Cricket...

Today I picked up Cricket...

She is a working guide here in UT...

Her handler went to Europe...

So she will be staying with me until the 12th! She's a very pretty girl and very very easy and mellow! She is almost 3 years old and has been working with her handler for a little over a year.

About a year ago...

Since I forgot to do this on March 30th...

My little baby Ontario arrived in UT on March 30th 2007! He was full of FLUFF. He was amazingly fluffy and INCREDIBLY bony! He had great BIG tree trunk legs, but only weighed 16 pounds! He was EXACTLY 10 weeks old! He was very very calm when I picked him up. I promptly fed him and he ate like a horse and then he pooped!

Denny got to be the one to hand me my new puppy...Ontario!

My club also got Montgomery, Sherman and Rondelle that day!


Since I had several new raisers getting puppies that day, we did a puppy handling session at the truck...Ontario screamed "bloody murder" when I was making him do this...


That night we went to my mom and dad's house to show them the new puppy! This is the first "solo" picture I took of Ontario...after having him for a few hours!


This little 16 pound...10 week old puppy has come a LONG way! He is now 14 1/2 months old and weighs about 75 pounds! His face is no longer almost all black, his ears poke straight up, his chest is a darker tan...but his EYES are still the same...AND he's still the adorable, sweet, loveable pup that I picked up from the puppy truck a little more than a year ago!--oh, and he's not quite so bony anymore!

Questions...cause I'm bored...

1} How many puppies have you raised? Frisco is #10...I also raised Magician, Anya, Spence, Garvey, Brogan, Sonny, O'Connor, Carlisle, and Ontario

2} Why did you start raising? I went to GDB puppy meetings because I needed to learn how to train my beagle...I started raising after 1 1/2 years of meetings when I convinced my mom that we needed 2 dogs.

3} How Long have you been a puppy raiser? I started in 1999...so 9 years

4} What is one thing you have learned in raising? Consistency and praise are the KEYS to everything...Also, Dogs and Kids are so much different ;)

5} What have your puppies taught you? Magician taught me that Supervision is KEY to all good house behaviors...Anya taught me that some dogs are just perfect...Spence taught me about patience and perseverance...Garvey taught me about love...Brogan taught me about giving something/body your WHOLE heart...Sonny taught me about how important relationships with people are...O'Connor taught me about being the best you can be, no matter what others say...Carlisle taught me about the importance of tough love and respect...Ontario has taught me NOT to listen to others, but to do what you KNOW you should do...and Frisco will teach me many things while I have him as well.

6} What is the strangest thing someone has asked/said to you about your puppy? My favorite was when a second grader told me that "Ontario was made really well"

7} Do you give your puppies real name out in public? usually...but sometimes I make up names...just to be interesting...

8} What is the most embarrassing incident that you've had with your puppy? various potty stories...

9} What is the most proud moment you've had with your puppy? graduations of course...but also a few weeks ago when I realized that Ontario doesn't have some of the behaviors that people told me I couldn't fix because he's a GSD. Or when Carlisle stopped barking all the time...or when Brogan decided to come...or when I see my working guides walking down the street in their own environments and their partners have full confidence and trust in them...

10} What advice do you have for newbie puppy raisers/owners? Listen to your leaders...they know how to help you...stay humble and ALWAYS remember to be CONSISTANT and PRAISE your puppy constantly!

One Down...

So I dropped Frisco off at the puppy sitters house tonight :( He will be gone until April 11th. :( It's funny because you would think after raising so many dogs it wouldn't be so hard to take a dog to the puppy sitter...but I get worse and worse at it! He needed to be away from me for a while though as he is SO attached--maybe even more attached than the GSD??? (is that possible?) Anyway, so since Ontario is leaving...we needed a few days of one on one time...plus I'm going to be babysitting a working guide from the 3rd-12th. Then Ontario leaves on the 13th, so really Frisco had to go to the puppy-sitters house! I hope he's good for them. But I miss him already...

Official Breeder O'Connor

I got O'Connor's official breeder photo's from the breeding department today. This means, these are the photos that go in the Fun Day breeder books as well as for GDB's records. :) I just love this dog!

Rocky Mountains...

This is a view of one of the "Rocky Mountains" from my house! Isn't it amazing??? It was such a pretty day with the sun and the snow and the picturesque clouds ;) I know many people have not seen mountains like this from their house and I just think they are so pretty! AND I'm SO lucky!

Snow Pictures

It has been quite warm here the past week or two...I was even thinking of pulling out my capri's and shorts...alas...not that lucky! Last night it snowed! It was okay that it snowed though, because I haven't gotten any real good pictures of my puppies in the snow...but here they are! The pictures that any good puppy raised in UT should have ;) SNOW pictures!!!

