puppy training night

This blog is bittersweet, because although we had a wonderful night of "service puppy training" (our monthly get together), tonite we honored a very special dog. Logan - who was partnered with Suzan. If you recall, dear reader, Logan has been in a number of my blogs, she was a stellar service dog, and great around the puppies. Suzan has been a huge mentor to me with regards to "training" service puppies, and I always appreciate and look forward to her advise.








You might have already noticed that the wording here is in "past tense"... because on March 28.. Suzan had to say goodbye to Logan. We have actually known for sometime - Logan had been battling cancer. Suzan decided to try some treatments for her, and had said that she would know, based on Logan, when and what the next step would be. Logan did "quite" well with her battle, but time takes it toll.

















I have said "goodbye" to many a "pet dog".. some were harder than others. But I can't even begin to think of what it is to say goodbye to a dog - partner - who has been so much a part of your life. Not just your companion, your love, but a real being that you depend on for so many things. It's a different type of loss to be sure. Mike, who was partnered with Chester, told me that when he lost his dog, he said he would never have another, and it took him months to "recover".... happily, he did decide to get another dog... but I am sure that it will be a little while for Chester and Mike to fully come together.

















All in all, Suzan has done "well" with all of this. And because she and Logan have touched so many lives in all sorts of ways, she has been well embraced by many, many friends. On April 23rd, there will even be a memorial service for Logan.. which we will be attending.










We (the Maine Chapter) wanted to do something special for Suzan, so I had the idea of getting some pink balloons. We could use them as "distractors" for the puppies, and then - when the "class" was over, we would release them in honor of Logan.













I asked Sadie and Abbie to come along as well... some of the puppies don't have the opportunity to be around babies or strollers that often, so along with the balloons, we had Abbie as well. She was so surprised and happy to have all those balloons in the truck with her, and had a grand time, even before we got to the puppies...



Ginger, on the other hand, was a bit uncertain at first. However, as we drove along, she settled in and decided that other than she had little room to move around, the balloons weren't so bad to deal with.

As the group arrived, we placed the balloons here and there around the room. The puppies didn't even notice them, but Abbie sure did. And having her playing around with them, was certainly a great "distraction".....

Our "leader" Linda, has a new golden puppy (which is her's not a NEADS dog) and she brought Chloe to meet everyone. Nothing cuter than a puppy and everyone fell in love.....

Suzan took Ginger and did some work with her. Being able to have "our" puppies around things like scooters, wheelchairs and the like certainly gives them a big jump on their future training. Abbie was quite interested in Suzan, especially when she found the keys on the scooter!!!!Every time Suzan stopped, Abbie ran over to check out those keys.






Such a great group of folks. Our "service dog community night" is growing and we are adding more and more folks each month.

(notice Abbie!!!!)






We finished up just about sunset, and so we stepped outside. Made a little toast to Logan and released our pink balloons.....it was very emotional....

Abbie couldn't believe we let all those balloons go!!!!! She watched them for the longest time.. and was very happy to know that we did keep one just for her.










And after all that training.......

a whole week???

