MidDate No. 1

Phone Call:

" Hi Erin, your girl did beautifully for her first flight, she even got a certificate saying that it was her first flight. She got to meet the pilot and get her picture made with him. So she's having a blast! Great job with her! Talk to you later."

So she's having fun...why should I be sad?

Step I: Completed {by Erin}

Weekend Recap:

Saturday: On the weekends I’m normally not allowed to bring my dogs to work with me, due to a smaller staff size; but this weekend was slow, and because they knew Midnight was leaving, she was allowed to come with me so we could have a little more time together. (Which was AWESOME.)

Over the past seven weeks, we have had obedience class from 9:30 - 10: 30, and its my job to either move the boarding dogs to another building, or keep them quiet outside while class is going on. This week, we only had three dogs spending the weekend with us, so **** allowed me to put them in the small dog yard, and watch the class! This week was the classes “graduation”, so they mostly played obedience games with the dogs; but we were able to participate as well.

Midnight and I walked around (her on leash) as a distraction to the other dogs; I didn’t put her in coat right away because I was pretty confidant in her. Unfortunately she proved me wrong. After we got finished with that exercise, I went ahead and put the coat on her, and took some pictures of her, in the office.

A few minutes later **** asked if I wanted to play another game with them...as they needed another person to balance out the team.
Surre, why not? This time we were playing a relay, where we had to balance a biscuit on a spoon and walk around dogs in a circle around obstacles, WITHOUT dropping the biscuit. I kept Midnights puppy coat on this time, and she was perfect, our team won the first round!! ☺
After class was over, one of the other trainers with ABC (Animal Behavior College), came up to me, and asked was I a trainer; when I told her “No technically I’m not”; she said that she was impressed with how I handled Midnight! So YaY for us! ☺ ☺
Our Kong Wubbas came in as well (YaY huh Cody?), and Midnight and attacked them with gusto!

Sunday: We went and visited our favorite neighbor so she could say good-bye, Midnight was pretty crazy, as my neighbor is a great source of excited energy, so she was Miss Spazzo tearing around all over the yard, jumping in and out of the kiddie pool full of dirty water; digging in the soft dirt. So basically she was a mess, when we got home. Bath TIME!!!

And today; I was pretty much numb all day, and then towards the afternoon it started to hit me harder; What didn’t help was, there was a certain one-eyed dachshund puppy there as well.....Tex Walker Walter Cotton Eyed Puppy. (ok so he doesn’t have a name yet, and all the staff has a different named for him Guess which one mine is?)

The plan was to meet my area coordinator after work, and I would take her puppy for a couple hours, and she would take Midnight; and then I would give her puppy to his sitters and go home. Weeeelllll as it turns out, Sam’s sitter was able to get him from my A/C right away, so we decided to meet at a store. But my brothers took Midnights puppy coat out of my car, when they were getting their “junk” out last night. So I had to go home get the coat, and then go meet her at another store. I went ahead and fed Midnight her last meal (with me), and watched as she did her familiar routine of carrying around her toys and stuffing herself into Bubbles crate. (sob)

When I finally deemed it time to go, I put on her coat, got her leash, and headed for the car.... except she didn’t want to get in for some reason; but realizing I wasn’t playing her game, she jumped in.
Once at the shop, my area coordinator pulled in right behind me. She jumps out, and I handed her Midnights vet records and Health Certificate, before getting Midnight out, giving her one last hug, and watching her prance off.

So far I’ve just been pretty numb. Looking at her empty bed/crate/toys has been enough to bring tears to my eyes, but its kind of unreal.

Midnight and I have bonded so much, that I’m having a hard time thinking of another puppy; just because I know it won’t be her. Yes Its that bad. But not bad enough to make me reject another puppy!!!!! I just wish it could be sooner.

My A/C has called me several times, since then to rave about her ☺ She’ll do fine I know.
And so ends the part 1 in Raising Eyes for the Blind: Midnight Edition

Stay tuned for updates from “College” , Puppy Number 4 news, and Bubble’s adventures...and maybe a second pet? Hope springs eternal!

Update: Well I showed my dad and family the pictures of ."Tex", and he has said we can bring him by to visit, if that’s ok with his foster mom; so I’ll see if I can get in contact with her, and go from there. This is not a yess.....but ....its close.... squashes hopes

Update II: Dad saw bigger picture on the pup and goes...I don't know, I'm sure someone will feel sorry for him and adopt him.... ...
So I'll need him to clarify his previous statement and see if he was speaking just because he wanted to see him; or because he wanted to see if he would blend with our family... who can figure out the minds of non-dog people?

I'm going to bed.

Happy Bubbaversary!

November 15, 2002 - Bubbles came to be a part of our family. We don't know when she was born, so we also include her birthday in this as well; we're figuring she is about 8 by now.
Happy Birthday Bubbles!

