I'm going to Boring, Oregon!! Yeah, doesn't really sound that exciting. Unless you know that there's a Guide Dogs for the Blind campus in Boring, Oregon. That's right, Faulkner is graduating!!!!
I didn't want to post anything about it when I got my official letter on Friday because I wasn't sure if I was going to get to go or not. My CFR is coming to town for evaluations that day and I was very scared that I wasn't going to get to go, but Pat, the wonderful lady that she is, worked things out with me so that I could see my boy and his new partner! I really can't say how excited I am because Faulkner was so special to me.
Does anyone else have a dog graduating on Saturday? I know that Fullerton went back on the same truck that Faulkner did....
Delve into the day to day experience of being a Puppy Raiser under Guide Dogs for the Blind Inc. by following my journey raising puppies to make someone's life just a little better. Complete with triumphs, disappointments, laugh out loud moments, and training.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Updates, Updates all around
Well, I unfortunately do not have pictures to go with this post. :( My computer decided to die and I will be getting a new one this week which will get to have all of my files transfered onto it. Yay!
So, dogs:
Faulkner is in phase 10! He's been sitting there for a few weeks now, so we're crossing our fingers for a graduation date that we can easily make!
Jerry is fun. He's grown into himself by now and has started to show off his major attitude. I haven't had a "problem puppy" for a while, but I think that Jerry is going to give me a run for me money! He's not a bad dog by any stretch of the imaginiation, but he can be a handfull sometimes. He's too smart for his own good.
At only four months old, he's going to college with me just about every day. He LOVES it. Going to work is his absolute favorite thing on the planet and he sulks when I just leave the house for two minutes without him. His ears perk and his tail wags whenever I take out his jacket. It's so much fun to have a dog with that drive! The funny part about it is that at home he's usually just sleeping. Or trying to jump up on the furniture. We're working on a couple of not-so-desirable behaviors, but I'm convinced that once we have those beat, he'll be absolutely amazing.
His ridiculously huge ears make every person who looks at him smile. We've gotten to the point around my house that I tuck his ears up in his collar when he eats because if I don't he comes trotting up with slimey, gross food ears that he wants to rub all over me!
All in all, we're having a lot of fun with Jerry even though he can be a bit of a pill every once in a while! I'm hoping to have new pictures very soon!!!
So, dogs:
Faulkner is in phase 10! He's been sitting there for a few weeks now, so we're crossing our fingers for a graduation date that we can easily make!
Jerry is fun. He's grown into himself by now and has started to show off his major attitude. I haven't had a "problem puppy" for a while, but I think that Jerry is going to give me a run for me money! He's not a bad dog by any stretch of the imaginiation, but he can be a handfull sometimes. He's too smart for his own good.
At only four months old, he's going to college with me just about every day. He LOVES it. Going to work is his absolute favorite thing on the planet and he sulks when I just leave the house for two minutes without him. His ears perk and his tail wags whenever I take out his jacket. It's so much fun to have a dog with that drive! The funny part about it is that at home he's usually just sleeping. Or trying to jump up on the furniture. We're working on a couple of not-so-desirable behaviors, but I'm convinced that once we have those beat, he'll be absolutely amazing.
His ridiculously huge ears make every person who looks at him smile. We've gotten to the point around my house that I tuck his ears up in his collar when he eats because if I don't he comes trotting up with slimey, gross food ears that he wants to rub all over me!
All in all, we're having a lot of fun with Jerry even though he can be a bit of a pill every once in a while! I'm hoping to have new pictures very soon!!!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Faulkner Update
Oh yeah, I have a Faulkner update as well!
He's already in Phase 9!!!
I'm starting to look at graduation dates in hopes that we'll get to make another trip to Guide Dogs' campus soon.....
He's already in Phase 9!!!
I'm starting to look at graduation dates in hopes that we'll get to make another trip to Guide Dogs' campus soon.....
JERRY!
Hello everyone! The worst blogger on the face of the planet has decided to show herself again. But she has a new puppy now!
I have been crazy busy the past month and a half that Jerry has been around, but I'm SO happy to have him! He's been lovely so far and I can't wait to share the next year with him. I've already fallen head over heels in love with the boy.
I drove to Oregon campus (a 7 hour drive from here) to pick up Jerry (black lab male) and Ajax (yellow lab male) in mid November. Ajax went to another family in our club and little Jerry got to come home with me! While at Guide Dogs I met with our CFR to go over some leader requirements. I'm working on becoming an assistant leader for our club since I'm already in charge of monthlies and scheduling meetings. My leader is awesome and I have known her ever since I have been part of the club. It's great getting to work with her and be even more involved in our club.
After I got home with Jerry, we were here for a few weeks and then we headed to Missoula to spend Christmas with my mom's family. Everyone up there fell in love with Jerry and he was an awesome traveler on yet another 7 hour drive. While we were there, we got to visit a fire station to deliver food on Christmas Day to the firemen on duty. They got to love on him and I got some good pictures!
That's all I've got for now. I know that I could go on and on and on about how amazing this puppy is. He's smart and fun and I already trust him off leash in the house at 14 weeks. So, instead of prattling on, I'll just post pictures!
I have been crazy busy the past month and a half that Jerry has been around, but I'm SO happy to have him! He's been lovely so far and I can't wait to share the next year with him. I've already fallen head over heels in love with the boy.
