Now is the time...

Almost one year ago, I picked up this little guy from Leader Dogs for the Blind. Future Leader Dog (FLD) Henry seemed ready to take on the world.

FLD Henry, on the day he came home with me.

It was my job to help him get his start. To teach him the proper places to park and basic cues like "sit" and "down." To help him learn to settle and be comfortable and confident in new places, on a variety of surfaces, around diverse people. To encourage self-control and good manners.

I wish I had a nickel for every time I said, "OH Henry!" Like any puppy, Henry presented challenges. Like every puppy, I learned from him, too.

For those of you who helped us along the way, you'll remember Henry's "vocal" stage, and his insanity with blowing leaves. I am proud to say he worked himself through these things, learning quiet, how to settle, and that watching without pouncing is a much better option.

Henry was my easiest puppy to house train; he preferred to go to bed early and sleep late. Like Dutch before him, he learned "leg" - and learned it so well it was often a default behavior when he was not sure what else to do.

I will miss how he kept my feet warm in the morning while I sat and drank coffee with my hubby. I will miss his zany nose when he'd catch a scent during a hike in our woods. I will miss his digging in his doggy-toy box in the evening, Nylabones and Kongs flying across the living room just as the latest episode of whatever Netflix show we're watching comes to a crucial part of the story.

I have my paws crossed that one day Henry will serve to keep someone safe, but I know that his problem-solving skills and deep thinking will carry him far no matter what path he ends up exploring.

Thank you bugger, for a bright spot in a sometimes-challenging year...

FLD Henry, back at Leader Dogs for the Blind, ready for the next step in his journey. 

Dogspeed Henry!

 

How to occupy a puppy

FLD Henry works at his peanut-butter-kibble-filled-frozen Kong.

Working it. Hard.

Playmates for Henry

Two sets of dog guests took the puppy-heat off Gus recently.

FLD Henry thinks, "What? Four-legged guests?"

First, retired Leader Dog "mom" Amber and cc'd Autumn came to visit. They stayed for more than a week.

All pups sat when asked, except "melted chocolate" Amber. From left to right is cc'd Gus, retired mom Amber, FLD Henry and his bestest playmate, cc'd Autumn.

One weekend, two German Shorthaired Pointers came to play. Oh, and to chase chipmunks around the woodshed.

Odo and Gauge mingle with Gus, Autumn and Amber. FLD Henry is not in the mix. Yet.

The play begins. Can you spot FLD Henry in the background peering at the action?

It is interesting how the dogs sorted themselves out. Gus and Odo paired up. Momma Amber sometimes acted as the fun police and barreled her body between pairs to break things up. Old-man Gauge, who doesn't play as much as he used to, found Autumn to be a sweet young thing.

Gauge and Autumn hit it off. Dog-play can seem scary.

But all is well as the pups are called out of play. FLD Henry is the only one who notices the dropped piece of kibble.

FLD Henry was not too shy, and eventually got into the fray. Autumn seemed to be his favorite playmate, she adjusted her play with the little guy. Gus will miss her when she goes home!

FLD Henry waits at the bedroom door. Gotta love a puppy that asks to go to bed in the evening!

1st day of school

Hanging out at the Rose City Elementary School on the first morning after Labor Day is a fun way to give FLD Henry some "kid" exposure. Many of the kids remember me from when I brought FLDs Scout and Dutch to their classrooms. They are happy to meet my new puppy, and gracious about asking to pet him even when I tell them, Sorry, not today!

Two students ask me to take their picture with FLD Henry. I happily oblige.

FLD Henry winks at the camera as I take a quick photo of him with a new fifth-grader.

The school changed the bus drop-off to the other end of the parking lot, so FLD Henry and I walk over to see the kids disembark. A teacher standing nearby exclaims to the students, "Oh, look! She's got a new puppy!" The kids are all very good about waving "hi" and enter the school without engaging Henry.

One of the bus drivers steps down and spots us. "Oh puppy!" she squeals as she approaches, bending over as if she is going to scoop Henry up in her arms. Henry, I say. The little guy whips his head to me. With a quick YES I mark his attentive behavior. As I reach down to give it to him I ask the woman not to pet him.

She admonishes, "I've raised 12 of them, I know what's what!" She continues to coo at Henry from a foot or so away, leaning over with her hands on her knees. If she knows "what's what" I wonder why she is still carrying on.

Henry forgets about me and gets up from his sit. I call his name again but his leash tightens as he strains to greet her. I wait. He sits back down and looks back at me. YES I say again. He gets another treat. Now he's mine again.

"He is really focused on you," the woman says. "That's very good!"

