Missed it

Missed it, Lani has these funny dreams. She grunts and her tail wags. It is hilarious! But it happens so fast I never catch it oh well. I wonder if she is dreaming of jumping into a doggy pool filled with kibble (Science Diet, Lamb and Rice Large Breed Puppy of course)

Hey Hey The Waffle's Back!

Well, it was a hard call, but she's Back!
Thanks to everyone for your kind words.

We are having some adjustment issues right now. She really doesn't like Lani. She seems to be afraid of her, Waffle is very aloof and moves away when the baby comes by. Poor Lani doesn't understand she brings her toys, does the little chase me wiggle- she keeps trying to engage Waffle, she really reminds me of a pesky little sister who keeps pecking and pecking and pecking away. So far Waffle is resisting but I'm putting my money on Lani.

My Weekend

Note I don't get control of the computer very often, so this post is very, very long

Lani writing her blog

Lani here- this is the 100th post so in honor of that Carrie let me take over the blog (Carrie: for now Lani, just for now)

I had a really big weekend I mean big I had a few friends over for the week end. My people's first GDB Dog Tacoma came over for a visit, her family went rock climbing and my friend Melody is coming over for a visit. My people said something about being an a lonely only. Whatever I didn't care I had so much fun.

Me and The Taco Bell

Tacoma is a big girl but I showed her, I needed her to remember that she was in my house. So I followed her around and whenever she peeed and I went right over and did my business right over it. That showed her!

Playing Tug with the Jolly Ball

She is BIG wow long legs and best of all she liked to play chase. I had two safe spots, one in the bushes and the other in the corner in the planter, I'd tag her turn and run, run, run and run, but she always got me - hence the safe spots. I'd catch my breath and then we'd start all over again. But then things got rough I had to show her who was boss - and you can see who learned the lesson.

But then Melody showed up...... and the party was on! Boy if you've never run wild with two of your best buds, you're missing out in life. It was a blast, mom was such a killjoy, we could run as much as we wanted outside. Inside was a different story- we were having so much fun only two of us could be out at a time. Something about wreaking havoc in the house - sshessh people live in the moment, you have Cesar Milan's book.

It was great they'd run left and I'd run left, they'd dart into the bushes and I'd take off after them as fast as my 4 month old legs could carry me. Mel is 10 months old and Taco is 3 years old so their legs are a lot longer and they have all their adult teeth. Mom says brushing mine should be a snap now - 'cuz most of them fell out!

This is pretty much how the whole weekend went. The two big girls playing and me tryin' to sneak in

Lani, Melody, and Taco

This is where Taco slept, all day she would go in and out of the kennel, but at bed time she refused! Man I need to take notes! My people gave in and let her sleep free, and while they were snoozing she jumped up on the bed/sofa what ever was around. Smoooooooth they never had clue.

Taco, Melody, and Lani all waiting for dinner, it was like musical bowls, once we were all done. Each of us would have to look to see if someone missed a bite.

Taco and Me

Mom says Taco is her problem child, what ever that means, she was the best behaved out of all of us. Mom would ask me to sit and Taco sat, I figured since one of us did it that we were good. Melody and I let Taco do all the commands all weekend. Couldn't figure out why mom was sooo cheesed off.

So Taco is a career change pup so she to me that just means she gets to eat snacks and sleep on the sofa, so while she was watching Oprah at home, Mel and I went to work. I went to my first movie. Horton Hears a Who. Can't say if I recommend it I never really saw much of it, during the Kung Fu Panda previews I got scared and bolted for the door. I don't care what you say, there is just something not right with a talking Panda (carrie's note: eehmm, eehhmm ah Lani a typing dog? ) So I spent the movie in the hallway. Afterwards we walked around the mall and did a little browsing at Borders, the Marley book is out in paper back.

Mom said something about lunch and I got happy, I used to get lunch but they cut that out a while ago. But you can tell by my expression, we weren't the ones eating.

So I won some sort of contest from GDB and they sent me a box full of beauty supplies, which I thought was pretty cool until I learned they all involved water. So my people set up a dog wash assembly line. Someone washed, the other dried.

Mel has the best hazel eyes, I've ever seen

Mom went photo crazy so embarrassing.

Well my weekend was a blast, lots of friends coming and going, shopping, movies even the bath wasn't so bad. My people said they have another surprise, something about Waffles. MMM covered in syrup and butter....... more about that later.

The Call

So we got 'the call' about Waffle. You're never ready for it, I was picking up a friend at the airport when my leader called, it was crazy and it really didn't sink in until much latter.


