24 things for 24 hours left....

With less than a day remaining with Millie, I thought I would do a post just about her.

These are 24 things that make Millie a special and unique girl.

1. Millie is always happy. This girl never misses a beat.

2. She LOVES her Nylabones. I have a big basket that she will go over to and pull out her chosen bone.

3. She has a great loose leash walk!

4. She loves to play with other dogs.

5. If I am sitting on the floor she will come and sit in my lap.

6. She will lick milk off of baby kittens.

7. When she runs she looks like she is frolicking

8. She LOVES dinner. She starts drooling the min the bowl comes out.

9. Millie is very sensitive to moods and will act silly to make you feel better.

10. She is great with kids.

11. She loves playing with her Jolly Ball, though I swear she is going to knock someone out one of these days.

12. I only have to look at her for her to come for a pet.

13. She is a pretty neat water drinker.

14. She will swim!

15. She LOVES Kongs!!! She will drop it and watch it bounce. Even down the stairs.

16. She runs around like a crazy dog after a bath.

17. She prances when she knows she is going for a walk.

18. She likes to lick my hand, or fingers, to get my attention.

19. She is so smart.

20. She is so loving.

21. She loves to 'work'.

22. She has never had an accident in a building.

23. She is a joy to work with.

24. I will miss her and her wonderful personality. I know this girl is going to do great things.

Puppy Delay...

Well it looks like I am going to have a break, albeit a short one, between sending Millie off to college and getting my new little pup. I had originally thought I would be getting my pup on the 29th and sending Millie back on the 31st, giving me two fun days of overlap. Instead Millie will be leaving (most likely in a training van) on the 21st, and my new pup will arrive on the 29th as the puppy truck makes its way to Colorado.

That will make for one sad send off as no one will be getting a cute little pup to cry into. I will probably end up watching another pup while I wait for my own to arrive.

No word yet on what I am getting though!

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.

For lack of any real news....

Here is a cute picture post! I recently uploaded my little camera and had a whole bunch of pictures from this summer just waiting to be seen. From baby Paris pictures, outdoor adventures, and traffic walks to silly statue encounters, here is a sampling from my forgotten camera.

If you made it this far, good for you! Hopefully I will have some puppy news to report this week!

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