BUsy Busyness

Happy Post-Memorial Day! I took the day to collect my wits from our crazy week last week, my poor pups are feeling extremely neglected between my work schedule and a weeklong church event. So in an attempt to appease my guilty conscious, I spent all day with them and on impulse decided to purchase one of those kiddie pools from Wal-Mart. To say my dogs were spoiled could very well be an understatement.

Since school let out, Pompei’s exposures outings have gone down significantly due to my lack of restraint. I’m the world’s worst impulse buyer, and right now I have to save every penny possible so I can afford to get one of these babies…. So I limit MY shopping exposure to purchasable items, to only several times a week.

{Dog Friendly HOnda Element - I love that its one color, ... not too keen on the two tone versions of this vehicle}

{Realistically, this is more likely the car I will end up buying. Whenever my ships come int or what have you...}

He did get to visit with some of the other raisers in my group, when they took him to a baseball game with them. Our monthly puppy meeting and my friends graduation were scheduled on the same day, so my leader offered to take him with them. So he went and had a great time. He did have one little accident but that was well.. things happen! :-) Charlottes raiser handled him while he was there, and said both dogs did really well with each other and didn't even try to play too much! (insert surprised face)

Charlotte - 9 month old Black Lab 

13 month old - Mensa - Standard Poodle

{Mickey - 9 week old - Black Lab}

{Part of the group outside of the stadium}

I was glad for him to get out with someone else, as its very important that he learn how to take commands from someone else.

Upcoming Events in Pompeii's Life: 

• Shopping with Mom - Today :)
• He's headed in for the big "Snip-SNip" this Thursday so paws and tails...? cross for him!
• Next week, we're meeting with our regional advisor, I haven't seen her in over a at a year and half, so I'm looking forward to see them again!  
• Pompei will also being spending sometime with another raiser while we go out of town later on this month! 

We're going to keep him hopping!

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?

Pompei Post #5

Hi Guys!
We was real, busy today!
First we hadda go on a  long car trip. It was soooo long, I was almost boarded out of my mind!!
I tried ta get Texas to play again, but mom said no, cause the car was moving.
So I had to sleep.
Than we got to this place, and mom got Bubbles and Texas out first, and let them "stretch there legs". But I don't know how they doo that cause, they don't have long legs like me!
I sat on the seat, and watched them, even though I'm not supposed to do that.
Than mom put dem back in the car, and drove for a little bit, and it was my turn to get out.
I stretched, and stretched my legs, but I didn't even have to go potty, so mom gave up, and got my jacket on.
Then all of the sudden another dog got out, of a nother car, and he had a same jacket like me!! Hey that's weird!
I tried to say "Hi", but he was busy. Going busy.
Then two more doggies with jackets got out!
HEy! iTs a party!!!
But all the human moms were being mean, and didn't even let us play!!

They can't saying stuff like "sit" and "leave it."??
Then we walked inside the....place...(Erin Notes: The Firestation) an we wait while the humans talk. And talk, and talkity, talk, talk talk.!
I was getting real bored, so I barked a couple of times, at my new friends to see if the wanted to play. But mom said I couldn't.
Well PhoOeee.
So then we all walked, to this place with a LOTTA big truck things, but I didn't even care about those. I wanted to talk to my new friends!!
But nooo.
We had to do bedience stuff, we I was sure tired of doing that, and than I remembered that I really.had. to pee. BaD!!
So what was I supposed to do?
Go outside away from my friends? I might not be able to come back?
I was real sneaky, and didn't even stop walking!! Hee hee
Den this guy put on a strange outfit and walked around, and around.
I didn't care bout him, cause I wanted that bone on someone left on the floor.
(Erin Notes: We were using different things as distractions for the dogs to leave)
Then he came and petted me, so that was fun.

After that we went outside, and walked around the big truck. That was fun!
Then the truck made lots of silly noises.
Mom told me I was a good boy, for not reacting to those noises...I said thanks, but I didn't even know why that was such a good thing...?

After that we went back inside...and they let us play!! How coooll! I love those fire people!!

Surprise!!!!

Meet Pompeii, he is my fourth guide dog puppy, that I will be raising for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind...you didn't think I'd leave them forever now did you? Well my life circumstances have changed, and I will have more time to volunteer. To put it simply I will be leaving my positions with Wilderwood Service Dogs, to go back to school full time. I will still work at UT to sustain me, but I couldn't do both and school at the same time.

It wasn't an easy decision at all, but one that had to be made. I'd planned on raising one of Midnight's pups when she had them, but unfortunatly she didn't get pregnant this time, so I decided that since I was leaving WSD anyway, I'd line myself up for another GDF puppy. (Not fostering with Wilderwood due to time lengths 3-6months with them verses 12-14 months with GDF but plan on staying involved with them as I can) Well...I got an email last week, letting me know that my puppy was going to be delievered today.

Instant panic mode!!! But we got things together, changed schedules, rearranged plans, and went to pick him up at our puppy meeting tonight.

He's a noisy little bugger, and spent the last 30 minutes squawking...but now he's quiet....lets just hope I can go into my room without disturbing him!! *gulp*

**Pompeii's First Puppy Meeting**

I am looking forward to our year together!




P.S. (Someone forgot to mention to me that keeping Victoria was not my decision after all, but my parents. And they said I couldn't keep her and Pompeii as well...so yes I'm upset, hurt, disappoint,....which has taken out a lot of the fun of having Pompy here...I know she'll find a good home, not matter how hard I wish it were mine. Words can't describe how much I will miss that dog.)

