The Rosie Road, part 13 "Stairs, Sand, and Waves"

Ok, I just can't get away from STAIRS!  Here we go again.....

 

September 5, 2008

FLD Rosie, in the work truck.

Working in the field with Gypsy, FLD Rosie along.  I've had Rosie for about one week.  She still fits in the small wire crate, perched on all my equipment behind the seats in my Invisible Fence truck. 

It is easy to bring her along.  Rosie rides quietly in her crate, content to sleep while I work.  Of course, I did take her on a walk before leaving for work this morning.

My last job of the day is a training session for a rescued two-year-old chocolate lab named Tucker at a house far north of Port Huron.  When I arrive after the long drive, I discover a problem with the signal field.  The older couple has trouble understanding the issues with their long, narrow lot.  I solve things by getting permission from their neighbor to extend the fence wire onto their property, thereby preventing the signal from reaching the inside of my customer's living room.

The simple train turns into a physical afternoon of re-installing the fence.  I don't mind much.  It is a beautiful fall day and a stunning location in which to work.  The house sits atop a tall bluff overlooking Lake Huron.  Waves crash on the beach below.  Wind tickles chimes that hang from a tree branch.  Clouds billow to expose blue sky and sunshine.

Gypsy, tied to a tree behind the house, can't see the water, but she knows the lake is there.  Still, she and FLD Rosie (snuggling in her crate nearby) wait patiently while I finish the re-install, reflag the yard, and train Tucker.  He does awesome, with Gypsy's help as a distraction!

My customers are happy.  Before I depart, I ask if I can bring Gypsy down to their beach so she can swim.  (I also want to take advantage of a learning opportunity for FLD Rosie--negotiating the staircase from the bluff.)  "Of course!"

Sit.  I command Gypsy.  As I unclip her leash and release her, Gypsy bullets down the steep concrete steps to the sand, dashes across to the water, turns, and barks in anticipation of a stick.  Hold on to your shorts, I yell.

FLD Rosie and I are still at the top of the long, precipitous stairs.  Rosie pauses, leans over to look, but backs away with a whine as if to say, "I want to go, but I'm not sure I can!"

I hold her leash loosely and sit on the third step, slapping my fingers on the second to encourage her, Come on Rosie, you can do it! 

Rosie stretches and reaches out with her paw.  There.  She touches the second step and swings her pudgy belly.  Her hinder follows and lands on the step.  Good girl!  I slide down another step and cheer her on.

She hesitates, finally reaches out with her paw again, and plops onto the next step.  That's it!  That's it!  The third step comes a little easier.

Suddenly, she has it and, with a few stumbles, bounces the rest of the way down at my side.

FLD Rosie gets halfway across the sandy beach before she realizes, "This is different!"  She sticks her face into the sand and comes up sneezing with a face full.  I laugh.

To a nine-week-old puppy everything is new.  Sand, waves, and water--she is thrilled with it all!

The homeowners watch from above as I throw a stick again and again for Gypsy, whose greatest joy is swimming after it, and who never seems to tire.  Rosie chases the waves. 

When it is time to go, FLD Rosie has no fear climbing back up the concrete steps, although she is a roly-poly klutz and sometimes misses her mark.

"You can bring your dogs to play here anytime you want,"  my customers exclaim when we finally reach the top.  "We had so much fun watching you!" 

They weren't the only ones who had fun.  I drive home with two wet and tired pups.

FLD Rosie, all tired out!

The Rosie Road, part 12 "FLD Rosie Meets the Girls"

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Gypsy lets out a sharp "BARK!" and races to the back door with eight-week-old FLD Rosie fast on her heels.  The soccer girls are here!  Lavendar Lightning Sofia, Red Demon Natalie, and Blue Jay Elaina.  Their mom, arms filled with soccer paraphernaila and gym bags, struggles with the door.