 

With the distracting bus driver gone, FLD Henry sits nicely for a photo.

Oh Henry!

Someone has found his voice.

FLD Henry croons a tune during Cousino High School's first football game.

Maybe he didn't like sitting on the opposing side of the field.

"Shall I sing another?"

Bigfoot owls?

Eleven p.m. The last park of the evening. Gus busts out of the back door and pops into his hey-who's-out-there huff and puff. An owl howls in the north from the dark woods down the hill.

Mr. Henry leaps off the short wooden step and hits the "pea garden" running. He slides under my wooden arbor-seat with a rooster-tail of pea stone, turns and sits. What's that?!

The owl hoots again, this time a bit closer. Gus hops a few feet on stiff front legs and puffs his chest in his best act of protection. He throats a deep bark, yet holds his ground. Henry shrinks further under the seat.

The air feels like fall. I am glad for my hoodie, figuring I'm going to have to wait Henry out before he feels safe enough to park. I don't mind lingering. I look up. The past-new-moon sky is brilliant; after a few days of rain it is nice to be in awe of the Milky Way again.

The owl continues with a long, drawn out whoooo-who-hoot-whoooo! It seems even nearer. Gus woofs louder and my imagination goes wild. Is something rustling there in the brush? Why does an image of Bigfoot pop into my head?

Henry darts out beyond the pea garden onto the grass, pees and heads for the door. I don't mind that he parks on the grass this time.

Let's go inside!  Gus whips around and beats us in.

I doubt that Henry totally emptied his bladder. He wakes me with a whimper at 4 a.m. When I take him out the sky is clouded over and all is still. He uses the pea garden this time.

Lucky me

First night

     last park: 11 pm

     first, second and third park: 2 am, 4:30 am, 6 am

Second night

     last park: 11 pm

     first and second park: 4 am, 6:30 am

Last night

     last park: 11pm

     first park: 6:30 am!

Good boy Henry!

A sleepy FLD Henry.

A tear -dryer, not only for me

I carry FLD Henry from the car across the park to meet Tammy. She is sitting in the pavilion waiting for us. I set the sleepy pup down some 20 feet away and wait for him to "park."

A short, round man strolling with a rounder old dog along a perimeter fence line spots Henry. "A baby!" he exclaims and picks up his pace to a slow walk. I hadn't even had Henry for two hours and already he is attracting attention. I shouldn't be surprised. Henry is an adorable puppy.

FLD Henry shakes off.

Henry pees before the man reaches us. (Yay!) I snap him up into my arms. The man is disappointed that I don't let him meet his dog.

"He hasn't had all his shots, yet," I say. The man's dog, some kind of beagle mix, is overweight, has cloudy eyes and a myriad of gnarly red tumors sprouting from her snout, ears, paws and just about everywhere. 

"She's on her last leg," the man says. "And so am I." He lifts his shirt slightly to show us a black bag and holster belted around his waist. "This is my mechanical heart. I'm getting a transplant and I won't be able to get another puppy. It's a bad time for me."

I step forward. "You can pet him," I say. The man asks, "Can I hold him?" I hand over Henry, who snuggles into his neck as the man buries his face against his fur. The man takes a deep breath. "Puppies always smell so good!" he sighs.

"This is Henry," I say. "Henry!" the man exclaims. "Sadie, where's Henry?" Sadie has curled up a few feet away, glad for the break. I'm worried the man will bring Henry down to greet her. 

"My Sadie has a favorite stuffed toy named Henry," the man explains. Sadie isn't interested, she seems content to rest. I reach to retrieve my puppy. Instead, the man slips the handle of Sadie's retractable leash into my hand and begs me to let him hold Henry for just a little longer. The man eases himself onto the picnic table bench and begins to quietly cry into Henry's shoulder.

Henry quietly accommodates him.

FLD Henry takes a nap under our picnic table. It's hard work lending a shoulder to cry on!

Introducing...

It is never easy. But there comes a time when we are called to make that hard decision and give our pets a gift of peace. This week it was time for my Gypsy. At 14, my anxious mutt had too much pain.

We let her go.

My old Gypsy-doodle enjoys a bit of sun.

Over the last several years, Gypsy kept a string of Future Leader Dog (FLD) puppies in line (and off the furniture). She helped raise Rosie, Mike, Gus, Scout and Dutch. She also kept some part-timers in line. FLDs Bear and Bandit spent time here before heading off to prison. She puppy-sitted FLDs Baker and Grant this past year. 

The old girl will be missed. There is one thing, however, that works wonders in drying tears. 

Introducing - FLD Henry!

FLD Henry looking proud by the statue in front of the kennel lobby at Leader Dogs for the Blind.