About Bubbles:

• Loves to ride in the car
• Loves people and tolerates dogs
• Is a hunter...and drives us crazy but constantly stalking the mice in the walls..(during the winter time only...thankfully)

• Has had many back issues..
• Has had to be on "bed rest" for three weeks due to that
• Used to think that she was a Doberman

• Hates walking long periods of time..but is starting to like it
• Is prettty big for a Dachshund
• Has thoroughly got my father under her paws :-)

• Loves to sleep under the covers
• Will not sit on the hard floors...unless she has no other choice
• Has very little obediance training, but will listen to what she knows

• Loves exploring outside, and is almost never on leash..around our house that is
• Hates Cameras
• Hates pottying in the grass (!?!?)

• Has veerrry bad breath
• Can be very standoffish towards me when the other dogs are in the house
• Nickname is "Double Bubbles" in refernce to her size.
• LOOOOVES to eat
• Loves soft things
• Loves to rip things apart
• Loves to bark

And we're still very glad we have her. :-)

About Bubbles

Name: Bubbles
Breed: Standard Dachshund
Color: Black and Tan
Sex: Female
Birthdate:2000
Adopted: November 15, 2002

Her Story

Bubbles was the first dog to come to our family. She attached herself to my dad and myself from the get go, and its still that way today. Bubbles is a LOVES to ride in the car with us, she's been all over the USA, she's a very laid back dog and a huntress in disguise.

We Got Our Prize {by Midnight}

Hi Guys!
Guess what I got in the mail today? It was from Addie how cool was that?
My favorite things were the spiky green thing ball, and the treats. I Loove the sound of that, and had to make sounds of my own, while squeaking it. Bubbles favorite things were the treats. She didn't stick around long cause ...i don't know she's old I guess.
Mom would have videoed it, butttt.....she said its a long story. So here are pictures!
The Bumble toy was weird...I couldn't figure what to do with it, so I started chewing on it. So mom put it away from another day. *eye roll*

{Wow what a stash! Mom..er..no flash please}

{Is it moving?}

{Gasp it is!!}

{Oh great Bumble toy will you play with me?}

{I love the ball as well}

Thanks Addie!!!!.......oh and my mom says thanks to Addie's mom and that Addie can come over anytime you need a break. ::big grin::

Midnight IFT - November 18, 2008

Its time for Midnight to move on to bigger and better things, she will be leaving with my area coordinator on Tuesday, November 18th 2008 - they will fly to NY, and Midnight will start a new phase of her life.
The bad thing about keeping oneself in a state of denial is when the reality comes, it feels ten times harder then it should have been. While I have already given up two puppies, it doesn’t get any easier. IMO. This time is especially hard, because I won’t have a new puppy to focus on. That really is the easiest way to puppy walk; just keep getting more! Oh, and have your own pet dog as well.
The reason I am taking a break now is because:
1. I refused to raise another puppy in the wintertime. (brrrrr)
2. My dad said that I had too...for my own good. But mostly because we are trying to sell our house and he didn’t want a puppy soiling the carpet.
3. We are moving and having a small puppy would be a little bit difficult
4. But mostly because of the cold...and my dad.
I’m just having a hard time imagining what I will do with my time for the next four months. No one to: walk, train, socialize, take to meetings, correct, play with, talk to, (well ok, with seven other people in my house, I have no shortage of people to talk to, but they all can talk back).
I know it’s hard for my family to really understand what raising means to me; because for the most part the dog is just a messy nuisance. I will say my mom has been the most supportive, she actually was the one who had the idea to start puppy raising. Before I could drive, she was the one taking me to all my meetings, taking the pup to the vet, watching the puppy when I couldn’t take it to school; etc..etc.. I LOVE YOU MOM!! Over the next four months I guess I will have to catch you guys up to how I began doing this in the first place. But I digress. What they don’t understand is I finally have my dream “job”.
When I was younger, I had many dreams and goals that I wanted to achieve when were got old enough to do so. For me; raising guide dog puppies is basically a dream come true. I’ve always loved dogs, and wanted to work with dogs when I was little. I can distinctly remember that I wanted to train dogs for somebody, not just obedience. And Now I am actually doing just that!

Just recently I had a first time raiser ask me some questions about turn ins, so I thought I’d share my answers with you all.

How did you feel when it came time to give your first dog up? “Jake was career changed/taken out of the guide dog program, at six-months-old, he had some things that GDF, didn’t feel were conducive in a guide dog. and placed with an adoptive family as a pet. We were shock and hurt by this, and I’ll admit to crying buckets for the three days it took, to find him a new home. But once I was able to meet his new family, I knew that he was going to be ok. And after my area coordinator assured me that I was eligible to receive another puppy, I felt worlds better. It still hurt, but I had something to look forward too.”
Since Midnight is your third dog, is it easier or harder to give her up? “ Both really and truly; its easy because I know what’s going to happen, and know what it feels like, to see the dog you worked with for a year, change somebody’s life...not once, but twice! But harder because I know I won’t be getting another pup right away, and so I’ll have to sit and wonder, how she’s doing, what she’s doing, is she sitting in a kennel? Is she out training?”
Does your relationship with the next ones get to be a little more "clinical" than the first one? “No if anything I believe it gets stronger...deeper... I know what to expect, how to handle different things as they arrive. I guess in away it does get more clinical at first, because I know we have to get through some things before the bonding starts. I try to go into each “relationship” with a clean slate, try not to compare the puppies with each other, because they aren’t. Each has their own quirks and things, and I’m always eager to see what the new one will be like.”

