A Pictoral Post for Thursday, September 8, 2011

FLD Scout, the day we picked her up from Leader Dogs for the Blind.

In one week, FLD Scout...

day 1

 

GAINED 1 1/2 POUNDS

day 7

WAS SPOILED BY MY NIECES

Sitting nice for Elaina and Nat.

Girl paws. Sofia and Scout snuggle it up.

Nose to nose with Natalie on the floor.

 

PLAYED WITH ROSIE

 

Rosie thinks, "Hey, this isn't Gus!"

TRIED TO PLAY WITH GYPSY

FLD Scout checks out Gypsy's stick.

Went out for breakfast and dinner.  Shopped at Meijer's, Krogers, Home Depot, Glen's, and Walmart.  Heeled down Brady Road.

CHASED AFTER GYPSY IN THE WOODS.

FLD Scout, hot on Gypsy's heels.

AND HELPED A 100 LB GOLDENDOODLE TAKE A BATH.

Trying to catch Finn's tail as my brother Jim washes him.

FLD Scout after Finn's bath.

BUT MOST OF ALL,

SHE MADE HERSELF RIGHT AT HOME!

FLD Scout, taking over Gypsy's bed.

(and wormed her way into our hearts)

Tuesday's Training TIP: BE QUIET

FLD Scout's first task: learn to be quiet.

Typical times of BIG VOICE exercise (from her point of view).

1. "Food? Am I going to get any food?"
2. "Why am I in this pen? I can't reach you!!!!! I just want to be close to you! Don't you understand that?!!!"
3. "Hey, I don't want to 'kennel up!'"

Here is a short video of FLD Scout in her pen in the kitchen, voicing her feelings about the situation.

Believe it or not, the quietness is growing around here. Oh, FLD Scout is not totally silent, and she will probably never completely stop expressing her opinion, but her noise-making episodes last considerably less time.

 

How am I helping FLD Scout suppress her natural urge to vocalize?

1. IGNORE, IGNORE, IGNORE.  This is definitely easier said than done. But seriously, ANY attention only reinforces her noise-making. Eventually she'll figure out it's the sweet sound of nothingness that gets her what she wants.
2. PRAISE THE QUIET.  Catch the brief intake of breath and reward the lack of noise. Timing is critical to bring the quiet on.
3. TREATS.  Yep, make the crate a wonderful place with a few well-placed morsels of her daily food allotment. Use treats as in #2 above, then wean away to just praise.

 

 

WORDS OF CAUTION

• Get everyone on board. I caught Andy reaching into the pen to pet Scout when she was hollering for attention. He got hollered at from both sides!

• Make sure it isn't something else. The other day FLD Scout raised her decibel level. I suspected she was trying to tell me something specific. I snatched her up at the first noise-less opportunity. She had to "park!" YIPPEE, making progress on that front, too!

A very quiet FLD Scout next to me as I'm writing.

Puppyhood Thrill Ride

It wasn't quite the "Millennium Force," but it made me wonder if I could now cross roller-coaster-ride off of my "bucket list."

Good-bye Gus.  Hello new puppy!

In about the same amount of time it takes for that Cedar Point behemoth to turn your stomach, I turned my back on Gus, trundled across the kennel lobby at Leader Dogs for the Blind, and paused at the precipice to wipe my eyes.

My new thrill ride?

FLD Scout!

Features               Black female Lab/Golden mix puppy.

Whelp date          July 11, 2011

LD Mom/Dad         Reese (Lab) / Kasey (Golden)

Siblings                5 girls, 1 boy in the litter (3 black, 3 yellow)

Ride Time            1 year

YEEEEEEE HAAAAAA!!

FLD Scout and I aboard for the ride!

Another "Licky Lab!" Scout greets Andy.

Andy and FLD Scout.

Natalie and Sofia are aboard with FLD Scout!

FLD Scout and Sofia

Raise your arms and jump aboard!

No Words

"Forest" Gus is history. It's Future Leader Dog Gus for real, now, as long as he passes his physicals next week.

We left him to his destiny last Thursday. It's been a pleasure getting to know this funny, intelligent, curious, helpful, determined, brute of a puppy. Gusto Gus!

Here, in pictures, our last day with FLD Gus.

FLD Gus picks up his old shoe-habit as we pack for our trip to take him back to Leader Dogs. He knows.

Glorious sun rays, filtering through morning mist and trees across our road, fill me with hope as we depart.

A quick stop at my sister's for a last Lab-wrestle with cc'd Rosie. Gypsy hollers with a premonition, "Oh no, you're not going to bring ANOTHER one home again are you?"

Cc'd Rosie (on the right) counsels FLD Gus. "Dude, it'll be alright! They have great food there!"

Andy, Natalie, and Sofia pose with FLD Gus in front of the Leader Dogs for the Blind's sign.

Seriously. FLD Gus is sad that there are never enough volunteers.

FLD Gus is more interested in the Leader Dogs kennel statue than taking ANOTHER photograph!

Natalie, looking sad. She's going to miss her buddy, FLD Gus.

FLD Gus gets his pick of new Nylabones while Natalie and LD staffer, Allison, look on.

FLD Gus looks back at me as if to question, "Alright, what's REALLY going on here?"

Nat sneaks a pet with FLD Syndey, a pal of Gus's, who is in for training too. (FLD Gus is right next door!)

Sofia says "good-bye" to FLD Gus.

DOGSPEED!

FLD Gus--it is your "scary-smartness" that I will always remember!