We're still here

I'm thinkin mom needs to fired from runnin this blog.

As soon as I learn how to type better anyways.

Um...we said good bye to Lacy last Saturday.

She was fun.

Mom has been real busy STILL!

There is NO excuse for NOT takin PHOTOS of ME i say!

Hello Lacy

Meet Lacy, yeah for some reason my house has a been a dog magnet lately. Something I can't quite figure out. I mean do I just scream "Dog" when people see me?

Actually its more people screaming "DOG" at me, verses the other way around.

But anyway some friends at our church asked me to baby sit Lacy for the weekend. She is about 5 years old, and is a retired breeder. After Zipper my dogs were a little unsure of this new intruder, but she's soon proven herself to be extremely different. She much prefers to rest on top of the couch and survey the other dogs from that position.

She'd much prefer to sit your lap then run around the yard. So she's been a good little house guest thus far. But I'll still be glad when I can go back to my three dog household. Who knew caring for three dogs was so much easier. :))

PS: Does anyone know of any type of solution to help neutralize those dark patches on her eyes? Her owners have been wondering what will work!?

{Checking out the yard}

{No he's not about to hit her with the stick, he just didn't expect her to jump in his lap.]

{Lap or Play....Lap wins! No matter how small :)}

{I KNOWED dare was treats up dare.}

Playing Catch Up

The first event we attended during our blogging break, was our April Puppy Meeting, held at Chimney Rock. We normally set up a tent during the Bark in the Park event, to try and get the word out their about our group in Asheville. This year there was a really small turn out, due in part to the yucky weather headed our way. Their were only three GDF pups in attendance...Pompei, Mensa (10mo standard poodle), and PJ (1yo MYL). Pompei behaved himself beautifully and earned a new collar! :)

{Mensa}

{PJ}

{Pompei was upgraded to a bigger jacket}

The next event for us, was an 8 mile hike too Ramsey Cascades, in which we found out that dog's we're allowed in the park. The hard way. Click HERE for photos of that adventure..Pompei loved every minute of the hike. I don't know why I was worried he wouldn't last!?

Pompei spots a SQUIRREL! But he didn't know it was the enemy and let it pass. Please forgive him fellow Dogglers.

A personal event would be finishing this semestor, but that's not too photo worthy; but he's done really well this semester, sure we had some bumpy points but as my area coordinator says.."If they were perfect we wouldn't have them!" I believe my english teacher is planning on raising a puppy as well! Pompei hit is his six month birthday on Thursday, I had to work all day so he at least got a frozen KONG, while I was gone. Not that he cared overly much! Though this month is a little different than our past "month-days" as his energy levels have spiked greatly. Which is good because we plan on lots more adventures planned for each summer!

Happy Six Months Pomps!!!

Also a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Rei and her handler Kacie, for completing a mini marathon! 13.1 miles!! So proud of my baby!! How can I not help give someone the opportunity to do something like this?

2009 In Review

2009 is coming to a close, and wow have I had a busy year!!! Never would I have dreamed of all the different things to come my way this year!!

Dog's Trained: 8 - Timothy, Veda, Ben, Gideon, Daniel, Ira, Hope, Dublin
Dogs Fostered: 1 - Victoria
Dog Puppy Sitting: 6 - Jordan, Eden, Lydia, Mensa, Bishop, Ben (before he became a SD)
Total Dogs this Year: 15 not counting Bubbles & Texas


Foster Pups in My Group: Yiska, Gideon, Hope Ira, Noah, Ophel, Phillip,Yoda, Zach, Bishop, Abby, Casey, Felix, Reuben, Willow.

January

A hard month with so many changes, I couldn't see straight. Signed up for two classes with our community college in WNC. Bubbles, Texas and I moved to TN on our own, and I started working with Wilderwood Service Dogs. My first trainee was a bouncy 1yo Retriever mix, named Timothy. He was defiantly a challenge, but I didn't feel overly intimidated by working with him.

February 

I was home all day with this job, and bored out of my mind. No internet in my home, so I was stuck going outside, trying to find my way around an unknown city, and going to restaurants for internet. My friends really baled me out during this month, so I frequently visited their home, or went out with them. Bubbles and Texas acclimated really well to our new place (well except for Bubbles throwing up every day for the first week we were here) and we learned more about working with Mr.Tim.

