Happy Birthdays!

Happy Birthday to my two January boys!

Rocco turned four years old on January 20th. As far as I know he's still working as a Guide Dog, but I haven't heard from his partner since just after graduation. While I miss him, I know he's well loved and right where he needs to be.

Rocco (yellow lab) in his harness when he graduated in August 2011.

Frankie turned two on January 28th. He's just graduated as Guide in September and still doing well. No surprise there of course. We haven't heard anything from his partner, but that's OK since he is also well loved and right where he needs to be. We were told that it would be a bad idea to visit again even if invited since he's such a baby boy and very attached.

Frankie (yellow lab / golden cross) in his training harness

I miss both of these boys very much and I hope they got the spoiling they so rightfully deserve on their special day!

What's in a Name: Frankie Edition

Ah, can't believe that I never did this for Frankie!

I love finding out more about my puppy's name. Normally when you get a dog you get to name it and that name means something to you. You don't get to choose your puppy's name when get a Guide Dog Puppy. And there are some pretty terrible names out there which means that not only to you not get to name your puppy, but you are stuck with a horrible name that you have to deal with and get used to. I've been lucky with my names so far. (Even though you may remember that I thought Hilly's name was the worse in the litter I really, really LOVE it.)

So, without further ado:

FRANKIE

Name: FRANKIE
Meaning: "free one" or "free man"
Nicknames: Frankie-boy, Frankenstein,

Fun Fact: Frankie was sponsored by Total Oil here in the UK. I can't remember exactly who he was named after, but whoever he was named after has a brilliant name. Right before his turn in date in March, Frankie visited Total Oil and the employees who helped name him.

Frankie Update: The Last

I just received word today:

Frankie is a Guide!

What a good job my little Frankie-boy! I loved that boy and I miss him a lot, but I'm super proud of him for making it all the way! I knew he could do it!

Frankie Update #3

Oh my goodness! I can't believe that I forgot to post about this!

Unlike here in the states where you are never allowed to see your dog while they are in training, in the UK they have a visit day. I can only imagine that this is because they don't have a graduation ceremony where you can see your puppy one more time before they official enter the working world.

Well, we were hoping that what I have come to term "Frankie Day" would come before I went state-side for the summer. Unfortunately this didn't happen. Was I disappointed? You betcha! I adore Frankie so much that I was sad that I missed the opportunity to see him strut his stuff in harness. But, since I knew there was always a possibility of this happening, he and I had a good talk before he left on his last visit to my house. I told him that I loved him and that I knew he was going to make me so proud. So, I've come to terms with the fact that I will most likely never see Frankie again. Teary eyed? Yes, but he such a good boy and well on his way to learning how to change someone's life forever.

Anyway, the point of this post is not to make me sad. It's to tell you all about "Frankie Day"!

His main walkers went down to Forfar about two...maybe three weeks ago now to see him. They say that he's doing awesome! (Was there really ever any doubt?) His trainer absolutely LOVES him and says that he is doing well. She said that since he came up with the big German Shepherd he is the only one who will stand up to him and take him on while they are on free runs.

If all continued to go well he should have transferred over to his "big city" training center either by now or within the next week. I knew he would make me proud!

Frankie in his training harness. Fun Fact: In Scotland the dogs in training wear brown harnesses while the fully qualified Guide Dogs wear white harnesses.

Frankie Update #2

Frankie checked back in at home after being in formal training for almost two whole months! Gosh, it was such a long wait and I kept having to tell myself, "No news is good news." But let me tell you, it was all totally worth the wait!

Frankie's trainer sent a lovely letter to his walkers and they were kind enough to share it with me. I've copied and pasted it below for you. 

"I am writing to update you on Frankie's progress a the Forfar Training Centre. As you know he settled into kennels well and mixed find with the other dogs in my pack. He bonded very quickly with me and was always eager to come out and learn. He showed a good understanding of all obedience commands. I worked on his stands, making them more solid. I taught him house obedience which he picked up quickly. I then took him to supermarkets where again he showed nice obedience and responded well to new commands. Once I felt I was receiving all the responses that I was expecting I introduced him to harness walks.

