Lexi is a wonderful young dog.
Those poor souls who keep on calling in to this place will most likely be aware of my very long-term friend Dan Gomez.
For all of the nearly forty years that I have know Dan he has always had a dog in his life.
Just a few days ago, Dan sent me an email with some pictures of Lexi, a young dog that he has had since she was a puppy.
Or in Dan’s words:
Lexi has been a magnificent example of an adventurous Flat-Coated Retriever.
She’s a wonderful hiker, swimmer, hunter and a great greeter on the trail. She’s happiest when she has her leash clenched in her teeth, parading around from person to person before continuing on her way.
What a great breed these dogs are!
Lexi came from the Brazilian breeder Keli: “Keli is the breeder, a fantastic Brazilian living in a wonderful estate in the hills of San Jose.“; to use Dan’s words.
Apparently, Keli plans for pups that year were taken out of her hands. For the reason that Lexi’s parents, Schmee and Party, decided to creep off into the bushes one day, and:
Schmee and Party are the popular names for the sire and dam and they were free from the kennel one day when Keli was off on a trip and they mated. So, the pups were “accidents”. But, most assuredly, great accidents!
As Keli’s website explains:
Schmee x Party
Born October 11, 2015
7 girls, 3 boys
While this repeat of our G litter was not planned … We welcomed these ten pups with open arms after seeing the success of the 3 intact G puppies and the stories from owners of other G pups who just adore their dogs. Not surprising at all, based on Schmee and Party being complete mushballs who just want to hold on to you, be with you and be loved by you. This litter has surprised and delighted us already with three pointed puppies … Juice, Callie & Popper in their first year of showing. I cannot wait to see what 2017 holds for them.
Introducing …
Saudades’ Juicy Fruit aka The Juice
Saudades’ Just Do It aka Lexi
Saudades’ Jaboticaba aka Callie
Saudades’ Jelly Belly aka Imogene
Saudades’ Jumbalaya aka Olivia
Saudades’ Jundiai aka Stella
Saudades’ Jasmine Jubilee aka Jasmine
Saudades’ Jewel for Tomme aka Banks
CH Saudades’ Jalapeno RN CGC aka Popper
Saudades’ Jalisco aka Buck
Dan’s email closes:
She will be three in October and her health and performance has been great. She had Rattlesnake aversion training last year in Palm Springs and did very well. She ran a gauntlet of four snakes to learn sound, site and smell.
She’s had two rattler encounters. On one hike, she encountered a rattler, approached it but stopped on a dime when it rattled loudly. I was someway behind, heard the rattle and whistled to her and she backed away, came immediately to me.
Nature vs. training worked perfectly.
We are still hiking two times daily between 3 and 7 miles total all over the West. Addicted.
Schmee and Party were a great “accident”!
oooo
Again and again, our lives are so incredibly enriched by having a dog (or six) in our lives!
Learning from Dogs 
Lexi is gorgeous. Having had a Lab I know the joys of a hiking & swimming companion. They are great for outdoor enthusiasts.
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Thanks Susan. I am pretty sure that by the end of the day Dan will have read your lovely response!
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I didn’t know you could get rattle snake aversion training.That’s fantastic. I have an aversion to them myself. ;)))
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Do you want me to ask Dan if he would share his email address with you? So he can explain more?
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Thank you but it probably will no longer be necessary. Just interesting that it’s available.
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What a wonderful post. I am a major fan of labs as well and like insearchofitall, I did not know there was such a thing as rattlesnake training. Awesome. I could have used that myself at several points of hiking with my with my kids and dogs. Dogs really do enrich our lives in so many ways from making us laugh to the loving comfort they bring us.
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Anita, further to my last reply above let me find out where Dan took Lexi and see if there’s a future post in that?
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A great accident indeed!
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And yes, there is snake aversion training. My trainer did it with Sam and while we do not hike in areas where they are prevalent, you just never know what you might encounter in Mother Nature.
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Did that training require a follow-up session some six months later? Overall, how satisfied were you with the service?
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It did not but I was very pleased with the trainer and the results in Sam. The trainer was a bit of an ego maniac but the end results from attending were quite incredible. I have since found another trainer that I’ve been working with for Elsa since she’s an epileptic/puppy mill survivor and probably wouldn’t do well in group training classes.
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Thanks. Clearly a category of training that makes sense in many American States.
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Especially in the Rocky Mountain and Southwest areas. 🐍
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Absolutely!
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😎
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So wonderful that this training proved its worth.. and Lexi looks a lovely dog as do her pups..
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Yes, Dan adores her!
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