Gypsy turns, bowls Rosie over, runs back into the living room to snatch the nearest toy, and returns in a butt-wiggling prance, vocalizing her joy with a Nylabone-muffle.  Rosie barely has a chance to right her "Budda-belly" self as my three nieces barge in. 

It's a bottleneck in the back hallway.

"Come on girls, let's get in!"  Says Anne, pushing the wave of giggling girls ahead of her.

Soccer balls, Gatorade bottles, and bags drop to the floor and the flood washes into the living room.

Girls, meet FLD Rosie; FLD Rosie, meet the girls!

Lavender Lightning Sofia

Red Demon Natalie

Blue Jay Elaina

The beginning of the bond.

The Rosie Road, part 11 "Rugby and Rosie" A continuation on the theme of names.

October 8, 2008

FLD Rosie waits in her crate in my truck while I ask permission to bring her into the restaurant where I am having dinner with my tandem-friend, Lou, and her husband Randy.  It won't be long before Rosie will not fit in this little crate--she can barely stand up in it to turn around.  She is just three months old and growing like a weed.

After a brief explanation of my role as a Future Leader Dog (FLD) puppy-raiser, permission to bring FLD Rosie in with me is granted.

While the ADA prohibits public places from disallowing service dogs, technically a FLD puppy being raised by a volunteer is not a "trained" guide dog, and thus not automatically allowed.  Leader Dogs for the Blind requires puppy-raisers to ask permission of an establishment before bringing our FLD in with us.  In my experience, almost every place I've asked has been more than gracious in allowing my FLD puppy to come in.  At a few locations, the person I've asked has either been confused, unsure, or unable to make the decision; after politely "educating" them about Leader Dogs and the puppy-raising program, or after they've checked with a supervisor, we've been welcomed.  In the last two years, I've only had two restaurants refuse my FLD puppy admittance.

The hostess seats us at the first booth to the right of the entry door.  I wonder, Perhaps a quick exit if Rosie has to park?  Or, perhaps the hostess thinks we might disturb her other customers if we walk through the dining room to a table further away?  I've only had Rosie for just over one month, and I'm still getting used to taking her with me everywhere I go.

FLD Rosie eagerly sniffs out the floor under our table as we situate ourselves, but soon looses interest and wants to explore beyond our booth.  I struggle with her.  Rosie.  Settle.  She sits between my feet and I give her a praising pet.  Good girl.  She pops up from her sit.  I physically put her back into a sit by running my right hand down her backside to her tail and curling her rear end to the floor.  She pops up again.  I return her to a sit, but this time I sweep her front legs out with my left arm, bring my right hand to her shoulders, and encourage her to lie down.  Down.  Good girl.  I give her a few long, slow strokes along her back.  Settle.

Just when I think I've got her settled, the waitress arrives with our water.  Rosie pops up, vigorously wagging her tail, and sticks her nose out to sniff the waitress's leg.  No, Rosie.  Leave it.

Ok.  Deep breath.

I quickly scan the menu, make my selection, and slip a piece of puppy-chow to Rosie, who is finally settling at my feet.  Good settle, Rosie.  She is so bloody cute when she looks up at me, I can't stand it.  I give her a Nylabone and hope it keeps her busy through dinner.

Before our food arrives, a woman with two little girls enters the restaurant and approaches the hostess stand.  The oldest girl, maybe six or seven years old, takes notice when Rosie peeks her nose into the aisle from under our table.

"Mom, there's a puppy in here!" she exclaims, pulling on her mother's sweater.  The younger girl (a years or two younger) sticks her head around the corner of our booth just as Rosie lunges.  I have a firm hold; there is not chance for Rosie to reach her, but both girls squeeze tight against their mother.  "Mom, look, it's a puppy!" the older girl repeats.

The mother, a tall and imposing figure, turns and leans over to see.  "Awwwwww...." she says in a voice that doesn't fit her persona.

"Can we pet her, Mom?"  The mother notices Rosie's Future Leader Dog bandanna and tells her daughter, "She is a Leader Dog.  You'll have to ask."

