October-April

From October through the end of April: Rafferty has grown so much, both Marley and Hugo got their therapy dog certifications, and Hugo has started search and rescue training. Dante hibernated and is now ready for warm weather! Rafferty has been a great puppy and in less than two weeks he will have a younger 'brother' or 'sister' to mentor. I am once again starting a puppy for the high school raising program. We are going to have one busy summer...Rafferty continues to mature, Hugo works on wilderness/cadaver search training, Marley gets started on therapy work (and hopefully Splash dogs!), and a new puppy from Guide Dogs for the Blind joins into the mix.

Introducing the biggest boy...

On the truck! Meet Rafferty, my 4th guide dog puppy. He is a male black lab, born 8.14.2009, to Samuel/Sarita. He weighs 21 lbs and is the cause of my arms aching from holding him so much today! So worth it though, cause I know it is not going to last! He is cute, calm, and confident. He already thinks he can run with the big dogs! So far he has been a great little boy, and I feel so lucky to have the chance to be his raiser. Oh, and he was the big boy on the right from the puppy truck picture : )

Marley

Well, I really should be doing some last minute studying for my final at 10:30, but I am just about through with school, and besides, it is stress management!

This is a little about Marley, my second dog (co-owned with Tom). I got Marley as a foster over Memorial Day weekend this year. We were also fostering a Giant Alaskan Malamute, and had just adopted Hugo one month prior. He was the only brindle puppy from his litter, which I was told was a mix of Great Pyrenees and Newfoundland. Later I went down and saw his parents. His dad was definitely a Pyr, but his mom looked like a Lab/Golden mix; I just couldn't find the Newfoundland in her! Marley house-trained himself in about 3 days. He was rather amazing about that. But we had to deal with some separation anxiety, and we are still working on that and a reliable 'come' command.

He is a great dog though! Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with OCD in both shoulders, and has ended up not being quite the free dog I thought he was! Oh well, he gets to stay as my wonderful dog, hopefully we can do some therapy work.

Because of his beautiful long-coat brindle coloring, I think he may have some Anatolian shepherd somewhere in his family tree; but I do not know for sure.

Well, I will continue with stories of my pups later, time to study!

New puppy

On November 17th, 2007, Tom and I got our first Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy. His name is Sterling, and he is a male black lab. He was born on September 10, 2007 to Denzel and Parkay. He has a brother, Shaw, in our club, Summit Guide Dogs. Another sibling is his brother Sparky who is being raised in the Utah County club.

I should have worn a white shirt! All of our club members who got black pups were wearing dark shirts! Sterling was 13.5 lbs when we got him.

Getting Sterling from the puppy truck.

We are slowly working towards housetraining. Sterling seems to have a very small margin for controling his bladder, when he has to go, he has to go right then! This has meant a couple accidents where he has pee'ed on people, myself and Tom included. However, he is very smart, and has learned kennel, come, sit, wait (to a small degree), and no! We are well on our way to a good 'Do your buisness' response as well!

Thats all for now. More stories to come about Sterling and my other amazing dogs; Dante, Marley and Hugo.