After we returned Dutch to Leader Dogs last fall I decided to wait to see how Gypsy fared before bringing yet another puppy into our home. Some family commitments made my choice an easy one.

But now I was able to say "yes" when Leader Dogs called about a puppy.

FLD Henry (named by my hubby after Henry Blake in MASH) is a Golden Retriever/Labrador mix. His Golden Retriever mother, Emma, is Dutch's sister; his father is my puppy counselor Tammy's breed stock yellow lab, Wally.

Here we go again!

Puppy update - Dutch is in Phase IV!

I received this email yesterday from Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Dear Puppy Raiser,

The dog you raised Dutch, D-14157, has been in training for 13 weeks and has completed the third of four phases of training.  The instructor working with Dutch has made the following comments:
Some of the things that Dutch is doing well at are:
1.       Obstacle avoidance

2.       Straight line travel


Some of the things that the instructor is working on with Dutch are:
1.       Obedience

2.       Positioning next to the trainer

3.       Turns


This update lets you know how Dutch is doing at this point in training.  Thank you for raising Dutch for our program!  Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Puppy Development.  You will receive another update once this special dog completes training and is placed with a client.  The journey is almost complete!

Puppy Development
Leader Dogs for the Blind

Way to go Dutch! Our paws are still crossed for you!

FLD Dutch is ALMOST to the top!

Puppy Update! Dutch heads for Phase II

Dutch's 5th week update arrived at last, if a bit over-due...

The dog you raised, D#14157  Dutch, has been in training for over 5 weeks and has completed the first phase of training.  The instructor working with Dutch has made the following comments about the puppy you raised:
Some of the things that Dutch is doing well at are:
1. stairs
2. proper behavior on the training truck
3. name recognition
Some of the things that the trainer is working on with Dutch are:
1. obedience
2. elevator work
3. getting accustomed to the harness
This update lets you know how Dutch is doing at this point in training.  Thank you for raising Dutch  for our program!  Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Puppy Development.  You will also receive another update during the 13th week after Dutch has completed their 12th week of training.
Puppy Development
Leader Dogs for the Blind

Hooray!

No photos with this report. But here are two of Dutch taken one year apart...

FLD Dutch snuffs his nose into an early snowfall, November, 2012.

FLD Dutch, one year later, still trying to snuff up a dusting of snow!

Works for young 'ens, too!

The morning after our annual cookie bake (this time held at our northern house), my kindergarten-aged grandniece Lisette said, "Marise took my toy and I was playing with it."

I glanced over her head. Lisette's younger sister Marise was happily choo-chooing our wooden train around the living room floor. I glanced back at Lisette, who was looking up at me with pleading blue eyes.

Mothers? I said to my sister and sister-in-law who sat at the kitchen table with their daughters. The grandnieces' parents had stepped out for a bit. Any advice?

My professional-counselor-and-mother-of-three-girls sister, after learning of the issue said, "Marise, how about you give the train back to Lisette since she was playing with it first. After two minutes, then you can play with it. Okay?"

No reply from the living room, just a faint choo-choo as the train left the station. Lisette's eyes were boring holes in my head. I guess it was up to me to come up with a solution.

I found Marise in my writing room, guiding the train around the dog crate. Hey Marise, I said, reaching for the train. Let's let Lisette play with this for a while, okay? I handed the train to Lisette; she and the toy left the room at warp speed. Marise barely had time to realize it was gone. Her face turned sour. 

But I had an idea.

REDIRECTION!

Works on puppies...

Marise, I have something just for you, I said, opening the closet door. On the top shelf was a basket of little stuffed animals. Here, would you like to play with this?

Marise's face sweetened as she took the basket. She reached in, pulled out a pink fuzzy animal and said, "A flamingo!" At least, that's what I thought she said, because after all, that's what it was.

Problem solved, for now. I dashed back into the kitchen where I was trying to finish baking the cookies I never got to the night before. A few moments later I heard little voices wafting in from the living room. I peeked. Huddled on the floor together were Marise and Lisette, taking a train trip with all the stuffed animals.

Success!

Lisette and Marise have fun with the dog toys, too. Gus loves hanging out with them.

  

Puppy-less puppy-fixes

I am Future Leader Dog puppy-less.

FLD Dutch and I pose at the entrance to the Leader Dogs for the Blind kennel on return day.

Dutch in the intake room.

 

Evenings around here are calmer now that FLD Dutch is on his way. He went back to Leader Dogs for the Blind on November 11 to begin his formal training. 

Dutch's new tag sporting his "dog" number.

When there is a puppy underfoot, I forget how easy it is to care for my older dogs. CC'd Gus is a professional couch potato. Except when he gets the rips.

