a voice and like to hear himself. Andy is good at making new friends. Andy’s backside is still curly, his freckles are there. His energy level is high and I don’t know what would happen if he didn’t get 3 walks a day.

Andy’s Sister Shasta is 12 ½ years old. They have a special type of play and he is gentle with her.

Andy has been taking a class called Foundation skills 1 since he can home. The class is weekly. We work on Heeling skills, dumbbell skills, turning, sits, downs, stands with lots of training aids.

Andy got to meet his sire and dam at the National Specialty.

Andy has new pictures up almost every Thursday for his Fan Club. Here is a picture from 1/24/2022.”

Thank you, Jasen, and I count myself among the members of Andy’s Fan Club — what a doll!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDY!

Over The Moon Birthday

Mary-Ann Sontag January 30, 2022

In December of 2020, a little friend turned seven and her birthday wish when she blew out those seven candles involved Berner puppies…

As some know, it takes a special home for me to be willing to place a puppy with children — and “special home” is code for, “must have an amazing mom who is all in on a puppy.”

I am including this update in its entirety — with all the photos that were sent — so you can decide for yourself if Samantha meets the criteria

Samantha shares this report about Wally Montana (fka Neil):

“It's hard to capture in such a brief update what a wonderful puppy he is, and just how much joy and extra love he has brought to our family (and so many people!) these last 10 months, but I'm going to do my best to help you get to know our wonderful Wally.

Wally, when he still lived with Mary-Ann, cuddled up on the floor next to Daisy.

This is an excellent example of his personality, calm + cuddly. Just happy to be with us, anywhere.

The moment we laid eyes on Wally in the parking lot of a Spokane hotel, we knew he was everything. Everything we wished for, and everything we didn't even now we needed. Cruz and Lulu just instantly melted into him while he cuddled into their laps, as Matt and I listened carefully to everything Mary-Ann shared with us about this perfect little puppy. And just like that, the dream we had been dreaming for the last year came true, as we drove towards home with our cuddly little guy. That was literally the BEST DAY EVER, for all of us.

He LOVES his crate, he always has!

First trip to the beach!

First trip to the Lake, and first time swimming!

THE most gentle puppy (my niece + Wally are only 8 days apart).

He’s always been so cuddly.

This summer we had his brother Scout + Obi over to our house to play!

I carried Wally literally everywhere (partly because he hadn't had all of his shots, but mostly just because I wanted to), all over town and every single place I went for the next several months, making sure he met lots of humans and experienced all sorts of new things. He made strangers stop and smile, posed for lots photos on the Seattle sidewalks, cuddled with little countless kids every afternoon at school pickup, made puppy friends of all shapes + sizes, learned how to have good manners in stores, and became the absolute friendliest well-mannered puppy.

Wally + his “baby”!!

He’s very tolerant of dressing up!

Wally + Lulu

During our first few weeks together he potty trained really quickly, only ever chewed up one area rug (and I guess some of the kids sweatshirts do still have the baby shark teeth holes for proof of teething!), and has been just generally so, so easy. He loves the car, loves adventures, is a great road trip companion, and has stayed in 2 hotels. He’s so easily adaptable, truly.

He hasn't met a stranger, pup or human, everyone is a friend, and he will stop for a good belly rub from anyone who will offer him one while we are out and about. He has done fantastically at his puppy classes, and is often the teacher's "example" to show the rest of the class what to do...he's eager to please and VERY treat motivated, which makes for a quick learner!

I've thought numerous times over the last 10 months about maybe someday going down the therapy dog path with Wally, because he just seems like he would do so wonderfully, but I'll follow his lead and we will see if he leads us in that direction. :) I know he would be phenomenal, he already is.

People watching in the city.

He has dog friends + horse friends at puppy class!

Sometimes I find myself already worrying about how we could possibly carry on once he's gone, but I think when you've lost someone you loved, that's maybe just something that happens. I've promised Wally we will celebrate literally every little thing, and he will only ever know love + happiness while he's with us, because that's what he's given us, every single day since we met him.

He has been magical, and has surpassed all our dreams about who we hoped he would be!