Happy New Year

Waffle would like to wish everyone.....

A Happy New Year!

20 days and Counting

Before she went back, my sister and I took Waffle into the mall for a photo shoot. We learned from our mistakes with Tacoma (our 1st FBL) and made sure we wore only light colors. (OK I thought it would be neat if we all matched-so we wore black.... I know what was I thinking?) But here is her big girl photo. She usually is not this focused, off camera the assistant is hold up a two foot rubber ducky. Which actually was pretty funny to watch.

She and her sister Wallaby have moved up to Phase 2! Yeah I did not think they would move her as she has just finished her season this week. We are still not sure if she will be deemed Mommy Material that will still be a couple of weeks away. In phase 2 they introduce her to the guide harness, work on basic commands, and learn about food distractions.

While this exciting news we really don't hold out much hope... Waffle is afraid of buses, cars, lawnmowers basically any thing with a gas engine. Call me silly , but I don't think you can be a guide dog and not like buses. I hope it is something the trainers can work out.

here is a link to GDB's site that lists exactly what she is doing in her training. Actually it is a relief that she made it to phase 2, it would be kind of embarrassing to say my dog failed phase 1 - grooming, walks on campus and group play are such demanding subjects. Don't laugh we know someone who failed phase 1 for non-medical reasons.

America's Vet Dogs

I was flipping channels waiting for the Simpsons to come on and I caught a news clip about two black labs going to war. What! I said no way, but I realized they were being sent over to Iraq as therapy dogs to work with soldiers. Apparently the program has been very successful here in the states and the Army wanted to see if they could replicate the same services overseas.
The Pups come from Guide Dog Foundation in New York, two beautiful Black Labs Boe and Budge. So a big shout out to Rei and Midnight and GDF for all their hard work. It sounds like they were trained to be guides but were shifted over to the Am Vets program. GDB has something like that with Dogs for Diabetics. It is nice to see that there is still work for them even if they don't make it as guides.

Here is the article
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-12-12-dogs-of-war_N.htm

here is the link to the web site.
http://www.vetdogs.org/

Making new friends

Afte struggling with blogger, finally was able to up load the video I took whe we dropped her off at San Rafae. Here she is meeting her new friends, She seems to really be excited about having doggy friends to play with. You can tell by her tail that she is happy.

So I remind my self that she will be ok.

Before and After

3 months Dec. 2006 / 15 months Dec 2007


2006 / 2007

Just a before and after look at Waffle, even the poinsettia has grown up too!

She has been at GDB for almost two weeks now, 1st report came in today, and, as expected, she is still in Phase 1 and on breeder watch.

Not much will change until January. 'Tis her season, you know.

Happy Holidays

It's begining to feel a lot like christmas

It's cold, at least for those of us in Los Angeles 44 is cold. How cold is my girl up in SR? We watch the storms roll in and wonder if she is on strike in her kennel refusing to leave the warmth of the heated floors. She never got around to reading the Labrador handbook- you know the one- it tells them they like water, snow, and are general all purpose outdoor pups. My little girl would pee on three legs - just so she could keep one out of the wet grass in the morning, she is more of an indoor spa type of gal. Malls are more her thing, here she is on our last trip to the mall.

Merry Christmas Waffle.

Kennel 5 Klub

Well here is where Waffle will be spending a good part of the next two weeks. As Katie our GDB tour guide told us, K-5 is for the 'girls'. I think they should re-christen it the nunnery. Still I would rather Waffle go here at least the boys won't be harassing my girl. When we were dropping her off, we tried to put her into a kennel but there were a few boys who were mean to her. They kept barking and one who was tied down outside in the hall snapped at her. The scene from Shawshank Redemption flashed in my head. The one where the new inmates are walking into their cells ,with the other inmates chanting 'fresh meat'.

I'm sure everyone there is nice, and after we got her in her cell...ummm I mean kennel, she seemed pleased that there was another fun dog next door to her. I hope she gets a nice roomie. blogger is acting up, and I am having trouble putting up the video - so until I figure it out. here is a picture of her in her new home.

Waffle has left the building

Yes Waffle has left the building. Mom and I left Thursday to drive Waffle up to San Rafael for the Dec. 1st recall. Now this is the only Waffle I have left.

We just got home and I am pooped, I have more pictures and videos, I'll post them soon.

Good luck Waffle - We miss you!

Why Me?

Who said I needed a bath?

towel head

hmmmm towel body?