And just to make this long post, even longer.... today I found out that there was a lady trying to give away a four-month-old, dachshund puppy. Apparently its owners older dog, had bit it when it go to close to his food, and took out the pups eye; and now these “responsible” dog owners, are trying to find another home for the pup, because they don’t want it anymore. Now in light of recent events, you know what I’m thinking...how cool would it be..... And you can probably guess what my dad is thinking. Nope!

Sigh.

I was finally able to go a spend Midnight’s gift certificate, and I bought a collar for Bubbles and then two toys, for each of them. And of course Midi plays with both of them, and bubbles goes to sleep.

Sigh.

Does anyone have a dog I can borrow?

A Walk in the Park {by Erin}

The weather around here has been AWESOME lately, so Midnight, Bubbles and I have been hitting the parks for our exercise. Midnight is such a laid back puppy, that its really easy to neglect giving her proper excersise; but am trying to mend my ways and get BACK to the everyday walk.....long walk.
This week we went to a park, that was converted from car race track, and now has a huge kid play area, skating rink, volley ball court, and a bike track; as well as a walking path that goes around the outside of the park and joins to another park right beside this one. Yesterday, my friend Justine, and her dog Bandit joined us for our walk; I was prepared to work with Bandit, as he does not do so well on a leash; but its a good thing he decided to walk perfectly, because I had my hands full with Midnight!
Since she is a guide dog puppy, she is supposed to walk, with her back legs aligned with my legs. But according to Cesar Millan, she needs to walk with her head level with my leg...so its hard to get her out of her normal position, and let me lead. Especially with all the new sights and sounds of the park. So she was pulling pretty hard..for Midnight nose in the air, not paying attention to me whatsoever. (where are the treats when you need them?)

{Proper Guide Dog Puppy Position-Midnight four months old}

By the our second lap, she was responding to corrections and slowing some; But after an hour, Justine and I called it quits, and collapsed in my car. Bubbles was walking perfectly btw.
Today.... I had my siblings with me, so my sister and I walked the bike track so as to keep an eye on the younger ones. Since the path was just a monotonous circle, Midnight settled down quickly and walked nicely on a loose leash. *whew*
So to put in our memory banks for puppy #4, TIP #324: work on out-of-coat, walking in new environments.
After that we got something to eat, walked around the mall and headed home. There is nothing like a tired dog. Makes me feel good to know that she has been able to release some of that excess energy.

More pictures of our trip to the park: Click Here

About Digital Scrapbooking {by Erin}

If you can't tell already, I looove digital scrapbooking. Basically this is just like Traditional paper scrapping, except the comfort and neatness of your computer.

I use Adobe Photoshop CS3; but there are many many other programs you can use that are either cheaper, or Free! Unless you have $300 laying around to spend on a program...lol.
I wish I could say that I designed this; but I do not have that ability..just yet..lol.
Most of the things I use are Freebies, downloaded from scrapbook designers blogs/sites, and others I have purchased from their stores.

A Few of my Favorite Designers:
Britt-ish Designs
http://brittishdesigns.blogspot.com/
Kate Hadfield
http://www.digiscrappingqueen.com/blog/?p=234
Funky Playground Designs
http://www.funkyplaygrounddesigns.com/blog/

There are many blogs who specifically go around the blogosphere to look for freebies and direct us to them.

Freebie Hunters:
Suzee-Q
http://suzee-q-stuff.blogspot.com
Ikea Godess
http://ikeagodess.blogspot.com
DigiFree
http://digifree.blogspot.com

Its a lot of fun all in all! I have a HUGE stash of kits on my computer...almost 10GBs worth!!
Basically its just a drag, drop and arrange.
If only it were that simple.

Car Rides {by Bubbles}

My favoritism thing to do with mom, is ride in the car. Even if I can't get out and go all the time, Its a lot of fun!

New Beds {by Midnight}

Hi Guys!
I have the awesomest Mom EVER! You know how I told you that I wish mom would get me a bed like the ones at work? Well she did!! Boy was I shocked!! I got a big round one, and Bubbles got a small square one, but we decided to switch. Mom also said that we are getting a box from Addie and her mom, she said we won a contest!! WOW!!! And she bought some more kong toys! Boy is this Christmas??
Well gotta go, its Dinner time!
TTYL

Midnight