Hi Dawna!  It's Belinda from Paradise, Texas.  I have a 7 1/2 month old female pup out of Gloria/Grizzly.  We love her to death!  She's absolutely wonderful, and I believe she's going to be quite a big girl.  At 7 months and 1 week, she weighed 102 lbs.
	Subject: Re: Mayhem/Grizzly litter Hi Dawna! Thanks for the response.  She is still beautiful.  Will try to work on my hubby!!!  Do you have any other litters upcoming?  Will you be breeding Gloria/Grizzly again this year?  I know it doesn't guarantee anything, but I love Syd so much, I'd kind of like to have one out of a repeat breeding.  But no guarantee yet I can talk hubby into another.  Don't get me wrong - he loves her as much as I do, but as you well know, these big dogs are expensive.  She really doesn't eat much (kibble) - about 6 cups per day.  But I do some meat, oatmeal, eggs, etc.  She looks great.  Believe it or not, at 102, you can see her ribs - she's not too thin, but there's no fat on her either.    As far as her temperment, she's been fine with people we have invited to the house.  She still just does the looking sick thing when I take her out and about.   I've even had to have her anal glands done twice, and she never growled at the vet.  But she's been charging the fence for quite some time, but just recently it started being with hackles up.  The other day some neighbors stopped outside the gate to talk to me, and she kept barking, hackles up.  I told them she might bite, because they like dogs and I could tell they were going to try to pet her.  After they left, she kept walking back and forth in front of the gate growling for quite sometime.   When she was 6 months old, we had visitors from out of town and their little boy (7) just loved her, and she loved him.  She kept trying to sit on him and licking his hair.  But when he started playing chase with Logan (my 4 year old), she just stepped in between them - no growling, just looked at him as if to say "Stop".  (Which he did)  I put her on leash after that, and have been when people come over ever since.  We are actually getting prepared for safety as far as kids are concerned.  As soon as Angel has her pups, we're going to move Syd's crate into the guest room and put a slide lock at the top of the door.  This way when we have the kids' little friends over, we can put her up where they can't mess with her in the crate.  I watch the children very carefully, but you never know what stupid things little people will do!  Especially because she's been so sweet - it lulls you into a false sense of them being okay.  My father-in-law plays "monster" with the kids, and Syd had started chasing him around, tail up and wagging, no growling.  But we know that could change.  We told him we were going to start crating her when he comes over and he's all upset.  He loves her and believes she loves him.  I just said, George it's not worth the risk.  He said he'd stop playing monster, but please don't lock Syd up!  You can tell we come from a family of dog lover's - how many people would rather NOT lock the dog up than play with their grandchildren!!?   Anyways, she's absolutely wonderful.  I've purchased a muzzle and will teach her to get used to it just so that when we go to the vet.  I'm working part time for some vets now, grooming.  They have two other Filas in their client base, and when asked about them, they said they wouldn't touch them without muzzles.    She's our protector and we love her much.   Thanks again for such a wonderful girl!!   Belinda
	Subject: Re: Mayhem/Grizzly litter   Hi Dawna.  I would be so proud to have one of my notes on your website!  In fact, I read through all the letters the other day hoping to see the one I sent you earlier,with a picture of Syd and my daughter, Lindsey!  I tell everyone when they ask me about Sydney and how she is with the kids that comment you made to me, when I asked if they were calm as pups - you said "They are like little old souls trapped in puppy bodies".  Dawna, that is SO TRUE!!!    I think we'd better hold off for now on the pup.  I think I will wait to see if Gloria comes in heat and when you might expect another pup of the same breeding as Sydney. Besides, I'm still working on hubby : ) Funniest thing though - I asked my son, who used to not be too crazy about big dogs - he wanted a toy poodle (no thanks) - if he would rather have another puppy like Sydney, or one of Angel's Standard Schnauzer pups.  He said he'd rather have another like Sydney!  I was so shocked!  You know, I've always said my Standard is good with the kids, and she is...she tolerates whatever they put out and she occasionally gives them kisses.  But usually she just wanders away when they try to actually play with her.  She always watches over them when other people are around, though.  but Sydney actually LIKES the kids.  They put hats on her.  They walk around holding (not pulling) her tail.  They lay on her and lean on her, and you can see it in her face that she LOVES Them.  I probably already told you this, but she checks on the kids quite frequently from the time they go to bed til I put her up for the night in her crate.  She pushes their doors open, and checks each child, sniffing right in the face, then she comes back out and lays at my feet like she 's telling me they're okay.  One day Lindsey, my 3 year old, was sick, so in the middle of the night she came to our bed.  Well, when we got up, we left her in there sleeping and shut the door.  When Sydney came out of her crate, the first thing she does is look for Lindsey, and she was quite upset not finding her in her bed or on the couch.  She was all over the house looking for her, until I opened the bedroom door and she was so excited she almost jumped on the bed!   She's just a great girl.  But you already knew that!!  Oh, and we've started obedience and the instructor said she's doing great.  I just have to really watch these other people because they aren't careful about getting too close.  But I think the socialization is good.   We've been going to Petsmart and Petco twice monthly, but I think I'll stop that - too many children who just run up to pet without asking.  No need to put her in a bad situation.  I truly believe I can read my dog, and she loves children - but so do I and it's not worth the risk.   Thanks again, feel free to post the note and I'll send some new pics when I can.  Just keep me up to speed on this breeding with Grizzly and let me know if Gloria comes in season.  I'm not in any big hurry, but if I can talk hubby into another one it will definitely be one of yours.   Belinda
	Subject: Fw: hello Hello Dawna, A quick note to tell you how much we are enjoying Sombra. She certainly is living up to her name, she is always next to us and a joy to behold. She's crossing the ferry with us and is such a lady. She sits on a mat and enjoys the attention she draws. Everyone is curious about her. She loves going to the boat, her little cave in the water and behaves perfectly on the leash with no training, heeling perfectly.   She weighs 49 pounds and we think she gains about half pound every day. It is amazing how intelligent she is; she's playing fetch, tug of war, sits and stays on command, gives hugs. She's very eager to please and is perfectly happy to just hang out with us. She traveled to Wenatchee and met all the grandkids. Instinctively guarded them all. Protected Chelsea from a loose dog in the neighborhood. We were so proud.   We've given her the remaining puppy shots but are wondering whether we need to worm her. Have you already done that or how often do they need to be wormed?   She has certainly won the hearts of all our extended family and everyone comments on how beautiful she is. We love her white spot on her back. We are totally smitten with her, thanks again so much.   Paul, Cathy and Nosa Sombra