Words

Do any of you ever find yourself searching for just the right words, when filling out your monthly reports? We are trying to fill out Waffle's end of project report along with this cute form called "Fun things about my puppy" the latter will go to any future raiser/handler/partner for you dog. So you want to be honest but you worry what they think. What was just a minor little glitch could sound like the police blotter on full moon Friday night. It is a fine balance between honesty and a sales job. I mean you don't want to sell them short, and if I am able to communicate to the trainers just how 'gifted and talented' my girl is ( :P ) maybe they'll cut her some slack. Yeah but who am I kidding my dog throws temper tantrums and holds grudges- that's going to go over real well. **sigh***

here are a few that I have thought of:

A dominant dog become high spirited

Hyperactive lab shuffles become energetic personality

the buzz saw snoring becomes nocturnal whispers (ok, maybe not that)

spoiled rotten becomes well loved (sorry 'peanut butter breath' Provo, but its true)

but dear readers help me out here, can you send we a few of your favorites that you use to describe oh so delicately your favorite furry friend's behavior. My worn out brain thanks you.

I'm blue...

Because in less than a week, I'm going away to college, and I'm going to miss my family. I'm so sad, even my fur is turning blue.

Is it art or just bad photography?

How about the Waffle Warhol series?







Actually, I think my sister is just a crazy photographer. I mean, come on, she took a picture of me yawning. I mean, who wants to see the inside of my mouth?







I call these next photos, "It's dark!" because my silly sister took them while in the car on the way to get some professional pictures taken. It was totally dark in the car, so if I look dopey or out of focus, it is because I didn't know that she was going to take my picture until the flash went off!





Thank goodness she isn't posting any pictures of me in my diaper. How embarrassing.

Down Stay

Anticipation, anticipation is making me wait


It's keeping me waiting.......

8 days

resisting temptation

Waffle enjoys getting out and about, last weekend we took her to see the "Bee Movie" and take a quick photo with Santa. It is 8 days until her recall date, but I figure it is never too late to get in some last minute work on food distraction.

Posing for a photo in the lobby

When You Were Just ... A Pup

Anyone remember the old Kodak film commercial? It has a little boy and his pup. Here is my version..

When you were just a pup... (come sing along you know you want to)

We never thought that you'd grow up!

But we'll always be together, forever by my side...

My Best Friend as time goes by.....

Who Am I?

Waffle has noticed that many black labs look a like. She has seen photos of other pups and was wondering if they were relatives. Of course most of the pups share some common heritage. Waffle and Tacoma both share a grandfather and a great-grand on one side is a great-great on the other side. So thanks to GDB pup Provo I was able to track down a picture of Waffle's Dad Dylan - who I am told only sires black pups.

Try and have that conversation with a 11 year old boy..... whoops uhhh go and ask your mom how that works. (He wanted to know if the mommmy was one color and the Daddy another would they have a chocolate lab!) Anyway here is a branch of the Waffler's family tree.

Daddy Dylan and Mommy Kimmy
So we figure that she gets her huge ears from her mom and her short legs from her dad. But who passed on the Gene Simon's like tongue?

Guide Dogs Go Green

So here is a picture of Richie the newest pup to join our club, doing his part to help the enviroment!

.

He said to think of him as a K-9 composting machine.

Good Boy Richie.... I think

Love - Waffle

This is for you Jen

Day Of The Dead

Happy Day of the Dead. Whats up with the post Halloween display of skulls?

Well in many Latin American countries today is the day that the dead return home for a visit. Sounds ghoulish to many but in Mexico and Latin America it is a joyous period, a time to gather a remember those who have passed on. They say you die three times, once when life leaves your body, once when you are buried and lastly when no one exists who remembers you.

It is a time when the living and dead can gather together to laugh, remember and cry. It helps the living move from grief to acceptance and keeps the memory of the dead alive. Death is not something to be feared, it is just the next passage in life.

Families gather together to remember and to create alters with food, water, and flowers. It is traditional to have sugar skulls with the names of the departed written on them- thus preserving their memory. This sweet treat along with laughing skeletons bring life and laughter to death, water quenches the thirst, and pan de muerto feed sweet memories of those who have passed on to the after life.

On our campus we put together a small alter where our students could reconnect with those they have lost, to share grief, love, and laughter. Waffle and I will be spending part of today eating tamales and pan de muerto, but here is a picture of her in front of the alter we helped put together.

Feliz Dia De Los Muertos...

Besos Waffle

Pretty Pretty

We have this really great plant in the backyard that went wild with a bunch of yellow hanging trumpet liket flowers. So of course we had to take some pretty girl pictures. this is not even at the peak of blooms!