Rocking the Cradle with Doggie Toothpaste

Our second kindergarten class with Dylan was Monday night and I got to work with her.  I will say this, sitting on a cushion on concrete is not easy.  Just a small insight I thought I'd share with you.

"Cradling" 

Diego to our right.  

 Her litter mate, Diego, was next to us.   Brian went over some of the commands we need to start imparting on our pups.  We learned the cradle game and the name game last week.  This week we worked on the "sit" and the "down" commands.  Now Dylan is really good on the sits.  The command sit is given once.  If your pup doesn't sit, a slight tug on the leash and then followed with a gentle nudge down on her back side to get her to sit if needed.  What you don't say is; sit, sit, Sit Dylan, DYLAN SIT!!!  Just one command.  Then heaps of praise and hand rubbing all over the puppy.  The down command is a bit more difficult for the pups to learn.  So with that, we use treats.  While the pups are sitting, you bring the treat straight down the leash from the top of the dog and past their nose to the ground.  Once their nose is down on the ground, you see which side they're leaning and gently nudge them over and then say the command "Down".   Then "good down" and release them with, ok...ok...good girl.

The class is as much for us as the dogs.

Our entire puppy kindergarten class.

Then we got to brush her teeth.  Now that wasn't what Dylan or I was expecting.  Doggie toothpaste and a small toothbrush was an instant sign to bite.  All this done while in the cradle position.  All to make it easier for her eventual owner to be able to check, clean and sooth their dogs.  And by then, the razor sharp puppy teeth will be gone.  Ouch!

A well earned nap after class

Dylan wasn't the star, but she is the cutest.  Everyone at puppy kindergarten agrees to that.

Peanut...Peanut Butter!

One of your assignments from puppy kindergarten is to crate your puppy for about 15 minutes 2 or 3 times a day.  Getting guide dogs used to crate time is important.  The eventual owner must be able to crate their dogs knowing they are safe and where to find them.  Dylan sleeps in the crate all night and you would think that it would be easy to get her to sit and relax for a few minutes during the day.  Well, it hasn't been easy.  She gets in the crate and barks non stop.  Now the dilemma; leave her in the crate and let her bark or have sympathy and take her out thus undoing what you are supposed to be doing by teaching her to welcome the crate as her friend and safe place.  Also, I never understood how a small puppy can make so much racket.  I'm outside in the front yard, separated by three walls of the house and its like I'm in the crate with her.

So I moved the crate into the front room while watching some TV.  By letting her see us, knowing that everything is all right, quiet time is here.  Yeah right, like that works.  Now I have the double annoyance of not hearing the TV and a barking puppy.  Just so you know, it isn't about watching TV.   It's trying to find the balance of a happy Dylan and a happy puppy raiser.  So far the balance is in the dogs favor.

Then I remember a tip Brian, our puppy leader,  told us while in kindergarten class.  Place just a smidgen of peanut butter inside a bleached puppy bone.  Magically, a peaceful puppy and a happy puppy raiser.  She even went to sleep.

Happy, Balanced Dylan

I'm so glad I can get the upper hand on a nine week old puppy.  I am not above bribery.

Puppy Kindergarten...Breaking Bad!

Monday brought us to our first "official" puppy kindergarten class with Dylan.  Three other GDA Labs were in attendance along with their adopted temporary owners.  Nancy and Brian, who are our area leaders, hold the class in their garage.  Brian again goes over the paperwork we received in Sylmar and then addresses any concerns we may have.  Then it is time to cradle.  Cradling your puppy allows them to get use to being handled by people.  You check their ears, feet and teeth.  (which are deadly sharp).  They need to get used to this so when their eventual owners receive their guide dog, they can physically check them as they cannot see what problems their dogs may have so must feel for any problems.  

Then we did the sit and wait game.   Labs are notorious for being voracious eaters.  If I could find a better word that describes how Labs eat, I would use it.  So you have to get them to sit, wait and then eat.  As a blind person feeding their dog, they need to be able to place the food down, stand up and move away so as not to be trampled by their dog.  Dylan has been practicing this at home but did horrible in class.  The other three were much better.  It's early still!

Then we did the name game.  Sitting across from each other, Brian would call out their name and then the dogs would come to him.  Then we would call and the dogs would go to their owners.  Dylan was much better doing the name game.  She already knows her name.  Mainly from us yelling, "Dylan, not on the rug...DYLAN!".   However, she is becoming a bit more predictable in her habits and we are becoming more vigilant in observing when its time for her to relieve herself.  All puppy owners go through this.  

Dylan, not paying attention in Class

Bailey is constantly vigilant of Dylan.  As soon as Dylan picks up a toy, Bailey wants to steal it.  Dylan attacks Bailey, and Bailey gives up the toy.  It's a continuous game they play, much to our amusement.  And like a I mentioned in an earlier blog, there is no tennis ball fetch.  Bailey is the evil sister when it comes to breaking the rules.  She constantly throws tennis balls Dylan's way.  Trying to corrupt her at every turn.  

All in all, Dylan and we are adjusting to our lives together.   Bailey, she just sees a puppy breaking bad!

Dylan's litter mate Diego, a black Lab, is to the right

Busy Happens!

Three days in and it's been interesting.  Dylan is as head strong as she is cute.  We were asked to just ease her into puppy life outside the litter.  No commands except "get busy" and maybe a sit command once in a while.  Eating three times a day, getting busy would seem to be an easy command to grasp.  Dogs eat, dogs pee, dogs poop!  Ah, but the rhythm of our newest addition is still a bit of a mystery to us.  She eats, plays, sleeps and then we take her outside to "get busy".  It doesn't happen.  We parade her up and down the driveway and no busy.  She sits and looks up at us with those cute baby browns. Whines a bit, scratches a bit then sits again, no busy.  All the while, "get busy" is flowing out of us like the spring thaw in Niagara.  So we bring her in.  I'm sure I don't have to tell you what then happens.  BUSY HAPPENS!