It's hard to think that last week, I was "all a quiver" waiting to go and see Chester and meet Mike. Now, here it's "wednesday" again... it hasn't been a very interesting week.. actually after seeing Chester, the few days that followed felt a little like the ones after Christmas.. sort of that "let down" I sometimes get from the holidays. Back to the "same ol'-same ol".. work, house chores, barn chores.... you know.... Ginger and Leo look so big to me now.. they still get their puppy play time before class, but it's more of the big dog play and less and less they puppy play that they did as kids... Leo actually is "huge".. he's much bigger than his sister, and very handsome to boot. Sunday afternoon found us at the yearly flyball tourny. I always try to volunteer for the "pick up side of things" because our flyball team members are tired after a weekend of racing. I miss racing... Moxie was a good little flyball dog, and Trevor started out well... but now, I don't have dog that would really play. Maybe one, I'll do it again, but for now.. just supporting our team is good enough. These dogs sure are fast... my poor little camera can only catch "blobs" as they hit the box and race back again with the ball.... We brought Abbie with us... she loves dogs (as you all know) so I knew the excitement and the barking of the dogs wouldn't bother her. She actually watched the racing for quite a little while, and then moved on to see how many dogs she would be allowed to pet. After the racing was done and the picking up began, Abbie explored all the "things" about flyball... she was pretty excited to find this bucket filled with balls.... she likes to throw balls for the dogs at home, and I am sure she was thinking she could do it here.... We brought Ginger as well (and Camille of course)... I think Ginger would have enjoyed trying this game... racing and balls, perfect for goldens. Camille on the other hand, was happy to sit and get pats from the folks... One is never too young to learn how to roll up mats from dog events!!! (at least in our house!!!) Course... "one" might be too small to roll heavy mats!!! but it's worth a try just the same :) Are "service puppies" ... "real" dogs... well, judging from the mess I found in the back seat of my truck the other day.. I think that answer is "yes". Ginger and Leo were riding in the back seat... Kathleen and I traveling and chatting together.. and look what those two were up to. Ginger ..."MOM it was all Leo's fault!!!"

"Not me, I would never pull out a roll of paper towels from the training bag and rip them apart"...

Rainy day today, all the snow is gone, and it's beginning to have a "warmish" feel to the air. Peepers are beginning to sing, and yesterday... the barn swallows returned to the farm.... finally, can we welcome spring????

THE reunion...

Oh my goodness... I hardly know where or how to start this blog!!! In some ways, it seems so long in happening, and in other ways, the time has flown and I can't believe this day has arrived. We get to see Chester again, and meet his life long partner... I have to admit that I "wasted" most of the day, just waiting for the clock to announce "it's time" to leave... I put a little ribbon on the scrap book that Kelli spent so many hours helping me with...(after I looked it over about a million times), I made "durn" sure that the batteries in the camera would last the evening.. got Ginger all groomed and ready.. and finally, we were on the road.

We arrived at NEADS early, I wasn't sure how many folks would be there, I didn't know what to expect!!! We went to up to the training room and talked with a few other folks while we waited for the "teams" to arrive. The first person I met was Indya.. Chester's breeder. She is wonderful and we got to talking right away. I also got to see Chester's sponers again (I had met them at a graduation) and his "weekend" family was there as well (the weekend folks take the puppies out of prison and keep them in the public light) It then occured to me.. all the steps and folks that it takes to bring a service dog to this day... his match, his graduation!!! to coin a phase.. "it takes a village".. and you could see it in these folks who had gathered here . But, all of us were just waiting to see the guests of honor... Michael and Chester!!!!

When they first entered the room, I saw it right away.. Chester has matured. I got glimpses of his "seriousness" as a pup, but now seeing this mature, trained dog... it really showed. And even though he and Michael have been together a little more than a week, there is already a bond there... Chester knows... I really believe he knows, this is it.... he has come to "what he will be"

At first Micheal seemed a bit overwhelmed and was "quiet".. who can blame him. Strangers coming up, wanting to meet him, but dying to get their hands on his dog!!! He was very gracious, and I think I did well, holding it together, remembering the "rules" regarding service dogs.. but I couldn't wait to give "my boy" a hug. And finally - with permission from his owner - I did... the golden boy was back in my arms... I fell apart and got those wonderful kisses that I always got when he was a puppy. I looked up and saw Michael smiling.. he understood... after that I felt better and got to talking with Michael, telling him all about Chester as a puppy. Indya filled us both in on his birth and how he was chosen as "the service puppy" and we all just got into conversation as though we had been life long friends....

I took so many pictures, that even sorting a few for this blog was hard to do... but you all just have to know that I needed to have "my two puppies" together.... a rare treat to be sure.... Chester in "red" the color of the graduate.. and Ginger in "blue" the color of the trainee.....they liked each other!!!!

