Post Card from Freya

Hi Bloggers!

Ok, how many of you guessed that the map of South Korea had to do with me? Well, if you did, you're one smart person. But I bet that you didn't guess all of it. I've been waiting to tell you guys this for so long, but Momma said it would be better until it was "official."

Anyway, if you guessed that the map had something to do with me then you probably thought that I was going on vacation with my people there for a little. That's partly right. I am here with my people, but we aren't on vacation. How many of you guessed that I would be living and working in South Korea!? That's right! My person got a promotion and it came with a transfer. I'm so excited. I'm sure that I'm going to have so much fun working here.

Before we left my person and I had our year (well...really 8 month visit) visit with a GDB representative since we wouldn't be here for our real one in May. The GDB guy was really happy with our work together and said that I was the same weight as I was when we left GDB in May. It was a quick 10 minute visit and I figure that that's a good thing.

The plane was a little dull...alright, it was really boring! But, it's all worth it to be working in such a cool place. It's going to take me a while to get use to this time difference though. It's night time here when I'm use to it being day time.

I promise to keep you all updated on the cool adventures I'm having. For now, some pictures of our flight.

Licks and Love,
Freya

Ok, so it may not look like I'm terribly happy here, but I was. I was just very tired.
Notice the Green leash? Thanks again to Megan for making it for us.
I've tried to tell them to let me have some coffee, but they said I was energetic enough...psht! Who's energetic after flying?
*sigh* The things I do for my job.

I don't even get a window seat most of the time.
I'm still thinking about writing a petition to the airlines to create doggie friendly seats.
Just a little longer...

A Not Really Wordless Wednesday

Why have I put up a picture with a giant arrow pointing to South Korea? Well, you'll just have to wait a few days for this explanation. :) Until then, have fun guessing.



I would also like to honour a great Guide Dog team who will be working no more. For those of you who have ever been up to Guide Dog in California you've probably met Seth and Bamboo and if you've met Seth and Bamboo, then you've liked Seth and fallen in love with the black lab. Unfortunately, Seth passed away recently. The best part about GDB is that we're a family so we all feel as if we've lost one of our own. I extend my most sincere apologies to Seth's family and to all who knew him. He will be sorely missed by all.

Watching Seth and Bamboo work together was enthralling. They really were a great team.

Rockford Update :-(

This is the title of an email I got from my leader about a week ago now. I always know what this mean when a puppy is Rockford's age.

So you've all probably guessed it too (or if you're really astute you will have noticed over in my phase tracker). Rockford has been Career Changed. It's a hard thing to accept because I saw such wonderful improvements in him from itty bitty puppy to a puppy ready for training. But we all knew that he would have fun in formal training for a while, but then he would start to get stressed when the trainers started to push him. He is just scared of...well, the whole world really. Me and his raiser used to joke that the world was a big, scary place for a puppy. They've decided to keep him as their pet and I think that's it's the perfect job for Rockford. I hear he's already enjoying being a pet dog. It also means that me and his raiser will get to take walks with Rockford and Arwen over the summer. Rockford loves Arwen. Then again, he loves every girl he meets. We've tried to tell him he's not suppose to roll that way anymore, but boys will be boys.

His family is going to get the female black lab on February 9th. So, if you haven't guessed already, go to the Name Game post and guess the little girl's name. :-)

Name Game Puppy Guess

Let me start out by saying that I'm rather disappointed with the guessing going on here. Let's pick things up during the Name Guessing.

E's Puppy: Male Yellow lab, Litter Letter "S"

K's Puppy: Female Black lab, Litter letter "T"

You are allowed to guess 5 names per puppy. Well, really, you can guess as many as you want, but I'm only taking the first 5. These pups are due to arrive on February 9th. Have Fun!!!

12 Things at 12 Months

So, this is more like "12 Pictures at 12 Months". But I'll still include 12 things. I can't believe that my Boy is a whole year old today. It seems like just yesterday that I was picking up one of the giant "R" puppies from GDB. This boy has taught me a lot even in the short time I had with him. I love him to death and he will forever be "the Boy". I have decided for sure, that unless I'm asked to, to not raise another male. I could say that it's all because I prefer females, but a lot of it has to do with Mr. Rocco. He's the first male dog I've ever owned and the only male I would consider keeping. Contrary to popular belief, I would not keep every dog that crossed my path. If I asked for another male I would be expecting another Rocco and I would get one. Needless to say he's made a big empression on me and, I won't lie, it hurts a little every day that I'm not with him. Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Rocco's 12 Traits, Goals, Accomplishments, and Things I love:
1. He has the weirdest tongue you will ever see. It's like he got cow DNA injected into somehow before leaving GDB.
2. I love his goofy personality. We joke around that Rocky is the Old Man and Rocco is the goofy teenager who will stay out a little longer to "mature up."
3. He's such a cuddlebug! I absolutely love it. I would sit down on the floor and he would curl up in my lap like he wasn't over 60 lbs.
4. He is a sweetie pie who loves to please.
5. He remembers everyone and treats them like his best friend. When we saw Paula without Darwin (who has been retired and is happy being her new pet) on an outing one day, he recognized her right away and tried very hard to jump on her and find the place where she kept the doggie treats. I allowed him to be naughty because Paula adores it when the pups are naughty...except when the pup makes an idiotic decision like chasing her cat. Poor Miracle still hasn't recovered from that episode with Rocco.
6. There's another thing. He's getting better at not chasing cats. He pestered Mia when he was home, but didn't chase.
7. He makes friends wherever he goes because he's such a sweetheart.
8. I absolutely adore his goofy nose. It's just so big, I love it. Especially when he wakes me up pressing his nose into a hand that has flopped to the side of the bed.
9. He has wonderful house and yard manners (though he has to work on playing with dog toys only, not things that other dogs pick up...)
10. He loves to work.
11. Goal one is to make it in to formal training.
12. Goal two is to become the fantastic Guide I know he can become. And if he chooses otherwise his goal is then to come home to me and be the best pet I could ever ask for.

