2012 Goals

Another year is almost behind us, and what a year it was! We faced circumstances that we'd never faced before, but we made it through! If you couldn't tell by the major lack of posts, this year was all about the Guide Dog Puppies; Rob was such a handful, that the majority of my focus was on him and his news verses being split between the three dogs.

Having been puppy-less over the last couple of months has made me realize, just how important it is that "MY" dogs have good foundational skills, and the importance of taking the time to interact with them everyday.

One of my goals during 2012 is to work on some of the "problem" areas I have identified in my dachshund's. I have decided to limit myself to at least twelve goals, one goal a month, to give me the best possible chance of actually succeeding. Procrastination is my middle name. Yes. Most of the goals are for Texas, at 12 (or 10 I still can't figure out which) Bubbles is pretty much set in her ways, or... more so "I'm" set in her ways. We've worked recently on her "wait" command, but that's about it, she knows "Sit", Her Name, and Comes. She's not destructive, is potty trained, and sleeps all day. What more could I ask for?

Goals for 2012 

1. Work on Texas's Dog-to-Dog re-activity (the above picture shouldn't happen again). Put a barrier between Texas and other dog and "its on".  
2. Work on the Relaxation Protocol all the way to the end. 
3. Texas: Be able to be crated quietly around distractions. 
4. Be able to have people to my home more often. (This doesn't happen well now, as Texas though comfortable being kenneled, screams bloody murder if he can hear other people in the house besides me.
5. Work on basic agility with Texas. 
6. Read Control Unleashed & When Pigs Fly 
7. Find toys Texas will play with consistently 
8. Handle Texas from Head to Toe daily (You'd be surprised, but apparently handling your dog OCCASIONALLY over three years, leads to them becoming adverse to it. O_o) 
9. Be able to put a sweater on him without him shutting down. (We actually started working on that this week) 
10. Door Manners 
11. Only use dog bowls for water.

Seriously Mom? What a lotta work!

So I didn't make it to 12, which is probably a good thing, as some of those things are going to be a doozy to work through. However, I"m hoping by putting it on my public blog, I'll feel some pressure to work on them more. :)

What about you guys, do you have any goals for you and your dogs this year?

Struttin My Stuffs

Soo mom thought she would save herself sometime, and just link to the video from Facebook, but FAIL if you aren't on Facebook apparently you can't watch it, so her had to upload it too YouTube like she should have done in the firsts place! Get ready to be be-dazzled!

Crazy Cats

You see this craziness? You would NEVER catch a dachshund doing sumptin stupid like this!

High Five Tex?

Texas places his paws in my open palm, thus completing a "High Five"

Moms + Puppies = Disaster

I has to say, a big I AGREE to Frankie's posts about Mom's. Puppies need lots of watching regardless of how bigs they are. Like today for instance, I go off to patrol the yard, and leave Trump in Mom's care. OR.SO.I.THOUGHT. Next thing I know, she's whistling, and calling and NO TRUMP!

Well finally, after I ran around the yard a bunch.. we heard his tags jingling, and found that he'd trapped himself inside the shed...and was EATING ALL THE GARBAGES!! Do you KNOW how long it took me to get all.dat.GUNK out of his furs? FOREVER I TELL YOU!

And then he puked it all.over.the.floor. Mom said she didn't know one dog's stomach could hold so much junk!

In other news. Mom put Trump on an airplane on Monday and he went bye-bye. YEA for having mom all too me and Bubble's selves again!

*WOOFS!*

Random.

The thing is, I don't exactly know what to do with myself, when I don't have the responsibility of a puppy. Trump leaves me for the wild blue yonder, on Monday. While I'll be sad that he's leaving, I've been looking forward to having a break for a while; now that its actually upon me, it's not looking as fun as I was thinking it was going to be.  I think, I'm scared that having more time will increase my laziness rather than make me more productive. If any thing, the puppies definitely made me get up and move on a frequent basis. Bubbles and Texas? Not.So.Much. 

How long my break will be is anyone's guess... but until then I can torture myself with puppy pictures...would be cool to raise an "off" breed this time around.

Puppies are Cudly

Puppies are Cutee...

Their never nasty or meeeeeeeeeeeeean

I'd Give a home..too all the lost puppies...

.If EVER ONE DAY I WEREEE

QUEEEEEEEEEEN! 

- Veggie Tales 

~Erin~

*All photos via pinterest 

Life Update

So the long awaited update. Posted by yours truly.. Erin. I couldn't trust Texas to accurately describe our adventures over the last couple of months, as his version would have gone something like this: 


MOM IS NEVER HOME ANYMORE AND ALL I DO IS SLEEP IN MY CRATE OR ON THE COUCH AND AM BORED!BORED!BORED! 


So. Yes. Updates. Where to start. 


July 
Pompei gradates as a Guide Dog!!!

Pompei up at GDF's Kennels 

August 
School started and Rob and I headed off for another semester of college. I knew going in this semester would be difficult, I was going for four hour work days + weekends off; to Work 3 days a week + weekends, and 6+ hours of school 2 days a week. 

