Making a Difference

I came across the post on the GDB blog page about the Search Dog Foundation deployment. Right now there is a career change dog down in Haiti helping to find buried victims....what an amazing thing this pup has gone on to do! Check out the Search Dog Foundation and see the amazing training they give to these dogs and their handlers.

I love reading about all the things our pups can go on to do: guide dogs, service dogs, diabetic alert dogs, SAR dogs, detection dogs, therapy dogs, Canine Buddies....the list is endless! Recently a comment was made to me that the work I do as a puppy raiser is not really worth much. The individual seemed to think that Guide Dogs being "dragged through crowded restaurants and movie theaters" were not "real" working dogs and really had no positive impact. I have also encountered people who think that their working dog (not service dog) have more rights and privileges for public access because they have 'fun' together. I am at a loss for words: Guide Dogs not having fun? Watch any of the training videos and you will see their tails going a mile a minute: they LOVE their jobs! Although I know that this person is very ill-informed, I mean LOOK at all the stuff our dogs go on to do, I have been trying to find a way to educate people on the impact Guide Dogs and other service dogs have on their new partners' lives.

Often when people see our pups and working guides in public, they are not actually realizing what these dogs DO, the impact they make. They are not just a dog being taken into public for the fun of it, they are dogs changing lives and keeping their partners safe every single day. How do you share the impact your dog makes in your own, or someone else's, life?

Puppy Truck Heading Our Way!

Here is a picture that was posted on the GDB Facebook page yesterday. For all of you without Facebook, here is a look at some of the puppies heading to UT and CO today. All of our CFR's helped load up the puppy truck. Go Barb! That black pup on the right is one big boy!! Just a few hours until one of these guys is in my arms!

Fall Photos...

Yesterday we went on a walk near a historic barn. There also happened to be some very large trees that Marley found irresistible. He hopped right up and started climbing away...he never ceases to amaze (and sometimes worry) me with his antics. We also got some good shots of Millie and Hugo.

Marley sitting on the tree, so pretty with the sun lighting up his face!

Look how high I am Mom!

Exploring further out on the tree.

Climbing up the tree.

Me and Millie, both fixated on something. I think this was right before she jumped off the tree.

Millie, bored with picture taking.

Looking pretty in front of a fence.

Looking irritated in front of the same fence!

The trio. And of course Hugo has to have his Frisbee.

Me and Millie.

Marley and Me (haha, I knew I would write that at some point).

Pretty boy Hugo.

Recall: but not defective!

Recently I posted about Millie returning for recall on my Facebook page. Many of my friends, unfamiliar with GDB terminology, immediately responded, asking what was wrong, and just what kind of a recall affects a dog anyway....

I had to laugh as I corrected everyone on my wording, but it did make me think. Usually we here the word recall in other aspects of life, and it is always something defective, or bad. Like my Mom's Prius floor mats which had a recall this past week.

But with the guide dog pups, it is something good! It means you have done what you are supposed to do, done all you can to prepare them for college (formal training), and are now ready to say good bye. Well, maybe no one is ever READY to say good bye, but we know it is coming and can now look forward to watching our pups progress through formal training and whatever career they choose to undertake.

Millie will be my first dog to actually return for formal training. I did have to say goodbye to Sterling, but knowing he had chosen the pampered pet life. I just found out today that Millie's recall date is now the 21st of this month, instead of the 31st. That leaves me with just under two weeks to pack in final outings, lots of play and snuggle time, and lots and lots of pictures.

Goodbye and Good Luck

Paris went to her new raiser Megan today.  She got to sleep loose in my room last night, run and play with the other dogs this morning, and hang out with me this afternoon before heading off for her new adventure.  I know she will be a great dog, and will be a great guide one day if that is what she chooses to be!

Paris at full speed...her favorite one : )

Playing with Marley one last time.

Beautiful pup.

Paris just over 7 months old (7 months, 4 days.)

Final goodbyes...

I love this one!  I think she was getting bored, things weren't happening fast enough for her.  You can even see the black spot on her tongue.  

Paris, puppy in training.

Happy, happy girl.

Looking ahead for new friends, fun, and excitement to come!

Good Luck Paris!  I love you and look forward to following your adventures before you head back to formal training.  Be a good girl, and don't steal Megan's slippers!

Awesome News!!!

Well our evals were on Tues, and we met with the Salt Lake and Utah county clubs.  There were about 20 puppies there, from just having gotten vests, to pups going back next week for training.  At first different people had their pups do 'go to bed', while we waited for everyone to arrive.  I did have Paris try, and though it was a VERY distracting environment she did ok.  Not awesome (though it wasn't her usual mat) but ok.  Next we walked through Cabala's.  In there we went through the aquarium, walked through the different animal displays, and practiced elevator rides and walking next to open railings.  

Millie was fantastic the entire time, hardly ever pulling on the leash, and showing no reactions to any of the different things we saw.  Tom handled her throughout the eval.  Paris did really well for her age, and other than pulling some to go to other dogs, and trying to check out a couple things on the floor, she was great!  

Afterwards our CFR asked us the best things about our pups, and the worst things about our pups.  For Millie, it was her willingness to do any ting, and go anywhere that is her best trait.  Her house behaviors still need a little fine tuning, but other than that she is one AWESOME pup.  Paris is so smart, and she is so smart!  Those were both good and bad as I try not to let her outsmart me!!  But it makes for fun training and one awesome pup.

Once people started to leave my CFR asked me if I would be finishing Paris's training.  I told her I would do whatever worked best for GDB.  If someone needed an older pup I would transfer her (as I had started her with that intention), but if not I would love to finish her.   My CFR told me there were some raisers who were waiting for transfer pups, and she would let me know the next day.

And so.....Paris is being transferred.....

To a fellow blogger!!!  She will meet her new raiser on Thursday.  I am going to make this a guessing game until then.

I am so excited to be able to follow along with her progress!  Millie is still excepted to go back on the truck at the end of October, which means I will be getting a puppy on that truck.  That is all the news I have for now

Puppy News, Millie and Paris

Well, it looks like Paris will be sticking with me.  Only 6 of 11 pups went to the HS program, and so Miss Paris will be finishing her time here in PC!   Yay, no snow housebreaking!!!  We have an eval with our CFR tomorrow night where Paris's progress will be evaluated and Millie will have her final eval before her recall.  Paris is completely recovered from her spay surgery and second eye surgery and is doing GREAT!  Millie is just fantastic, and I am trying to pack in as many things with her as I can before she goes back.  

It has been fun, now that Paris is older and more reliable for public outings, to go everywhere with two pups.  I hope it is helping to teach them better control around dog distractions, and more self control in general.  We get many more comments on the girls, especially the difference 6 months makes in their calmness and control (though no one believes Paris is only 6 1/2 months!).

Paris is still very vocal and rough when she plays with the other dogs, resulting in lots of time outs.  Has anyone had this problem before, and if so, any other suggestions to helping her control and moderate her play behavior?

I will not be getting a puppy on the truck (unless somehow I was offered a golden pup ;)  and plan on getting another puppy in the spring.  If Millie is pulled as a breeder, I will raise one of her pups when they become available.

Hopefully I will be able to post an update after our eval tomorrow night!

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.

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.