Rainy Days for dogs

What should you do if you are a dog and the skies are dumping rain?


Dillon, Esme, Levi

In spite of the fact that there are 3 dog beds for our four dogs, this is the best way to cozy up by the fire.  The April showers (and snow, and bitter cold!) have ended for the next week now.  Time to get back outside!

What warms my heart..

What warms a dog-loving mommy's heart?

 Being awakened by a sweet 2-yr-old little girl who says (before anything else), in her best impression of happy voice, "E-me, Come... grab collar".  <Smile>.  Like a sponge they are.  As the previous post mentioned, recalls are a frequent occurance in our house lately.   Did I even need to say that?

In other news, Esme lost 6 teeth today... Didn't find a one.

Esme

Our little Esme girl has not had much time in the spotlight!  She is almost 5 months, I say, 5 months already.  Where does the time go?  Esme is super sweet and morphs into your body when held.  She had that beautiful puppy breath until about 2 weeks ago when the nasty smells of teething took over her mouth.  Esme is fairly confident, although not necessarily the most outgoing puppy when we are out.

 

 

Esme had some issues with the recall, so we began practicing it by the book (always a kibble) and now she *loves* to come when called.

Good Girl, Esme!



 

 

 

 

Holding onto hope, Pilgrim

First of all, I am needing a Pilgrim hug.  Pilgrim is a hugger.  I know that, in general, dogs do not like hugs from humans (they feel very dominated by the behavior), but it always felt like Pilgrim hugged back rather than just tolerated the hugs.

Pilgrim hugging L'il M



For the first time (well, since that first week or two) since Pilgrim left for formal training, I feel a hole in my heart when looking at other Goldens.  My eyes tear up.  The unknown of what is going on with Pilgrim's training saddens me.  I just wish I could know the severity of his "training issue" and what the expected outcome will be.  I feel empathy for Pilgrim getting to have that special week being someone's buddy again only to be returned to the kennel.  What must Pilgrim be feeling?  I know he's probably adjusted by now, but that first night and day really eats at me.  Pilgrim will not be returning to our family if he gets career changed, and the prospect of never seeing him again...  oh, let's just say, he needs to graduate!  Come on, Gold Dog, you can get it!  Hugs, Pilgrim.

Esme needs a post update- I'll get it together this week!

Back to this, for now

Pilgrim

535C

GLD

M

8

03/28/2013

What's up, Pilgrim?

It has become clear to me that even Phase 8 is not a guarantor of completion of training.  I received extremely disappointing news last night...  and unfortunately, it was via voicemail so there is no clarification as to what could be happening.  Pilgrim was taken out of Class on Tuesday due to a "training issue".  I am so disappointed because it looked like he had a great home with a very communicative partner.  The plan now is to work with Pilgrim to see IF the problem can be corrected.  Without knowing what the issue is, I don't know if I should feel optimistic about what this means for Pilgrim's future.  Anyone have any information on this sort of thing?

On the bright side, I was not going to be able to go to graduation anyway (primarily beacuse it was Easter weekend and you cannot fly anywhere affordably and last-minute, but there were other factors preventing driving up, as well) so, perhaps he will get his "issue" corrected and we will still get to see the Boy graduate.

Wishing for quick learning, Pilgrim.  Hope to see you soon, BumBum (toddler speak for Pilgrim).

I got the call...

The call came last night at 6pm. 







It was from Guide Dogs for the Blind.










It was about Pilgrim.

Pilgrim is IN CLASS. 

 

Woo Woo!

Graduation day is March 30.

Way to go, Golden Boy.  See you soon!

Way to go, Pilgrim!

 

The sweet Golden boy has done it!  Pilgrim is listed as Phase 8 on the phase report this week.  Phase 8 is the final phase of formal training that includes all the final testing to ensure that he is ready for his career.  Pilgrim's love for being in public, his joy in learning new things, and his confidence have been shaped into what I think must be the cutest guide dog ever! ;)  I wonder if the tail is still carried high and wagging while he works?

