Loose Leash, huh?

I had my puppy meeting last night and it went really well!  Actually before the puppy meeting I was picked up by our clubs CFR (Community Field Rep).  She wanted to spend a little time with me, see how I was doing.

So when we got to the meeting the CFR showed everyone how quickly I learn.  My raisers (Avery and Amy and Linda) were all "Loose Leash, huh?"  Anyhow, the CFR and I had to work with them and show them how to do it.  If I pull on the leash, or if I'm distracted I do not get "Pocket Kibble".

See pic below -

BUT - if I'm paying attention and not pulling then I get a reward!

See pic!

I was doing so good the CFR decided to test me, so she threw out a couple pieces of kibble on the floor.  For those that don't know, us Guide Dog Puppies in training can NOT eat ANYTHING off the ground.  I was like, OH YEAH, LET ME GET IT!!  However, I couldn't get it, boo!

I then realized, like a light bulb went off in my head, if I stop pulling, trying to get to the kibble, I could get a reward!  So ya, I was pretty amazing last night!

I also got to meet Chael and Avery's Cousin, Amy's niece and Linda's granddaughter - Addie. I mean, what can I say, she fell for me instantly!

Okay, but on a serious note - I must admit that I got in trouble at The Grandma's house.  Ya, me and the goof ball, Shaker, got carried away and started running around the house.  We got too carried away.  The Grandma had to have a talk with both of us.

I felt bad and will try my hardest not to fall under the peer pressure of Shaker again.

Wish me luck!

Truckee

The Grandma

Life at The Grandma's house is pretty great!  Lot's to see and do!

I get to eat (one of the best parts!)

I get to sleep! (That's pretty good too!)

And get loved on by "The Grandma"!

Sounds pretty awesome, right?!

I've also been picking up on my name, I finally understand that when they say "Truckee!" they are talking to me *ME*!  It's kind of a cool name, well at least I think so!  The name comes from a town in California!  Below is a picture of the little town of Truckee, CA.

Life is pretty darn good here at Grandma's!  She's been working with me on wearing the Gentle leader and being on a tie down.  I really don't care so much for the tie down.  I bark and cry but The Grandma tells me I'm doing good and to keep practicing.  She said soon I won't be so upset when she hooks me up to the tie down.  I just really don't understand why I can't run free all the time, especially with all those little people and their toys!

Well, I overheard that I have a "puppy" meeting to attend this week and next Monday I have to go to the Vet.

Here's hoping it's not too painful.
Wish me luck please!

Truckee (10 weeks old today)

My "Peeps!"

So last night I attended my first guide dog meeting and I got to meet all of my "peeps!"  There was Walsh, Oliver, & Thatcher and a couple Career Changed dogs named Gucci and the scared-y cat, Alfie!

Looks like there is lots for me to learn.  The other dogs and handlers walked around practicing some food reward.  I had to sit out and watch, I'm not quite ready to walk with the group yet.

Later we sat in a circle and talked about appropriate places I can go at certain ages.  We talked about how to handle different situations when we are out and about.  Turns out I can't have people loving and hugging and petting and going all goo-goo-gah-gah over me all the time.  When I finally get to go out to public places I will be working.  Which makes sense because I've got a big job to learn and I have to pay attention.

While we were in the circle I was doing so good I kept getting the "pocket kibble!"  I must have been doing really good cause I got a lot of it!  I think I like working with Avery the most, she likes to reward me and I like being rewarded!

I'm looking forward to my next meeting and seeing all my "peeps" again!

Until then, Wish me luck!

Truckee

What's in your pockets?

Okay so I started to figure something REALLY AWESOME OUT...if I do something really good I get kibble!  Yep, that's right, boo-ya, who's your daddy!!  Sorry, I got a little excited again about figuring that one out.  Linda and Amy and Avery and Chael, they all keep kibble in their pockets and if I do something great I get a piece of kibble!!  This is the best-most-awesome-thing-EVER!!  I mean who doesn't like treats, especially if they come out of a pocket!!

So Amy was working with me on my distractions.  See below picture and you can see a "blurred" ME (ha, ME, I love ME) distracted.

See...distracted.

Now, I realized that if I stopped getting distracted I would get the "pocket kibble".  Oh my gosh, my mouth is watering just thinking about all the "pocket kibble!"  Someone please come wipe the drool off my face!

See below image of me being so good and NOT distracted.

Ya, I think I'm going to like this training stuff!

BRING ON THE "POCKET KIBBLE!!"

STINKY? WHO ME?

Yes me!  Okay, even I couldn't stand the way I smelled.  So I guess you all had to find out sometime that I'm not fully potty trained yet.  So yes, I stink.  After only a couple days I had to have a bath to get the STINK off me.  I'll get better I swear, just give me another week or two I promise!

So Avery, Amy and Chael came over to Linda's house to help bathe me.  My goodness what a production!
They put me in a "Slop Sink" and ran some nice warm water for me.  The kids (and Amy) were all goo-goo-gah-gah over me as I was getting my first bath.  Even the Grandpa and Shaker came to watch.  I really must be something special, they keep telling me that!

