When our girls were little, I tried to have one day a week that we called "adventure day", a day that we "did something". Often times, it really wasn't that big of a deal... visiting different places, taking a picnic lunch, something of that nature, but I think my girls remember it fondly... now "adventure day" is all about puppies!!!!! (my how times change). and we typically meet up with Kathleen - who has Cappy at the moment - and go somewhere to "work" the puppies.
Our latest spot has been the hospital. It's a great place to work... and of course, the pups get a lot of attention as well. We do things like, ride in the elevators (there are three to choose from)....
Cappy doesn't see what all the fuss is about......
And there are stairways to practice in... this one is quite good, because the steps are tiled, and the hallway echos....
Danny seemed to have an expression of "oh no... I have to do that... I can't look"... but actually he did very well on the stairs, which are still a little hard just because he is still so little.
After we "play" at the hospital, it's onto puppy school, so these guys get a full day of "fun' on adventure days....
But today we took a road trip and I brought Danny and Camille along. We're back at the antique fire engine place, Ed is still working away on the restoration project, and he had a couple more pieces he had to deliver. Danny was a good boy - it's a pretty long trip and he rode well.
While Ed was going over some of the details of what he needed to have done, I took Danny around the big pieces of equipment. He was far more interested in the smells that were all around than in the great look fire engines....
But perhaps you need to be a white dog with black spots to truly appreciate fire engines!!!!! Though I thought he looked pretty cute sitting on the back of this truck.
Our visit wasn't very long, mostly a drop and run for Ed, but we'll be back again to pick up the pieces.... so, it was a potty break for Dan and we were heading back for home.
However, it wasn't without stopping at one of our favorite lunch spots!!! where a lobster roll and a piece of chocolate cream pie, made it all worthwhile for me!!!!!
In typical fashion of my life... "when it rains, it pours".. I go months and month (even years and years) without any weekend dog events, and this month I feel like almost every weekend is going to involve some dog event or another. This weekend was all about therapy dogs!!! I packed up Camille, Livy and Danny and headed out. Sadly none of these dogs were a part of this seminar.... Livy is too young to certify and Danny isn't "mine"... but just the same, I was there to help, get the puppies out and just enjoy the time.
A number of my students and friends were there for the seminar, so, it was fun to be with all of them. Livy got to meet Brian, my friend's Skye Terrier and Danny got to schmooze with some other friends, including another black lab.
It's been a long time since I had a dog with a therapy certification... and I'm hoping Livy will one day have her's. It was nice to see what things have changed since I was last in it, and what is now expected of dogs who do therapy work. The most interesting thing (to me anyways) are all the different fields of therapy work that dogs can do now. It used to be "just visiting nursing homes" and the like, but now, there are all sorts of fields... one for example.. "reader dogs"... who are used for children to read to.
For the certification of therapy dog, you must have dog that is well socialized, and has very good - if not excellent - basic training skills. As you can see, this group certainly had all that going for them....
But, the work goes beyond that... here is Gina (the instructor) and friends, Rick and Scott setting up an exercise that involves a person who might be in a wheel chair.... the dogs must show they are steady and trustworthy around things like wheelchairs and other medical type equipment....
And then, the handlers are given tips in how to properly approach someone. Case in point, Elaine's Brian is a small dog, and someone in a wheelchair might not be able to see or touch him if he were down on the floor, so Elaine decides to pick Brian up and bring him to an easier level....
Melissa on the other hand, has a golden Rangley, who can easily be within reach of the chair. But, (being a golden) he had to be encouraged to "greet" more gently , so Melissa went down on Rangley's level to keep him a bit more "controlled"..... all sorts of good tips like these were taught....
Lunch break gave everyone a chance to sit outside in the sun and go over the mornings lessons and experiences....
And I took advantage of things myself... Danny and I "played" with the wheelchair. He certainly didn't think that this was any big deal.....
And it was nice for him as well.. to meet up with some different dogs.....especially dogs that are well trained and good "examples".....
As the afternoon continued, the handlers got to practice in all sorts of situations... this one here was "how to visit someone who might be confined to a bed"......
And to keep the dogs motivated and happy, there where breaks where games were played that weren't just fun, but also tested their obedience skills.....
Sunday was a review of Saturday's work, and then the certification itself. It was also a time to ask questions, and share about the possible future therapy dog visits would be. It was fun to watch the certification and very happy to say that all the dogs (and handlers) passed. I can't wait for Livy to be "old enough" (which is a year of age)... because this is certainly something we will do together....especially since we are already doing some of this type of work, and I think she' going to be a great little dog that will bring a smile to someone's face.
Hello May!!!! I, for one, am very excited to see that you have (finally) arrived!!! It was a long and cold winter, and I am so happy to get outside and enjoy the spring. Even if it does mean the arrival of black flies and other such critters.. right now... that's more than OK with me.
And "we" have an announcement !!!! the arrival of "Foosie's babies!!!" Now, Foosie if a very special pet, she is Abbie's constant companion, and was given to Abbie by a friend of mine.. Aileen... when Abbie was just a wee baby. Foosie is one of "those" toys that became a favorite from the start and has just been that way for the whole time. Abbie is quite excited that there is the chance that one day, Livy will have babies.. so I am pretty sure that's where the idea of Foosie's babies have come from.....
For, we hardly lack of babies around here.... new service puppies each year for one... and there have been chicks and keets, and even baby birds in the barn each spring... so, "babies" are good things in our book.
Most mornings, I have my two little buddies walking up to the barn to help with the morning chores...