Frankie is a very bright boy who enjoys learning. I have taught him to stop and sit at all curbs which he is now doing with no prompt from myself and does not break the sit until he is asked to move off. On the rare occasion he he over steps a curb I will re approach and give a little stumble or drip to make him realize that there is a consequence for his mistake, however he is such a good boy he seldom makes any mistakes!!HE is demonstrating a good understanding of the straight line principle and does not go around any corners unless asked to change direction. I taught him some new commands to teach him to avoid obstacles and people, he is starting to make decisions himself to avoid theses giving my right hand side plenty clearance so I don't bang into anything. If the pavement is blocked or a gap is too small for us to safely fit through he will stand and wait till it is safe to move off again.

As you mentioned to me on the phone Frankie was sometimes a bit dog distracted. However I have found him very easy to control and he has only required a couple of telling's off for being distracted by dogs! He generally works past dogs and birds without me saying anything to him he is so keen to get his guiding work correct he does not seem to bother about being distracted. Frankie loves working in all environments especially city conditions where he enjoys finding his way safely through crowds of people. I plan on testing his knowledge by doing a blindfold walk this will tell me if there is anything I have to work on although I am sure he will participate to a good standard. Frankie has excellent social behaviour and lies down and goes to sleep straight away in cafes. He will confidently work around shops and really anjoys finding the doors etc. He also has very good recall and enjoys working to a free run area and then working back to the centre again. 

Frankie has been clean on all his walks and uses the concrete runs very well. I have taken him on a bus and train journey where he curled up and went to sleep! Frankie has been completely sound since he has come in for training. I know you were a little concerned about his reaction to a loud noise when out one day with you but you will be glad to hear that I have seen no reaction to any noises, he is always very confident and relaxed.

I can't thank you enough for all the work you have put into Frankie he had a very good understanding of obedience commands and lead work he is also very well behaved in social situations and on transport. This highlights the hard work you have put into him during his time at puppy walk. By having a good standard of obedience and manners greatly helps a dog settle into training and also makes my life much easier when teaching the guiding role, so thank you very much.

Frankie has been a complete pleasure to train and wish there was more like him!!! He really is a little sweetheart and will be very useful boy for someone.

All things going well Frankie should move onto an instructor in July. I will contact you before then to give you the opportunity to come and see him working if you wish to do so.

Can I take this opportunity to thank you again for all your time and dedication with Frankie."

He's just rockin' it isn't he!? I'm so super proud of my sweet, sensitive, amazing boy! He's going to make someone so, so happy! Unfortunately, I don't know if I'll get to see him again on the visitation day. It will most likely be sometime in July when I will be back State-side. But I just know that he knows how much I miss him.

Just as a comparison; I really like this way of communicating with the raisers. While it took two months to get an update, it was so personal. It is so nice to know exactly how the puppy is doing and what they are working on. I do like the detailed phase description that GDB gives us and the weekly update that comes with it, but there is no personal connection. I think it would be great to have this sort of personal letter back home from our puppy's trainer.

Thing I miss about Frankie #2: His cuddles. He was such a good cuddler. 

Frankie cuddling into my shoulder at about 8 months

Frankie snuggling

Frankie sleeping on my legs

Frankie Update #1

Woohoo! After waiting patiently waiting sitting by the phone checking the phone every ten minutes to make sure I hadn't missed a text or call for a whole week a two days Frankie's raisers finally got a little news about Frankie and how he was doing up at the campus and shared it with me.

They got a call from his trainer and she told them that she had taken him out to work a couple of times already. In the first week they usually just play with the puppy and get the settled into kennel life. But, I guess Frankie wasn't patient himself and just wanted to get out and get working. He also has a kennel mate. I don't have a name or anything, but know that his kennel mate is a female German Shepherd.

This is all excellent news! It means that he has settled really quickly into kennel life and that he is eager to get out and work! Good boy Frankie!

Remember, Erin loves you.

Frankie as a baby puppy. He is walking toward the camera.

What I miss #1: If you look really hard at the picture above (the lighting is kind of terrible) you can see his little "racing stripe" on his head. I loved his little "racing stripe."

Good-Bye Frankie

Alright, so this post is a long time coming. I've been waiting on pictures and I guess a little part of me didn't want to admit that there was a possibility that I would never see my Frankie-boy again. But I've got the pictures now so I really have no good excuse to not post about my final week with Frankie and our good-bye.

