My Weekend with Marco

Because I'm a University student who also has a part time job, taking on a baby puppy would be difficult. That's why I'm so thankful for my "co-raisers" who bring me a pup whenever I feel the need for one. Last weekend I got to have Marco for the first time while they took Quinn to Edinburgh for one last big trip before he goes IFT. 

Let me just say, Marco is a pretty awesome puppy. Between him and Dulcie, I've had PPPs (that's practically perfect puppies for those of you who don't know) twice in a row now. Marco was nine and a half weeks old last weekend and he slept completely through the night and then went back to sleep for another hour after his breakfast. Seriously, from ten in the evening to seven in the morning. I was so lucky!

And, while he had a few accidents he didn't have as many as I was expecting. He got that if he showed me he had to pee and waited a minute for me to get the leash then he'd get to go outside to our courtyard and get a ton of praise and love. 

My favorite bit about him is that he's one cuddle bug. He's play and play and play and then he'd look at me. He'd properly stare at me for a while then come sit by me and look up as if to say, "I'm tired, can I sleep in your lap?" And because I'm a sucker...I let him. Shhh. Don't tell anyone. 

I don't really know what else to say about Marco except that I'm excited to get to know him more over the next couple of months. So far, he's a great puppy. 

Enjoy his cuteness! ENJOY...

Marco (yellow lab/golden cross) chews on a stuffed bunny

Marco cuddling up with me on the floor while I work on the PWAP facebook and web pages

One morning, he decided he would rather sleep in my lap...I let him.

Marco sitting like a good boy in the living room

Marco chewing on his teething keys.

Marco and the stuffed bunny.

Oh, one hilarious story I've got to tell you about is when we went to the grocery store. I carried him to the grocery store and then carried him through the grocery store. All in all, we were in the store for about 5 minutes as I grabbed a box of cereal or carton of non-dairy based milk...I don't quite remember. And we walked down the pet aisle and the little thief stole a stuffed toy from one of the shelves. Well, at the point I was committed to buying it for him right?

Fake Service Dogs and the Campaign Against Them

Any one of my readers who is also involved in the service dog community whether it be as a puppy raiser, a handler, or a training will have come into contact with this subject before. I've seen dogs in stores who were clearly not services animals. They were pestering other patrons, lunging, barking and a few have even been aggressive towards my puppy in training all the while their owner just stood there and did nothing about it while the manager looked on unsure of what to do. I've also gotten people asking me where I can get those cool vests for their pet because they'd like to bring their pet with them too and it has taken most of my self restraint not to slap them across the face and calmly explain to them that passing off their pet as a service animal was a federal offense.

The real problem stems from ignorance. Ignorance of the general public to what bringing their ill behaved pet into a store can do for public access issues for those who have actual service animals and use them to lead independent lives. Ignorance of shop keepers and store managers in regards to ADA regulations and what they are legally allowed to do and what they are not legally allowed to do. Ignorance of some of the online shops who probably genuinely believe that they are helping people register their service animal and that no one would EVER abuse the cheap "service animal" vests to bring their pets into public areas (poor, misguided souls).

Quite recently CCI (Canine Companions for Independence) have started a campaign to educate the public while making it harder for people to abuse ADA regulations concerning service animals to pass of their pets as service animals because they just want to take them everywhere. Guide Dogs for the Blind firmly backs and supports this campaign.

Below you will find a link to the CCI page where you can find links to an educational video and to the campaign page where you can add your signature. Please head on over and add your name!

http://www.cci.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=cdKGIRNqEmG&b=4127877&ct=13406355

M is for... (for real this time)

MARCO!!!!

Marco's "birth certificate" 

Marco's profile. Handsome boy.

Me and Marco.

Marco wouldn't stop moving, so the best I could do is a blurry picture.

Marco arrived in Aberdeen yesterday, but I just got a chance to meet him today. Let me tell you, the pictures don't do this little guy justice at all! He's super cute. In fact, I think it's safe to say that he's super duper cute. Haha! Love at very first lick.

I don't know when I'll get a chance to have him. We wanna give him a week or two to settle into Aberdeen at his "primary" home and then Quinn is going away early December, so I'll probably want to take Quinn before I take Marco just so I can see him again. 

Marco is a yellow lab / golden retriever cross. He looks like he's going to be a little fluffier than Frankie or Quinn, but still isn't coated. And, this is the first time I know ALL of his siblings here in the UK. 

"M" is for...

Ok, so little "M" isn't here just yet as there is still some tummy issues. But I just couldn't resist posting up this picture of little, teeny "M"!

Luckily, this doesn't really give away the breed though I suppose it's safe to say that some breeds are far less likely. Haha! I just can't wait to meet little "M"!

Little M Delayed

Little "M" won't be here until next week. The poor puppy got a little ill in the kennels so GDB is keeping the little one up there until everything is all cleared up. Nothing too serious, just a bad tummy. But they want to play it safe just in case (I can't say that I blame them).

Of course that means that you all have another week or so to guess the gender, name, and breed (I'll tell you a secret, I don't even know the breed!).

Dulcie Pictures

I've gotten a couple of pictures of Dulcie recently and I tell you, she just doesn't get any less cute. I hear that she's still doing well even though she is getting into her teenage years. Golden teenage years can be hilarious, but can also be frustrating. But I think she's going to be just fine. I do miss her, but if all goes well then I'll be back home in 6 1/2 weeks.

Dulcie at 7 months old

Dulcie in her pink cowgirl hat at the Responsible Pet Owner Fair

Dulcie in her pink cowgirl hat

Dulcie in her Yankee Doodle Dandy Halloween costumes

Dulcie in her Yankee Doodle costume

Dulcie in a witch's hat at the Lathrop Fun Day

Dulcie at the Pumpkin patch