Glacier the Guide

So on Saturday Glacier graduated from Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind. We ( my mom my dad and I) left my grandmothers house in Syracuse at around 10 oclock and drove up to Canada. The border crossing went well. PHEW! We arrived at CGDB at 1:30 early (graduation started at 3). We took the opportunity to walk around the campus and take pictures.

In front of the sign

The School

While we were out walk the trainer came out and talked to us for a bit. We decided to go find some lunch and come back. We got back real close to 3 and went in. We went in to the lounge and the trainer went to get the graduate. We got 2 hours to spend talking and getting to know each other. Glacier was excited to see us. She jumped all over me and licked my face then proceded to pass out. She was so lazy it was cute! Her graduate is AWESOME!!

They are a great pair and I wish them the best!

The graduating class was little with only 4 dogs total. According to Glaciers graduate (Glacier is her third dog from CGDB) class sizes are between 4-8 students. So it is really small compared to our graduations but normal for them. I like the small class it makes everything seem so much more personal. It was a change though!

Abby

Kristy

Lars

(He was so little compared to Indiana....hes 18 months old!)

It was cool to be able to be there and the trainer and Glaciers graduate where very thankful that we made it (I dont think very many US raisers are able to get to graduation). Good Luck Glacier! I love you!

Quick Post

Just a quick note to say that I just got back from Canada. I got to go to Glaciers graduation today. :-) Im so proud of her. I will do a better post later with pictures of course!

Guess Who Turned One Yesterday!

Ya its had to believe that my little (read pony-sized) German Shepherd turned one! I cant believe it! He is such a hansome boy. He had a good day with Lots of treats and fun play times as well of lots of hugs & kisses from those who love him. Birthdays are such a bittersweet moment. Up until that point it seems like you have forever left with them they are still offically puppies after all but that birthday is momentous and time seems to fly by after that. Hopefully time doesnt go by too fast!

Indy in his coat

Indy and Wren height difference!

I love my GSD!!

In other news: I found out today that this cute little yellow lab

Is in class and slaited to graduate for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind in June! Im soo excited! I cant wait and will keep you all posted! YeY Glacier!

An Update...YEY!

So here we go. Indiana is doing MUCH better. He gave us all a scare. He had to go to the vet and we were on pins and needles for a week until the test results came in. He is all good now. He was on a couple medications and seems fine now. He is at my RC house for a week on a switch so I am dogless which is a very weird feeling...I havent been dogless since the short break I took between Yellsea and Mork. Indiana is a good boy. He got hormones for Christmas so we are combatting with those and his "Im not listening stage" but overall he is doing well with his commands. He comes to work with me almost everyday and is doing great playing with other dogs and practicing commands with dog distractions while off leash (in a fenced yard obviously). he is pretty good at all the basics but we are still working on some of the harder ones. He wil be 10 months old this month. WOW! Here are some pictures that were taken January 23rd at work. When I get him back I will post more recent pictures. Promise.

A cute face shot in the Daycare Room

Indy and Calea one of the Daycare dogs

Playing out in the Daycare Yard

He has a ton of fun!

Waiting for me to throw the ball for him.

Now for the Glacier news: As you all know Glacier was released from GEB's Training program after completing her fianl phase of training and aiting to be matched with a graduate. Her darn medicals had caught up with her and she couldnt go anyfarther with us BUT because her medicals were not too severe she was accepted into the Canadian Guide Dog training program. They are going to switch her food which should take care of her issues. She and her roommate Yasha also raised in my region and released the same week headed up to Canada to be evaluated for thier guide dog program. I am so excited. She is a great girl and her trainer at GEB was so pleased with her work pattern and guide ability so I am glad taht she still has a chance to be able to put her skills to use. I havent heard any news yet on how she is doing but no news is good news at this point. They have a "graduation" that all puppy raisers are invited to attend. I hear it is a ton different then our graduations. It is more like a formal tea party type get together where raisers meet the graduates but I am not totally sure how it works. I will keep you updated on her when I hear. Good Luck Girls!!

Yasha and Glacier in the kennels at GEB

Glacier in Community Run at GEB

In other news...I don't know if I offically said anything but Glacier's Sister Gretchen raised by my RC was accepted into GEB's breeding program and had her first litter on December 22nd. They were the G408 litter with 6 girls and 4 boys. We have one of her puppies now being raised by Westons raiser. His name is Galaxy. He is a tiny black lab and oh so cute. Another Glacier sibling BrookLynn is also a breeding dog for her school and had her first litter on January 8th. They are also the G litter. How cool is that!! They are wicked cute too!! Jeanette, Indiana's half sister, went in for her IFT at the end of January and is being looked at by the heads of GEB to become a Breeder for the program. I think that is it for news.

