Anybody's guess

Andy says, "Dutch is going to make it."

             (He means as a working Leader Dog.)

How do you know? I ask.

"Because if he can stand up to Gypsy, he'll be just fine."

With every new puppy, my crabby old mutt Gypsy makes sure everyone knows who's boss. Lip curled, her worn-down teeth bared, she snarls and growls. This usually causes a new puppy to keep a wide berth.

Not Dutch.

FLD Dutch considers Gypsy's threat.

From a safe distance, he give her a Golden warble back.

Another Gypsy-under-her-breath-snarl and Dutch decides to hightail it out of there!

After a couple of weeks, a growing-bolder Dutch ignores Gypsy's warning to "leave Andy's shoes alone!"

Last night Dutch was curled up tight in a ball, his back tucked against the blue dog bed under Andy's desk.

Gypsy was in it.

And she wasn't snarling.

      (You'll have to take my word on this. When I went for my camera, they both got up and moved apart.)

Gypsy looks at me as if to say, "What's with this pup?"

Dutch sings another Golden tune and works his charms on the old girl.

Road trip!

FLD Dutch traveled downstate with me this past weekend. Everything is "new" for puppies, but this trip proved to be filled with exceptionally new experiences for the little guy. Okay, he is not so little--16.9 lbs at weigh-in for his second round of shots at Leader Dogs for the Blind.

For instance, Dutch attended our family's annual cookie bake. Here he is sitting for my niece, Zoey, who had trouble saying his name.

Zoey learned that whenever she called "Dutz" he came running for her! (It might have been the kibble she clenched in her tiny fist.)

What a giggle erupted after a surprise puppy kiss!

FLD Dutch also hung out at Anderson Music during my niece Elaina's French Horn lesson. His head tilt was the epitome of "My Master's Voice" as her notes came pouring through the bottom crack of the door.

Later, he wasn't too sure about the music that came out of Natalie's tuba.

What's in there?

Whoa! What was that?!

Natalie prepares to toot her tuba. Cc'd Rosie looks over as if to say, "This is going to be good!"

One toot later and FLD Dutch is hiding in the corner.

Sofia coaxes Dutch out of the corner. He peeks around the horn case to see if everything is okay.

Rosie says to Dutch, "It's okay pup, don't be afraid, it's just a lot of air!"

Natalie lets Dutch check out the tuba.

Guess this big old horn isn't so bad after all!

Puppy photos

Just a few fun shots of my GROWING puppy.

Dutch has gained 3 pounds in less than two weeks!

FLD Dutch loves ice cubes almost as much as Scout did!

Sometimes Lab-wrestling looks scary!

Gentleman Gus puts up with the young upstart climbing on his back and chewing his ear. He has a Kong filled with kibble!

First snow! Yippee!!!

What's that on your nose, Dutch?

FLD Dutch, week 2

A typical training moment...

Dutch sits and cocks his head, his dark eyes melting my heart. When he doesn't get anything, he drops to his belly and ducks his head looking up as if to say, Will this "down" get me a treat?

Nope. We're working on "mat" this session.

He belly-aches at me and pops up to a "sit." That still doesn't get it. He mumbles. He gets up and circles around and happens to step on his mat against the wall.

YES! Dutch whips his head and trots over for his treat. He repeats with the sits and downs but quicker this time he goes over to the mat. I wait. He turns and sits.

YES! He bounces over for his treat and turns back to the mat, foregoing the sits and downs. At the mat he drops right into a "down."

YES! I bring the treat to him.

 

Dutch inhales the bit of kibble, flips around and bounds out of the room. I follow. He heads right for the back door. 

Yahoo! We're making progress! I clip on his leash and we're out the door to "park."

Gus wants in on the "mat" action.

Good old Gus puts up with the new pup!

Here, Dutch, let me show you how to do "mat."