As some of you might have guessed, Frankie went back to the Guide Dog campus in Forfar to begin his formal training. He left on Monday, March 4th. It was sort of a surprise recall. He originally wasn't planned to go in until the end of March, but when he was in to check on his slight nose sensitivity after the mall incident they decided that he was not only handling the aftermath of the incident well but that he was totally ready for formal training. His last week with me was between March 15-19. I didn't want to take too much of his time away from his real raisers, but I also wanted a little time to say good-bye. I have to say, I'm so lucky to be friends with these wonderful people who share their puppy with me.

In our last days we did the good-byes things you normally do when you are ready to turn your dog in for training. We went to the park one last time for one last free run. We went on a walk by the river one last time. He attended his final University lecture and tutorial. I gave him his first and last bath with me...he may have fun under a garbage bag that had "bin juice" all over it in an attempt to follow me to the large dumpster outside the housing complex. We took our last trip into town and our last trip to the grocery store. He had his last day at the office. I really had to admit that he was ready. Obviously, he still has a few things to work on and he does need to mature a little, but he really is going to make a great Guide.

The 19th was a Tuesday and Frankie's last puppy class. So I took the day off of work to go and work with him at his last class. He was such a model puppy. Really and truly. He didn't go for the food on the floor and he knew his commands and didn't bother with the other dogs while we were working. To say the least, I was impressed. Of course, he wasn't perfect. As a part golden, he is pretty clingy to his people. So when I was working with him he was trying to get to his real raisers and when they were working him he was trying to get to me. Haha! Silly puppy.

He's been up at the campus for almost a week now. This first week is just welcome week where they get the pups use to kennel life and settle them in and have them meet their trainer. The amount of time this acclimation period takes depends on the dog. We could get a call tomorrow saying that Frankie has started his training or it could be a week or two from now. Like I said, he's a pretty clingy dog so not being around either of us could take him for a shock. But, saying that, he is also adaptable. So, it'll be interesting to see how long it takes for him to get use to the kennels.

At the moment, my friends are between puppies which means that I am too. They are waiting on a company to finalize the paperwork for sponsorship. This company also sponsored their puppy about four pups back, so they wanted to wait for them. I'm thinking that within the next month they'll at least have the assignment if not the puppy. But, I will post any and all updates I get on Frankie.

Frankie in front of he same bushes at the park as when he was 8 months old.

Frankie lying next to a character sheet and some dice at his last roleplaying game.

Frankie at the park with a goofy grin on his face.

Frankie in front of the arch on campus

Frankie at the King's College buildings. It's the super old building on campus.  

Frankie in front of a new statue called "Evolutionary Loop"

Frankie smiling in the sun in front of one of the statues on campus

Frankie looking over King's College

Frankie next to the "bug" stutue

Frankie sitting nicely in front of Elphistone Hall

Frankie in his last University lecture

Frankie sitting in front of the pond with the cool time dial. Please ignore the water on his jacket...it's not like he walked me into the pond or anything.

Frankie in front of the library

Frankie on our last bus ride to work

Frankie's last day at the office. His head is resting against the desk.

Frankie and me on the steps at the puppy class. 

It's pretty exciting to think that I have a puppy in formal training again! ...even if he wasn't really my puppy...

A Day in the Park

* Written by Frankie *

I don't know what you guys have heard about weather in Scotland. But let me tell you; all of it is myth. I know that some of you may hold fantasies of Scotland being green and sunny and beautiful. While it can be all of those things the times that it is tend to be few. Spring is usually nice and summer isn't too bad, but here at the end of winter the weather isn't great.

This past week our weather included of snow, rain, frost, wind, and all other manners of bad things. Mostly, it was fine because Erin and I spent a lot of time indoors. Class, the office, studying at home. We were able to hide away from the weather well enough and were able to take the short windows where the rain or snow would cease and the wind would die a little to take quick walks. Imagine how happy we both were when we woke up to sunshine and clear skies on Saturday.

We ate breakfast and woke up a little. For me that included a good after breakfast nap and a long, hard chew on my favourite bone. For Erin, it included a shower. It's not something that we agree upon really, but to each their own. Then we walked to the park. I'm pretty sure that I did good walking to the park, but Erin got pretty testy with me when we actually got into the park. Well! There was this little, white puff of thing that had the audacity to call itself a dog...a boy can't help but be a little agitated by that. And someone left a perfectly good stick just lying around there in the park. I was simply doing my civic duty by picking it up and running around with it trying to find its owner NOT to play with it. But because I didn't come when called nor put down the stick (just trying to find the owner of course) and because I sort of forgot how to sit when that white, puffy thing walked past...well I wasn't allowed a free run until I proved I could be good.