The older girl cautiously comes toward us.  I'm surprised, and proud, when Rosie sits without being told, but I keep a tight grip on her collar.  She needs to learn to stay calm when strangers approach and the "four-on-the-floor" rule means she can't accept pets unless all four paws are down.

"Can we pet her?" the girl asks me.  I'm even more surprised when Rosie lies down.

Yes, I answer.

The girl kneels beside us with her sister close behind.  Rosie sits up, but keeps four feet down.   As the girl reaches out, Rosie opens her mouth and reaches back.  No bite! I say and pull her away.  Rosie licks the girl's outstretched hand.

"I just read a book in school about a Leader Dog!" the girl tells me.

 
That's great, what was the name of the book?

"Rugby and Rosie."

I smile, no stranger to coincidences.   Well, guess what?  This puppy's name is Rosie!

"What?!"  The girl jumps up and almost knocks her sister over.  Rosie leaps up after her, but I hold her.  "And she looks just like the one in the book!"

Now you can tell your teacher that you saw Rosie the Leader Dog in the restaurant, I say.  The sister comes over to pet Rosie, but now the puppy is too excited so the little girl draws away.  Pet her on the side, like this, I show her and keep Rosie's head turned away.

"She is soooo soft!"

"Come on girls," their mother calls as the hostess grabs menus to lead them to their table.  The youngest runs off, but the older girls follows slowly.  Suddenly, she races back.  "Thanks for letting us pet your puppy!"

I'm getting the book from the library tomorrow, so I can read Rugby and Rosie for myself!

As it turns out, the Rosie in the book is a yellow lab, not a black lab like my FLD Rosie--I guess it is all in the name!

The Rosie Road, part 10 THE "PARK"

On Saturday, August 30, 2008, on the way out of the Leader Dogs for the Blind kennel, Andy takes my picture with Future Leader Dog (FLD) Rosie by the Leader Dog Statue.  I wonder how many times this statue has heard a camera lens click, both when seven- or eight-week-old puppies are picked up by their raisers and when one-year-old puppies are returned for their formal training.  Our Rosie doesn't seem interested at all.

I take Rosie to "park" (see note below) in the designated area, but no go.  Once in the van, I take advantage of this rare opportunity to snuggle her in my lap; after this first ride her official place will be at my feet on the passenger-side floorboard.  She's a bit whiny and squiggly, but after a few miles she falls fast asleep in my arms.

We stop by my sister Sue's house to pick up a portable pen that I'm borrowing from my nephew, Miley's owner.  I rouse Rosie and try to "park" her again, but all she wants to do is lie down in the shade on the cool grass.  It's a warm day, so Sue brings out a little bowl of water.  Rosie drags herself to it and drinks lying down!  I try for the third time:  Rosie. Park.  Nothing.  She sleeps on me all the way home; I'm beginning to wonder if we've got a lazy Future Leader Dog!  (Little did I know!)

I try to "park" FLD Rosie once we arrive home, but she still won't go. Andy brings our dog, Gypsy out to potty.  When Rosie sees Gypsy squat, she squats too!  Finally.

Way to go, Gypsy!  I give Rosie lots of praise, too.  We're on our way.

Note:  "Park" is the Leader Dogs for the Blind command for "potty."

The Rosie Road, part 9 Puppy Number 7758

Saturday, August 30, 2008

I feel a bit anxious as we drive out to the Leader Dogs for the Blind to pick up our Future Leader Dog (FLD) puppy.  Will I be able to do this?  How will I manage her while I'm working?  What will Gypsy do?

Andy says, "There's just one thing."  Oh, oh.  "Because you chose to do this, I get to name her.

Fair enough.  Seven years prior I had struggled to name Gypsy.  She went three days without a name, mostly I was calling her "YOU," as in "Hey, you!"  On the fourth morning, a beleaguered Andy announced, "Her name is Gypsy."

So, what name did you pick out for our Future Leader Dog?  I asked.