Does this not remind you of a certain black face that is pictured with Tulips???

And just HOW priceless is this face???

They were watching some ducks and seagulls...isn't it a wonderful photo though???
They have such adorable profiles!

Ontario looking a bit bewildered :) His normal look that I will always remember!

So anyway...the boys weren't the happiest with their photo shoot...but they decided to comply after a while :) I love them and they did great with all the distractions at the park and those distractions made for some wonderful photos! :)

Smarty Pants...

Ontario goes to the University of Utah almost every day...

he must be a "smarty pants"

All in about 10 minutes...

Ok, so this is the eating process at our house...

We wait for our food...

we eat our food...
we continue to eat our food...
we lick our lips and say "thanks mom"...

All this happens in less than 10 minutes...of course Frisco, being the lab ALWAYS finishes his 2 cups first! He comes to me when he's done and licks his lips and burps...then he longingly looks at Ontario who is still eating and seems to say "mom??? How come he is still eating?"

Gradumatation :)

It's the post you've all been waiting for...O'Connor's official graduation post! So it starts out like this...
Wednesday 8:20ish pm...I called O'Connor's person at GDB. I was waiting for my flight to OR in the airport so it was the perfect time to call. So anyway, he was in his room and I introduced myself and first things first...he got ALL my contact info and promised to stay in touch...Then we talked about how wonderful and fabulous O'Connor is! He is living in Denver now and works in a big office building. I found out that his handler has had 2 previous dogs, Seth and Tompkins.
Thursday... O'Connor's handler emailed me some pictures of the day he got O'Connor (these are the pictures posted below)
Saturday (the big day!!!) 11:30am...My friend Whitney and I showed up at GDB. We went in the visitors center and they gave us the graduation program...Whit opens it up and yours truly is FIRST!!! Yikes... We visited with a few people from CO who also had dogs graduating and that was fun.
11:45am... They take us into the dorms and seat us in areas to meet our handlers and see our puppies again!!! O'Connor was THE FIRST puppy who got to come out with his handler...lucky me! So the class supervisor is doing sighted guide with O'Connor's handler and O was healing very nicely...and then he saw me and his nice heal became the little engine who could trying to get to me. It was the greatest thing ever! When they got to me, O'Connor tried to flatten me. NONE of my graduates has been THAT excited to see me (and I've had some pretty excited puppies at graduation...) So after jumping all over me for a few minutes, O'Connor was tired and layed down at my feet. Then he remembered he was with me and tried the whole thing again. Then we went and got formal pictures for GDB (I'll post those when I get them). I talked with his handler and life was great.
1:15ish...time to get ready for the actual graduation, so the instructors took O'Connor's handler and I got O'Connor all to myself. We went back over to the visitor's center and into the "little room" where we would stay through the graduation slide show. The lady from GDB who was coordinating everything reminded me that since I was first to speak...I set the tone...in other words, if I cried, EVERYBODY else would cry. So it was finally my turn to go out of the room and stand by the class supervisor...he was very nice and said that O'Connor is a truly amazing and fabulous dog (as if he needed to tell me that!) He really liked O'Connor a lot! Anyway, so I went up on stage and I don't really remember too much of what O'Connor's handler said, and then I said some things about O'Connor being the greatest dog ever, and told a story about O'Connor and the 2nd graders I worked with last year...I didn't cry! :) So then after graduation, we went and got Frisco out of the Kennels and took these pictures:


After the picture taking I went and watched one of the guide dog trainers work with her sheltie...teaching him to work some sheep. That was fun...
5:00pm... went back to campus to pick up O'Connor and his handler. We went out to dinner with Emily and Ellis and several other people...and got some more talk time with O'Connor's handler and others who were in the class. It was awsome! Such a great graduation day! O'Connor's handler is SUPER nice and has promised to stay in touch and so far is doing VERY well with that ;) I'm sure O'Connor will have a wonderful life as a guide in Denver and if he ever wants to come home...that is fine with me as well! (but I DO hope he works for a long time!)

All grown up

This is what my beautiful O'Connor looks like all grown up at age 2! I'll post pictures of him in his harness and write about graduation in the next few days! Isn't he pretty??? He's 23 inches and 63 pounds right now. Practically perfect!

The day has come...

I don't have any pictures today...but it is official...Ontario is going to GDB for his formal training next month! I'm very excited to see how he does and I know he'll do great! I'm not so sure I'm ready for him to go so soon...it seems like I just got him :( But anyway...I love him and am proud of him that he's made it this far and that GDB has enough confidence in him to take him back! He's come a long way. Of course, when I get back to UT, I'll take pictures and do another Ontario post...