Rocco's 12 Photos

The Day I brought him home.

A few days before I left back to school.Day one at home with me.
Rocco at my Baccalaureate.
Then...

and Now.
Then...
and Now.
Then...
and Now.

Rocco and Rosie.

Another Puppy Game (K's Puppy #1)

Hey Guys! In place of my normal "Mostly Wordless Wednesday" I am doing another puppy game. Why you ask? Because my club is not getting just one new puppy, but two new puppies! So, I have split the game into two groups; "E's Puppy Game" and "K's Puppy Game". This is the first post of "K's Puppy Game" and my last puppy game post was the first for "E's Puppy Game".

The rules for this post are like the last. You may guess the breed (Yellow Lab, Black Lab, Golden Retriever, or Lab/Golden Cross) once and you may guess 5 different Litter Letter guesses.

If you haven't visited my first Puppy Name Game post then please do and enter! Or just specify, on this post, which puppy you're guessing for with a "E's Puppy" or a "K's Puppy" before your guess. There will be a prize at the end of this for whoever gets the most points. There might even be two...

Puppies in Training

I saw my first puppies in training while here in Scotland this afternoon!!!! I would have asked the people who were walking them if I could take a picture of the leashes to show you guys because they don't use jackets like we do. They have a plaque on the leash. I didn't though because I was sitting with a friend in the Hub and he was helping me learn how to write essays in the UK and helping me calm down about exams this next week and I thought I was being rude enough when they walked by I completely stopped listening and just watched them. *oops* Erin forgets her manners sometimes and seeing the first PITs while I've been here just made me excited.

Anyway, thought I'd share the good news. I know there are PITs in Aberdeen and that if I'm able to raise next year I won't have to go far. :D

Puppy Guess #1

Alright Gang! Are you guys ready for another "Good Old Fashioned GDB Name Game"?! Well, I hops so because PWAP is going to be welcoming a new member in just weeks time. Seeing as there hasn't been another new case of Parvo (if you haven't heard about what's going on in the GDB kennels please check out their website to get the latest news on the sudden outbreak) in weeks and those puppies who were not infected went off to Oregon and the ones who were infected and are healthy again are back in California and the kennels and trucks are all disinfected daily and the pups are no longer contagious it looks like we'll definitely be welcoming a new member to the club.

The new puppy will be going to Nancy, Jim, and Alyssa. They are currently raising Danvers, but on the 18th he will be transferred to the new family in our group and they will take on a new starter puppy.

So let's begin this guessing game.

RULES:

1. This Game will be working in TWO posts. This is the first one.
2. On the FIRST post (this one), you are allowed to guess the BREED of the pup and the LITTER LETTER if you so choose.
3. You can only guess ONE breed and FIVE letters.
4. The breeds you may choose from are those used by GDB (aka: Yellow Lab, Black Lab, Golden Retriever, Lab/Golden Cross)
5. On the SECOND post (which will come when we recieve the puppy information) I will tell you the litter letter and then you will be able to guess NAMES.
6. You can guess up to FIVE names.

Does everyone understand the rules? Alright then. :D Get guessing! There WILL be a prize at the end of this when I count up all the points.

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

My last club meeting before heading back off to school. We took the Handy Ride. :)

Freya and Her Booties

As most of you know, when puppies Graduate as Working Guides they are sent home with a pair of booties. These are used for extreme heat or cold that could cause pain or discomfort on the dog's pads and on escalators. The reason that dogs wear the booties while riding escalators is because the escalators can tear a dog's pads. It's extremely painful for the dog and I image for the owner too, but in a different way.

Anyway, I had never seen Freya working with her booties until now. I think she's the funniest thing with them on and she'll probably kill me for showing you guys, but it was too cute not to share.

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

I don't think I ever showed you guys the picture of me and Rocco when we went canoeing on the lake we live on.

What Guide Dogs has Taught Me

You know, I think I'm a stronger and better person now that I ever was before because of Guide Dogs. Not only have a learned to give myself selflessly to a cause and to donate my time and energy into something that will better some one's life, but Guide Dogs has also taught me how to say good-bye. Something that a lot of people still can't do. So, thank you to Guide Dogs for teaching me how to say good-bye with dignity and grace.

Pictures to come of another last meeting tomorrow.

Royalty is Home

Royalty came home on the puppy truck on the 29. She was so very happy to be home and probably more happy to get off that bus! Haha! :D

Here's Royalty in her cage on the Truck.
Royalty says "Hello" to Mary and her raiser.
Still as prim and proper as always.

Look at that tail!

Our group is back down to no female puppies. It's sad to think about, but that's because I prefer the females. Not that I don't love Rocco to death, but I definitely prefer female puppies. Anyway, we're all glad she's home with her raisers. :)