Halfway?

Well, it was just about 7 months ago, on the day after Thanksgiving 2009, that this little character entered our lives...and has been keeping us busy ever since!

Remember what a cute puppy I was?

Since then, Alfie's grown into that leash and collar a bit...

Look how much bigger I am!

...and, we hope, he's also growing into the role he'll eventually fill as a guide.

Need help crossing the street? 

Now, add 7 more months, and we'll be looking at January 2011...and guess who's scheduled to head in for his assessment?

 

Ummm...who?

If all goes as planned, Alfie will join a group of 5 others (including buddies Petey, Bob, and Celia) somewhere around the beginning of 2011.  They will be evaluated in many areas, both to make sure they're ready for Advanced Training and to give GDTx the information they will need to make appropriate client/dog matches.  After the assessment, the dogs will either go directly to Advanced Training, return to their raisers for a few months until an opening is available, or possibly even wait until the next assessment in certain situations.  Of course, though I don't even want to think about it, there's also the possibility that puppies could be released from the program if it's determined that their temperament or health is not ultimately suited for guide work.  However, I anticipate good things from all the puppies I know!!!

So we're somewhere around halfway!  The second half, in my mind, is actually the most fun.  Of course there are always challenges and I know enough to expect the unexpected.  But basically, by now you've got a nice, social, well-behaved dog who's house trained and reliable anywhere you might like to take him.  For the time that remains, you get to polish his skills, smooth down rough areas...and enjoy him.  Time flies way too fast!

Lovin' life as a guide dog in training!

Back to School

...for an afternoon, anyway!  And look who's with me...

Yes, that's Tracy's puppy Celia.

Monday, the kids and I had the opportunity to share about GDTx with a great group of crossing guards at Highland Park Elementary.  Thank you so much to Ms. Fosdick, the other teachers and parents, and most of all our terrific audience.  We really enjoyed it!!

When I originally set up this appointment, I had no idea when the puppy swap would be, what puppy I'd have then, or what he'd be like.  As it happens, our presentation was to be outdoors, in an area near a playground and tennis courts...full of difficult distractions for a pup like Petey.  While I'd love to take him there just for training sometime, I felt that speaking and helping him to behave at the same time would be a bit more than I could handle.  After checking with Michelle, I got the OK to borrow Celia as my "demo dog" for the day, in Petey's place (remember her from our mini-swap?-- see March 2nd post.) 

I like how her whiskers catch the light!

As it turned out, at the moment Celia was staying with the Pawsitive Approach unit at Travis County Jail.  So that's where I actually picked her up from.  She definitely remembered us, and was as sweet as ever.  I arrived early, thinking I'd walk her for a while before our appointment to calm her down.  What was I thinking?!  Celia is the definition of "calm."  After our "calm down" walk she was so exhausted she just wanted to flop over and take a nap, poor thing!   She was perfect during our talk, and afterward too when I allowed the kids who wanted to come pet her.  Thank you Officer Mullins for letting us borrow her!

Can't believe you ditched me for Celia!

In the meantime, Petey and I continue our work together.  With practice, hard work...and, yes, liver...I think we're making progress!

Sweet & Silly...Celia

Meet Celia!  We swapped puppies with fellow raiser Tracy this weekend and so we've had this little for the past couple of days.  Here we're going for a walk...you can tell she's very eager to please (not to mention food-motivated -- she knows I've got kibble in my pocket!)

She did well, although smells were a distraction. 

OK, we're walking, not sniffing!

...NOT sniffing...

At home, she's very mellow and easy.  I've never seen a puppy sleep this much!  She'll play with a toy for a couple of minutes, then you look over and she's out cold.  She doesn't get into any puppy mischief...she's too busy snoozing.  I think she must be in a growth spurt or something!

Sometimes her reactions to new things take us by surprise.  Her first night here, she was sitting in the living room when Tim walked into the kitchen.  From her puppy's-eye-view, Celia looked up and all she could see behind the bar separating the rooms was his head.  All of a sudden she let loose with the deepest, most ferocious barking.  "Attack of the floating head!  Red alert!!"  Tim walked out from behind the bar and she was all surprised like, "Wait -- was that you all the time?!"  Funny !  We had a good laugh over that one...

Then when I didn't feed her on time one evening, she came and sat in front of me and let out this high-pitched, shrill BARK -- I know it doesn't sound like much but I'm telling you, this has sonic warfare down pat!  One bark was all it took!  My ears started ringing...I couldn't even hear out of the right one for a minute...I just looked at her in shock and said NO BARK!!  Well, that devastated her.  She melted into this adorable little apologetic heap, as if to say she was so very very very sorry and could I please just find it in my heart to forgive her?  (lick, lick, wag)...pleaaase?  How could I stay mad?  (Although I did NOT feed her right away...didn't want her repeating the performance!)

Sweet dreams, Celia!

 Puppy paws...they'll go far one day!

Puppy Playday & Switcheroo

Saturday, Alfie was invited to a guide dog puppy playday at puppy raiser Tracy Schagan's.  Natalie, Darrell, and Bob came too, so there were three puppies:  black lab Celia, yellow lab Bob and chocolate doodle Alfie...so cute together!

Getting good pictures of these three live wires was pretty tough -- although Bob seemed to enjoy posing for the camera!

Bob's so adorable with his wrinkly puppy face!

We thought it'd be nice to get a group shot of the raisers and their puppies, but none of us had our leashes outside and the puppies didn't feel like cooperating.  That's Tracy on the left with Celia, who's in the middle of making an escape attempt; I'm in the middle with Alfie; he and Natalie are the only ones actually looking at the camera!  Bob's on the right there with Natalie, looking like maybe he'd rather go play with Darrell.  Oh well, we tried!

We all enjoyed the time to relax and the pups had fun wearing themselves out.  Meanwhile though, Tracy and I decided to try a mini-puppy swap, giving our pups a chance to expand their experiences with a new handler and new set of situations.  Alfie will go on an official (and longer!) swap later, but I thought staying with Tracy for a couple of days would be a great addition to his education.  She runs the Greenwood School, a learning center for children, and on any given day she's got about a couple dozen little preschool kids running around the place enjoying all kinds of activities.  What a great experience for Alfie, don't you think? 

Tracy's already raised several guide dog puppies, so don't worry, he's in good hands!  Meanwhile, we've got Celia for a couple of days. 

...Think anyone will notice the difference?!