I couldn't wait for Michael to see the book that Kelli and I had put together. He was truly pleased, (look at the smile on his face!!!!) because up until now.. he did not have any puppy pictures of his boy. He told us all about his past service dog.. a little golden who had been at his side for 12 years. When she passed, he told us that he wondered how he could even live thru it, and had said he would never have another service dog. But, after 18 months of "doing it all on his own".. he knew that he needed a new friend.. a new buddy, and applied to NEADS again (his other dog was a NEADS dog) He tolds us that he wanted a golden and was willing to wait for the right dog. And that the moment he met Chester.. he knew it was "perfect"....

And as I watched them all evening, Chester hardly ever took his eyes off his new Dad. I know that Chester knew me... but he's moved on.. he knows where he belongs and how much he is needed....

We got these wonderful photo opts.... (glad I didn't look too bad after crying so much!!!)

And here he is with Indya... he had hugs for both of us.. but went right back to Michael the moment they were done.....

And then a "bonus" to this evening.... the CEO of NEADS - Gerry - came over to us. He said that we should go and talk to another "team" that was there.. a young man who was from Maine...

So, we went over and met this young man and his new dog... Joe. This is a veteran, I don't know "what or how" he got his injuries.. that doesn't matter in the least.. but what we did find out... he lives in the town next to ours!!!! Not more that eight miles away from the farm!!!! We were so excited to learn we are "neighbors".. and exchanged names and phone numbers... I hope that when he get settled back at his home, he will contact us!!! Let's face it.. this is a God moment, of all the classes he could have been in... any of the dogs he could have been matched with.. he gets this dog, and is in this class. and we are there as well..... it's more than I can wrap my brain around.....

The evening absolutely flew by... it didn't seem possible when we saw the staff starting to clean things up .. it was time to go... time to say goodbye and best wishes... but somehow, I don't think this will be the last that I will see of my new friends.....

Chester was tired.. so was Micheal.. they had been training since early in the day.. and had gone thru all their certification tests.

But we had a hard time of ending the conversation just there. Both the dogs gave up while all the humans continued to chat. Email addresses exchanged.. facebook contacts told...plans for the future.. stories from the past.....

And then, one brand new service dog.. said to his partner.. "Dad we really need to go, we have a busy day tomorrow....." and we all listened... and said our "good byes"..

The big graduation will be in November... I already know of a huge crowd of folks planning on being there. Hard to think that by that time.. Ginger will more than likely be in her service dog training, and perhaps, we will be with puppy number three. But that's just too far to think about right now, and I want to savor this special time. I also have an announcement to make... but I'm going to keep it quiet until I have the photos to share.... stay tuned dear reader... the news of "service dogs" only gets better from here.....

VERY BEST WISHES MICHAEL AND CHESTER -----WISHING YOU BOTH A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE TOGETHER!!!!!

the Mom's birthday(s)

As we have done for the past few years ( 6 ? or more) the two families have come together to celebrate the birthday(s) of the Moms!!! with mine being on 3/30 and Deb's on 4/1... just those few days apart. We have done different things over the years, and this year we all went out to eat. This has to be one of the greatest blessings in my life... to have my dear hubby, my children (and now grandbaby) and our wonderful extended family all together. Then top that off with a few small gifts and a great meal.... life couldn't be better. Abbie got right into this whole scene. She is very good going out to eat and is beginning to understand of "how one behaves in a restaurant"....she sits nicely at the table, waits patiently for the food, and eats in a nice manner.... We always bring things to entertain Abbie, just in case... however, after all the good things I said about her... I'm not so sure that Auntie knows how to "behave at the table"... somehow, stretching a slinky across the length of the table might not qualify as the "best behavior!!!!" (auntie!!!!!!!)

And here we are... Happy Birthday to the now "50 somethings" Moms... who definitely feel.. you are only as "old" as you allow yourself to be...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEB!!!!!

April's fool...