Do well on your "tests", Pilgrim.  I hope to see you soon!

40 bags in 40 days

The winter months at home have brought me to detest "stuff" in my house.  It just makes one extra, time-consuming step to clean the house.  I do not mind "cleaning", but I do not care for decluttering and putting away of "stuff".  While the 40 bags in 40 days challenge is found in a general form on many home organization/decluttering websites, it is not always tied to Lent.  The funny part is that it makes sense! 

40 bags in 40 days entails throwing away or donating 40 bags of things (any size, from grocery to black garbage) over Lent.  Since Lent is a tradition of giving up something of value prior to the Easter holiday, it works to tie in beautifully.  I am not catholic, and I don't usually observe lent.  I AM a sentimental person raised by a Depression era mom.  So, I tend to keep and save.  But, in trusting God for the provision of the things truly needed, I should be able to say goodbye to my worn-out high school clothes (is that ridiculous or what?) and the things that I have never used or maybe liked.  

Would you like to join me?

Growing like a weed!

Esme is growing like a weed.  21.6 pounds on her 12-week birthday.  Hard to believe she has been here 3 weeks already.  Esme is the sweetest, cuddliest little puppy.  She is full of that girly sass, but if you cuddle her close, she just melts.  Esme has had very few relieving accidents (in fact, I think it has been more than a week!).  She is able to go several hours without needing to go out. 

Esme's behavior with L'il M is improving.  She seems to know that she should not be biting... but sometimes her excitement gets the best of her.  The incidents are very few now.  Most of the time, they are just the best of buds!  Both Esme and L'il M had their doctor appointments on Friday.  They weigh within 4 pounds of each other!  L'il M watched with great interest to see how Esme would respond to the vaccination (she, herself, had been very brave).  Afterwards, she kept wanting to hold Esme (which is becoming quite a challenge for her).  Ah, the precious moments of toddler and puppy...

So, what has Esme learned this month?

1. The "big" dogs should be approached respectfully.
2. You are not supposed to chase cats  Lesson not yet learned.;/
3. Do your business outside.
4. Snow is really fun!
5. Rice is edible (she really struggled with a bland diet at first!)
6. The sound "Es-me" means the little black puppy is going to get loves, kibble, or attention.

Now, if only we could get the recurrent loose stools to take a hike...

Agility Sunday trial update

Last Sunday, Rudy returned to the agility scene.  It went better than I had predicted!  No qualifying scores, but that was not expected. ;)   First class was Excellent Standard- our first time at that level.  It went surprisingly well, with the only fault being that Rudy missed a contact.  I'm not sure which one, but I have a feeling it was the A-frame.  I was sure that we did not make course time, but it turns out he was 7 seconds under SCT (standard course time).  In retrospect, I should have handled him better so that he did not miss that contact (it IS his job to hit them, but considering he hasn't even seen a contact obstacle in 11 months, I should have been a bit more cautious in my handling).  I am very excited that he made SCT, even with being ridiculously out of shape.  I know there is a lot more speed in Rudy when he is better conditioned!

Second class was Excellent Jumpers with Weaves, where once again, handler error proved fatal to our run.  After a series of strategically placed jumps, we encountered a curved tunnel with both entries facing Rudy.  I sent him to the correct entrance, but "left" him before he had committed to that entrance which caused him to follow me resulting in him entering the wrong end of the tunnel (and a NQ).  The rest of the run was beautiful!

I feel confident that Rudy can get his Excellent titles now.  He will get more speed as he gets in shape, and our handling will become less rusty as we focus on agility more in the next few months.  I am so thankful that my trainer has always given me combinations in the past that challenged us to the excellent level.  It does not feel intimidating to me at all!

Next trial, 3 weeks!  Maybe I'll remember to get some video.  :)

I Don't Think This is Right...