Gretchen's Brood Photo

Gretchen and her G litter

Baby Galaxy

Pretty BrookLynn

BrookLynn and Her G Litter

Jeanette's Last Day in Daycare with Friend Max

Quick Update

So I know that in the last post I said that I was going to be back with a vengence but alas things never work out how you plan. Indiana is having some medical issues that we are trying to work through/ find answers for. He has a vet appointment tomorrow. I dont really want to go into details about it until I know what is up for sure and maybe not even then. Uggg! Such is life. I promise another update as soon as I get more info on Indy. Fingers crossed! O and good Glacier news to come next post as well!

Its been a while...

So I readily admit that I have been absent from the blogging world for a long time. I have missed a lot! The coming of new puppies, IFT's, the heartbreak of CC's, and the warm welcome of dogs coming home/ finding their forever home. Not to worry I have plans to be back with a vengence. I don't have any good excuses for you but here is what has been going on. I moved in with one of my friends and started a new job at a boarding kennel/Doggie Daycare. I mostly spend my time in daycare but do help out in kennel or in the front when the need arises. Its fun. Indiana is doing well. He is growing so fast! He surpassed Katie (she is 4 months older then him) in height and length at 5 months and surpassed half sister Jeanette (she will be 19 months old soon and headed off to IFT the end of the month :-( Im gunna miss my girl.) soon after prolly around 6 and a half months. He is going to be a really big boy and hopefully will start filling out more soon. I swear all his food goes to his legs and his back! He is doing wonderful in his work. He are still working on loose leash walking when on a 6 ft leash but when he is off leash or on a long line he is excellent. We are working on stays. They are our hardest thing to overcome. He is very much of the mind set that he should always be with me no matter what. Silly shepherds. lol. Indy, Jeanette and her raiser and I met up with Sarah and MK and Caesar just before Christmas and took on NYC. That was a blast and overall Indy did well for a 7 month old puppy! He is such a good boy and I really cant get enough of him even when he is at his most frustrating. lol. I got the heartbreaking phone call on Miss Glacier this afternoon. She has been released from training for medical reasons. I haven't decided yet what is in her future but no matter what I'm sure it will be a bright one. She was one special labbie and Im so glad for the time we shared. Mork is doing excellent! I got to see him in October at GEB's annual Walk-a-thon. He is such a hansome boy and is doing so well in his work. His partner is an absolutely amazing man and I am so glad that he and Mork are together. They are the perfect pair. Wren is Wren. She is kinda on the back burner for a little bit but we will start up doing competion work with her soon. We will be hopefully doing Obedience and Agility with her and possibly Rally-o. We are also working towards her theropy dog test. She is a sweety and doesnt mind being out shined but the puppies as she get her revenge by being able to sleep on the bed, be off leash all the time and eat people food. LOL!! Updates will be more forth coming now that life has settle somewhat. Pictures will be added soon and I will make sure to let you all know how Glaciers story plays out.

Award

Thanks to the Miss Irie for nominating this blog for an award! Here are the rules: 1) The winner can put the logo on his/her blog. 2) Link to the person you received your award from. 3) Nominate seven other blogs and put links of those blogs on yours. 4) Leave a message on those blogs you've nominated. The hard part is choosing other blogs for nomination since there are soo many good ones and I only get 7 choices!! Here are my picks in no particular order:

Madison and Andros

Natalie

Amy, Kongo and B puppy

Robbin Nessie and Paxton

Anna

Bill and Amy with Emmy

Kelsie, Jillian and Puma

Ok so now those of you that I nominated feel free to pass the award along. I love everyones blog but tried to nominate blogs that I didnt see nominated already.

To Tide You Over...

Here are some pictures and videos (its my first try with videos) I took today of Indiana and Wren out in the backyard. Sorry they arent the best but they will have to do till I get an update ready to post. Enjoy!! Good Sit Indiana!!

Look my ears are sorta straight when I lean my head back. *wink* Whats that? Wren and Indy in the grass

Video Time: Charge...Indiana trying to get Wren to play with him!

Wren finally plays with Indy...for a little while

Back and Forth

Im back from the fair but I leave for camp on Friday. Look for an update probably monday or so.

Really quick update

Ok so I was hoping to get a really good post out before I left for the New York State Fair but I guess that didnt happen...just way too busy! I am in Syracuse now and will be manning the dog booth in the 4_H building for two weeks. Unfortunately Indiana is too young to go so he went to a sitter while I am gone. Fortunately I am not dogless and was abole to steal Miss Jeanette. She will be great! Ill try and post some update/pics while Im up here but don't count on it. See you all in two weeks!