Ode to O'Connor

8 Weeks
8 months

10 months

13 months-recall

Sick and Tired

We've been sick and tired and tired of being sick at our house the last 2ish weeks :( I had the flu and Ontario and Frisco were very good to conform to my lazy, sleepy lifestyle. They got themselves into this position on their own when I was watching a movie...how cute are they?

This Little Boy Wants to BE a GUIDE DOG

Yes...my little boy has chosen his career and is IN CLASS!!!
I'll get to present him to his partner on March 8th, provided all goes well for them!

Best Buds...

They were sleeping like this, but of course when I decided I needed to take a picture and the flash went off...they both opened their eyes. They both sleep on long tie-downs and I only have 1 massive doggie bed in my room...so they have to share. Usually Frisco takes up the bulk of the bed and Ontario settles with a corner, or just resting his head on the bed...goofy boys! Whatever works for them right? I have caught them curled up with each other both fitting on the bed, but can't catch that when my camera is ready. They are awesome and they really like each other!

Guess who???

Check out the cute puppies on the puppycam from 3/15/07...guess who is in the video!

http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer?pagename=resources_video_puppycam

Check out the boys!

I took these pictures today. They are such handsome boys!

Ontario LOVES to take naps in his kennel...even when he doesn't have to :)

Frisco is growing up fast! He's 4 1/2 months old and now wears a medium puppycoat!

First Trip

I am in Idaho with Frisco. This is the first time he has been out of Utah since arriving on Nov. 17th! He was amazing on the ride in the car up here. Once we got here (to visit my grandpa and aunt and uncle) we went to the party store that my aunt and uncle just bought. This is not a small party store, it is GINORMOUS! :) So we spent about 1 1/2 hours there looking at all the merchandise, walking around and talking to my aunt and uncle...Frisco did his best NOT to eat the junk that was on the floor! :) What a good boy he is!

Then we went with my mom and aunt to Albertsons to get some stuff for dinner, and Frisco was just as amazing there :) He sure is just the nicest dog. I love him a whole lot and he does so good in all situations.

We hung out with my 6 month old nephew when we got back to the house and Frisco was great with Grant...so gentle and just sweet with him. Then Frisco saw the kitties...he has lived with cats at his other home, so it wasn't a big deal to him...and he's been great with the resident k9-Sara.

I didn't bring my camera, so we shall have to grace you with pictures another day!

PS. Ontario stayed with a puppysitter. He hasn't really been traded since Thanksgiving and he needed to have some time away from his beloved mommy ;) I dropped him off at another leaders house (he can only be traded to leaders) this morning, and I'll pick him up tomorrow afternoon/evening.

Pictures from Camp

So I was online looking at websites and found these pictures from Camp. They were taken on a day where we held a huge event at camp and several organizations (including GDB) came to help out...anyway...the first picture is GDB's booth. I don't really remember all the people, but the dogs are... from left to right... Silas, Ontario, Anya, Zephyr, Elsa and Eli.

And above is BEAUTIFUL baby Ontario (6 months)

A wonderful man

Since this is technically MY blog and not the dogs...I wanted to share something near and dear to my heart...

President Gordon B Hinckley passed away a week ago and his funeral was on Saturday. This man influenced my life for the better more than any other man...besides my own father. He was the Prophet of my church (kind of like the Pope, but different) and he was a WONDERFUL man. The world has lost a great leader...however it isn't all sad! In our church we believe that families are forever, and President Hinckley's wife died about 4 years ago. He never stopped missing her, and would often talk about her in his speeches...I know he is now with her again and I am happy for him!

Ode to Ontario

Since Frisco came along...Ontario hasn't had the blog time he deserved...so here is Ode to Ontario
These are pictures of Ontario's life from almost the beginning...

This is Philly (Ontario's mom) with her 5 week old pups, Ontario and Oceana. Ontario is the puppy on her belly and Oceana is the one you can see by Philly's head.
-note Philly's position...does this look familiar to anybody else??? (if you have no clue what I'm talking about...look at my previous post)

These pictures were taken by a volunteer in the puppy kennel on their 2 month b-day
(March, 19, 2007) Oceana is on the left and Ontario is on the right.




These pics were both taken in June. Even though they are siblings...look at the differences. Ontario is MUCH MUCH darker than Oceana and his fur is not even close to being as long as hers! (Ontario is on the left, Oceana is on the right.)

And this would be Ontario's b-day picture. I was trying to get a picture of him all relaxed and sleeping on his back, but he woke up and rolled to his side just as I took the picture :( Darn!

The Boys

Ontario and Frisco were begging to get their most recent pictures up today...so as the loving dog mommy I am...I obliged--but first an update on the boys.