"Well, I think we should reserve final judgment until we meet her, but I'm thinking: ROSIE."

We pull into the Leader Dogs for the Blind parking lot almost 30 minutes early; we watch a looped video more than once while waiting in the kennel lobby.  This isn't calming my nerves.  Finally, a volunteer leads us back to a conference room.  Another woman and her young daughter and son accompany us--they are here to pick up their second Leader Dog puppy.  "We brought our first one back two weeks ago.  Luckily we are getting a four or five-month-old puppy this time.  My work schedule makes it impossible to deal with the constant demands of an eight-week-old!"

The volunteer hands me and the woman a canvas "ditty" bag (with "Puppy-Raiser for Leader Dogs for the Blind" stamped on the side) filled with paperwork, a "training manual," puppy-counselor contact information, two sizes of martingale collars, a six-foot leather leash, a ziplock-bag of Purina Puppy Chow, a two-cup plastic scoop, Heartgard tablets, a nylabone, a small Kong toy, and a numbered Leader Dog tag which must be on the puppy at all times.  We are given instructions about veterinarian care, and feeding schedules.  We read over and sign a formal contract stating that this puppy is entrusted to our care until she is about one-year old.  There is a special box* to check--if the puppy is "career-changed" at any time, do we want her back?  I hold my breath and "X" it.  (*As of 2010 this box is not on the contract; Leader Dogs retains the right to place a career-changed dog into an alternative program before offering it back to the raiser.)

After all the "legal-eeze," the volunteer says to me, "I'm going to bring yours out first.  The little ones are just so darn cute!"

She is gone what seems to me to be an extra-long time.  At last she returns, cradling a snuggly-pudgy black-lab puppy.  "I had to wake her up!" She exclaims.  

As she hands Future Leader Dog puppy number 7758 to me, the patiently-awaiting little boy runs over and begs, "Can I hold her?"  Reluctantly I hand her over.  His face looks like it is about to break he is grinning so hard, and the puppy's tail appears in danger of spinning off of her body.

 

 

There isn't much point in discussing her name any longer.  FLD "Rosie" gets handed back and forth--there is plenty of puppy-breath and ear-nibbles for all--and in the end she comes to me.

The Rosie Road, part 8 The Call

Caspian was back with his raisers.  I stopped calling the Leader Dogs for the Blind to see if they had a puppy for me.  I got on with my life, happy to delay any decision about becoming a puppy-raiser.

On a Friday in August, 2008, I dragged myself home after a particularly long day of field work for Invisible Fence.  Andy greeted me with a hug, "Leaders Dogs called and left a message.  They have a puppy ready for you."

Oh boy.  Now I was faced with a decision and I had the weekend to stew about it.

Me, to myself:  I don't want to commit to this.

Myself, to me:  You idiot!  How can you agree to be a puppy-raiser and then back out at the last minute?!

Andy did not want to be part of my decision, but when I pressed him he admitted, "I guess I really don't want a second dog.  But I'll support whatever you decide to do."

Yikes.  Another nice mess.

On Sunday I attended a United Church of Christ service where my younger brother, Jim, was "guest preaching."  In a mid-life career-change, he was studying at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary to get his Master's Degree in Divinity.  Something in Jim's sermon caused me to consider that there really was no other choice for me--I must become a puppy-raiser.  I don't remember his exact words; I'm sure it had to do with our responsibilities to use our skills in the service of others.  This quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe came to mind:  "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

On Monday, first thing, I called the Leader Dogs for the Blind.  You have a puppy for me?  "Yes, a female black lab."  Great!  When can I pick her up?

The Rosie Road, part 7 DOUBT

Doubt.  I was full of it.  What was I thinking when I signed up to be a volunteer puppy-raiser for Leader Dogs for the Blind? 