Last night, when I went out to stoke the fire before bed, was the first time since Dutch left that Gus zoomed around the yard. Even old Gypsy got into the game a bit, barking and snarling as he kicked up leaves on tight turns around her.

On his return, Dutch bounced away just like all my other puppies. Now the wait begins.

Leader Dog in-training Dutch relaxes while I finish up some paperwork. 

Luckily, I have other opportunities to get my puppy-fix.

PUPPIES!

My friends, Phyllis and Dick, home Leader Dog mom Amber. On November 2, Amber delivered her fourth litter - nine black puppies. I got to serve as "mid-wife" to the Lab/Golden mix pups.

Three boys and six girls. They are two weeks old now, eyes opening and they are pushing up on all fours.

One Amber-puppy, just opening his eyes at two-weeks of age.

PRISON PUPPY-RAISING PROGRAM

Last August,  Leader Dogs for the Blind coordinated a puppy-raising program at the Chippewa Correctional Facility in Kincheloe, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula (UP). My puppy counselor, Tammy, will also be puppy counselor for the prison raisers. And I get to help!

The Chippewa puppy-raisers in August 2013 with their four puppies and FLD Dutch and FLD Harper.

We take monthly trips to the UP to help the prison-raisers and to take the puppies out on "furlough." There are now six puppies at Chippewa, so this can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are past and present puppy-raisers in the UP who have offered to help. While the prison puppies are exposed to many different distractions at Chippewa, there are a few things which they need to experience that they can't get in prison. For instance, traffic and a variety of people, like kids and women.

This week, Tammy and I are traveling to the prison with Deb, the Puppy Development supervisor at Leader Dogs. After our work at Chippewa, we head to the west side of the UP to the town of Baraga. A prison there wants to start a puppy-raising program too. I will be taking a Chippewa puppy with me to check them out.

Keep posted as I continue with updates on the Michigan prison-puppy raising program....and updates on Dutch's progress at Leader Dogs!

(An inside source told me that Dutch has passed his physicals!)

Not just for puppies...

The 13th Assistance Dog Blog Carnival is being hosted this month by Brooke on her blog Ruled by Paws. The topic she chose is "Lessons."

Here is my post...

Positive training techniques. Reward the behavior you want. Ignore the behavior you don't want. Manage the behavior for which you don't have time to train.

These are things I've learned in raising five puppies for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Sounds simple, and it is, for the most part. At least with Future Leader Dog (FLD) Dutch, the golden-retriever puppy I've been raising for the last year. He's due to return to Leader Dogs on November 11 to begin his formal guide dog training.

Training a husband is another matter.

For the six-hundredth and twenty-ninth time, or so it seemed, I picked up tiny wet bits of torn tissue from between Dutch's front paws. He looked up at me with forlorn eyes. Busted!

Lucky for him, he doesn't play keep away with what he steals from our bedroom trashcan. He just takes it into the living room, a four-legged fuzzy shredding machine.

I've puppy-proofed kitchen and bathroom trashcans by hiding them in cabinets beneath the sinks. The can in my writing room stands almost three feet tall, preventing the curious pup from sticking his snout inside.

But the bedroom trashcan? Ah, that's been a struggle to manage. No cabinet to hide it in. When I put it on my husband's dresser out of reach, it invariably finds its way back to the floor.

And I'm picking up tissue bits.

I suppose I should have bought a tall can, like the one in my office, but I never remembered to get one when I went to town.

So I tried blocking the bedroom door with a section of x-pen. Instead of stepping over it, my husband slid it out of the way. And neglected to slide it back on his way out.

And I picked up tissue bits.

I pleaded. "Please, can you keep the bedroom door blocked off?"

"Why don't we just shut the door?" he negotiated. "Great, that'll work!" I said.

And still I picked up tissue bits.

I nagged. "Shut the door behind you!!!"

Yep, more tissue bits.

As I tossed a treat to Dutch, who was lying on his mat chewing on an elk antler, it dawned on me. I was going about this the wrong way. I needed to find a way to reward my husband for shutting the door.

"Honey," I said one day when I noticed him shutting the door on his way out of the bedroom. "Come here." I planted a gigantic kiss on his handsome face.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"I'll give you a kiss every time you remember to shut the bedroom door."

Sometimes Dutch offers behaviors that have previously garnered him a treat. If I sit, will I get a treat? How about if I lie down? What about if I swing into heel position at your side, will that get me a treat? What about this? Or this?

My husband ran over to the bedroom door and quickly opened and shut it three times. He sauntered back to me with a wily grin. Yep, he got three kisses!

