Puppy Update V

LD MIKE

Wayne, LD Mike's new handler, called me Tuesday night to let me know that their team training is progressing very well.  LD Mike accompanied Wayne to work all day Tuesday (Wayne is a substitute teacher).  Wayne was proud of how Mike ignored other dogs as they traveled his neighborhood.  Another big day was in store for them Wednesday--a train-ride into Chicago for an appointment.  I'm sure they have been very busy; today is the last day working with Mike-the-trainer from Leader Dogs for the Blind.  Way to go, Wayne and LD Mike!

FLD GUS

FLD Gus and I made it to puppy-class at Leader Dogs for the Blind Tuesday evening after missing the previous class two weeks prior due to the "Snowmageddon" storm.

"Forty-seven and a half pounds," Sandy said and turned to her clipboard to record Gus's number.  (My, he's getting big!  His brother, Raphael, weighed in at least a couple of pounds lighter.)

"I don't know why I can't find you on here," Sandy said, searching her list.  "I know you are in class."

By the way, I brought this chase-it toy to use as a distraction tonight, I said and held up what looks like a fishing pole that caught a stuffed animal.

"We won't use that for the 'Basic' class," Sandy replied.

Wait, I said, glancing around the room full of unfamiliar puppies and raisers.  Did I come to the wrong class?

Sandy flipped the sheet on her clipboard.  "There you are!  You are in the NEXT class!"

I felt like an idiot.  Leave it to me to get the class time wrong.  Six-thirty is the "Basics" class; SEVEN-THIRTY is our "Beyond Basics" class.  My niece, Sofia, came with me tonight and now she was going to have to hang out an extra hour with me.

"Well, let me record Gus's weight.  What was it?"  Sandy asked. 

Forty-seven and a half, I replied.   Can I just hang out until our class?

"Sure.  Observe or participate, whatever you'd like.  Or, maybe you can help us out with the class."

Sofia was a real trooper, sitting with FLD Gus while I lent a hand during the "Basics" class.  It was good training for Gus, having to settle with her and not be at my side.  As class wound down I sat down next to Sofia and Gus.

"I think he needs to 'park,'" Sofia told me.  "He didn't whine or move or anything when the puppies walked by before, but now he's whiny.  And a little stinky."  I smiled.  She is learning to "read" dog.  Here, I'll take him out.

A few minutes later and I was back inside with Sofia.  Yep, that's exactly what he needed to do!  Now she smiled.  I still feel stupid for getting the class time wrong, I said, leaning into her.

"I did something the other day that made me feel like an idiot," she whispered back.  "I had to play a solo on my horn and it was acting up and it only played about half the notes!"

Oh no, that's bad!  What happened?

"I don't know, but my teacher told me it was okay, sometimes that just happens."

What a sweetheart, sharing her story to make me feel better.

It worked!  Thanks, Sofia!

Sofia.

FLD Gus Helps Us Feel at Home

FLD Gus is glad to be back home in the north-country woods after a trip downstate, but it isn't all playtime--a trip to town is not something to miss.  Andy is adding a ceiling light to our dark basement hallway and of course, this necessitates an outing to the hardware store.  We are becoming regulars at the Green Ace Hardware in Rose City.

Today FLD Gus jumps out of the van (with some encouragement), parks, and waits patiently for me to clip on his blue working jacket.  Maybe he's getting over his reluctance.

"They don't have what I need," Andy announces when he finds FLD Gus and I walking the aisles practicing RIGHT and LEFT turns.  What?  I find it hard to believe that Green Ace doesn't have something.  "They are just out of stock right now," he says.  "I should have went with my instinct and gone to Hale first."

Off we go to Hale, 12 miles past our house in the other direction.  Quick trips to the hardware during a project are a bit different up here.  In the city, Lowe's was less than one mile away, Home Depot less than five miles.

Still, it is a pretty drive, even today with the eeriness of fog shrouding the stark branches of the trees.  The temperature lingers around 50 degrees and it is hard to tell if the air is foggy from the melting snowpack, or if the cloud cover is low.  The windshield mists over enough that we need the wipers on.

Fog in the trees

In Hale, we head to the Bernard Building Center.  Andy is confident they'll have what he needs; we checked out Bernard's last week and were impressed with their selection. 

As is typical in businesses up here, FLD Gus is warmly welcomed.  A Bernard's worker stops to admire Gus.  "He's a fine looking Lab," the man says.  "I have one of those.  Is he from Leader Dogs in Rochester?"

Yes, I answer, not too surprised--we heard about another puppy frequenting Glen's Grocery in Rose City.

"My wife and I are raising our 13th dog for Leader Dogs, a female black Lab.  Where are you from?" 

We just moved up here from the Detroit area.  We're out on Brady Road.

"Ah!" He nods.  "My wife drives the school bus for Rose City."

Then she's seen us.  The day we moved in, the school bus slowed past the neighbor's house down the hill from us and let the kids off at the top of the hill instead.  I waved at all the faces pressed against the windows.