Ontario had his 1st birthday on the 19th. Being the bad mommy that I am, he didn't get any presents or anything...poor boy, he must feel SO unloved! He is doing very well, and I expect that he will be recalled (or go in for training) in March or April...whenever the puppy truck comes to UT. He is a MAJOR momma's boy, which makes him very endearing. He is the clown of all my pups...he's constantly doing crazy things and giving me looks that what he is doing is completely normal, he keeps me and my roommate laughing. He is a massive ball of fur, but don't let his size fool you, there has never been a sweeter dog than Ontario!

And now for Frisky--I mean Frisco. As stated in recent posts, he is growing like a weed...almost right before my eyes! Frisco turned 4 months old on the 19th. He is a mellow yellow guy. He is progressing very nicely and I think he will be a wonderful, easy to raise, laid back little guy who just goes with the flow. Hopefully he doesn't get a complex as everybody comments on what a pretty dog he is and how well behaved he is. I don't disagree with them and neither does he...but hopefully he'll stay humble!

Awww...Mom, do you HAVE to take pictures right now?

The boys play very well together. Even though Frisco is only 4 months and 36 pounds, and Ontario is 1 year and 70 pounds...they seem to work things out between the two of them and play with each other very appropriately!
As you can see...big "manly Ontario" is quite the push over when playing with his little brother.

Eye Doctor

You know when you go to the eye doctor and you have to tell him the letters on the chart, to test your visual acuities? Well, today I had to go to the eye doctor and I couldn't even see the stinkin' letters on the chart! I have had glasses and/or contacts since 7th grade, and nothing has ever changed much in my rx...until now. Dun, Dun, Duuun... :(

I knew my vision had changed, as I've been having some pretty major issues since summertime...including very very blurry vision at times (even with my contacts and glasses) and double vision, where I would see two of the image. As you can imagine, this can be frustrating to say the least...

Well, today I found out how bad it really was...LUCKY ME ;)...NOT! My rx changed -0.75 in both eyes, and while my left eye is good and just a bit nearsighted...my right eye basically sucks! I have astigmatism in my right eye and we are hoping that is the cause of my blurry and double vision...fun fun huh?

Don't you just love going to the doctor for not as great of news as you were hoping? (aka...all is well!)

Miracle grow

So my little Frisco is growing up so fast! Last week we were at the vet and he weighed 31.4 pounds, and this week when we went in he weighed 35.4 pounds! Wow...what a big guy he is getting to be! My club all asks what I feed him and the answer is...Miracle Grow of course! :)

AWWW how cute!!!

'Nough said :)

Dramatic Change in Personality?

So today...for the first time in his life...Ontario was actually very very very excited about his leash and puppy coat! Up until now, whenever he would see me pick up his leash and puppycoat to go out he would run and 'hide' in the corner or sometimes in his crate. He has always been fine once he was out, but just did NOT want to go at first. I've been working very hard to get him excited to go out, and today I got to see the results of 9 months of HARD work!

OOOOO...I love this dog!

Spence is Wonderful

I got an email from Spence's family a few days ago! I was very excited as I hadn't heard from them in about two years. I have always known that Spence was well loved and well taken care of, so I've never worried...BUT it was still so nice to hear from them and hear that he is well loved and taken care of :)
They apologized for not contacting me for so long (which was not needed, but a very nice thing for them to do) and proceeded to tell me how much they love Spence! They told me again, how he is a certified Therapy Dog and everybody loves him and he loves everybody. They also wrote that having Spence has been such a great thing for them, and they thought he deserved a doggy "friend". So about a year and a half ago, they went back to GDB and adopted another career change dog! They said Spence picked HER out and they get along wonderfully! :)

Isn't it SOOO nice to hear from our puppies? Even when they aren't our puppies anymore, but to know that they are making such a difference in somebody else's life...as a guide, or a pet...it makes my day!

The Boys

The Cutest Boys in the Whole Wide World! :)
(too bad they couldn't both look at the camera :)

My Baby (Frisco)

My Little Boy (Ontario!)

New Years Resolutions...

In following suit of my fellow bloggers:

Lindsey's resolutions:

• Take more pictures of the people in my life.
• Go to church EVERY sunday-no excuses!
• Get a teaching job and actually use my college degree that I spent all that money on!
• Decide what I am going to major in for my masters degree.

Ontario's resolutions:

• Relax a little more!
• Eat as much dog food as I can!
• Go to formal training to be a guide dog!
• Not bug my baby brother Frisco so much.

Frisco's resolutions:

• Look VERY cute...ALL THE TIME!
• Grow big like Ontario
• Go to my daddy's graduation
• learn my commands so I can be a good guide dog