Here's her drop notice

SUMMARY: Waffle is a small female with high energy. She was a very willing worker while in training as well as being very food motivated. She showed tendencies to become wet mouth at times. She took a while to warm up to her primary instructor, once she did she became more affectionate and respectful. She had an average to below average distraction level and seem to take on a very serious working attitude in guidework. At times, Waffle had fear reactions towards people in the kennel environment and her recovery was slow in these situations. A set-up situation with an unusual looking person opening an umbrella was done outside of the kennels to further evaluate her temperament. Waffle had a significant fear reaction by barking and bolting away. She did well in CR with other dogs and bones – she seem to prefer chewing on her bone than playing with dogs. She has been roomed with another dog, she played appropriately but has been known to dive for her roommate food. I had a great time with Waffle, she is a fun dog and I wish her well.

She is currently eating 3C SD L & R as well as a stuffed kong a day.
RELEASE REASON(S): 21101 - BEH: Fearful Behavior People Generalized
LOCATION (if applicable):
IMPORTANCE: Primary

I guess they really liked her work drive, they kept working with her on her fear issues but I guess it was too much. It is interesting about the whole food issue because of all our pups, she is the most delicate eaters. She would pick up one kibble at a time crunch it and enjoy her meal. I wonder if that and th e whole 'wet mouth' thing is due to kennel stress. My dogs have never been kenneled prior to being recalled. I know that GDA encourages their pups to spend time in the kennel so they are less stressed when they go in. I think we will start putting Lani in a kennel for a short period of time to get her adjusted to the crazy-ness of it all.

So now comes the hard part, the reality of it is we are not sure if we can handle two dogs at one time. Lani can be puppy sat, but Waffle.... plus could she be happy with us or does she deserve to be with a young family like Tacoma's. Grapes aside, they take her hiking, to the beach, skiing, she has play dates, she gets to sleep on the sofa, and eat snacks - hey come to think of it can be adopted by these people. She is coming home this weekend, so we are going to see how that works out. It would be nice to have an older pup around, one who can show the new kids what's up. But I worry that she will be resentful that she can't go places and has to stay home a lot without her friends.

there is a lot to think about.

GDB Calendar

Dog Bloggers it's here. I just want to encourage all my GDB dog blog friends to send your pictures in for the new calander. I just read my monthly email and I saw the 'call'. I love hearing all your stories (as well as all my other puppy raising friends) and watching your pups grow. So Angel, Sherman, Suede, Eagle, Spike, Chris, Kimora, Lester, Hobbs, Lyn, Andy-ros, Myra and anyone else that I have missed, get your photos in for the new calander.

here is the link
http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer?pagename=news_newsletters_monthly_2008april

Carrie

Always the look of suprise

I'm sure Waffle feels like quoting Harry Potter -"always to tone of surprise" when we open up the phase report and find that she has moved up!

Waffle is in phase 9!

that's all I'm goin to say 'cuz I don't want to jinx it.

But I will say to my girl, never doubted you for a sec. :p

everyone is a critic

Not sure if this is a sign that at 4 months Lani and I have achieved a level of trust around food.........

or

it is a comment on my taste in snacks. (I vote the later, the soyjoy bar sucked!, I didn't even finish it)

Halti

Dogs in our club all have to learn how to wear a halti, so this Saturday Lani got hers. Well needless to say she didn't care for it. She really dosen't need one just yet and she would agree.

Antelope Valley Fun Day

The Southern California groups met today for a mini funday out in the Antelope Valley. There were horses, tractor rides, and a backyard with lots of surfaces and obstacles for the pups to try out. Lani met up with her brother Langston, who is also a sweet heart. He is a bit thinner than her, but you can tell his is going to be a big boy.

Hmmm....Fried or Baked?

or

Pssst.....Your leash is showing

Lani and Langston

She tried to jump up here, but just didn't have the umphh

Cuddles with friends

Some pup, wouldn't drink out of the common dish (actually I wouldn't have either, it was kind of green on the bottom) so I taught her how to drink out of a water bottle.

my two front teeth

Not only her two front teeth, but the bottom two as well!

side note: no labs were harmed in the making of this photo - humans that's another story

How can you resist this face?

I guess she is big enough to move to the back seat, but I'll miss my little driving buddy. Ok well she actually spends 99% of the ride sleeping rather by being my co-pilot -- maybe just one more month.

Photos

The Washington Monument from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

The Washington from the WWII memorial

The Washington Monument from the Vietnam memorial

OK so now I realize the flaw in my photo taking plan.

Anyway while I was away Lani stayed with her cousins Melody and Martinez, apparently she had a better time than I did. My little girl marched right in and didn't even blink an eye picked up a toy and started playing. She couldn't get enough of playing with her friends even when they wanted to quit.

Melody and Lani

Lani, Melody and Martinez

What a gorgeous group of pups!

Silly Lab

So my car sat outside while I was away in D.C. and it is filthy. So driving home I turned on the windshield wipers to clean off the window. it makes this eeeeeeeee noise then the fwap fwap fwap fwap noise, well I noticed Lani's head going back and forth back and forth watching the wiper go. So I grabed my camera and tried again, this is not the best shot, but you get the idea.

