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?

#WetWednesday - Texas Speaks

Yo Guys!

Wow have we had a crazzzzyy weekend!! Mom has only told you about a little of it. But it was a blast!! We had like 5 dogs in here, and we played as much as possible!!!!

The black one is a guide dog, mom had at one time or another, and the orange one is Eden; he's part of the program Ben is in. He wasn't much fun at all, cause he just stayed under mom's desk for most of the time. He did come out a little bit on Sat/Sun and played for a teensy weensy bit.

Anyways they both left on Monday, and we were so tired we slept for like....ALL EVENING.

Tuesday was boring - Mom and Ben left for a while, and then came back and left again. Some dog related stuff.

Today all it did was RAIN! It stopped for a little bit and mom ran us outside for a quick walkie up the hill, to her parents house. Her dryer stopped working so she has to haul her clothes up there to dry them. But while we were there it started to pour!!

But the silly lady didn't just stay inside until it stopped...nooo she had to walk us ALL back HOME in the RAIN! We were all SOAKED by the time we got back.

Anyways as dried off, we broke out all the new toys mom had bought us! Cause when Rei and Eden were here, we all had fun tearing up every toy in the house...cept for the bones. Mom said from this point on she's not buying stuffed toys.

I'm just like whatever, cause these new toys are awesome, she's going to get some more, cause we're going to have some more visitors coming soon!

Note from Erin:
When I'm buying toys, I just by for the big dogs....Texas will haul around the biggest toys and have fun so...whats the point of buying little?

Texas's Motto:
If I look at it Its Mine
If I sniff it Its Mine
If I want it Its Mine
If you have it Its Mine
If you are having more fun with it than, I'm having with my current toy ITS MINE. (wow that one was long. lol)
And you know the drill.

As I was telling someone else, I don't make "specialer" allowances for Texas due to his size...mainly because he is the bully of the family!

Little Dog = Big Additude.

Reibiees!

* Rei 2nd puppy I raised for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind*

Rei and Kacie came down to visit with me this weekend, and wow Rei has not changed!
Although its been two years since I've seen her, she did not forget me!!! As soon as I got out of the car, she recognized me, and Kacie said her tail started wagging faster than she'd seen it go!!

Well in harness, she knows what she's supposed to do, and she does it without complaint, take her out of harness, she's the whirlwind Rei that we knew and loved.

All the excitement of the dogs in my house, has really had her wound up, so she's been really keeping thing stirred up this evening.

She still gets in the bath tub for water, she can still catch tossed items in her mouth, she still screams when left on tie-down, though she doesn't pull nearly as hard as I remember....or maybe I'm just used to walking Eden and Ben lol. She still likes to drag around her blanket, and will scarf down her food faster than you can blink.

Compared to Ben, she seems so short and stocky, but its all pure muscle I believe! LOL

Its really surreal to watch her work with Kacie, I'm just like...that's "MY" dog doing that????

Tomorrow, we're going to A******e to visit with my A/C for a little bit. And show Kacie around Rei's hometown!

I just can't believe she's here!!

About Rei

Name: Rei
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Color: Black
Sex: Female
Parents: Emma and Smooch
Birth date: September 24, 2006
Siblings: Dolly, Paul
School: Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
Graduated as: Guide Dog 11/3/08
Current Status: Working Guide

Our Weekend {by Erin}

What a week this has been! It’s been long, tiring, exciting, nerve wracking and fun all at the same time. From my previous post you know that Rei has been re-matched, and everything seems to be going smoothly there. ::very big grin::

Since you pretty much know what happened at the begging of the week, we’ll dive right on into the weekend.
Friday
Midnight turned 13-months-old, I didn’t even realize it until yesterday or so!! Time just seems so short at this point. I still haven’t gotten any more news about her travel plans, but that is fine with me.

At 2:45PM, Midnight and I loaded into the car, for what possibly might be our last puppy meeting together; we were meeting at the Bus Station downtown, where we would be exposing the puppies to all the sites and sounds, of the bus terminal. The weather was quite yucky, but we pressed on because, who knows what situation there handlers might find themselves in.

{Midnight and Sam waiting for everyone to arrive}

{Sue trying to hold herself in check...she was being good}

{Sam really wants to play with Midnight}
Once everyone arrived, we walked the puppies on and off several buses, while we waited for Bus 11. After shivering the cold someone finally suggested going into the Station and waiting instead of standing outside. That was sort of a ‘duh’ moment.

{Puppies in the Bus Station}
Bus 11 finally came and we all boarded; we rode it to the center of town and then got off and walked back to our cars.

{Midnight and Me in the reflection of a store...would have been better if the glass was darker}
Fun times I tell you. Midnight and I were more then ready to come home when it was through.

Saturday
My job held its third annual Howl-O-Ween party. This was a fun event; more then I was thinking it was going to be. There were a lot of great costumes, good food and fun prizes. My co-worker, who also doubles as photographer, did some portraits of the dogs and their owners if they wished. Hence the picture above. Except I took that one, but I used her props. LOL.

Sunday
Went to church in the morning, came home got Midnight before going out to the mall for lunch with friends. Its been a while since I took Midnight to that mall, and she was a brat; well combined with the fact that she had been crated for the last four hours, what was I took expect I wonder...? Almost everyone we passed she was sticking her nose into their hands, pulling me, not stopping at stairs, trying go hither thither and yawn.... and then we passed Victoria Secret, and their pink dog. The display dog was about Midnight size, and plaid. She spotted it as we were passing and stopped dead in her tracks; I was waiting for her to start barking at it, but she did, just backed up as far as her leash would let her.
Stuffed tigers twice her size? Cooool...no problemo.

Stuffed dogs? NAaaaaaah We’ll passs.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

More News

My second puppy Rei, has been matched with her new partner!! I'll get more new tomorrow, but for right now I'm just happy to know that she's in class! Wooooohooooooooo!

{Rei and my youngest sister, just a few hours after getting home}

News {by Erin}

We have news!
Not really what we wanted to hear, but it is news nonetheless.
Midnight is going IFT sometime around the first week of November.
While this is a sad thing for me, Midnight is such a good dog,
I can't deny her the chance to change someones life.
I can't make her stay home all day when she could be keeping someone out of danger, giving them joy or a reason to live.
I just can't do that.
I also don' t know how I'm going to last six months without a puppy.

Also I have some news about Rei ...my last puppy in training..you can ready about that here -> {CLICK HERE}

In the meantime, we're going to enjoy the last couple of weeks we have togethor...which also means a lot of running around for me, as I try to make sure she sees everyone who has been in her life before she leaves. That should be a challenge.

Happy Birthday To Rei!! {by Erin}

Better late then never eh? Happy Birthday Rei!! I miss you baby!!!!
She is now two years old!! I so wish I could at least see a picture of her.... :-*(.

Dissapointment {by Erin}

My last pup - Rei- was placed as a guide dog in June 2008; in August, her partner suffered a heart attack and died, leaving Rei without a partner. The Guide Dog Foundation took her back to re-evaluate and hopefully assign her to someone else so she could continue her career. I felt sure she was going to be place this coming month..but I just got the news that she is not..

I am more dissapointed then I thought I would be.. *SIGH*



{Brax and Rei - at 4-H Congress- July 2008}