Tag Archives: Newfie

THIRD Tick Of 2023 In Central New Hampshire (i.e., Alton).

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by Anura Guruge
on May 28, 2024

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So, the THIRD one in the last 5 days.

Yes, Yes, YES. I know the dangers. But, alas, it is an occupational hazard. I have to AMBLE daily & I live basically in the woods.

I have been TRYING to stick as much as I can to asphalt. But, I still have to do some ambling on ‘grass’. The dogs expect that from I — & I will NOT let them down. I have my pants tucked in & I check my socks etc. I also try not to go anywhere near branches.

I could be getting them second hand from the dogs.

They are on those EXPENSIVE ‘Simparica TRIO‘ pills. They have been on those pills for 3 years. They seem to work in that tick do NOT seem to attach themselves to the dogs. They just stay on the fur. That is a problem. The ticks FALL OFF — or they get on me.

I have suffered tick bites for over 18 years. I keep on hoping I have built up some resistance against Lyme. But, I dread that it will only be a matter of time. We are EXPERTS on Lyme in this household {alas}.

So, a heads up. The ticks are BACK. The ticks are here. Damn!

They are, however, from what I can see, a tad later than in 2023. I could be wrong on that.

So, a heads up. Be on the lookout for ticks.

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‘Rowen’ — The Ultimate Snow Dog, She Just LOVES Snow.

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by Anura Guruge
on January 29, 2024

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Today, for the umpteenth time.

She has LOVED snow, unconditionally, from DAY 1. There was a LOT of snow on the ground, in Iowa, the day we got her — 3 years ago. That day, was the first time she had been outside. So, her first encounter with the outside world was one filled with snow. Took to it like a duck to water. Has loved snow ever since then.

Love to LIE in the snow. Though her belly is SHAVED (& exposed), the cold does not seem to bother her. She will stay out, in the snow, as long as we will.

The snow does NOT penetrate her coat (as you can see). It sits on top. She can shake it off, BUT she prefers for us to towel her. SMILE.

‘Rowen’ — 3-Years Since We Got Her & She Changed Our Lives For The Better.

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by Anura Guruge
on January 27, 2024

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Yes, as with her birthday, she got cheeseburgers from “McDonald’s”.

Tieschan, whose dog she THINKS it is, calls this Rowen’s ‘adoption day’. Not sure if that is the right word. It, however, sure was the day she came into our lives and changed it, profoundly, for the better.

Teischan decided she wanted a Newfie & she found her on the Web — in Iowa, 1,350-miles from here. We drove, during the height of COVID, in mid-winter, to go get her — in a rented SUV. Proved to be an amazing road trip. Lucked out with the weather in what was a 6-day trip. We were either ahead or behind a snowstorm. It turned out to be a 2,700-mile trip with a slight detour to Niagara Falls.

So, that is where we are. THIRD ANNIVERSARY of the dog that changed my life. Not the first I have had. Probably the fifteenth or so, & my first Newfie. I was into Goldens and had had 7 goldens in a row.

It Was “Rowen’s” 3rd Birthday & She Got A Birthday Cake, “McDonald’s” Cheeseburgers & New Squeaky Toys.

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by Anura Guruge
on November 30, 2023

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She didn’t, this year, get to go to her favorite place, outside of here, i.e., ‘Fort Williams‘. We had some important commitments that could not be moved around.

Instead she got a special Doggie Birthday Cake, from Boston, plus the traditional burgers. This year she got 2.5. Also a few new squeaky toys.

Oh, she also got to go in her NEWEST car to McDonald’s to get the burgers. She loves her rides and looking around the McDonald’s parking lot.

So, she had a good time & good day. Braxton lucked out too. So a good day for the dogs.

Last year. Her 2nd birthday.

Two Newfies At Play.

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by Anura Guruge
on October 22, 2023

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The black Newfie lives down the road. The two are friends. They don’t bark. Just quietly socialize.

The black one is 10 months younger but weighs 30 pounds more than Rowen.

‘Rowen’, Our 2-Year Old ‘Newfie’, Enjoying The Cool After What Was An Atypically HOT Day.

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by Anura Guruge
on June 3, 2023

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Yesterday was BRUTALLY & atypically hot in New Hampshire. We were nearly at 90F (32C). Then around 6pm the heat broke, we got some rain (though not that much) & the temps. plummeted. We, luckily, did not get any lightning though there was some low, rumbles for thunder, off and on, for nearly 2 hours. These pictures were taken around midnight. It was NICE & cool. She was loving it. I let her stay out & YES, she is ALLOWED to lie on & trample the plants! She rule. That is the rule. Rowen rules.