And Abbie has been very certainly that Danny is meeting "all the right people".. and learning "not to be afraid of anything - Baby!!!" (he certainly is not afraid of anything/anyone, he's turning into a very nice happy, stable puppy!!!)
Even a hike into the hayloft proved to be great fun!!! and so, I think we can officially say that spring is here, and suddenly it seems like our "list of things to do" has grown.... but truly, I am just as happy... spring and fall are my favorite times of year.....
Hello Livy.. and yes, this is what your life is going to be all about. "Training and showing, and training and.....".... I have to say, it's so exciting to have a puppy once again. I know... "you've had puppies all along".. but this is MY puppy, she doesn't have to go anywhere and she is my "ticket" back into the dog show world. I have so missed the show ring, and with all the "new" sports out there now to try, I'm excited to give them all a shot and see where Livy and I will be happy.
So, today's adventure was a workshop on the "recall" (ie: coming when called). All my dogs have been excellent "comers".... but, being an instructor and hearing new ideas such as "the reliable recall"... I like to see what's going to be certain that my students are getting the best information in my classes.
And not to brag... but I was very pleased to see that--- according to this seminar anyways, I am teaching comes the "right" away. Quite simply, there is no magic in teaching a dog to come... it's work, practice and positive reinforcement.... but now I know for sure...
It was a beautiful facility that we went to.. all kinds of dogs and humans were there. Everyone was very friendly and fun, and it felt good to be doing "dog things".. The other neat fact, was no one there knew me, so it was easy to be just a "student" and not an "instructor"....
Livy had a pretty good time too... I think this is first time that she and I have gone alone together... well... "alone".. Camille waited in the car for us. (Can't leave Camille behind!!!) I think too, Livy was the youngest one there, so everyone had to make a fuss over the puppy.
The next day, it was Danny's turn to make his debut in puppy school. Can't give this boy any time off, we don't have much time to spare!!! Of course, he was a hit, especially with Mary (who also raises service puppies for CCI)
Danny had no trouble "fitting in".. he's a solid little boy who thinks life is grand. Here he says hello to Peace (Mary's puppy in training)... she was pretty excited to meet him too...
And then he made the rounds with Kathleen and got to know everyone else in the class...
Because I teach this class, Kathleen will be his handler. I feel so fortunate to have "extra" handlers in my life... doubt my puppies would even be trained without them!!!!!
Abbie has taken to Danny like no one else. I'm not sure if it's because he's a puppy, Rylie's little brother or the fact that maybe Abbie just loves black labs. But either way, these two are real buddies.....
She's plays with him all the time, and is happy to practice "his training"... have to say is there anything cuter than a little girl and a puppy... especially a puppy that comes when called????
She's pretty much willing to do anything... except "clean up"... after he "finished".. she yelled to me... "Baby... Danny let a poo here"... when I asked why didn't she take care of it... she gave me "that look"..... OK.. can't expect everything I guess....
working on the "touch" command.....
And to calmly roll over and let your belly be touched... (she knows it all!!!!)
A fire in the stove??? yup, sad to say, despite all the beautiful sunshine we've had.. it's been chilly some days and this little stove takes just the edge off a cool house. I always like a fire anyways, so lightening this one once in awhile is still fun.
What is more foolish than a puppy raiser??? I sort of think... nothing... for we chose to break our hearts at least once a year... and why??? You'd think I could answer that question... but I can't.. other than to say, I love the work that NEADS does.. I see what that work does, and I love what it does for me... so, I say goodbye to one, and hello to another... who just so happens to be... Danforth!!!!!
I will call him Danny.... he's 11 weeks old, and there is already something very familiar in this little boy, who I have "owned" for one day.... he is Rylie's half brother. Same Mom... and I feel right away a kinship with this little chap... and we head straight on into the year ahead....Our first new friend and greeting upon arriving home... Mona..... who - at the moment - is the same size as our new little pal.
The cockers are the next to say hello... and pretty much as I figured, the "old" ones look him over... and say to me "oh another one... thanks alot Mom"... but Livy - right away - sees a new playmate... and I know that this is going to be good.
Labs and water... I'll have to remember to keep an eye on the water bowl while in housetraining mode. Lab puppies believe that if there is water.. it is to drink... but what goes in.. comes out!!!!
And then in typical Lab fashion... how about a nice little swim in this wonderful water bowl. Oh my.. how quickly I forget. But I have a feeling this little boy is going to be hugely excited when we get him to camp. I have a feeling I'll need to watch him there... he'll be swimming across the lake. Seems to me his older sister enjoyed swimming!!!!
After settling in at home... we must get out and meet the family. Grand babies are at the top of the list... and little Reagan, who is so close to walking, is a great first friend to meet. Danny thought this whole "tractor" thing was simply a neat idea and chose to hang out very close to his lively new friend....
A boy, a puppy and a tractor... what's the cute factor on that one?????
I see it all over again.... Abbie wasn't that much older when we raised Rylie.... maybe Danny boy and Reagan will have the same sort of "first year" together......
and there's no doubt that these two will be great friends... though I doubt the "size" thing is going to be equal for that long!!!!
Playtime now seems fair... but it won't be long before Livy will be looking up to her new friend.....
And you just have to know that Abbie fell immediately in love with our new little boy. And to add the fact that he and Rylie are related, only made this even better. She has taken over the training, and the leash, at least on the farm, isn't going to be in my hands much!!!!
Trips back and forth to the barn have already begun......
and training... well..... it's just an everyday thing... and we're going to get right to it!!!!!!