The first bath wasn't so bad, maybe it was actually kind of nice.  I got towel dried and everything!  I smell much better and everyone is holding me a little tighter and giving me more kisses now!  (I really must learn to get on a schedule because I love the hugs and kisses, especially when I can bite some hair or a scarf!)

I like to look a little sad because it makes them Ewww and Awww over me a little more.

You want me to do "My Business" where?

So it turns out, as a Guide Dog Puppy in training, you must do "your business" on the cement.  Uh, what!?!  I have no grass, no dirt, no bark-dust with all the great smells that other dogs get.  I get cement.  Ok, that's fine, I can roll with it but it just might take me a little longer.

There are all sorts of little things I can pick up really quickly while we are standing on the CEMENT.  Leaves, little pebbles, a piece of dirt.  As much as I love putting those things in my mouth, I DO NOT like it when they dig it back out of my mouth.  Gall-ly when do I get to have any fun?

The Fam tried to explain to me why I have to do "my business" on the cement.  Apparently when/if I become a working Guide Dog for the Blind I have to do "my business" where my blind handler tells me to.  Turns out if/when I become a Guide Dog that means the person I'm with can't see, WHOA!  That piece of information knocked the fur right off me!  Apparently THAT means I'm leading my handler around town and I"M THE EYES FOR MY HANDLER!  Now, I see why they keep telling me *ME* I'm special! 

Okay, I'm a smart pup (please see "What's in your pocket?" post and you'll see just how smart I am.) so it makes a little more sense why I have to do my business on the cement.  My blind handler might not be able to find grass, dirt or bark-dust etc for me to do "my business" on.  I need to be able to go in a parking lot, sidewalk etc. Okay, I can do this! 

Wish me luck!

Truckee - Guide Dog Puppy in Training (Now I get why they call me that!)

A little about me, hmmm, me! Ya, I like the sound of that...ME!

I was born in San Rafael California on December 10th, 2013 to my parents Denise and Julian.  My mom is a Black Lab and my dad is a Yellow Lab.  I was born to be a Guide Dog for the Blind.  Sounds like a pretty big job to ME. 

I'm 8 weeks old now (almost 9) and I was brought from sunny CAL-I-FOR-NI-A to D-R-E-A-R-Y Oregon.  Actually my delivery to dreary Oregon was delayed because they had SNOW!!  Never seen it before so when I was finally delivered to my family on February 10th, 2014 I was BLOWN away by all the white!  White, white and more WHITE!!  It was so cold on my paws but I loved jumping and pouncing in it!  The best part was licking the white stuff, though, my raisers told me I can't keep doing that and they scooped me up.  I can-not-tell-a-lie, I loved being in their arms!  I like licking their faces just as much as the white stuff!  They told me I can't keep doing that either, boo!

I'm being co-raised which means I have two families, two homes and 4 people to love me!  My co-raisers are actually related, it's a mother-daughter-sibling-grandma-kind-of-thing.  I'll introduce them:
My primary raisers are Avery (she's 9, almost 10), Amy (she's Avery's mom but won't let me say how old she is), Linda (She's Avery's Grandma and Amy's mom and I'm like her 16th Guide dog she's raised.  You can imagine how old she is!).  Then there is Chael (he's 11 and he's Avery's brother, Amy's son and Linda's grandson) he's very busy with athletics so he can't spend as much time with me as the rest of my raisers.

For now I'm living with Linda at her house.  Apparently, or obviously, she's way more experienced with potty training than Avery and Amy so they agreed that I would stay with her until I get on a good schedule.  Once I get on a good schedule I will then stay with Avery, Amy and Chael on the weekends.  Then when I get old enough and if I'm well behaved I will get to go to work with Amy!  

OH! I forgot! Right now, at Linda's house, she has kids everywhere!!  Everyday there are all these kids running around.  I guess she does daycare, I've only heard of doggy-daycare, must be similar...  There are so many noises and smells (Some REALLY BAD SMELLS) and toys!  It's amazing!  She also has another dog named Shaker and she's really nice but kind of goofy if you ask me!  I still like her though.  There is a BIG cat named Cooper, he's bigger than me!  He's nice too.  During the week she doggy-sits a Career Changed named Alfie.  In case you don't know what a Career Changed dog is, it's a Guide Dog that was in training but for some reason or another he didn't quite make it to be a Guide Dog for the Blind.   BUT he gets to live with Michelle, who raised him, and be her forever pet.  Back to Alfie, he's 10 times bigger than me but somehow I scare him!  When he sees me, he freezes!  It's actually pretty funny and I like to sneak up on him and watch him freeze up!

Well that was my big intro to D-R-E-A-R-Y Oregon and to my new family.  I'll share my experiences as I grow and learn new things.

WISH ME LUCK!!

Love - Truckee