Prior to this Rob and I had been having some problems. As a puppy walker, I get to find out first hand, that sometimes every puppy does.not fit with every lifestyle/household. Pretty early on I knew this was the case with Rob, but was determined to find a way to fit.him.into.our lives. He was a Midnight baby after all, and I didn't want to loose him. 

Rob in the Cone of Shame after his nueter 

Two weeks into class, I knew it wasn't going to work. I had NO time, exercise him (which needed to be at least two hours a day), I needed to be able to focus on school, and having a dog that was acting up wasn't helping. So I requested that the Guide Dog Foundation transfer him to another family.
It was THE hardest thing I have EVER done. 
Harder even, than giving them up at the end of our year. 

Rob + Xander (on left) 

But it needed to be done. I was determined, after he went to take a break. No more puppies, just me and the dachshunds until the end of the semester. 

Rob waits for the cue to get his water

September
The DAY I was planning to drive Rob to his last puppy meeting in North Carolina, and hand him off to my Area Coordinator... said person gave me a call. I was a little stunned to find out they were asking me to take ANOTHER puppy. I'll admit I was a little panicky as well.. another puppy?Now? But I don't want another dog! No! 


10 hours later, Trump entered our lives. 

Trump, was also a Midnight baby, but the complete opposite of Rob. Rob was a GO GO GO! Dog. 

Go Dog Go - Book Cover - by Dr. Suess

If there wasn't action he created some. Definitely the life of the party. 

Trump and Rob @ Pool Part Puppy Meeting

Trump, on the other hand is the dog in the corner with a book. Happy to entertain himself until its time to go. In the coming days, we found out quickly that Trump really, really, REALLY did not like to work. 


Trump let us know this, by refusing to walk. Oh he'd walk into a place just fine, but getting him back out again? ...Let's just say you needed to have time on your side. I can't tell you how many classes we arrived to late, simply because Trump would not walk with me. 


We tried all sorts of things, in fact as soon as we entered buildings, I'd have him "heel" beside me, with the leash looped around his neck. He would walk continuously like that, but would still refuse to move when he saw us heading towards a class room.  

Trump refusing to walk through the hallways at school.

Once inside the class room, he didn't want to just lay down and chill out.. no on several occasions he would offer his opinion of the class, to the teacher. Thankfully all my teachers are "cool" with the dogs, and just talked back to him. He would eventually sleep though... 

Trump sleep on the floor, legs in the air.

October 
GDF made the decision to career change Trump, and offered him too me as a pet. I and his previous raisers declined, so he's now hanging out with me, waiting for a flight back to New York. I got the email yesterday, that they have sent out a request for volunteers to fly him back. While he needs to go (Lifestyle wise.. I can't have a big dog as a pet), I get a pang every-time I think of actually giving him up. For real, for real. 

So now we're waiting, I don't know when we'll get another puppy, maybe the end of this year, maybe next year, maybe next summer (yeah right). But We'll be sure to update that. 


In the mean time, Bubbles & Texas have been trucking right along, hanging out, keeping the house free of rodents, enjoying the occasional car ride or walk in the park. I am looking forward to spending a little more 2-1 time with them, over the Holidays. :)) 

Whew! So that's where we are now! Hopefully we're back for a while. No Promises..cause sometimes "Life Comes at You Fast. :-)

Happy Birthday Bubbles!

Bubbles, on my bed looking out of the window

Happy 12th (?) Birth and Gotcha Day! 

Ok so we really don't know that its her birthday, but we do know that 9 years ago, today Missy-Moo became our families' first pet. Never did she/we imagine how many dogs she would mentor in the coming years.  At 11, Bubbles in content to sleep the day away in her crate, or the couch.   Her tolerance of the dogs is becoming smaller and smaller, which I figure may be due to fact that they will run over her if she's in the way. So I'm working hard on make sure she doesn't have to deal with them if possible. :) 

She still gets around pretty well, and enjoys chasing the occasional squirrel. 

Here's to hoping to many more years! 

Didya Miss Me?

Please excuse the dust as mom tries to get this blog thingy set back up here Mmk!?

Texas - Sitting on a black and white bed

Helllooooo???

*tap-tap* 


Is this thing on? 
Hello everyone!
Its been a long while, and I wish I had this big long update full of things that we have done over the summer...*pants* Butta I don't. Cause we hadn't done nuthin. 
And when I say nuthin I mean nuttin.
Just laze around the house and dig in the trash when mom's not looking...
So I thought I'd share witcha's these funny videos I saw, while mom was at work without her computer. Mom says maybe one day she'll stop being lazy and teach me some of these tricks. 


Um..prolly not.



Ok everyone clap for Bailey.
*Yay Bailey*
Alright next video...um.. sorry mom but this one def ain't happen. Trust me on this..




Man! Looks like I'm outta time fur today, cause mom is wanting to get on the 'puter.. (probably trying to see what else she can do to make my life miseralbes!)


TTFN!
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