My strategy worked great, until my husband returned from a three-day out of town conference. He was like a nine-month old puppy that suddenly forgot everything he learned.

When I reminded him to shut the door, he replied, "Can we talk about higher value treats?"

My sweet-heart and our pups. Cc'd Gus is on his lap and our old mutt, Gypsy is next to him. FLD Dutch is at his feet. No tissue bits to be found!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my blondie-boy!

Yes, FLD Dutch turns one-year-old today.

Luckily, I have him for a bit longer - his return to Leader Dogs for the Blind is scheduled for 11/11/13.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUTCH!

Cc'd Gus still likes to ride on the passenger seat floor. It's a squeeze.

Here is Dutch, in the same spot in the van, when he first came home with us last November.

A big THANK YOU to Dutch's parents,

LD Mom Indy and LD Dad Alphie

and their host families.

Dutch has been lots of fun!

Gentleman Dutch

A very calm and well-behaved FLD Dutch joined a contingent of Red Hat ladies at a luncheon and musical performance in Saginaw yesterday.

Good boy, Dutch!

FLD Dutch with the ladies.

Happy Father's Day!

FLD Dutch attended a gourmet wine dinner at the Rose Valley Winery Saturday night. 

FLD Dutch relaxes on his mat at the dinner under the big tent.

He might have been thinking it would be nice if his father, Alphie, could see him now.  What a big boy he has grown to be!

Wishing Leader Dog Dad Alphie

a very happy Father's Day!

Memorial Day

this puppy, on Memorial Day

this puppy padded gently

at my side

among the tombstones

and flags that marked lost soldiers

this puppy sniffed softly

in tune

with reverent feeling

amidst the dead on a chill morning

this puppy sat proudly

not forgetting

and held still for a photo

when he never would before

this puppy gazed calmly

as peace

surrounded us and geese honked overhead

in salute for service

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

FLD Dutch wishes his mom, Indy, a very happy day!

Dear Mom,

I know you're probably worried about me, but I'm doing fine! I miss you, but most of the time I'm having too much fun to be sad about not seeing you. My puppy-raiser makes training a BLAST and she takes me all kinds of places. Just last week we went hunting for morel mushrooms (can you believe it?) And then we went to see our 2nd-graders and this time we walked with them to a greenhouse. I loved smelling all the flowers, but they wouldn't let me plant a marigold for you like the other kids did for their mothers.

Thank you for giving me such a good start in life, Mom. My raiser tells me all the time that I'm going to have a very important job to do one day. I'm trying real hard to make you proud!

love and licks, Dutch

FLD Dutch at work with his 2nd-graders.

Guster-buster rocket pup!

Cc'd Gus wants to make sure we wish his mom, Sienna, a very happy Mother's Day, too! As you can see, he is in his glory in our north woods, and still running to me like a shot.

FLD Dutch goes 'shroomin'

I was honored.

The "mushroom queens" invited FLD Dutch and me on a morel mushroom hunt.

Unless you live in Northern Michigan, you might not understand the significance of the honor. Morel hunters guard their sacred grounds with their lives.

Stephanie, her mom Fran, her sister Yevette and her daughter Lilly, (and Yevette's friend Jay) didn't even ask me to wear a burlap bag over my head as we drove to their secret spot deep in the Huron National Forest.

That, my friends, is an honor.

Lilly gave us all handmade name tags as we grabbed our onion bags to head out into the woods. My tag read, "Morel Adams." Another honor--I guess she thinks I take a lot of photographs!

FLD Dutch sniffs out some fungi on an old log. Those aren't morels!

The evening was warm, the woods dry, the morels small and elusive. Stephanie said, "We just need a bit of rain for them to really pop."

Stephanie holds up a nice morel. Her mom, Fran is on the left with her onion bag, and Lilly is to the right. Lilly is an eagle-eyed morel hunter!

After three or four hours, the veteran crew had a fairly good take. This rookie found three.

My first two were a pair!

This one stuck out like a sore thumb! (sorry)

Here's some perspective for you on its size.

I admit I became distracted.

A yellow trout lily.

Trillium!

Wildflowers bloomed. Natural springs bubbled. The setting sun cast long shadows through the hazy-budding trees.

FLD Dutch laps a drink in a natural spring.

I said, The rate of reinforcement isn't high enough.

My comment would have been funnier amongst a group of dog trainers.

If the morels were as copious as the deer droppings that Dutch sniffed out, I might not have lost focus. 

Deer-doo hunter* FLD Dutch looks at the camera. "What?" he seems to be saying.

*Dont' worry, FLD Dutch got lots of practice with "leave it" during our hunt and his ingestion of said morsels was very limited.