Caspian, the one-year-old Future Leader Dog that I cared for one week in June of 2008, was well-behaved and no trouble, really.  He stayed in the kitchen.  He backed away from my nervous-nilly Gypsy.  He ran into his crate at night with no complaints.  But he was huge.  I know.  I've said it before, but he was easily double Gypsy's petite size, and that was alot of dog in our small townhouse.

Caspian was so big he didn't quite fit in my Chevy S10 pickup when I took him with me on my three-day-a-week-Invisible-Fence-field job.  Leader Dogs are trained to ride on the passenger side floor, but Caspian gazed at me quizzically when I told him, GET IN.  "You're kidding, right?" I read in his eyes.  "You expect ME to fit THERE?"  Somehow he wedged himself in, draping his upper body over the seat.  By the end of the workday he was exhausted; he reminded me of a Salvador Dali painting as he slid down the seat in a heap.

Caspian sat patiently before eating, but drooled puddles on our tile floor.  He shed copious amounts of black-lab fur.  Too bad I didn't know about the program that recycles hair to make oil spill collectors--Caspian could have single-handedly solved the recent disaster in the Gulf!

 

Apologies to Oliver Hardy, but I was feeling like this Leader-Dog-thing of mine was just another fine mess I'd gotten myself into.   How could we manage a large, shedding dog in our small space?  Andy was accommodating, but was it fair of me to subject him to this?

 

When Caspian's raisers came to pick him up, they graciously presented me with a Kong-toy and a Nyla-bone:  "For your new Leader Dog puppy!"  I thanked them, but inside I wasn't sure what I would do when the Leader Dogs for the Blind finally called to say, "We have a puppy for you!"

The Rosie Road, part 6 The Test

Miley never came back, she was with her girls forever.  The wait for a Future Leader Dog puppy began.  My application was in; by late March I had received a packet in the mail from the Puppy Development department at Leader Dogs for the Blind.  I was accepted as a puppy-raiser! Now I had to wait until a puppy became available--it could be 6 to 9 months.  (Currently, puppy-raisers are in great demand so the wait is not long.)

Sometimes I think that all the waiting was designed to test my resolve.  I wondered if the Puppy Development people brainstormed ways to verify that potential puppy-raisers really have what it takes to raise a Future Leader Dog.  Patience.  Persistence.  Doggedness!

The Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo event came and went.  I waited.

My work schedule got reduced to three days a week.  I waited.

I checked PetFinder every night before bed.  I was still filled with "puppy lust."  I waited.

One day in June I received an email from a Leader Dog Puppy-Counselor.  Can you take a one-year-old male black lab named Caspian for a week while his raiser goes on vacation?

Hmmm...it seemed like another test.  Would I get a puppy sooner if I agreed to take the lab?  What if I didn't?  Would I be deemed "not-a-team-player" and never get a puppy?  (Questions I thought, but didn't come right out to ask!)  I wasn't sure how Gypsy would take to a grown, un-neutered male.  (Future Leader  Dogs are not neutered or spayed until it is determined that they will not serve as breeders.)  I knew I could handle exposing Gypsy to a puppy, but this was something different.  Somewhat apprehensively, I agreed.

One thing that impresses me about the trainers, puppy-development people, and puppy-counselors at Leader Dogs is their practical attitude in dealing with dogs.  At one of the puppy classes at the school, one puppy-raiser asked about how to handle the interaction between her puppy and her personal dog.  "My dog is not happy about having the new pup in the house."  "As long as there isn't any blood flying, let them settle it," she was advised.

The family raising Caspian brought him over a few days before I actually took him; we wanted to see how things might go with Gypsy.  (And maybe they wanted to check me out!)  We met outside our townhouse in the common area.  Caspian was HUGE!  

Does Caspian back off if a dog growls at him? I asked his raiser.  Gypsy can sound ferocious, but she puts up a good front; if the dog backs off, so will she, but if the dog doesn't...well, it isn't pretty.

"Oh yes, he's a big wimp!  And, seriously?  He could use a dog to put him in his place."

Sure enough, as Gypsy and I approached an interested Caspian, Gypsy rumbled and he backed away.  Our week with the big guy was on.

