How old is Sammie and what type of dog is he? How old was he when you got him?
Sammie is a Cockapoo, a mixture of a Cocker Spaniel and a Miniature Poodle. In his mind, Sammie is the size of a Doberman with the fearlessness of a German Shepard. He has no concept that the wild turkeys which occasion our back yard are twice his size and outnumber him eight to one.
We became his humans when he was eight weeks old. At the time, he was the size and color of a small bowl of chocolate pudding. Karen fell in love with him the moment she held him in her hands. He was so small andbprecious. So there was that and he matched her overcoat fashionably.
Did you take any classes with Sammie when he was little?
We took Puppy Class, basic obedienceand recall training at It's PAWSible!. We weren't the best students; Sammie only slightly better, but the basics stuck and we rely on those simple techniques every day.
What do you think Sammie's favorite thing about camp is?
Sammie likes the attention of the staff and being with other dogs. We admittedly treat him like a human child, so it's important to have him socialize with his kind.
What sweet or silly thing(s) does he do? (We love it when he picks up his leash when its time to go!)
Sammie’s tail never stops wagging. It’s part of what makes him so cute; he’s always happy.
What is your favorite thing about day camp?
Sammie gets so excited when it’s time to go to camp. We know he is treated well and we know that he is safe when he is at It’s Pawsible, because he always wants to go back. Just the words “camp day” can get his tail wagging. He immediately goes to get his leash when it is time to go! Everyone is so pleasant (even first thing in the morning…) and Sammie gets the socialization and exercise he needs when we can’t provide it.
How does Sammie spend his time outside of camp?
Sammie spends an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out new schemes for getting more cookies.
Do you have a favorite story about him that you love to tell?
We got Sammie just before Christmas 2008. We had a very nice Victorian satin Christmas tree skirt that Sammie believed to be a stylized potty pad. We washed that tree skirt three times in one evening.
For a time, Sammie didn’t eat his cookies at camp. He would quietly tuck them in his cheek and spit them out to eat them on the ride home.