Phase Report Day today.  Pilgrim was phase 3 for the second time last week, but this week was listed as Phase 6!  No matter how I try to justify that as accurate, I cannot come up with an explanation.  5 maybe, but not 6.  So, for this week, I am just thankful Pilgrim has not been Career Changed, and I look forward to next week figuring out where he is really at with training.

Any thoughts on this?

Esme, 1 week later...

Baby Esme knows how to relax!

It is really hard to believe that Esme has been here a week now; that she is 10-weeks-old now.  Esme is a really nice puppy, but...  we have some issues that are not a welcome sight to the household, even though they are quite normal.

First, after 2 fantastic days sleeping all night, and very few relieving issues, the diarrhea began.  I am hoping it is just the transition to a new home (new water, new bacteria, etc).  No matter what I do, she is the queen of poop at night.  Weirdest thing, it begins at 5pm and then continues into the wee hours of the morning.  She cannot help it.  I have witnessed her dead asleep and then she awakens, whimpers just a second and then the squirty poo is on the floor or in the crate.  This seems to continue hourly (and yes, most of the time I get her outside before the deed).  We are back to a bland diet, but this time will reintroduce food much more slowly.

The second issue was a foreseen one, and is already resolving, but involves L'il M and Esme.  As is very common, little puppies see toddlers/little kids as other puppies.  Poor L'il M has her share of puppy bites on her arms and legs!  Esme does not do this to the "older" people in the house!  To her credit, L'il M never holds it against Esme (even though she SCREAMS when she gets bitten), but always comes right back with a toy so that Esme has something appropriate to bite.  I guess she has seen that replacement of inappropriate biting/chewing with dog toys.  This issue was actually a concern of mine in having a Lab versus a Golden puppy this time.  The Goldens really do have a much softer mouth and less of a need to chew.  But, Esme is getting better about taking advantage of L'il M already.  Now all it takes is a verbal reminder for her to take her play down a notch.

The name Esme has proven harder for me to recall than I thought!  About 40% of the time I call her Emse <M.C.>.  Good grief!

Esme is so cute.  She seems to be a quick learner, and resilient.  We love her puppy breath that does not wash away with the baths this week.  :)  I know the "issues" will resolve in the next few weeks.  I look forward to the guide dog puppy that she will become!

Agility trial with Rudy tomorrow!

Phase 3, again

I could not be happier with the decision that Guide Dogs for the Blind made to put the weekly phase reports online.  I love getting up on Thursday mornings and finding out what Pilgrim is doing this week.   Admittedly, it was a bit disappointing this morning to find him in phase 3 still.  All sorts of crazy ideas run through my mind!  I have to remind myself that this is a bit of an evaluatory phase, and it also is not necessarily Pilgrim needing some extra time (could be any dog(s) in his string)...  we'll just hope that next week he moves on to 4.

Our new arrival...

We got a sweet delivery via air cargo yesterday.  Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy #9!  Her name is Esme, which is apparently a character from Twilight.  At first, I thought the name was just weird, but now, even despite her disappointing namesake,  the name Esme is growing on me. Esme is 9-weeks today, and is out of Shawn and Darice.  She has the super long labby ears that I love, and oh, the puppy breath!!!  Our family is totally in love with her already.  Esme slept 8-hours last night in the crate without a peep.  She probably would have slept longer, but since I got up to see if she was awake, I thought I should take her out anyway. 

Esme modeling a small GDB vest.  She is not thrilled by our frigid temps in this pic!

A face you can't resist!

 

Esme also has "a story" already...  It was a switched a birth moment; only it was yesterday, not at birth.  A lesson in not taking life lessons learned by your kids for granted, the importance of effective communication, and plain old double-checking the important facts!  Alls well that ends well, and we have never laughed more over the arrival of a guide dog puppy!

Phase Report Thursday!

What a great start to the morning to discover that Pilgrim had moved on to Phase 3!  This phase includes preliminary obedience and blindfold testing.  I am so relieved to see Pilgrim progressing now, though I know that he has a long way to go, and it ain't over til it's over.  Still, we are proud of our Pilgrim boy!