It SNoWeD!!!!!!

OMD Guys, I woke up this morning, and there was all kinds of white, wet stuff on the ground!! Mom was so excited that she jumped out of bed, and got dressed immediately!
Then she ran around the house digging through boxes till she founds a bunch of little coats. I should have ran then, but I didn't realize what she was doing until we were all suited up in sissy looking sweaters.

At first I didn't know what to think about all of this, but then realized how much FUN it was to run around in it!!

{"Did ya see me mom? Huh? Did ya??"}

I was very disappointed when we went back outside to find that most of the snow had disappeared.But when mom tried to play ball with me, I realized that my ball had disappeared to, and in its place was a cold, cold....well...ball...

{Mom what happened to my ball?}

{It feels weird....}

{Odd texture as well}

{Nah don't think I like this....}

So I ditched that game, and went back to my original plan of cavorting in the snow, until Mom took us back in. Wow I hope it snows again sometime soon!!!! 

Puppy Class

These is only four of the six puppies that I'm charge of for right now, from left to right.
Gideon is a 10-month-old Golden Retriever, about to enter his "Formal Training" with me in about three weeks.
Ira is a 5 month old Golden Retriever, who just entered the Foster Training stage.
Hope is Ira's sister :D
Yiska is Veda's sister, and hanging out in the program, :D


They are really great people to work with :D

Another Busy Weekend

First, we want to thank Stella and Roo for this Lovely blog award :D

The rules are:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to up to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.


But guess what! I'll let whoever drops by has this award! YAY!!

Ben: Mom kept pretty busy this weekend, though she didn't take us...well she took us on a long car ride, then we had to stay at her mom and dads house while she went and did a bunch of stuff, for a really long time. That was very boring, and then it rained all day on Sunday, and we had to stay in the house, for another long time. And the trip home was no fun, cause we were all squished in the car!

It was another graduation thing I think, I didn't get to go cause it was at a Church, and churches are supposedly private places....dunno, but that's what I'm told!

Anyways today we woke up kind of early, and we ALL got into the car! ....well all means me, mom and Texas. Bubbles spent the night at her grandpups house.. ?

We drove out to this house, and mom went inside for a little bit, then she came back and let me AND Texas come inside. Turns out these people had a great backyard, and two other dogs to play with! WOWZERS!!!

I had fun, running laps around the yard!! I tried to get their Blue Tick puppy, to play with me, but she was scared of me I think. The Golden Puppy (who is a wilderwood dog like me) played with me for a little bit, and then she went to hang out with the people.

So I ran around the yard some more by myself! Texas was actually good for once, and didn't growl or bark at anyone! That's cause they ignored him before trying to pet him.
Mom says thats called "PRoGRess".

I'm just like "whatevs."

After that we drove to a store, and walked around there for a little bit, and then drove to another store. This store though was for dogs, cause they had all KINDS of YUMMY smells, I wanted to to run around the store, but mom was being all boring and just stood in once place looking at stuff.

So I just flopped down at her feet, until she was finished;

Mom took us home after that.

:: Thats Texas and me on the ride home!::

::We're Home now!::

Here I am moping, cause MOM DIDN'T FEED ME DINNER!?!??! What is UP with THAT!?!?
She said something like "Vet" and "appointment", well who cares about that? I'm HUNGRY!!

And than, this morning, she made us get up super early, and we drove, and drove, and drove, to we came to this place; she went in and wrote somethings down, and then gave me to the lady, AND SHE LEFT ME!!!!

For Diary Purpose: (My Weight is 70.8lbs)

Then i went to sleep.

When I woke up, mom was there again, with a bunch of stuff in her hands, boy was I glad to see her, cause my stomach had been hurting a lot, and stuff like that.
Unfortunately, I had a ......... ....... a ..........a a aa accident. in the car, mom wasn't mad, though she just had to stop at the store to buy stuff to clean up with.

Than finally we came home; and now I must sleep cause ....

I'm ge....

......tting......

ZZZzzzzzzzZZZZZZzz

P.S.( No Worries! Ben didn't go to the vet for anything serious, just to get his teeth cleaned and his hips x-rayed. They think the anesthesia cause him diarrhea, so he's on meds/ a special diet for that!)

Working Guy

Veda here, to give you our Tuesday update, our week has started off, simple enough I suppose..Erin spent all day yesterday, cleaning...something about a mouse;
After that we drove a long ways, and I slept in a boring old restaurant place.

Today was pretty busy, ...well the first part, was pretty boring, I slept most of the day away, than Mom drove us to the Petstore and got a bunch of things like Natures Miracle..? (I don't know who THAT's for), and a couple things of treats, and one of those treat bags, and well as a super loong leash.
Then we went to a park, and we did a lot of training practice, and the more dogs came, that had orange vest on like I used to wear, and Erin told them too do lots of things, like "Sitting", "Down", "Ups" etc.. She sure is bossy!!
After that I got to play a little bit with my brother Winston....Erin didn't take any pictures, cause she said it was already enough to run the class, as well as handle me. As IF I'm hard to handle. psht. You should see Winston!!

But anyways, that was pretty tiring, so I've been sleep mostly since I got home....and (YaWnn) I think that's what I'll go back to doing. Maybe something interesting will happen this weekend.

TTYL

Veda
Autism Service Dog in Training

Pictures!!!

Here are some of the pups in our group, right now we have 6 puppies out with fosters. This guy is Winston and he's a six-month-old Golden Retriever;



This is the newest puppy to the group, he's a Goldendoodle named Daniel, and he's also six-months-old.