Instead, we walked through the whole park first just so that I could...ummm...learn the lay of the land. Yeah, that's it. It definitely wasn't because I was acting crazy and not listening. After I got the lay of the land down pat I was finally allowed to run around. Erin threw a bone for me and thus a good game of fetch was started. And from then on when I was told to leave the real sticks alone I would. It was a great morning in the sunshine.

After that we went home for a nap. Well ok, I took a nap. Erin did a little work. Unfortunately, because the weather was still nice after she finished working, Erin took me shopping. Clothes shopping. Clothes shopping may just be the most boring thing on the face of the earth. I mean, they don't even have any doggie stuff in the clothe stores. I would think they would at least of a rack of dog toys for their canine patrons. Ah well. We were in town for a while and by the time we got home I was pooped. So another nap was had.

Then it was time for Erin's roleplaying game. I enjoy these because it gives me some time to catch up on my sleep. While they roll their dice to defeat some evil, chaos monster, I had a nice long nap.

After a day like that I sure was tired when we got home. Erin stayed up a little later reading, but I went straight to sleep. Well, not before I tried to convince Erin that I was allowed to snuggle with her in bed. She didn't let me. Can't blame a pup for trying.

Frankie (yellow lab/golden cross) sitting in front of the bone I was throwing for him at the park.

Frankie running in the sun.

Frankie running back to me with his bone.

Frankie posing with a big grin at the park.

Frankie putting his head on the side of my bed trying to convince me that he's allowed up.

I go back home today, so until next time.

Relaxing Day

 * Written by Frankie *

After a few very long days of two hour lectures and hours at the office and food shopping, today was a nice relaxing day. Just a sort one hour lecture and three and a half hours at the office then home to relax. Auntie Erin had a headache so we sat around the house just lounging. I did try and make her feel as best as I could. I accomplished this by promptly picking up my squeaky, felt ring and flinging it into her lap hinting for a short, indoor game of fetch...it always makes me feel better. She seems to be feeling better now at least.

Tomorrow sounds like it will be another short day. I like short days.

Below you can see some pictures from this afternoon at home. Why yes, I am incredibly handsome.

Frankie, male yellow lab/golden cross

Frankie, male yellow lab/golden cross smiling at the camera

Frankie, male yellow lab/golden cross smiling

My First Day at Work

*Written by Frankie*

Since I was last over at Auntie Erin's house, she got an office job. So guess where I got to go with her today? That's right! To the office! It wasn't the most fun thing ever, but Erin says that I did very good. She also says that this was good for me because I don't like it when she leaves my line of sight and she has to do that ALL the time at work. I started off the shift getting up and following her every time she got up, but by the end of the day I would just look at her and go back to sleep.

I get to go back again tomorrow after the two hour lecture about Social Psychology. Busy days for the rest of the week.

And everyone loves me at the office.

Holiday Update

It's been a long time since I last updated. I've been so busy with class work and even now I should be studying for my upcoming exams (yes we have them after the winter holiday). I just haven't been able to bring myself to start though. Maybe it's because I'm still recovering from having to wake up super early everyday for just one class. Or it might be that little black lab sleeping in the corner. Either or really! 

First off I'll start you off with an update from my puppy group back home. Both TITUS and HANK went off for formal training two weeks ago. They are both still in phase 0 which means that they still have to finish up their preliminary health exams. I'm guessing that Christmas may have slowed down all the specialized vets that come in to check their whole body over. My guess though is that they are both free from any dysplasias and the GDB vets check that out themselves.

Titus (black lab) in his kennel run at GDB when he raiser dropped him off.

Hank (black lab) in his kennel run at GDB when his raiser dropped him off.

Also, ELI his phase 8 this week! Good boy! Now he's just waiting for that perfect someone to come along.

Eli (black lab) in his kennel run the day that Hank and Titus were dropped off.

DARRELL was transferred back in October. I know he stayed in California but I just don't remember where. Hope he's doing well in his new raiser home.

