Countdown

You guys will notice that I've started a countdown until I come home. I'm very excited about seeing Rocco again. I just miss him so much! He's such a goofy boy and I feel that I need a little goofball in my life to make me happy. Not having a dog is simply killing me. Now, the countdown is until I fly home, I won't see Rocco the day I land in California, but I'm hoping that I'll see him a few days afterward. I know his new raiser does a holiday thing every year and she said that she would be more than happy to let me have him when I'm home for the holidays. :) YAY!

That being said I'm actually not too sure when I'll be going back. If you guys are looking at my Phase Tracker you will notice that our boy Winston is in Phase 8!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! So, we're going to have a graduation coming up rather soon. I'm hoping that it's the December 11th graduation. Why? Because I would totally come home a week early to go to his graduation. :) I'll let you know as soon as I know when he's in class and due to graduate. If his person comes along sooner then "Yipee!" but again, I'm hoping his person comes for the December graduation. :)

Picture of Pauli

So, I finally have a picture of Pauli for you guys. I don't have one of Danvers yet, but soon hopefully. I found out that Pauli is very related to Freya. His dad is a Dylan puppy so he's kind of like Freya's half nephew or something. That being said his face does look like a little like Freya's. There's a lot of Dylan in Freya and I see a bit of his grandfather in Pauli. Anyway, I think he's adorable!

9 months

Ok, so I've tried posting this twice so we'll see if Blogger allows me to post it this time. Anyway, Rocco turned 9 months old last Tuesday! I can't believe he's already 9 months old. They grow up too fact for my liking, especially when I'm not there to see them grow up. I miss the boy dearly and I can't wait to see him again during winter break. :) I'm going to take lots and lots of pictures of our short week or so together.

Anywho, I can't really give you a 9 Things at 9 Months but I can tell you that I've received a few little tid-bits here and there about how he's doing. I'm told that his raiser absolutely loves him and that he's behaving himself and is an absolute gem. That's something every raiser likes to hear when their puppy goes to a sitter overnight, but it's even more exciting when my puppy has gone on to another raiser. She keeps telling me that I started a wonderful puppy which is just wonderful to hear.

Here are a few pictures I've gotten of Rocco over the past month and a half.

Rocco (L) and his brother Rocky (R) at a fair.
Rocco, Rocky, and puppy Leroy taking a break at the fair. I'm pretty sure that Rocco is in the middle because of the stripe down his back and I know that Rocky is on the far right.

Rocco in Judy's car. Judy stole him for a day because she was in between puppies. She loved how he slept in the car. I must say I miss driving around my Mini Cooper with him in the front like this so I can reach down and pet a puppy at a red light.

I'm told so far the only problem with him is that darn tongue of his. his new raiser agrees with me in thinking that it has a mind of its own.

GDB UK

I heard back from someone here in the UK. I still don't know if I'll be able to puppy raise or even if I really want to in this little space, but I'm excited to be able to start helping out again. I might just be doing fundraising things this year, but maybe next year when I have a bigger place I'll be able to raise a puppy. :) We shall see though.

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

A few of my favourite pictures of Rocco and my step-dad...

I like that Rocco is almost mimicking his facial expressions. :)

New Puppies

I don't have any pictures yet, but as soon as I get them I'll post them.

Please welcome...

Danvers, a 10 week male black lab Peidmont/Saga puppy

and

Pauli, a 10 month male black lab Danny/Finesse puppy

New Puppies for My Group

On Sunday my group, PWAP, is receiving two new puppies.

One is a transfer puppy. We are receiving a 10 month old Male Black lab (Yes, I know which one)

The other is a 10 week old Male Black lab born to Peidmont and Saga. He is a "D" puppy.

Here are my guesses:
Deiter
Demetri
Dante
Draco
Dracula
Demeter
Declan
Dragster
Digger
Digby
Digatri
Dan
Dagger
Desmund
Delaware
Denny
Dennis
Defiance
Differ
Divination
Duncan
Donald
Donnie
Dale

So, let the guessing begin. You can guess 5 "D" names for our new little one and once for our transfer puppy. You can guess his parents and his name. I haven't decided if there will be prizes or not seeing as I'm so far away, but we'll see. And it's always fun to partake in guessing. :)

The Fight Begins

So, if you say my "Mostly Wordless Wednesday" yesterday you know that I have basically been away from Guide Dogs for a month and have gone almost a month without a dog or at least a pet. And I have to tell you, there is such fire in my heart and stomach that I can only describe the feeling as complete and utter HATRED. I mean it. I absolutely hate not having an animal around. I just don't feel...complete?...right?...sane? Anyway, if you read my other blog you will have noticed that I tried buying a stuffed cat to supplement the "no animal" thing. It's ok except, well, you know, my cat doesn't move. And so my fight is about to begin.

