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

Goodbye Goofy Gideon!

Three weeks flew past, and now its (once again) time for Gideon to move on to another trainer. He got a bath this morning, got his ears, eyes and nails done; and his gear is on the kitchen table ready to go. He's going to have fun with his new trainer!

See ya later bud!

Wilderwood Presentation

Around 3:30PM, I received a phone call from a dear co-worker of mine, asking if I wouldn't mind bringing a puppy to a presentation she was giving for Wilderwood. Of course I said yes!!

We had to sit through a rather boring presentation about Genetics....but I was busy trying to keep Gideon from flopping all over the floor.

He has just been introduced to the Halti....(Chorus of "Aaaahs".)

After that was over, the pups visited while Deanna setup; I was a little nervous about standing up front of a group of people... cause I know they'd be puppies...I could make Gideon lay down, but Victoria hasn't been a situation where she'd need to stay still for long just yet, so I was under a little bit of pressure try and make everything look...good.

For the first 5 minutes they both  laid down, than Vikki smelled something interesting on the stage and tried to go investigate it.

Here's where the importance of body language comes into play...hehe, since I couldn't correct her verbally, and didn't want to do anything physically, well just because, so I gave her the signals to 'sit' and 'down' which she did....but flopped, and flipped, and stood.

I sat down and held her in my lap...which she let me....for about 10 minutes, and than she was ready to go again.

Thankfully Gideon was doing a great "down/stay" during this time, as Deanna was talking about the impact these kids have on the dogs. She got to a section of her presentation where she played a video......except it didn't work.

So I got up and tried to work on it, while Deanna talked on....Vikki was laying down, so I focused my attention on getting the videos up.

Suddenly I heard a growling sound behind me, of course I whipped around...Gideon was beside me so Vikki wasn't being bothered by him....the growling escalated to a whiny, barky, squealy, sound, that went on for about 15 seconds, before she was finished and laid back down.

The audience died laughing.. apparently she wanted a part in the presentation...as if being cute and cuddly wasn't enough!

We finally got the internet to work, and played the video from our website....and wrapped up the presentation.

Gideon did have some "I-don't-want-to-do-what-you-want-me-to-do" and we had a little battle of wills, but I won don't worry! :))

All in all, we got our information across and I think we may have gained some potential kennel volunteers!! 

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 :)}

My Week with 4

Hey Guys,

Wow when we say "Busy" we mean "BUSY". With my new schedule, I have been running all day everyday...or at least it seems that way. Typically though the service pups come with me at least 3 times a week, while I'm at the kennels, so they aren't lacking much exposure oppurtunities.

Monday - Wednesday - Friday are office days for me, those are the days I'm working at the University of Tennessee. I haven't convinced the to allow the SD pups just yet, so while I'm there they are crated with a stuffed Kong to keep them busy during the morning hours.

(KONG's are the BEST toys ever...we are up to 8 now)

Here's where having 4 dogs becomes a pain. I was sitting here trying to figure out how it was that I used to be able to just jump and run in 5 minutes, and how now it takes 20-30 minutes to get out of the house.
Here's what I came up with:

1. Midnight/Rei both went to work with me, so I could feed them on the way to work/ when I got to work, and could leave Bubbles food on the floor for whenever she decided to get up. (She's lazy) 
2. I had dogs then who would go potty as soon as I let them outside. 
3. If they didn't go at home they had another opportunity to go when we got to our destination...etc etcc

Now I'm having to pry ALL dogs out of MY bed, hook them on their long lines, go back and fish Bubbles out of bed, convince Texas to go outside (where he'll stand on the porch and whine) get their food ready, have everyone sit/wait (stay); and while they are eating run around getting dressed, and doing my hair.

By this time I normally have about 5 minutes left, send Texas BACK outside and convince him to potty...possible chase him around the neighborhood, if I send him out off leash... send Victoria back outside so she can potty, and than crate them.

Does anyone else see why I sometimes feel like a single mother??

Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday are a little easier; I set my own schedule with Wilderwood, and gave myself plenty of time to feed/potty and exercise Texas and Bubbles at the very least; and then make the 45-50 minute trip out to our kennels.

Its a good thing these pups like car rides! During my time there, Gideon and Victoria are in the play yard, pretty much  by themselves, as the others pups are up for their nap by the time we arrive.

They seem to keep themselves pretty busy in there.