The Rosie Road, part 5 Finding Leader Dogs for the Blind

Miley was back with her family.  I was still in "puppy lust," maybe more so after my two weeks with sweet little Miley.  I didn't think I could wait until "Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo" in May before adopting a puppy.

Back to searching.  Click, click, click of the mouse and soon I'm lost in the tentacles of the World Wide Web.

What's this?  Somehow I land on the Leader Dogs for the Blind website.  This organization is not far from my home; over the years I've watched the campus expand and modernize.

Click, click, click and here is information about adopting a "career-changed" (cc'd) dog.  I knew someone who had adopted a cc'd Leader Dog--maybe this is what I should do.  Looks like so many people want to adopt one of these dogs that Leader Dogs is not even taking applications right now!

Click, click, click.  Raise a puppy. Hmmmmmm....  Andy!

We talk it over.  Well...I rationalize to Andy why raising a puppy for Leader Dogs for the Blind is the absolute best thing for me to do.  I want to adopt every puppy I see; raising a Leader Dog puppy meant that I could raise one, turn it in, and start with another one.  I will practice my dog-training skills, learn new techniques, and  help someone to boot!  How could we lose?  If Gypsy cannot tolerate a new addition, we are not committed to a lifetime with a dog--after turning in the puppy I wouldn't have to raise another one.

With Andy's consent, if not his blessing, I submit my application.  And wait.  Gypsy might have something else to say about it...

 

The Rosie Road, part 4 Miley's Report Card

Miley's time at patti's "puppy boot-camp" was over; our training pact was two weeks.  Her little persons couldn't stand to have Miley away any longer so she was going home.

MILEY'S REPORT CARD

Crate Behavior     A+

Miley never had an accident in her crate.  She stays calm and quiet in her crate and sleeps almost through the night.

Potty Training     B

Miley is on her way to understanding that her potty-place is OUTSIDE, and NOT in the house.  She runs to the door when she has to poop, but her teeny, tiny bladder sometimes take her (and me) by surprise.

Freedom in the House     C

Miley did not graduate into full access through the house.  She is still restricted to the kitchen, with supervised forays allowed in the living room.  Upstairs and downstairs are still off-limits, until she  proves she can be trusted.

Commands     B-

Miley knows these commands:  SIT, WAIT, DOWN, and OK.  She sits and waits patiently for the "OK" release before her three daily meals.  When I say "DOWN" she drops to her belly, her eyes keen for a "treat."  (I use morsels of her food as treats.)  She almost "ROLLS OVER" on command, but she needs lots of practice to master this.

Do NOT expect Miley to "COME" when you call her--this is an advanced, off-leash command that is accomplished only after she can do every command on-leash.  For now, work on "name recognition."  When she is on-leash near you, say her name (once), and give her a treat when she looks at you.  Eventually you can extend this into a game of "hide-and-seek"--hide from her, call her name, and give her a treat when she finds you (make her sit first).  This exercise sets the stage for the COME command.

OVERALL EVALUATION     B

Miley is a sweet puppy who is eager to please and enthusiastic to learn.  She is almost "housebroken" but will need continued close supervision and strong leadership or she will regress.

Information about her breed, the Yorkshire Terrier:  the Yorkie breed is of the "terrier" group--intelligent "natural born killers" bred to hunt rats.  You must be careful to treat Miley like a DOG, not a baby, or she will become a victim of the dreaded "little dog syndrome."

Thanks for the opportunity to work with Miley; I thoroughly enjoyed her.  To insure her continued success, please follow my recommendations spelled out in my article PUPPY POTTY TRAINING step one and step two. 

I suspected Miley's humans would find it difficult to follow-up with consistency; this was not their first attempt to add a canine to their family.  Secretly, I hoped their frustration would lead to giving up on her, in which case I would gladly give Miley a new home.  I had become attached to the cute little terrier!

