Hi Blogging Friends. It's Rocco and guess what! I am 6 months old today. That's right. I'm a whole half a year old today. Did you know that Momma's birthday and my birthday are only 3 days apart? So her half birthday is on Friday. Isn't that cool? Anyway, just like on my 5 month day I am going to give 6 things that I am amazing at, 6 things I still need to work on, and 6 of my favourite things in the whole world.

Six of My Best Traits:
1. My "That's Enough" command is amazing! Momma says that it's the best she's seen in a puppy.
2. I get really excited when my jacket is on. Momma says it's a good thing I love having my jacket put on me because it means I love to go out. Well, of course I do! People pay attention to me and tell me that I'm such a good puppy when I'm out.
3. My "stay" is pretty amazing.
4. I'm a cuddle bug. Or, at least that's what Momma says. Can I help it if I love to lay on her lap if she's on the floor with me?
5. I'll sit whenever she tells me to do so. I mean whenever. No matter where I am if she says "sit" I'll sit.
6. I don't bark or whine at all in my kennel anymore. In fact, I kind of like my kennel now.

Six Things I Need to Work on:
1. Down. I'm getting a whole lot better at it, but Momma says that I need to go straight from sit do down. I can't move over to be right next to her when she tells me "down."
2. Puppy Push Ups. I am getting better about these too, but I just don't like having to get up from the comfortable ground back into a sit all the time.
3. Cats. I'm not supposed to chase them but I really, really want to.
4. Little dogs. Momma says I'm pretty distracted by little dogs on our walks. I'm also keeping focus around them more, but really! How is the thing that's the size of my ear a dog!?
5. Rolling Trash Cans. Contrary to popular belief I am not scared of those things. They just look like so much fun to chase! But, I'm not suppose to.
6. Licking. Momma says I should lick everything I see, but I can't help it.

Six of my Favourite Things in the World:
1. My kong! I love my kong because it's fun to chew on and it'll bounce any direction.
2. My jolly-ball. A ball and a rope in one! What more is there to say?
3. My bed. I absolutely love my bed in Momma's room. It's nice and soft and it smells like me! But Momma says that she has to wash the cover soon.
4. My wishbone. That thing is so much fun to chew on.
5. Scooby Doo. You may find this funny, but whenever Scooby Doo is on I'll settle down and watch TV with Momma.
6. Food. What lab doesn't like food? But I really, really like it.

Now for your entertainment, here are some pictures of me in my new Big Boy Collar. Momma put it on my this morning after our walk and breakfast.

A nice close up of it on me.

I know I don't look happy, but that's only because Momma kept taking pictures of me.

A super close up.

It itched a little when she first put it on, but I really like it.

Momma says I'm a handsome boy.

Do I look grown up?
If you look real close you can see my ID number, 4Y13.
I think it looks very good on me.
There's me saying good bye to my puppy collar.

I can't believe I ever fit into this little thing.

Guide Dog Talk at Private School

I give talks all the time abut my job as a puppy raiser. Most of the time it is out on the street when some random person asks me about my dog or some little kid it really interested in Rocco (previously Freya) or any other puppy I happen to have at that time. But sometimes they are scheduled events. Right after Freya left and before I knew what litter I was getting from I took Royalty down to my mom's house in Burbank (Royalty is actually the reason why I wanted an Atrus and Peach puppy. Before I knew that we were actually get an Atrus/Peach puppy I was hoping for one because he would be related to Royalty). I went with her to school one day (she teaches Spanish at a Private school which, contrary to popular belief, does not pay any better than a normal school) and took Royalty. I made my rounds to most of the younger grades. I went to two kindergarten classes, two second grade classes, a third grade class, and a fifth grade class. I told them what my job was when the puppies are with me and how important it is for them to not disturb a working dog. It was fun and I think Royalty had a good time. Anyway, tomorrow my group is giving a talk at one of the local private schools and I'm trying to get Rocco ready. I'm going to give him a bath and brush him and make sure he looks pretty.

I have a question for you guys. It's about time that he is put into his Big Boy collar. I've tried it on him and it fits and it would be easier for me to give him a solid correction with the Big Boy collar than the puppy collar. Right now the corrections made with the puppy collar don't do much. I was planning on putting it on him on Tuesday when he is 6 months old or, at least the day before Fun Day at the latest. I'm not sure I'm ready to do it, but should I put it on him a day early and get it over with so he looks grown up for the private school talk?