We welcomed a female yellow lab named TINA to the group about two weeks ago. She went to a first time raiser. Her parents are Peidmont/Cognac, so if you have littermates we'd love to hear from you! Also, on the 22nd Nita welcomed her second puppy. Another male black lab named CAMINO. His parents are Bosworth/Lucille and we'd also like to hear about his littermates if you know of any. Manda will be getting her 2nd puppy in four days. A female black lab, litter letter "S" born to Sid/Maeve.

Tina (yellow lab) at her first puppy meeting.

Camino (black lab) wearing his itty, bitty puppy vest.

Now on to an update from here. Do you guys remember Vale (pronounced like valley)? Well we found out a few weeks ago that he qualified as a Guide Dog! Hooray! Now, they don't have graduations here. The person who your pup is paired with is given your contact information and if they want to contact you they can. Otherwise, you just have to be content in the fact that your pup is making a difference to someone out there. You do find out where your puppy is guiding though. I think Vale is somewhere in England but I can't really remember.

Frankie is getting bigger every time I see him. I had him for a weekend before the holiday and he came over on Boxing Day to get his present. A new nylabone that he really, really loved. He'll be a year old next month which means turn in day is just around the corner. He's pretty much ready which I can tell by the fact that I don't have anything to talk about in regards to improvement. He really is such a nice dog and is solid as a rock, but also a sweet, sensitive guy. I can't wait to see him again! Probably not until after exams though.

Frankie (yellow lab/golden cross) lying with our little holiday shrubbery.

Finally, I've been puppy sitting a little black named named Major. He's super mellow, super cute, and super sweet. Best part is, he lets me sleep. I mean, as soon I took Freya, Rocco, or Hilly out in the morning it was time to eat and play. Major likes to take a long after breakfast nap in the mornings which means I usually go back to sleep. When he isn't sleeping though, he's a pretty bad garbage mouth. He'll be going back to his raiser today or tomorrow (I honestly can't remember) but I think we'll work on not picking up dropped food, slippers, and my stuffed animals today.

Major (black lab) amoungst his toys.

Major (black lab) sitting patiently in the kitchen for food.

Major (black lab) sitting on his mat in the living room.

Oh, I said finally but I have one last picture to share. Freya got to go on a cruise to Hawaii this December as a GDB alumni cruise. Do you think she enjoyed it?

Freya lying on a deck chair on her back on the cruise ship.

 

Also, while I have no recent picture of her, Hilly is doing really well. We skyped over the holiday and she's loving having all the people coming in and out of the house. She still goes to the church with Marion once or twice a week and is a real help there. She become such a lovely dog and I can't wait to see her again.

A Week at Auntie Erin's

*written by Frankie*

Hi guys! It's Frankie here over at my Auntie Erin's house. I've been here since last Sunday afternoon and I'll be leaving soon, but I didn't want to leave without saying hi to all of the blogging people out there.

On Monday I became a University student and attended my very first University class. I have to say, I don't see what the point is. I tried to pay attention to what was going on, but I just ended up falling asleep. Erin said that I was a good boy though, so I guess that's what normal students do in class too. So for the rest of the day and the rest of the week I just decided to sleep during the lectures and computer classes. Monday was the busiest day with four whole hours of class, but Erin said that I was such a good boy ALL day long. And I have a whole fan club of girls that like to "ooo" and "awww" at me. I decided to strut my stuff a little for the ladies. My overall thought on University is that I really, really like it and I can't wait to go back hopefully sometime in December. Though, I wasn't too big on having to wake up and get going early. But some mornings I would have to poke Erin to wake up because she would sleep through her alarm.

We haven't done much else this week. Erin has two papers to write so she's been working a lot, but school is just SO tiring that while she's working at home I usually take a nap until it's time to take Erin for her afternoon walk.

A couple of times we went on a free run in the park and we had so much fun! But, apparently it's not good to find a giant puddle created by the rain, jump in it, and gulp a bunch of murky puddle water. Erin threatened to give me a bath if I got any dirtier so I stayed away from the mud after that because I didn't want a bath.

Erin also said that she was really impressed with my lefts, rights, and finds. I can lead her home everytime and even without her asking I lead her to the correct classroom for our Thursday lecture. Once she even said left when I knew she meant right so I gave her a funny look and took us the right way.