{Hi sister! Let me bite your face}

Once home again, THEY are worn out,and its time to wear Bubbles & Texas out...which isn't very hard at all. But after that trip its defiantly an effort for me to pry myself out of the vehicle and go back outside for another 20-30 minutes.

And to make this long post a little longer...

Victoria is feeling TONS better, and is pretty much almost to the bouncing of the wall stage, she's still very good in the house, and only has carried around some "no-no" dog toys. She is on her way to loosing a couple teeth and is bleeding on everything. I took her on her first outing (with me) to Kroger's and she behaved beutifully. The parking lot and going through the double doors where a little intense for her, but once she realized nothing had attacked her she was great.

She sat beautifully while I shopped, and stood quietly while checked out. The parking lot was still scary for her, but we have time to work with that. :))


I wound up taking both her and Gideon into Petsmart and was astonished at how well behaved they were....this is not to say there wasn't pulling, or times I had to slam on the brakes....for the most part they did very well.

Even as I check outed they sat and let the cashier give them treats.They both got hugs in the car for jobs well done!!

---Texas says:
Fall is Officially Here

P.S.( We are very active on Twitter, Texas now has his own account at @TexasTheDoxie and whatever SD I have in the house will be tweeting @ServicePups ...and of course I'm on @Fidography  follow us if you tweet!)

Hi Guys {Victoria}

Hi Guys!

Thanks to those who inquired about me! I'm feeling a lot better since I've started to live with Erin. Its been a lot of fun! She's got a GAZILLION toys to play with, and I like to try and keep all of them to me! But sometimes Texas and Gideon want them back.

Oh Gideon! You guys don't know but he's BAAACKK!!! On Tuesday Erin took us on a car ride, and we wound up back at the kennel place. Than I had to go into a crate while she and some other people did a lot of talking, and talking and more talking.

When I FINALLLLLY was let out..(NOTE FROM ERIN: She did get several potty breaks, don't listen too her) This big furry dog (that kind of looked like me, but not cause I'm cuter than that) came and pounced on me several times, till mom stopped him; we had to ride home together, Erin said his name was Gideon and he'd been with her before. Only she didn't know why he was back again.

From 0EDIT

{Ira and Myra got to go to Lunch with some of the Staff....but I didn't :((}

Texas and Bubbles seemed to recognize him, cause they didn't even bark or growl when he came onto the porch! Oh! More good news! I get to stay with Erin for a looong while!! How fun is that!?!

Well I got to go sleep, we went back out to the kennel place and I had to play all day. *sigh*Toodles!!

V

From October -31

hmm 76 followers yet no comments..how sad :((

Goodbye Gideon

And as is customary for my organization, it is once again time for us to trade dogs. Not something I really ever enjoy doing; but its the way things are. Gideon will be moving on to another trainer who will continue what I have started. Loose leash walking, working him in the real world doing service dog work, etc..

While its been fun having four dogs, I am ready to have some sanity back, having four dogs with different energy levels, has been interesting to say the least. I have to constantly remember to switch gears/tactics when working with all of them.

But despite our challenges I feel we've made significant progress.

Goodbye my goofy golden pal.

From Daniel

Dear Mom and Dad,
Hi! Its been a while it seems, since I've seen you guys, but have no fear, I'm having LOADS of fun at Erin's.

There are like bunches of other dogs here with me, and the keep me busy all the time.

There is a huganormous yard here, and almost everday, we get to go run around out there. SO much FUN!

Most of the time I stick with Erin, cause she always has yummy treats. She also has this thing, that makes a clicking noise, and I know what I did was good, and a treat is coming soon.

Gideon is my mostest playmate, well cause he doesn't really give me a choice. He's like Super fast, and runs smack into me, and knocks me over! But ONLY because I LET him. He thinks he tough, but we know I"m tougher. We like to play tug of war with the stuffed toys. Most of the time I win.

And then there is this little dog named Texas. He's a mean one, but he's being nicer to me know. Most of the time he just plays with Gideon or Bubbles, which i s fine with me, cause by the time we come back in from outside, I can BARELY move.

Most of the time, I like sleeping in the kitchen, cause its nice and cool. Erin is thinking about (*gasp*), gettin me shaved, so I'm not so hot all the time. But she's still thinking about it cause, we all know how adorable I am in my furry coat!

Anyways Erin is teaching me all kinds of new stuff, and I think I'm doing good.....um yeah, well I have to run, Gideon and Texas are playing a game without me, and I can't let that happen!

TTYL!

DANIEL