Finally a picture post!

First, I want to thank everyone for their kind and wise comments on my last post.  It really helped me through a rough time.  Thank you!

Now some very belated pictures of Millie!

cc'd GSD Ontario in harness for live Juno walks at the UFB/Utah raiser event.

PIT Bracken hanging out.

My leader's Bernese Mountain Dog pup, who was born the exact same day as Millie.

PIT Lisbon

PIT Edie

Millicent's weird frog sit.  Her legs look like they should not be able to do this!

Working guide Cricket catching a break on mom's knee.

PIT Bracken, who is Millicent's cousin!  He is twice her size!

And finally, why we all do this.

The hardest thing....

Today Sterling went on a trial run with a friend who would like to adopt him if everything works out. While I knew this was coming, it was still one of the hardest things I have ever done.

We went out to her car, he had this happy walk, but when we got to the car and I put his stuff inside...he did not want to get in. I was trying to remain happy and not let him see, because I did not want to make it any harder on him. Once he got in, I gave him one last hug, and then ran back inside where I could watch her drive away and cry in peace. He watched out the back window the whole time....

It is a great stituation for him, and really for me as well, as she lives locally and I will be able to see him frequently, not to mention watch him when she is out of town. But he is not my boy, my Sterling anymore, and man is that hard.

How do you do this over and over again? Does it ever get any easier, or do you always cry? I love raising, but sending them off is hard.

I guess it is true though, better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Sorry about the long and sad post. Have to get it out sometime!

Happy post with pictures from the Utah puppy raising workshop we had on Saturday to follow. And of course...my late pictures of Millicent!

She is here!

My new pup has arrived....


Meet.....


Millicent!
8.25.2008
Bosworth/Tinella

I picked her up from my leader late afternoon yesterday. So far she seems to be a very sweet, if slightly naughty, pup. We are going to work on house manners and being calm inside. She loves the big toy box with all sorts of fun nylabones and Kongs to chew on. She is very confident and went over an open grate and up and down see through stairs (have to, as that is how you get inside my house!). She is a cousin to Bracken and Burgess, as Bosworth and Bingham were brothers.

She will be going to work with me today, and will have a nice mellow day hanging out with Sterling. She has also met Marley. Over the next week she will meet Dante and Hugo face to face, right now all sniffing is through baby gates. Living with this many dogs means gradual introductions!

I do have to say....her name is pretty awful! I don't know, it just makes me think of a great-aunt, maybe one with alot of cats? Millie comes out alot easier, and it seems to be what she is used to.

Pictures and more updates will hopefully follow later today. It is a dog rodeo for me, as Tom and his friend both went in to work at 6am to do avalanche control work, and Tom will not be off until 9pm tonight!

Millicent seems like a very sweet and confident (she walked with her vest on!) pup. I can't wait to see this girl grow and mature.

IN CLASS!

Shaw, Sterling's brother, is in class and set to graduate March 7 at the Boring OR campus.

Sterling two sisters are still on breeder watch as well, maybe trying raising a Sterling nephew?

Congrats to Shaw's raiser (my leader).  This is her 21st dog.

Last Avalanche Dog News clip

I actually am in this one.  Not great, but yeah.

Here is the link:

WBR news clip

The last 14 months and 25 days comes to an end....

It is official, Sterling has been career changed.  This little guy just did not want to be a guide dog.  While he loves being at home, going on walks, and visiting with people, he just did not like outings and wearing his vest.

He was in consideration for a Canine Buddy, but it was decided that the change would be too stressful on him.  Since he is still with me, I have decided to place him myself.  I have a friend who currently has no dogs who has fallen in love with him.  He will be going on a trial run with her in the next couple of weeks.  Since she lives here locally, I would still be able to see him, and watch him if she goes out of town.

I have been asked to take a transfer pup, and I will get her on Monday, when I get back from my ski hut trip this weekend.

She is a 5 month old black lab, a M puppy.  More details on Monday for this little (and she is tiny!) girl.

I think Sterling is going to love his new life as a companion, house dog, hiking buddy, skiing companion, and best friend.

Sterling enjoying a bone on the bed!  The perks of Pet life.

My next pup.

With Sterling's time with me quickly coming to an end, I have been gearing up for a new puppy.  I have been asked to take an older pup as a transfer, and it looks like that is what I am going to do!

More info to follow as soon as everything is finalized.

Guide dog in training turned rescue dog

Forgot to add that there was a cc'd Guide Dogs of America pup at the training school. VERY cute black lab: we joked that he and Sterling could be brothers!

But very cool to see a cc'd pup doing something they love to do!

Rescue dog training, Sterling, sick dogs, and more.

Lots has been going on in the past couple of weeks. The last week of January had me up the Cottonwood Canyons participating in a rescue dog training school for Wasatch Backcountry Rescue. Hiding in snow caves, being buried in trenches, going for a helicopter ride into the backcountry, and of course playing with awesome dogs made it a week I will not forget!

Some pictures, a video, and a short news story about the school can be found at the links!

I have some pictures of my own that I will hopefully post once blogger starts liking me again.

Sterling is on the list to go back on the April truck....unless something changes. Which it may very well. I do not want to say anything until I know for sure.

For the last two days Marley and Sterling have been the diarrhea twins. Having two large dogs be sick all night is NOT fun. But I guess I am just getting prepared for no sleep during housebreaking time with my new pup.

School is moving along, Sterling and I are re-starting at square one for going out in public, as he has once again decided to not like his vest. Again, good practice for a pup: really short, positive trips in places. All without a vest which leaves me with alot of talking/explaining to do.

But wow, I love this dog!