I would really love to puppy raise (which they call being a Puppy Walker) for the UK branch of Guide Dogs for the Blind. I thought I could stay away during the semesters of school and raise during the summer, but I was horribly mistaken. So I, with the help of my fabulous leader Mary, looked up GDB in the UK. They still use German Shepherds and I would love to raise one! They also use Border Collies occasionally and I think it would be very cool to raise one of those. But first comes the problem of my rooming.

I don't quite live in the dorms. I do live in University Accommodations, but it's not run exactly by the University. I can't quite describe it, but there is a part in my lease that says "no pets". Which brings me to the loophole. It didn't say "no animals" it just said "no pets". If I were to raise a puppy here he/she (though as you all know I am partial to females) would not be classified as a pet but a service dog in training. I don't know how far this is going to get me, but I'm going to try very hard to make this happen if not this semester then next. I'd ask for an older dog, probably with some problem because I love to have the "troubled child." Freya was a troubled child for a long time and Rocco was too for quite a while, so I'm just use to it. We'll see how everything goes, but wish me luck!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

It's been exactly a month since I've seen my goofy boy and almost a month since I've seen my Arwen...

I miss them both a lot...

Happy Birthday

On to my really important post.

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY FREYA!!!!!

My little girl is 2 years old today! Isn't that exciting!? It's hard to believe I've been with GDB for over two years now, but I have. 2 years and 3 months really, but that's still over 2 years.

A few things about Freya on her special day;

1. She's the most amazing dog ever! But I'm bias.
2. She's still so much fun. When that harness goes off it's like the only word in her vocabulary is"PLAY!"

3. She's pretty and adorable like always

4. She's a wonderful Guide.

5. She still knows "Freya! Freya, Give me Kiss!"

6. Her bow legs still crack me up!

7. I love that she smiles for the camera.

8. She's got the best pace in the world.

9. She loves her ice cubes and her toys.

10. Her small, tiny body is nothing but muscle so she can pull people across the floor.

There's a whole bunch more, but that would take too long. :) Needless to say she's doing wonderfully and I am absolutely Pleased as Punch and Prouder than a Lion that she's a Guide Dog. :)

New GDB Policy

Before I write my really important post today (today is a very special day and those of you who are particularly observant will know why) I wanted to post about GDB's new policy. I was reading another blog about it and a lot of people (well 2, but that's enough for me) said that they hadn't heard of this policy so I'm blogging about it.

During Fun Day on the California campus they announced their new Head Collar Policy. It states that every dog that goes back in for formal training must be able to walk in and tolerate a head collar. "Head Collar" includes a gentle leader, halti, holt, and figure 8. Though I am sure that there are other head collars that GDB will accept these are the major ones. All this means is simply your dog must be able to walk in a head collar. He/She doesn't need to wear it at every outing if they can walk in one and are fine without one. If they refuse to walk in one it would be better to start of slow and put them in one in only really familiar, comfortable situations. Some dogs just need time to get use to that thing across their noses. I didn't take Rocco out in a head collar every time because in certain situations he didn't need one at all and I knew that he would tolerate one if I randomly put one on him. If your puppy is having real trouble in a head collar contact your Leader or CFR. They can help.

But yes, I believe it is grounds for a CC if the puppy will not walk in a head collar. I think I asked the All Knowing Jim that and he said "yeah." So, there you are.

Another Colorado Update

Hey guys! I received word from Mary yesterday that D4D is coming down to have a look at Collie. We're not sure when they'll get around to doing this but when Mary asked Jim if he thought that Colorado would make a good candidate he said that they wouldn't even be wasting their time if they didn't think that Colorado was the kind of dog they were looking for. So, big hopes for the Fluff Ball!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

Mia takes her rightful place...

amoungst the dogs.