"Well," he says, "she's heard about you."

Small town life, word gets out.  But it is nice meeting Ed, and knowing that his wife Lori is the one driving the school bus down our road.  Ed and Lori raised Labs and Golden Retrievers for Leader Dogs for the Blind; one of their puppies was pulled for breeding, and only one was career-changed.  A very successful record!

On the drive home, electrical supplies in hand and FLD Gus curled up at my feet, I remark to Andy, Puppy-raisers.  We're our own sub-culture!  He smiles, more than one reason we're feeling so at home here.

  

Feeding Time

It strikes me as uncanny the way Gypsy and FLD Gus know the time, especially when our clock chimes at 7:30 am and later at 5:00 pm.  Doggie-meal-times.

This evening, the two of them stand expectantly, as if waiting for a bus that's running late.  I listen--from the basement I can just barely hear the clock hammer five beats.  I only have two more screws to bolt into my new "bike room" wall and the last of my small parts cabinets will be in place.

They can wait a few more minutes.

There, I'm done, I say to them as I turn toward the door.  The clicky-clack of eight puppy paws race ahead of me to the stairs.  FLD Gus heads for his mat and Gypsy sits on the carpet next to him in anticipation.

I fill Gypsy's bowl first to show Gus she's the boss and as an exercise in self-control.  Gypsy, OK!  She slinks to her dish that's on the left side of an oval braided rug, but doesn't start eating; she watches me out of the corner of her eye.

I pour half of Gus's food into his bowl on the right side of the same rug.  He remains sitting on his mat, but his nose is scanning the air.  When I pick up the water bowl between the two stainless-steel bowls he a l m o s t gets up, but a look from me settles him.

I fill the water bowl at the sink.  Gus is so stock-still I wonder if he is holding his breath.  At my OK release, he sucks in a little gasp, rockets across the kitchen, slides the rug into the wall, and buries his face into his food.  I'm glad I'm still holding the water bowl.  I guess Gypsy is glad too, because only now does she eat, daintily picking up one piece of kibble at a time.

I empty some of the water out of the bowl; before I can set it down, Gus has almost somersaulted back over to his mat.  He twirls backwards, bumps into the wall as he sets his butt down, not quite on the mat.  He twirls again and lands squarely in place, lifting his chin to wait for round two.

Good mat, Gus! I say and clatter the remainder of his food into his bowl.  OK!

Pretty smart of me to not leave the water bowl full!

   

Thinking of LD Mike

(Happy Valentine's Day to all!)

 

FLD Gus wanders into the kitchen just as Andy and I sit  for dinner.  Gus.  Mat.  I command.  He stops in mid-step and stares at me.  I stare back and mentally start counting, One one thousand, two one thousand...  He backs up to his mat and sits.

Good mat, Mike,  I say, I mean, Gus.  He looks at me like he's thinking, "Why are you always calling me Mike?  My name is GUS.  G. U. S.  GUS.

Or maybe that's just what I'M thinking.  Mike has been on my mind lately.

LD Mike met his person, Wayne, Friday.  He has a new home (in Illinois), and a new job with Wayne.  Mike is a LEADER DOG now. 

Wayne called me Friday evening to let me know that Mike and he are bonding already, that Mike will have a loving home.  I have no doubt about that.  Mike is a special dog and Wayne's gracious "Thank you" on the phone brought tears to my eyes.  It's felt like Christmas all week, finding out that Mike was graduating and his new partner was eager to be in touch with Mike's raiser--me!

During the next week to ten days, Wayne and Mike with be training together with another Mike--a trainer from Leader Dogs for the Blind--to make sure they get off to a great start.  Wayne tells me that Wednesday will be a big day; a train ride and/or bus ride into Chicago.  I guess I was too excited to get the exact details.  Wayne started his own blog (My Leader Dog Journal) to keep LD Mike's story going, so perhaps he'll set me straight. 

Here are a few details I think I can get right...

Wayne told me he is a substitute teacher, so LD Mike will be going back to school.  Wayne, I never told you how good Mike was when I took him to class with me at Eastern Michigan University.  He would like down at my side and fall fast asleep.  Oh...his snoring during lectures did elicit snickers from my classmates, but luckily my professor was a good sport! 

Leni is Wayne's wife and together they are raising a lab/shepherd mix, six-month-old male puppy named Harley to donate to another guide dog school.  After Harley goes for formal training, Leni and Wayne would like to raise a puppy for Leader Dogs for the Blind.  What a wonderful gift for them to give, and a great experience!  And LD Mike has a buddy to show the ropes to and play with when he's not working.

Can a puppy-raiser ask for anything more?--A puppy raised and graduated, and able to be in contact with his handler.  Perfect closure, a long time coming. 

I thought that I was settling down with this news about LD Mike and Wayne.  I guess my name-slip today with FLD Gus indicates that Mike (and Wayne) is still on my mind.  (Can't wait for more posts on your blog, Wayne!)

Sorry Gus, I'll try to do better.

FLD GUS.  G. U. S.  GUS!