March

My first Wilderwood Graduation was like nothing I'd been in for sure! I'd seen autistic children, but had never experienced it first hand, how their emotions are so easily effected by new environments, sensory overloads etc.. It was also hard, since I didn't know much about autism spectrum, or how to help the parents help the dog help the child. It was most defiantly a learning experience. I was soo thankful we got three days off afterward, and pretty much just collapsed! Veda arrived A week later, I was promoted to Foster Program Manager, and began, working with our volunteer foster families, answering questions, Running puppy classes, working on different training problems as they arose, and anything else that was required. 

April

I was settling into my new position as FPM. This was just one of those months, that you really don't recall much of, since it wasn't too much going on. School was close to wrapping up, My sisters, Veda,Texas went back across the mountain, to Chimney Rock's Bark in the Park. That was fun! Well after we got Texas to stop trying to bite anyone close to him... 

May

Busy, busy month, Ben was given to Wilderwood as a service dog, and came to live with me. (Speaking of Ben, I just heard that he is doing great with his new family! *sniff* I miss that dude)My sister was graduated High school, Finals were due, Rei and Kacie came to visit, which was AMAZING; 

June

2nd Wilderwood Graduation, with Veda and his brother Xerxes; since I knew what was going to happen, it was a lot easier in some respects, than my last one. Still was great to get to see the dogs and kids bond with each other. After graduation was over, we headed to FL, for a church event, and then a trip to Universal Studios!! When I got back, I was offered a position with the University of Tennessee Police Department, and I accepted it. Gideon came to live with me as my 4th trainee.

 

July

Started work at UTPD, added Daniel to my gang. Gideon and Daniel were defiantly an interesting combination...they on such opposite ends of behavior levels, that it was driving me crazy, so Gideon moved on to another trainer. Texas turned a year old! 

 

August

Daniel moved on to another trainer, and Ben came back for a couple weeks, before moving on to ANOTHER trainer, and Ira came to live with me. She defiantly kept me busy, puppy proofing, and then re-puppy proofing, and go back and RE-puppy proofing my house. If there ever was a dog with ADHD...she would have been it. Decided school wasn't going to happen this semestor :((

September

Graduation No. 3, 3rd verse same as the first, this graduation went the smoothest. Said goodbye to my buddy Ben, attended my first Knoxville Campmeeting while living in Knoxville. Next year vowing to board the dogs.

October

Wilderwood changed our flow system, so I was traveling to our kennel facility three times a week and training pups out there. Victoria came home with me, and Gideon arrived back and left again. We baby sat Mensa for a week...then brought Hope in around the middle of the month. I'm so glad she looks so much better now!! Its hard to believe she was once so gaunt!!

{Ira and Victoria napping}

{Gideon & Victoria laying in the grass}

 {Hope surrounded by leaves}

November
Moved back into my position as Foster Program Manager, and working from home. Celebrated the Anniversary of the arrival of Bubbles & Texas. Went out of town for Thanksgiving, and boarded Bubbles & Texas for the first time. They got great reviews bit sigh of relief from me! Hope moved onto the last stage of her training, and we enjoyed our time with Victoria. 

December

A mass of dogs,work, graduation, and trips. Well and you've all read about it here. Wow is it just me or are the years getting shorter??

Looking forward to next year, I've got a lot cooking just starting in January...STAY TUNED!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Mensa!

Mensa is a 5-month-old standard poodle, she's a guide dog puppy with the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. She's come to spend the week with me and my gang!

She was a little nervous at first, but quickely came out of her shell. She, Gideon and Victoria spent the day playing with other Wilderwood Pups out at the kennels while i worked.

One would think after a day of play they would sleep the evening away.....noooo they feel they must take every oppurutnity to play-play-play!!

Well Gideons' tired anyways :-) 

She's been a good girl for the most part, loves to exercise her lungs while crated, but really great in the house. Granted she's too busy playing/antagoizing my dogs to think about chewing or etc.
She's very obedient and a really great house guest :)

{Besties :)}