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.

Puppy Club Update

It's time once again to update on how PWAP is doing back home. I still miss the people and the pups a whole lot, but at least I still get to run the facebook page. Which, by the way, if you haven't "liked" it yet you should head over there and do that. We're so close to 300 fans and would love to reach that goal by the end of the year. But enough of advertising and on to the update.

SHEP was Career Changed about a month ago. Meghan has adopted him so at least I'll get to see him again when I'm home over the summer. He's also started fly ball classes. If you don't know what that is, I would suggest looking it up on youtube. It's pretty cool. Glad Sheppy gets to stay with group!

Shep in his Pet Ambassador Scarf

ELI headed off for formal training about two weeks ago. He's now in phase 1! For those of you who don't know what that means, it means that he's passed all of his preliminary health exams! Which means that there is a good chance that this boy will go on to be a Guide. He was always just one of the those puppies. Good luck Eli! We're all rooting for you.

Eli looking regal next to a lake before heading off for training

A day or two before Eli was taken up to GDB for training, Jen and her family got a new puppy off the puppy trukc. Please welcome yellow lab male KENO! His parents are David and Stacy and I think he's such a cutie. It's hard to think that the first time I see him will be when he's about a year old.

Keno the day he got off the puppy truck

We also got one more puppy. In fact, he only arrived yesterday. Emily and Meghan will be starting this little guy and then when Marley heads off for formal training he'll be transferring to Mary and Brenna. Welcome male golden retriever SAM! He's a super cutie and I'm, as always, terribly jealous of all the new puppies. I think it's safe to say that I want one.

Sam the day he arrived

That's all from my group back home. Frankie is coming to visit tomorrow for a whole week since I finally got permission to bring him to lectures with me. I'm so happy that I'll he's coming for a visit!

PWAP Update

So, I suppose it's time for another PWAP update. I know it hasn't been that long since I last posted, but quite a bit has happened since I last updated on the club.

First off, a few days after TIPPIN went into phase 8 we got news that she was in class. She graduated on May 12 with a woman who lives really close to us. I was super excited to hear that she had graduated. She was such a nice puppy and I'm so happy that she's out there working. I don't have any pictures of her in harness, but hopefully there will be some up on the facebook page soon.

Now, PWAP has gotten two new puppies. The first is DARRELL. He's a half and half Lab/Golden cross born to Simon and Tess. Jealous? I sure am. He's super cute. It makes me miss my little Indie. But  every time I get sad/jealous I just remember that it's not my time to raise a puppy right now and I'm OK with that. I get to help with Frankie at any time his raisers need a break and, while I'm at University, that can be enough for me.

Darrell, a yellow lab/golden cross

The second puppy is the one I'm most excited about. She was a surprise puppy and came in yesterday. Her name is FIENNA. Does that name sound familiar? Well, it should. It was on my Mother's Day post. Have you figured it out yet? That's right! She's Hestia's puppy! I'm so excited that one of her puppies ended up in my group. I hope that Hilly and I get to spend some time with her while I'm home this July. Gotta say, more jealous about this one. Haha!

Fienna, a black lab

Oh yes, that's another thing. I'm going home for a month in July which I am pretty excited about. I can't wait to see my Hilly girl.

Lance and A New Puppy

Well, he did it. Sir Lance-a-lot is now a working Guide! I'm sorry, but I don't have any pictures for you of him in harness as I wasn't there. But stop by my group's facebook fan page in the next couple of days and hopefully there will be a few loaded. I have to say, not being able to be there killed me just a little. Lance wasn't my puppy, but I saw him a lot when he was a baby because Mary, Brenna, and I were still co-raising Rocco. And he seemed to not mind me walking him at puppy meetings. Sure, he still looked for Mary, but he wasn't hard to walk while he did it. It was more like he'd turn his head every thirty seconds or so but he would never stop walking and he never turned around. I do miss the goofy boy. But, I hear his new handler is an absolutely WONDERFUL guy. That's all anyone can ever hope for. So, good luck with you new job and your new life Lance! Your Erin is so very proud of you.

With every graduation comes a new puppy. Well, really, I guess that isn't true. I guess it's not ever true to say that with every recall comes another puppy. But, I'm sticking with it. A new family just finished their week long puppy sit and it went fantastically! They've been assigned a Female Black Lab born to Simon/Salina on February 25, 2012. The litter letter is "A". I'm a little bummed because next weekend is about the time Hestia's babies would be old enough to leave the kennels, but I guess, from the birth date, that there are still a lot of older puppies in kennels that they want to get out. But, at least this is a black lab female. You all know how I love the black lab females. Haha! Can't wait to see the newest member of PWAP!