Diarrhea struck her on Saturday.  Busy happened all over the house.  Called the vet at GDA and we're told, it's not unusual for new puppies to have this occur.  "Change her diet to rice and boiled chicken."  So for the next few days, we'll see how this works.

Oh, I took up our living room rug and it's rolled and now rests in our garage.  Baby gates block the front door screen.  All vases that were puppy level have been raised.  All of Bailey's tennis balls have been put away.

Seems the only thing getting busy around here is us...

Dylan, not "getting busy".

Meet Dylan

Morning arrived and we set out to pick up Dylan with a slight detour to drop off Bravo, a black lab, who we puppy sat for over the last 5 days.  Making our way up to Sylmar was uneventful except for the usual awful traffic going up the 405.  The GDA compound has many buildings and was full of kids doing a summer tour of the facility.  Many new puppy raisers were waiting along with a bunch of repeat raisers who all knew each other.  Making us feel welcomed into their fraternity and reassuring us newbies all would be well.  We still felt unsure but ready for the challenge.  After a 45 minute lecture on the rules, expectations and signed contracts, we were lead out to the nursery area awaiting the 14 puppies from two litters who were being sent out into the great unknown world of "us".

Litters D and E with corresponding first letter names were brought out one at a time.  If schmaltz could have been bottled there, it would have been over flowing. Elsa, Eddie and a bunch of other E names came first.  Then Diego, Dozier and finally Dylan.

Puppy Breath!!!

Group pictures then individual pictures taken by GDA staff and then off to let the puppies romp outside for the first time.  Everyone rubbing the blankets and stuffed animal, that comes with their puppy, on their litter mates.  Rubbing of their litter mates is supposed to make being away from them easier as they have their scent and won't feel completely abandoned.

The ride home was horrible.  Two and one half hours on freeways made this retired driver glad I don't have to do that anymore.  Little Dylan slept the entire way, cuddled in Chris' lap, oblivious to her surroundings.  We stopped and tried to get Dylan to pee, but she wouldn't.  Finally, home sweet home!  Waking up just in time to "get busy" code for  pee on the driveway.  A huge success in the new puppy raising world.

What traffic?

Then meeting her four legged sisters Maggie, Bailey and of course bigger sister Erin.

Hi Maggie!

Wanna play?

Awwww!

With just two accidents in the house and four successful "busies" outside, we now are on our way to raising our guide dog puppy, Dylan.

Welcome to our home!

August 6 - D Day is upon us!

A few days back, I wrote we had been chosen and accepted to raise a puppy for Guide Dogs of America.  Yes, tomorrow August 6 we pick up Dylan.  Now, I'm not going to sit here and compare our D Day to "that" D Day.  During the hours before June 6, 1944, Eisenhower wrote two letters, one taking responsibility for the failure of his mission.  The other indicating how the out come was the beginning of freeing Europe from the Nazi occupation.  So to be clear, this D Day is not like that.  I'm not writing any letters of failure.  I'm not writing any letters of historical significance what-so-ever!  What I am writing is that this is the calm before what is certain to be a Sh*t storm when it comes to our two retrievers, Maggie and Bailey.  They do not know what is about to hit them.  And for that, I am truly sorry.

Tomorrow we drive out to Sylmar and pick up our Dylan.  During the next few weeks, we will experience sleep deprivation, anxiety and wonder as to what the hell were we thinking.  Having puppy sat for the last 4 days, we already know our house will be pissed and crapped on.  (Like what happened while I was writing this blog just this minute.)  Our dogs will go from loving us to wondering why, oh why did you do this to us.

Dylan is arriving at a time when we both have time on our hands.  We both love animals, especially cute Lab puppy animals.  We're confident that we can and will do this!  But we also know that the bigger picture is to help a sightless person be able to move about with confidence because Dylan will be there to shepherd him or her to safety each and every time they step outside.  God help us that we don't fail in our mission.

Maybe I will write those two letters....

Dylan, Guiding Our Way!

With Chris now retired from nursing and the Fire Service, she still desired to contribute to society, so she made a decision that may fulfill that desire.  And I applaud her for this.  She (we) have been accepted and will receive our 8 week old Yellow Lab puppy, Dylan, on August 6th from Guide Dogs of America.  Chris has been going to puppy kindergarten for a few weeks to see other families raising their dogs.  We even puppy sat Morgan, a 14 week old yellow lab and took her to Pavilions grocery store and of course Total Wines and More.  I will give that puppy high marks as she was great roaming around all the wine isles at Total Wine and then promptly peed in Pavilions.  My sentiments, exactly!

With two Golden Retrievers already in the house, what could possibly go wrong with a puppy?  I mean, other than all the bad habits Bailey will try to impart on Dylan.  Like constantly wanting to play tennis ball fetch, a big No No for guide dogs, or stealing stuffed toys from neighbors or eating another neighbors cat food.  It's a toss up who will win these battles.  We have 16 to 18 months to correct Bailey and train Dylan.  Lets hope it isn't the other way around.

Guide Dogs of America guidedogsofamerica.org is a wonderful organization and we are looking forward to helping a deserving person receive a well trained, non-fetching, non-stealing guide dog.

I'll keep you posted as to our progress.