Happy Birthday to ..... me!!!! It's official, I am now 50 something!!! Last year we had the "big official" party, but this year, I am just as happy to celebrate on the quiet side. My girls (and Ed) surprised me at dog class when they came in with a cake. And I got some really nice gifts from my family, and lots of good wishes on the facebook.. what more could anyone wish for (other than spring!!!) Abbie has now come to "that age" .. that all my kids came to. Realizing how much fun it is to play in dog crates. Kas and Sadie used to make all sort of "houses" in the crates, and Abbie is now doing the same. Before I use them for the pups, I am always checking to make sure she hasn't left some goodie behind in them.... We had a special house guest this weekend... Loyalty (aka T).. who is another NEADS puppy. His family had to make a trip and he couldn't go along... so, he came to hang out with Ginger and the rest of the crew. He and Ginger had a grand time together, though I did have to resort to penning them off in the mud room... they were getting too wild to run thru the house. It's nice that they wore each other out.. saved me alot of work!!!! Thursday evening, plans had been made to meet with the other puppy raisers at the mall. A small group was able to come, but with predictions of a big nor'easter on the way... and a few other reasons.. Ginger and Freedom were the only puppies to arrive. It was fun, though to sit and catch up with everyone else. Ginger got to practice "under the table"..... And Abbie got to ride on the carousal (which I didn't even know was there!!!) She'll be a horseman yet. Love that smile on her face... And then ... Friday morning... Happy April Fools... ya, some joke!!! Being that it was a wonderful snowy day, I was called in to cover the post office. (really didn't mind....) The winds howl all day, electricity blinked off and on (real pain with the computers at work).. and we got about 8 inches of heavy wet snow. Guess ol man winter just likes to remind us... we are never really "in charge".....

Oh and for the "record" we did manage to get the guinea hens in before the storm... took some doing, but they were safe and sound in their house when the snow arrived

famous again (almost)

So, we get a call yesterday morning from our neighbor Dusty, who is a professional photographer. She is often asked by magazines and the like to take pictures of horses and other animals to go along with their articles. Dusty knows we love to model for her, and often our animals "fit the bill" for the shoot she needs to create. Today, it's Duke turn. Dusty needs to have "a food aggressive horse" to go with an article on clicker training and good manners. Now, actually Duke is very good around his food... he has to be, because he's too big to have bad manners...so truthfully, it took us a little while to get the shot that Dusty needed.... here she goes over how it "needs to look" and after a few takes, we finally convinced Duke that we wanted him to behave this way... he couldn't believe his luck when we allowed him to drag Sadie over to the bucket which had carrots and grain in it. But Dusty got her shot!!!!

She also needed a "sick" horse, so Ol' Silver got picked for that one... Dusty even created "snots" for his nose!!! Which was kind of "icky", but really fun...

After our modeling session, we got to work on the chores. Abbie came up to the barn to supervise. She loves the chickens (and can make a great chicken sound when you ask her to). I think she likes them because they are small and will run when she goes towards them. But she did want Sadie to hold one for her so she could pet it.

Then, she wanted to help with chores. So, we gave her a little fork and let her spread the shavings. She thought this was a great idea, and so do I.... might as well get her started on chores early... I might end up with a barn fairy afterall....

Guineas!!!! well, there's a story all to itself. Sunday I opened the coop to water and feed the birds, and they had plotted against me... and made a great escape. Now, I don't blame them for wanting out..it's been a long winter, so I thought - fine, go out. Well, Mr. G. had other ideas and when the rooster stepped outside of the coop, we had a massive bird fight. Now, I know how to handle dogs.. and I have even broken up a few horse squabble... but birds... they are serious!!!! I had to use the rake between them and did manage to get the rooster back into the coop... Mr. G was having a complete fit!!!! Course, getting the rooster in, meant the guineas were out, and I can't get the guinea in without opening the coop, and then worried about the rooster. So, for the past couple of days, the guineas have been out. Now, they are talking about a storm coming in on Friday, so somehow, between now and then, we have to come up with a game plan to get the guineas back inside..... drama on the farm for sure....

"What do you think Abbie.... can we wrestle those guineas?????"