New Puppy for PWAP

First off let me introduce you to the newest member of PWAP:

A little yellow lab/golden puppy in the smallest puppy jacket smiling at the camera. She looks more lab. 

TORI!!!!

Tori is a female yellow lab/golden cross (she's 1/4 golden and 3/4 lab). She was born to Medford and Belize on February 21, 2012. There were a lot of older puppies in the kennels so Emily and Meghan (who are raising PIT Shep right now) agreed to start one. I'm not sure, but my best guess is that Little Miss Tori might not end up transferring. Haha! I think Emily and Meghan are enjoying having a puppy small enough to hold and one that actually wants to be held.

Also, LANCE in in class! He's due to graduate on April 28, 2012! That's just 6 days from today! He'll be living in Michigan which is good for Lance because he never liked the heat of California. I'm sad that I don't get to go to his graduation and say good bye, but I'm so happy that he's found his forever person. We're all so proud of Lance. He's just more proof that Goldens can be great Guides as well.

That's all for now. 

Phase Report

Halette     45Y4     LAB     F     8

I know this is a few days late, but I've been quite busy these past few days. Just running around enjoying the last few days of freedom before classes start again on Monday.

I thought I would also give you an up date on puppies in our group. If you look over the right side of the blog you'll see the phase tracker. There you'll see that our little Lance is now in phase 7 of training! Go Sir Lance-a-lot! He's only got one more phase to go before we all start thinking of class dates for him. Then our Danvers travelled all the way to Boring, Oregon to begin his training and is now in phase 1 which means he has passed his medicals! He's one of those puppies that we knew he'd make it if he passed his medicals so we just have to sit back and wait now! Good job LANCE and DANVERS!!!!

Now on to the "T Sisters", Teesha and Tippin. They had an eval on Wednesday and the all mighty Jim proclaimed that they were doing wonderfully and would be ready to go back for training whenever they were recalled. Hooray for Teesha and Tippin!!!! They are both on Breeder watch so we're hoping to get our first breeder out of one of the girls! (Still a little sad that it wasn't Freya, Rocco, or Hilly but I love that my first two babies are guiding and that my last one decided to be a mooch for the rest of her life. *smile*)

That's kind of it for the puppy group back home. I miss all the puppies and all the people a whole lot. I think my missing of them will lessen if Graham decides to let me have a puppy in March.

New Puppies!

Yesterday we welcomed 3 new puppies to PWAP! I'm beyond excited to get to go and meet all of the new puppies who came while I was away.

Anyway, we welcomed HANK, NEVADA, and MARLY yesterday at the holiday luncheon! You might remember me saying that we were going to be welcoming a Miss N and a Miss M and that Marly is a fairly masculine name. Well, sometimes puppies need to be swapped before going to their raiser home. The most common reason for this is usually the puppy has really soft stools and they don't want to send the puppy home with a bad tummy. This happens a lot really and is one of the main reasons we aren't told the names ahead of time. Our group is lucky and has had pretty good names for the last three years (we keep saying we're due for a weird one) but some of the names GDB thinks of are really weird. The puppy raising department doesn't want to tell the raiser a "good" name only for that puppy to get sick and them end up with a "bad" name. Or vice versa. They just don't want us to get use to the name before we get the puppy because everything can change. Right...where was I? Ah, yes.

Well, Candie's Miss M had some loose stools so she wasn't ready to go home on the 7th and, I guess because all the other Miss Ms were spoken for, Candie got reassigned to a Mr. M. But Candie really wanted a female puppy and since this is her 30th puppy Mary thought that it would be good to give her something special. *smile* So, Mary's Miss N (Nevada) went to Candie and Candie's Mr. M (Marly) went to Mary. Yes, I've known about this for a couple of days but I was told not to ruin the surprise. Don't worry though, Nancy has her originaly puppy so that won't be confusing to explain.

So, a little sad that I won't get to meet two golden girls when I get home, but I LOVE the name Marly so I approve of this puppy swap. Haha!

I don't have pictures of the the little ones just yet. Hopefully I'll have some soon, but even if I don't I'm home in 10 days anyway so I should get some great pictures of them then. *grin* So, welcome HANK, MARLY, and NEVADA!!!!