They grow up so fast

Blink and another month has gone by

I'm FOUR months old today!

So far I know how to sit, and stay- when I'm in the mood I obey the down command, but usually half of me manages to stay up in the air- my mom said we need to work on that . Something about 'mooning' not being socially acceptable.

This is me in my kennel, for my birthday my mom made it bigger so I can stretch out. My toes can touch the back wall and my nose the front (its the x-lg kennel 42 inches long)

I'm a big girl I'm longer and even though my round tummy has gone away I still gained 9lbs in one month! I keep hearing something about a growth spurt. I'm a nice healthy 32lbs, I keep saying its all puppy fat

Oh well happy month day to me!

take that easter bunny

Given her choice of toys she prefers to munch on the Easter Bunny

Happy Easter from Lani

LOST

LOST- one puppy belly
mostly pink with a bit of black fur
about the size of 1/2 cantelope
usually nice and full, warm and snuggly
last seen attached to a small black lab
if found please retun to Lani

I woke up one day and it was gone, it looks like she has grown about 1/3 larger, she had lengenthed out, which has helped her little tummydisappear. I miss it.

Can You Believe IT!

EIGHT - IT'S GREAT!

The phase report is in and at last there is movement. Waffle is now in phase 8! she was in 6 FOREVER I was worried that they had passed her back, I was also worried about her whole traffic issues, so I thought I would spend all of phase 7 holding my breath. Wheeeeeeeeeewwww

I was worried that today we'd get 'the call' you know which one I mean, we'd be happy to have her back, but now that she has been in training for so long, you kind of have hope now. You spend so much time playing down the fact that they will pass (60% fail, my leader has 0 out of 5 dogs pass, most dogs don't make it...ect) so now I am on edge evern more.

From now on out doesn't get any easier..... your heart will break when they tell you she has a place in class and it will break too when they tell you after two years of hoping and dreaming she's going to be CC'd. It would have been easier if she had been dropped earlier in training. Now it would just be cruel b/c I have hope for her (not that I always didn't believe n you Waffle)

I'm going to be D.C. for business and Lani is going to her 'cousins' Martinez and Melody's house for a sleep over. Lets hope she behaves well and I don't have to replace the kitchen linoleum like I did with a certain grape eating problem child.

what did Waffle have to learn to move up to 8.......

Phase #7
Guidework in extremely challenging downtown urban areas (San Francisco and Portland)
Training on buses, light rail/subway systems and platform edges
Introduction to low overhead clearances
Advanced off-leash obedience
Formal traffic training

Phase #8
Advanced guidework and obedience training continues
Intensive indoor mall training with crowds and slick floors
Escalator training
Advanced sidewalkless training with obstacles.

update

to quote Tacoma's people

" a $1,000 dollars later Taco's drinking"

yeah!

My problem child

So Tacoma is my problem child.

other people get to blog about graduations and grand puppies, I get new vet stories.

She was unique as a pup. At the time we were 1st time raisers and didn't know any better - we figured she would grow out of it. Well for those of you who know her paper clip story, you will not be surpised to hear that The Taco has eatten 2 pounds of grapes. Yes just under a Kilo of grapes. Her new family, who love her dearly and are clued in on her wily ways- yet she still managed to get around them to the grapes.

She really didn't display any signs of being in trouble (well she was pooping whole grapes-that is kind of problematic) but her people took her to the ER Vet where she did the doggy version of a freshmam at her 1st frat party and puked all over t he place. They kept her over night and let her go the next day. thinking they had dodged the bullet they took the little garbage mouth home.

Well the next day she ended back at the vet, cuz while she was still eating, peeing and pooping like normal she was not drinking water. Worried they had her on IV fluids over the weekend, she is peeing and starting to drink but the urine gravity is not where is should be . Both her people and I have no idea what that last statement means (help my blogging vet speak savy friends) While we are worried, yet it is hard to tell that she is sick, the same old ding dong of a dog who runs around eating anything off the floor.

Cross your fingers and paws that my problem child makes a full recovery!

I won't hope that she never does this again, my little garbage mouth has proven time and time again that cause and affect are just beyond some silly labbies to understand.

So Close - yet so far away

I'm in Tomales Bay for business - which is fantastic it is gorgeous. The scenary is beyond belief I sooo want to live here. The trees, the bay, the cows all is fantastic. I'm staying at the Marconi Center which has fantastic views of the bay. Lots of hills to keep me in shape. Lani would have loved it.

You know you're in Marin county when the Longs Drugs has an imported goods aisle.

We landed in Oakland and drove up the 580 to the 101 towards you guested it San Rafael. In fact the Longs Drugs we stopped at is right across from the Northgate Mall- I could see the cemetery. I thought I could her the pups romping in the play yard........ so close but so far away.

Waffle is still in Phase 6 - plugging away lets hope she studies hard and moves on soon.

Ring a round the chair

For your enjoyment.