DOGS HAVE THEIR DAY AT FAMILY REUNION.

Byline: Jon Lewis Redding Record Searchlight 

It was the kind of party where ending up in somebody's dog house was expected.

Curious guests were welcome to engage in a little indelicate sniffing, but if anybody got carried away, he was simply put on a leash and ordered to sit.

But since it was pretty much a family affair and mom was overseeing the festivities, everybody was on his best behavior.

Mom, in this case, is Sierra, a 4-year-old cocker spaniel belonging to Don and Jean Carver, and the guests were offspring from her two litters. Sierra, it seems, has produced some popular pups and the Carvers decided to get 'em all together for a four-legged family reunion.

Sierra had 10 pups in her first litter two years ago, five of which featured the uncommon tri-color markings of brown, black and white. The pups went like hot cakes to various Redding homes and a handful ended up right in the Carvers' neighborhood.

The little shaggy dogs with ribbon ears and docked tails became highly effective marketing reps, according to Jean Carver. ``We were only going to do one litter, but so many people wanted them . . . we had five sold from the second litter before they were born,'' she said.

Sierra's second litter, delivered in March, had seven puppies, and most of them stayed in Redding. Four of the dogs live on the Carvers' street, so there are regular visits, ``but the rest kept asking, `when can we have a reunion?' '' Jean Carver said.

So, on a blustery afternoon in late October, the dogs and owners were invited to the Carvers' place for a get-together.

Counting Sierra, there were 14 dogs present. Jean Carver said she had expected more but a couple of owners forgot to mark the day on their calendars and one dog now resides in San Jose and couldn't make the drive.

``It was a pretty good turnout anyway. I just had a wonderful time. It was so nice to see those puppies again. I had really bonded with them before they left. . . . It was just a wonderful experience having them back here again.

``Sierra was such a good mother. Everybody says they're nice dogs and have a good temperament,'' Jean Carver said.

Gerry Cerreta, a neighbor of the Carvers' and the happy owner of Katey, a cocker from the first litter, agreed as she surveyed the backyard affair. ``They all seem to have the same kind of personality. They wag their tail so hard their whole body shakes,'' she said while her husband, Ken, captured the scene on a video camera.

``She's (Katey) just wonderful. I've never had a dog like her. She's almost like a person,'' Cerreta said. ``I take her for a walk every day, and when she sees Sierra she comes over and says hello.''

Also on hand for the party was the sire of the first litter, Amos, who resides one house away from the Carvers with his owners Julie and Lee Vranna. ``We call him the boy next door,'' Jean Carver said.

Amos is from a litter by Dutch and Lady, who belong to Jack and Betty ``B.J.'' Edwards, who live just around the corner from the Carvers. Dutch, whose formal title is Flying Dutchman of Glendive, fathered Sierra's second litter.

The Edwards bought two cocker spaniels on their honeymoon 47 years ago and have had cockers ever since, Jack Edwards said. ``They're nice dogs. They're not the smartest, but we just like their looks. There's nothing cuter than a cocker puppy.''

Valerie Buck said she had a cocker spaniel as a child and has always wanted another. Sierra's second litter was delivered on her birthday and she got to pick out a puppy of her own. She selected Spencer, a lively blond and red cocker, who now keeps company with her husband's Labrador retriever.

``Everybody just seems so attached to these little dogs. They just get under your skin. Most end up sleeping with their masters, like ours do,'' Jean Carver said.