Puppies I get to meet when home:
Eli
Shep
Terrence
Titus
Hank
Marly
Nevada

Welcome Puppies!

I suppose the title is self explanatory. The newest puppy members of PWAP arrived just an hour ago! Both of these boys went to first time raisers. I wish them luck on their first night together and can't to meet them when I get home for winter break.

So, without further ado let's welcome the newest members of PWAP!

TITUS

Titus, a black lab male

TERRENCE

Terrence, a black lab male

They look so cute! I'm so ready to meet all these new puppies!

Puppy Envy

Shep, an 8 week old black lab/golden retriever cross. His parents are Hurley and Cheyenne so he's 1/4 golden and 3/4 lab.

Can I just say that this is one of the cutest things I've ever seen? I'm definitely experiencing a little puppy envy at the moment. I mean, just look at this little guy! He is absolutely adorable. He is also the newest puppy in PWAP (yes, we do seem to get the cutest ones don't we?) *wink wink* So, welcome to PWAP...

SHEP!

PWAP's Newest Memeber!

PWAP received it's newest member today! He's been with his new raiser family for about 3 hours now. He's a little black lab named ELI! I can't believe that we actually got an ELI. It'll be really cool to see how he grows up! He's also Hilly's cousin which is pretty darn cool. So, welcome ELI!!!!! I can't wait to meet him...though it might not be until he's near a year old.

Please Welcome...

I would like everyone to welcome...

STUART

and...

TEESHA

They are the newest members of PWAP. As for the Name Game, no one successfully guessed the litter letters, the breeds, or the names...but I'm going to see if there's a way for me to still hand out a prize. I'm thinking on it, but if it turns out that I can't do it thank you to everyone who guessed. :)

My Puppy Name Guessses

So, today's the big day! Well...alright, it's still yesterday in California. It's the 9th here though. That's why I waited until after sleep time for me to post these; because I was tired and it's still way before the time of the puppies' arrival. Anyway, I have a lot of guesses, but if one of you guessed the name on the blog here then the prize will of course go to you.

As you can see, at least on the first picture, I successfully guessed that we would be receiving a male yellow lab and a female black lab. The names are written underneath the picture and the ones in BOLD are my favourites and the ones that are underlined are ones that I now know are in use.

My "S" Names

Suilean, Sherlock, Shylock, Slider, Sully, Suliven, Sylvester, Sammy, Socrates, Sailor, Sudney, Sable, Santa, Scotland, Scotty, Saber, Semla, Sanjay, Sancho, Samuri, Scout, Sawyer, Squib, Saturday, Sonny, Serge, Seven, Steve, Stephen, Stevie, Seth, Seamus, Sebastian, Shane, Sherwood, Sheldon, Sid, Sigmund, Shiloh, Smithy, Solar, Sinclair, Solomon, Samwise, Stanford, Spencer, Sparrow, Strom, Skylar

My "T" Names

Tally, Tibby, Tibetha, Tesla, Teslow, Tamera, Tiara, Tweety, Taylor, Tipper, Teal, Tesco, Texas, Trisha, Trixie, Tak, Thanks, Tibble, Tommy, Tallulah, Tallis, Tracey, Tammy, Tangela, Tea, Tennessee, Teressa, Terri, Tina, Topaz, Torah, Tranquility, True, Tuesday, Twilight, Tia, Tilly, Toni, Tonya, Tawni, Taelor, Taffy, Taja, Tala, Talia, Tammie, Tenaya, Tansy, Tasha, Tempest, TaraLyn, Thora, Tiffany, Toilichte, Twinkle, Toshiba

I'm very excited to "see" these new puppies. If you haven't seen it yet, please check out the PWAP facebook fan page. All you have to do is type Pwap: Puppies with a Plan into the search bar at the top and it should come up or click on the link I have provided you. Please "Like" it so that you can see all the going ons of our group.

9 More Days

Alright guys! If you haven't posted on my Name Game for our two new puppies now is the time to do it! They arrive on the 9th of February so that means that you have, including today, 9 days to get your 5 names in (10 in total if you guess for both puppies) to me. I'll make it easier for you so that you don't have to go back to earlier posts to guess, but you can post right here on this post.

5 names for a Black Lab Female, Litter Letter "T"

and

5 names for a Yellow Lab Male, Litter Letter, "S"

Good Luck and Have Fun!