I drove to Oregon campus (a 7 hour drive from here) to pick up Jerry (black lab male) and Ajax (yellow lab male) in mid November. Ajax went to another family in our club and little Jerry got to come home with me! While at Guide Dogs I met with our CFR to go over some leader requirements. I'm working on becoming an assistant leader for our club since I'm already in charge of monthlies and scheduling meetings. My leader is awesome and I have known her ever since I have been part of the club. It's great getting to work with her and be even more involved in our club.
After I got home with Jerry, we were here for a few weeks and then we headed to Missoula to spend Christmas with my mom's family. Everyone up there fell in love with Jerry and he was an awesome traveler on yet another 7 hour drive. While we were there, we got to visit a fire station to deliver food on Christmas Day to the firemen on duty. They got to love on him and I got some good pictures!
That's all I've got for now. I know that I could go on and on and on about how amazing this puppy is. He's smart and fun and I already trust him off leash in the house at 14 weeks. So, instead of prattling on, I'll just post pictures!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Puppy Name Guessing Game!
I got my e-mail from Guide Dogs letting me know a little bit about the puppy that I'm picking up on the 16th of December! I'm going to have another male Black Lab and his name starts with a 'J'. I would LOVE to hear some of your guesses on the name of my future pup in training!!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Puppy Fever!
Well, I think that's it time for an update! I found out that I'm going to be getting my mew puppy on the 16th of December! The puppy truck will arrive at Oregon campus between 3 and 3:30 and I'll finally get to have a puppy again! Yes, I'm excited. There are two pups reserved for our club and I get to go get them both. I just can't wait!!!! Knowing that there's a puppy who's already born and has my name on it has amplified my puppy fever. I just want to get my hands on the little bundle of fur already!
Once I get my pup, I'll have it for a week before he gets to go on his first trip. We're driving for 6 or 7 hours to spend Christmas with my mom's family in Missoula. It will be a real treat to have a puppy around for the holidays!
Our puppy raising club has a new meeting place now too. We were generously offered a space that I think will be perfect for our needs. It will be nice to have a place that we can actually go and know that we'll be able to get into regularly!
I hope that everyone is having a good time as we build up to Thanksgiving. I know that this is a busy, busy time of year and I know that we're all looking forward to the break! I'd love to hear some stories of how everyone's doing with their own pups to keep me happy until I get to go pick mine up!
Once I get my pup, I'll have it for a week before he gets to go on his first trip. We're driving for 6 or 7 hours to spend Christmas with my mom's family in Missoula. It will be a real treat to have a puppy around for the holidays!
Our puppy raising club has a new meeting place now too. We were generously offered a space that I think will be perfect for our needs. It will be nice to have a place that we can actually go and know that we'll be able to get into regularly!
I hope that everyone is having a good time as we build up to Thanksgiving. I know that this is a busy, busy time of year and I know that we're all looking forward to the break! I'd love to hear some stories of how everyone's doing with their own pups to keep me happy until I get to go pick mine up!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Puppy Withdrawl
Since Faulkner has left, I have not spent very much time "puppyless."
The day that he left I took on Niven (a 13 month old black lab) for a few days. He was pretty fun and a good distraction to have right after Faulkner got on the puppy truck. Once Niven went back home, I only had a couple days before I took on a pup being raised through a local service dog organization called Genesis Service Dogs. The puppy is a 6 month old labradoodle (lab/standard poodle mix) named Chester. He's been a bit of an adventure and has reminded me of the huge differences between labs and poodles. The past week was a true learning experience for us both! Chester has gone to spend some time with another of our currently "puppyless" raisers so that we can continue to try to help him succeed. But, that leaves without a dog again.
I don't know what to do with myself when I don't have a puppy in training with me. Really, I'm lost.
I always forget what a huge part of my life puppy raising really is. If I had to pick one title to describe myself, it would be "Puppy Raiser." Plain and simple, I have an addiction. And I'm going into withdrawls. No matter how many pups I have go through my home, if I'm not raising one of my own, I don't feel like a complete person. I've noticed for the past three years that I always have a dog with me in my dreams. The dreams are VERY rarely about the dog, though. Most of the time, I'm just holding a leash with a dog attatched because that's what I do. And the dog just goes with me.
I've been told that my club has puppies reserved that will be leaving California around December 15th and I can't wait to get my hands on one!!!!
The day that he left I took on Niven (a 13 month old black lab) for a few days. He was pretty fun and a good distraction to have right after Faulkner got on the puppy truck. Once Niven went back home, I only had a couple days before I took on a pup being raised through a local service dog organization called Genesis Service Dogs. The puppy is a 6 month old labradoodle (lab/standard poodle mix) named Chester. He's been a bit of an adventure and has reminded me of the huge differences between labs and poodles. The past week was a true learning experience for us both! Chester has gone to spend some time with another of our currently "puppyless" raisers so that we can continue to try to help him succeed. But, that leaves without a dog again.
I don't know what to do with myself when I don't have a puppy in training with me. Really, I'm lost.
I always forget what a huge part of my life puppy raising really is. If I had to pick one title to describe myself, it would be "Puppy Raiser." Plain and simple, I have an addiction. And I'm going into withdrawls. No matter how many pups I have go through my home, if I'm not raising one of my own, I don't feel like a complete person. I've noticed for the past three years that I always have a dog with me in my dreams. The dreams are VERY rarely about the dog, though. Most of the time, I'm just holding a leash with a dog attatched because that's what I do. And the dog just goes with me.
I've been told that my club has puppies reserved that will be leaving California around December 15th and I can't wait to get my hands on one!!!!
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