In the end, it was best that Miley stayed with her girls, or I would never have become a puppy raiser for Leader Dogs for the Blind!

The Rosie Road, part 3 MILEY

Intercepted emails from Miley in "doggy camp" to her little persons.

1/7/08

Hi kids!

I just want you to know I am having fun here at aunt patti's doggy camp.  I am learning to go potty outside.  (It helps that the snow is melting.)  Patti's dog Gypsy is showing me what to do.  Last night I slept all night in my crate.  I liked that patti put it in her bedroom in case I got scared.  (But I didn't!) I was ready to play at 6:30 this morning, but first I had to go outside to poop and pee, and after that Gypsy and I ate breakfast.  I have to "sit" before I can eat breakfast, lunch, AND dinner (patti is teaching me how).   Then I got to play.

 

That's me in the picture having breakfast (after I sat) in my new play yard in patti's kitchen.  It's all for me!

miss you, love and puppy kisses!  Miley

1/8/08

Sorry it's so late, but I had a busy day at work today.  Yep, I went to work with aunt patti and Gypsy.  You can see me safe in my crate in patti's work truck (I'm glad I have my bunny).  We went lots of places.  First I met everyone on patti's team really early in the morning (there were some BIG dogs there!), then we drove a looong way in her truck.  She let me get out alot to pee, but sometimes I got distracted because there were too many new things to see and sniff.  Oh, and I met a nice little doggie named Sam and his little person just about your age, Maddy.  

It rained alot today, but mostly I stayed warm and dry in my crate.  I got to eat lunch right in the truck!  Then we drove a looong way back home and played and played.  I'm getting good at chasing the ball and bringing it back, although sometimes I like to tease patti and run away instead.  Gypsy let me jump into her soft new bed she got from Santa!

I'm doing pretty good learning not to mess in the house, but patti has to pay closer attention to me.  She still hasn't figured out when I try to tell her "I gotta go!"  I had two mistakes today, but lots of other times I did okay.  I LOVE  to go outside, there are so many things to smell and chase, like leaves!  Plus, I follow Gypsy around.

I hope you are having as much fun as me!  I miss you!  Tomorrow we don't have to go to work.  I wonder what we'll do....

puppy kisses, Miley  (aunt patti says "hi!")

1/9/08

Hey Maddy!  I have to go to bed now, but I wanted to let you know how much fun I had today.  Patti is finally learning to know when I tell her I have to go out.  I gave her a good hint--I ran to the back door and she took me out!  I pooped and peed outside ALL DAY!

Patti made me a fun toy to keep me busy thinking.  She took a plastic bottle and cut a hole in it and then put some of my food in there.  I was scared at first, but then I figured it out--when I roll it around pieces fall out and I get to eat them! Is this what you do in school?

Patti teaches me lots of things.  When I fetch she tells me to "drop."  Sometimes I get excited and try to bite her hands or clothes, but she tells me "NO" and I stop.  I try to be a good puppy!

I miss you!  I can't wait to get home, but first I want to be the very bestest puppy I can!

love and puppy kisses, Miley

The Rosie Road, part 2

CONFESSION

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. It's been years since my last confession. I've been prejudiced.  I never really liked little, yappy dogs.  Well, until recently.  I've met a few I like.  But, I've been known to call them "kick-me" dogs.

"For your penance, go now and rescue a little dog."

It's true.  I never had a special place in my heart for diminutive dogs.  Most of the ones I knew were irritating spoiled brats.  My idea of a "real" dog was one that weighed at least 40 lbs, a dog you could run with, who would make you feel protected.

My mind changed, though, after working for Invisible Fence.  I was in contact with scores of dogs, big and small, and in-between.  Some of these little dogs were very cool, just like "regular" dogs!  They behaved, they listened, they were easy to train, and fun to play with!  What made them just like "big" dogs?  And others like gremlins?

LITTLE DOG SYNDROME

Many tiny pups suffer from what is known as "little-dog-syndrome."  Check out more on this phenomenon at this website:  www.dogbreedinfo.com.