We had a lazy Saturday, though we did have to go to the store in morning to get some food. It was a little boring, but there was this one guy who petted me without asking and Erin turned around to politely say that she preferred if people asked first since I was working and needed to focus on her when he got all...what Erin calls "lippy" with her. That was a little exciting. And then last night I got to go to my first rolpelying session. I wanted to play a dwarf, but there was already one in the party so I decided just to have a nice four hour nap.

Me asleep in the lecture hall during my first class on Monday

Me sleeping in our two hour workshop on Monday

Me with both paws on Erin's bed because I've just had to poke her with my nose to wake her up

Me running and leaping through the leaves during a free run

Me sitting by a tree next to the river

Me being a good boy at the roleplaying session

Guide Dog Week

I was so happy on Thursday for a number of reasons. For one, it was Freya's birthday and I always love having another year go by where all I hear is good things. And the second was that I was volunteering at the booth for Guide Dog Week here in Scotland. That meant I would get to see "my boy" Frankie.

I got to the mall a little early so I decided to sit down, have some coffee, and work on a paper for my psychological assessment class. When I was packing up to head to the upper level I noticed Frankie and his raiser talking with someone a little down the way. Now, the past few times Frankie has seen me he's gone a little nuts so I wanted to see what would happen if I fell in stride with them while they were walking. Now, it had been about a month since I had seen Frankie, so I did expect a little excitement. I definitely did not expect the greeting I received. I swear, he threw a little conniption fit. As soon as he saw me he lunged towards me and just would not settle. When I stepped a ways back to ignore him so he realised I wouldn't say hi until he calmed down, he started barking and scrambling towards me. While I know he was being really naughty I kinda felt a little loved and like I had been missed.

Anywho, he settled a tiny bit so I got to take his leash and say hi to the goof ball and then we headed upstairs. We were joined by a woman and her Guide Dog Yoosif (I think that's how it's spelled). He was such a handsome boy and they had just become a team in September. They seemed like a really good match. We all sat there and took donations and handed out fliers and let people say hi to both Frankie and Yoosif. At one point I went off to use the restroom and when I was leaving Yoosif's handler asked if she could get a picture with both Frankie and Yoosif with her. So, I handed the leash over and trotted off to the bathroom. When I got back they were still trying to take the picture and they had a perfect pose, but when Frankie saw me coming he went nuts and all I could think was, "Frankie you bad boy. You're with someone who's actually blind right now!" So I quickly walked the other direction and hid behind a pillar...all the time Frankie looking for me. They got the picture though after I was hidden.

Yoosif, the beautiful, black lab

For those of you who have been asking me about what harnesses look like here, I finally got a nice picture of one courtesy of Yoosif. The body bit is made out of white leather with the blue GDBA logo and a nice big yellow reflector in the front. The harness is removable and is make of yellow and black plastic. Yoosif had a handle sign telling people to back off...but nicer.

Tired Yoosif.

My Frankie boy. He's grown so much since the last time I saw him.

Why is Frankie making that ridiculous smile. Because he was actually telling me what he thought of me getting onto one knee when I wasn't going to be playing with him. Silly boy.

I think my favourite part of the day though is when a small child...definitely older than one but couldn't have been two came over and sat down right next to Frankie. He looked up and totally ignored this baby. In fact he continued to ignore him while the baby played with his legs, tail, and ears. Such a good boy.

After our shift was over we headed to the other mall. I wasn't signed up for a shift there but I wanted to be a little social since I missed the last meeting and see the new puppies in the area and see the "big" Guide Dog week set up. When we got there we saw training giving out blindfolded walks with dogs that were in training. I've done Juno walks back home and I've been wanting to do one here for such a long time to feel the difference in harnesses and what not. So, I got in line and got to do a walk with a beautiful border collie/golden retriever mix named Quaker. It was so much fun and he was such a good boy. He could guide me any time.

Me and Quaker. It's a little dark, but you sort of see him.

After that I was dying of hunger so I headed home. All in all, a good day. I don't quite understand why Frankie reacts the way he does with me. I don't have him for very long when I do have him and it's only been three or four times. But he apparently loves me. Not that I don't adore him, because I do. I love his little golden needy side that climbs into my lap when I'm on the floor and I love his confident lab side that can handle anything you throw at him. I guess I should just feel loved and not wonder why. I do have to say, if he was mine and was dropped I would have a hard time not keeping him. And I do miss him when I don't have him.