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!!!

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. :)

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.

A Flashback on 2010

As today is the last day of 2010 I thought I would give a review of my and my puppies' lives over the past year.

January: I turned 18!!! WOOT! Arwen turns 8 on January 2, 2010. Rocco was born on January 20, 2010 (though I didn't know I was getting him at that time). Got a shock when I was told that Freya was most likely on the January recall and that she would be going to the Oregon campus. I was really relieved when I found out that she wasn't on the January recall. Turned in all of my college applications to the US. Amici gets off the puppy truck.

February: I had to say good bye to my Darling Little Girl on February 20, 2010. Turned in my UK University applications. Belle had her last litter for GDB on February 2, 2010 and I started pressuring my dad to let me raise again in hopes that I would get the little yellow male, Epic. Kendrick gets off the puppy truck a week or so before Freya's turn in date.

March: Found out I was rejected from Princeton. Puppy sat Tomales, Townsend, Royalty, and Rockford all in one month. Finally convinced my dad to let me co-raise a puppy with Mary.

April: Decided to get a puppy earlier than planned because the puppy kennels were filled to the brim. Found out we were getting a 12 week old male yellow lab from the Atrus/Peach litter. Welcomed little (or should I say giant) Rocco into the family on April 10, 2010. Found out I was rejected from Northwestern. Was accepted to Ekerd, Wake Forest, and Sarah Lawrence. Wait listed at Colby.

May: Found out that Freya was due to graduate as a Guide on May 29, 2010. I honestly never thought I would see the day. Met her amazing new partner and handed off her harness. Freya meets her brother Rocco. Graduated from High School on May 22, 2010. Started as Student Director for the school play Seussical the Musical.

June: Rocco and I go to my mom's house for her birthday and we go to Huntington Gardens. I believe this is the month that Rocco finally stopped throwing up at night. Rocco is legal this month in the first week. Found out I was accepted to University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Townsend is Career Changed.

July: Rocco and I got to a Grizzles ball game for the 4th of July and Rocco proves himself as a wonderful puppy. We got stuck going right by the fire works as they started going off (we tried very hard to get to the car, but it didn't work). While I was freaking out (honestly don't know why GDB allows me to puppy raise because I hate loud noises), Rocco leads me to the side and looks at me as if to say, "Momma, they're just fireworks." We get ready for Fun Day. Lance is handed out at Fun Day and Rocco gets to meet his little brother.

August: Rocco takes a Ferry Ride to San Fransisco and meets his other older brother (besides Colorado) Harvard and his partner. Along with two other guides and their partners. Rocco and I have to deal with the fact that no one in our group will be able to take him so we start preparing ourselves to never see each other again. Find out he's being transferred to Visalia with his brother Rocky! Erin is happy.

September: Rocco is transferred on September 13, 2010. I head off for Scotland on September 17, 2010 and start my classes at University. Winston goes off for formal training and his raiser gets married.

October: Freya turns 2! Colorado goes off for formal training and Tomales is Career Changed. Colorado is Career Changed a week into training for elbow dysplasia and is in consideration for D4D. D4D decides not to take him and he comes home as a pet. I continue to get reports that Rocco is doing well with his new raiser. I get really homesick and almost consider going home.

November: Royalty goes off for breeder evals but is Career Changed soon after for hip dysplasia. First year in 18 years that I do not celebrate Thanksgiving. Have a realization about what I want to do with my life but decide not to leave Aberdeen because I realized I love it there.

December: Find out that Winston is going to graduate on December 11, 2010. I leave Aberdeen on the 10 so that I can make it to his graduation. I get to meet one of our newest puppies, Luther, and see Katlynn again. I get Rocco back for a month. I get to meet the other two new puppies Pauli and Danvers.

That's pretty much the entirety of my year. Hopefully 2011 will be just as wonderful and has the same amount of ups and downs. Otherwise it would be boring right? :)

Halloween

I unfortunately have no cute picture of my puppy in a Halloween costume for you. But! I do have a picture for you. So, for your dinning and viewing pleasure....

That's Colorado on the right who came home yesterday. Colorado was, as you might recall, CC'd for elbow dysplasia and returned home yesterday. I know he's not staying with his raisers, but they are going to get to keep him for a while while the family they have for him is getting ready for him to come live with them. (That was a nighmarish jumble of pronouns). And that's Lance of the Left. He's looking so grown up. :)

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. :)