New Year, New Goals

One of our below zero mornings this week!

Happy 2013!  Things have been crazy busy around our house with the holidays.  Christmas with an almost 2-yr-old is so fun!  The week that the kids had off school was exhausting between the chaos of a houseful and the constant taxiing (is that a word?) of kids to friends and the ski resort.  I am so glad that my kids are able to experience skiing as kids...  it is something I never did until college, and while my husband and I spent the first 6-months of marriage as relatively unemployed ski bums, I never fell in love with downhill skiing.  As a result, our family has never been a ski family.  But when you live in the mountains of Utah, you gotta learn!  Part of the culture here that we can embrace.  :)

I decided this year that I would only resolve to a few new habits at a time, since my previous attempts at new resolutions failed miserably by mid-January.  My goals for January are:

• remember to write 2013 on the checks when I pay them this month- well, there is always 2014!
• use my elliptical machine or run on all school days- this entails getting up at 5:30 AM
• clean off my kitchen table daily
• register for the local 15K (9.3 miles) race on Memorial Day weekend (still looking for the half-marathon that I'll do this year)- this is my accoutability and motivation for the exercise :)
• finish Rudy's agility career (do GSD ever do agility past age 8?)

That's it!  So far, I love getting up at 5:30.  I feel so energized and I LOVE having some time to myself and to get ahead of the day before the constant supervision of Toddler M starts.  I did have to move my bedtime up a 1/2 hour to get enough sleep, which my teenage daughter finds to be ridiculously early.  I like my kitchen so much better with the table clean!  This may inspire next month's new routine...  (more on that later).

It looks like we will be getting our next Guide Dog puppy in the next week or two.  Still a female Black Lab;  no other info yet.  I have to admit that I have really enjoyed having only 3 dogs.  The house does not feel like it has gone to the dogs (although we did have to remove one of the dog beds from the main room to accomodate a play kitchen that L'il M got for Christmas).  The dogs seem to enjoy having the extra attention and getting non-GDB approved play in the house (and treats from Grandpa who was here earlier this week).  But, just when I question whether I should take a bit of a break from raising, I read or hear something that confirms the need and value of puppy raisers, like this post from Becky.  So, we will contiue to open our hearts and homes to the little bundles of energy (and much joy!). 

Finally, moving in the Phases

Good news this morning!  After waiting 3 really long weeks to see Pilgrim do something on the weekly phase report from Guide Dogs for the Blind, I was thrilled to see that Pilgrim is now in phase 2!!  He is working on up-curbs, planned distraction work, taking the lead.  The fact that Pilgrim "skipped" phase 1 just confirms the notion that the dogs do work ahead of the noted phases sometimes.  Pilgrim's strengths are certainly at the forefront in these early stages anyway; Pilgrim has no body sensitivity or surface issues- I'm sure he was amused by the treadmill! 

Go-o-o.... Pilgrim!

Phase Report Day

Remembering: puppy Pilgrim, 7-months-old, watching lacrosse



Today is Phase Report day.  I can hardly wait for Thursday mornings to arrive anymore.  To my disappointment, Pilgrim is still in Phase 0, for the third week.  I know it has been the holidays, but I don't think phase 0 lasts 3 weeks during the "normal" months of the year.  I wish my boy could have been home for the holidays.  I have confidence that this is the last week in Phase 0, and next week he will be on his way to being an energetic guide dog.

Pilgrim's phase report

Pilgrim is Phase 0, ... still.  Kind of disappointing to not see any "real" progress in the 3 weeks that he's been gone.  It's Christmas time.  Complete physicals take some time.   These are the hardest weeks, when you feel like the dogs are not doing anything, yet they are not able to be home.  Reality, of course, is that they are having fun getting massages, walks, group play time, a kennelmate, in addition to some very necessary medical exams.

We miss you, Pilgrim.  You'll do well soon enough!!!