In short, it isn't their fault.  Humans put up with behaviors in little dogs that we wouldn't allow in larger dogs.  Let's face it.  A 90 lb rotty who runs up and jumps on you is just plain SCARY!  Yet, a 12 lb "Yorki-poo" jumps up and it's "cute."  Annoying little dogs are just DOGS who do what dogs do--assert themselves in a pack hierarchy--and get away with it.

NOW I WANT A SMALL DOG

How cool would it be to have a tiny, obedient dog to bring to work with me?  I thought.  What a great example!

So, I will find a small dog, but I've got to narrow my choices--what breed?  I insisted on a puppy under 12 weeks of age.  Remember, part of wanting a new puppy was to challenge what I learned about training and socializing during this critical phase--from about 8 to 16 weeks.

During the month of January, 2008, I spent hours perusing PetFinder.  LUCY, a 12 week-old terrier mix (maybe).  TAMARA, a 7 month-old min-pin (too old, but cute).  TODDI, a Tibetan spaniel mix, age unknown (could be too big).  AUBURN, an 8 week-old Boston terrier mix (hmmm).  I also visited the Macomb County Animal Shelter.  Not too many young puppies here.

So many choices; I wanted ALL of them!  I just couldn't decide.  I might have to wait until May for the annual adoption event where I found Gypsy, "Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo."

IN THE MEANTIME

My nephew gave his six-year-old daughter a female Yorkie puppy (she named "Miley") that same Christmas, a grand-slam-home-run.  Unfortunately, his busy household with three kids (one an infant) and two working parents left little time for house-training.  He called me for advice.  After a long list of instructions, he gasped in exasperation.  "That isn't going to happen!"  Let me take Miley home for 2 weeks and I'll do it.

At last, a chance to practice my training skills with a little dog!

The Rosie Road, part 1

Today we start a trip back in time with the story of Rosie, or "how puppy-lust brought me to raising Leader Dog puppies."

It's Christmas morning, 2007.  Andy comes down from upstairs and drops two soft, round doggie beds onto our living room rug.  "Merry Christmas," he kisses me.  Thanks, now Gypsy can have a soft spot under my desk and another next to our bed.  She already had a nice bed on the main floor of our townhouse.  "You misunderstand.  They're not for Gypsy."

He smiled.

Andy caught me more than once perusing PetFinder or the pet category on craigslist.  He knew I struggled with "puppy-lust" since working for Invisible Fence (IF).  We figured it's possible I trained up to 1000 dogs a year on the fence; now I was doing one-on-one, in-home obedience for IF as well.

It had been seven years since I raised Gypsy, rescued at seven weeks old.  I knew more about dog training and was eager to apply what I'd learned.

Aside from my "puppy-lust," I rationalized the need for a puppy as beneficial for Gypsy.  She was obedient and well behaved, but a bit shy and jittery around other dogs.  Taking her with me to work gave her confidence.  She had a blast chasing balls and otherwise tempting ready-to-be-off-leash dogs new to Invisible Fence.  Her good behavior garnered me plenty of obedience work with my IF customers; I swear she was worth 50% of my sales!

Confirmation of my idea that getting a puppy could help Gypsy surfaced during a week of obedience training for IF trainers.  My co-worker and trainer-friend, Katie (a graduate of National K9 School), developed IF's "train-the-trainer" program.  I was her "left-hand" (I'm left-handed, sorry for the pun!) assistant. 

Trainers brought their personal dogs to class and we had several other dogs available for extensive hands-on practice.  I was amazed to witness this group of "balanced" dogs interact with no issues, both when focused during class-time and when romping in play at break-time.  (The picture at right is of some of these dogs "holding sit" with outside distractions!)  Even Gypsy felt comfortable, taking particular interest in cavorting with a young female Westie.

You mean...I can get a new puppy?  Andy aswered, "Yep!"

The search was on.  In earnest.