A Garter Snake, A Marauding Hawk & A ‘Triumph TR8’ — Memorable Encounters Of The Day.

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by Anura Guruge
on May 8, 2023

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The garter snake & the hawk were during my daily, 4-mile morning amble. I encountered both within a few hundred yards of each other — on (or just off) ‘Prospect Mountain Road‘. Much of Prospect Mountain Road & the roads leading off it are unpaved (i.e., dirt). It is also pretty rural. I live, on another dirt road off Prospect. So, much of my ambling revolves around this road. That was indeed the case this morning.

Garter snakes are pretty common, especially around this time of the year, in this neck of the wood. ‘Rowen‘, our 2-year old Newfie, stepped over it. Did NOT notice it. Just walked straight over — just missing it, TWICE, with its front paws. That is Rowen. Not the most observant dog in the world. Too busy looking around, but not down at its feet.

We have a KETTLE of hawks near the top of the mountain.

Yes, a KETTLE.

I did NOT know that that was the term. I had to look it up. Over the weekend I saw about 4 circling around. Today, it was just this one & it was darting all around us. Came sweeping directly at us. I was not quick enough to get a shot.

The TR8 was later on in the day. In town. Nice looking car. I had a TR7 in the U.K. It was my last car there. I should have brought it over. It was the 3rd from last TR7 built! Its registration was ‘MGM 327X‘. I did NOT lust after the TR8 as I would have earlier in my life. I am in the process of parting with the TWO British cars I still have, i.e., the 1989 Jaguar V12 XJS & the 1969 MGB. But, I checked it over. Seemed to be in great shape. Bravo.

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Picked 10 Ticks Off One Dog Today (In Central New Hampshire, i.e., Alton).

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by Anura Guruge
on May 8, 2023

Click to ENLARGE. Not all of them, just 6. The other 4 were picked slightly earlier, outside & disposed off then & there.
The 9-year old ‘Harrier’ who had the 10 ticks on him.
Click to ENLARGE. The very effective & EXPENSIVE tick medication that both dogs are on.

It, alas, is that time of year. The ticks are back & they are back with a vengeance. Started encountering them last week.

Today I, by & large, I kept to the (dirt) road to avoid running into too many ticks. While I stick to the road the dogs do roam as I let them off leash since we basically are walking in the woods. As far as we can tell there were no ticks on I. I was even ROLLED OVER with a lint-roller. No ticks.

Not so with ‘Braxton‘ our Harrier. He is mainly white & has short hair. You can see ticks on him. That is how we managed to pick off 10.

‘Rowen‘, our 2-year old Newfie probably has a lot on her too BUT it is impossible to see given her long, thick, shaggy coat. She will be dropping off ticks all over the house!

Both dogs are on ‘Simparica‘ — & have been for the last 2+ years. Simparica seems to work. Certainly a damn sight better than ‘Frontline Plus‘. Ticks don’t attach or IF THEY do they die. That is what we have found so far. We do keep a very close eye on the dogs & do check them.

But that is the story as of today. The ticks are here. Glad we have the dogs on medication. I WISH I COULD TAKE SOMETHING TOO FOR THE DAMN TICKS!

So, a heads up. Be on the lookout for ticks.

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First Tick Of 2023 In Central New Hampshire (i.e., Alton).

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by Anura Guruge
on April 15, 2023

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Just one (so far), & I only felt it, crawling on my neck just under the hairline around 10:40pm. Had not had a chance to attach. For that I am grateful. It was small. I suspect that I might have got it from one of the two dogs.

Yes, of course, I was out ambling this morning & I did do some trampling along a wooded trail. It could have got in my hair then, from a tree.

Much earlier than last year. Last year it was mid-May before I encountered any. But, the last two days have been exceptionally warm.

So, a heads up. The ticks are BACK. The ticks are here. Damn!

So, a heads up. Be on the lookout for ticks.

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‘Rowen’, Our 2-Year Old ‘Newfie’, Patrolling The Ramparts Of ‘Fort McClary’, ‘Kittery’, Maine, In The Snow.

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by Anura Guruge
on January 18, 2023

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This was from Monday, January 16, 2023. Here are links to other pictures of ‘Ft. McClary‘ from that visit — link 1 & link 2.