neads run!!!

I feel like I say this all the time... "where does the time go??" between sessions of dog classes that go every six weeks, grandbabies that grow before my eyes... monthly check in at NEADS... I feel like my life is on this "clock" of the things that I do. I guess we might all feel that way.... but here we are... check in time once again. Deb and Cappy have become great friends, and working the two of them..(let alone about to add another puppy in my life)... I will say... I am busy!!!!!

Cappy is coming along well... she is very sweet, and not as outgoing as Debbie is. She loves walking up to the barn with me in the mornings, and has become quite used to things like "hay dropping from the ceiling... horses racing into stalls for their meals, and guinea hens strolling by"... but I have some concerns about this little one and time will tell as to whether she decides to be a service dog or not...

Bernice traveled down with us this month, and had the joy of seeing the puppy she had raised.... "T".  He decided not to be a service dog and is now the beloved pet of Donna... It is such a privilege for puppy raisers to see their babies.....

And they never forget us either. All the dogs that I have had the pleasure of raising always are beyond thrilled when we can be together. (and I can't wait to see Rylie in April!!!)....

So, while we wait for Dave... the girls sit quietly and wait with us..... But this month I had the most amazing thing happen. We were standing around and chatting with some of the NEADS folks, and this lady walked into the lobby. About the time she arrived, someone spoke Debbie's name, and with that, this lady turned and asked "what is that dog's name?"  "Debbie" I said, and then found out that this was the lady who named my dear little dog.  Meeting your dog's sponsor is not so common, I met Chester's sponsor, but I haven't met any of my other dogs'.. so, this meant so much to me!!! I asked how Debbie got her name, I mean, let's face it...it's an unusual name for a dog... and turns out that she is named for this lady's sister, who passed from cancer. We had such a nice talk, she was so interested in Deb and the work that we have been doing together.... and then asked once again, what my name was. When I told her.... the most unusual look came across her face... and she told me that her sister's very best friend for most of her life.... had nearly the same name as me..... talk about a "God's wink"...... so, you know that my day at NEADS, was simply beyond wonderful...

We did our "round table" talk, filling Dave in on all the details of the pups...  while they in turn waited quietly (as usual under the table). And since it was yet another VERY cold winter day, we opted out of going to the city, and decided to "do lunch" and just work around the NEADS campus. 

Since I was working with Cappy this trip, Linda got the chance to work with Deb. She did well for Linda, but I fear that those eyes of her seldom leave me. And I only hope that it won't be a huge problem when it's time to turn her in and have someone else take over her training. She and I have become very close... and I can't say that it's "all good".....

We all went to lunch at a cute little place just a short distance from NEADS. This was Cappy's first restaurant visit and as you can tell, she did just fine. Settled right in and took a little nap......

Back at NEADS, we worked in the training room and did some stair work. You don't think about stairs.. at least I didn't.. we run up and down them all the time... but when someone has to move slow on the stairs, or depend on their dog, it's a different situation. I am now very mindful of how Deb and I or Cappy and I handle stairs.....

Deb kept a careful eye on Cap and I as we practiced up and down......

Then Dave pulled out this big gorilla and made all sorts of noises and bounced him all around. Our puppies?????

thought it was all a big game and were more interested in pouncing on it. Dave wanted to see if any of them might "run away"... all I can say... "hardly"..... 

Deb thought the whole thing was rather silly.....

and when it was her turn, she looked at Dave with this "really??? is this all that you have for me???"   (silly Dave!!!)













It was a very successful day.. once again filled with wonderful surprises... good friends and great puppies. We gathered up our things, said goodbye to the staff and headed for home. Until next month!!!!!