Health Update

We survived Christmas without Dylan eating the tree, or the baked and candy treats that we had way too many of.  However, just prior to Christmas, we noticed she was scratching more than usual.  It's been very dry here and even Chris and I have been a bit itchy, but this seemed to be getting out of hand.  Also, some black splotches started to appear on her skin, then the inside of her ears started turning red, so we new that that was more going on then we first suspected.  So Tuesday, we made the trip up to Sylmar to see the GDA veterinarian.

Now allergies are one thing that GDA dogs cannot have.  It doesn't matter how good the dog is at commands or how disciplined they may be, a blind person will not be put in a position to have to worry about their dogs health.  And allergies are that big of an issue that many dogs are careered changed because of allergies.

So as we were in with the vet, he did scrapings of Dylan's skin and scoped both her ears.  Yes, she has a yeast infection which is causing her skin to itch and her ears to turn red.  Her paws are also red and she is continuing to lick them relentlessly.  This infection is also the reason her skin was blotchy.

To ease the scratching, he gave Dylan a steroid shot and some pills to take for the next thirty days.  Drops for her ears and a kiss on the nose for good measure.

One of the last things he mentioned was 'why' she was getting these reactions.  "It could be allergies and he would have to bring it up with management."  Ouch!

But in the mean time, she is playing with her new Christmas squeaky ball toy and tormenting Bailey.

To be continued...

The Letter

Upon returning home from the potluck, the mailman had brought a letter we were half expecting to receive a bit later.  The letter read:

"Dear Tom and Chris,"

"Well, the time is here, the day you've been anticipating since you picked up Dylan all those months ago.  It is now time for Dylan to come in for her formal guide dog training."

Dylan is to be turned in after the graduation on January 28.  The fine people at GDA will have a luncheon for all those turning in their dogs for formal training.

I'll have to say about this in the coming weeks.  But for now, we are very excited and melancholy about Dylan leaving us to continue her journey towards helping the blind.

At eight weeks

Sleeping with Cade

To this:

All Grown up

The GDA Christmas Potluck

Saturday was the Christmas potluck at GDA.  Lab puppy raisers were to bring a main dish.  I whipped up a lasagna and presented it to the masses.  It was gone in minutes.  However, one lasagna will only last a minute when you're feeding 75 people.  There were so many dishes of food, going through the line with your dog in tow was lots of fun.

Lots of photo ops were presented for the puppies and their humans.

Presents by an open fire.

It is always nice to see the people who are raising the siblings of your dog.  Because of rules put in place by GDA, for good reasons I might add, the sire's and bitches are not revealed to the puppy raisers.  So it was a lucky happening when talking to an owner of a black lab only to discover this was Dylan's mother.

Meeting Vivienne, Dylan's mom.

And no, there was no recognition between the two.  Even after sniffing butts!  But it was fun to meet the owner and talk to him about his dog.

And of course, when you have a Christmas potluck, you have Santa.  

That attentive look is owed to the cookie the photographer was holding.

We were also asked to bring an ornament for the Christmas tree to be put up in the main office.  We obliged with a bone painted with Dylan's name.

It was a fun day and possibly the last Christmas we will have with Dylan.  

The Seeing Eye Dogs and a Drowsy Parade

Dylan spent a week up at GDA.  They want us to do this for longer periods of time so the dogs get used to staying up there and aren't shocked when they are left up there for 8 months going through formal training.  She also was one of many dogs in her age group, 16 to 18 months, to have their eyes dilated and checked for any issues they might have.  Its kind of important that guide dogs for the blind have good eye sight. The puppy raisers were asked to put on blindfolds to simulate a blind person sitting in a waiting room with their dogs.

Next!

Dylan... "Is this almost over?

Luckily, it wasn't a real bright day so there wasn't much squinting by the dogs as they emerged from the kennel with their pupils dilated.  Dylan passed with flying colors.

The following Saturday, our South Bay Puppy Raisers participated and walked in the Downey Christmas parade.  This was our second parade and the 18th for the South Bay group.  We took Dylan last year when she was only 6 months.  Actually, she was a week shy of six months, but they let us walk in it anyway.  They stress that the puppies need to be at least six months old to participate in any of these big events.  In last years parade, we were number 25 in the parade lineup.  With more than 90 different groups, bands, twirlers, dignitaries and such, going off early was a good thing...even for the dogs.

 Morgan and Dylan at 6 months during last years Downey Christmas parade.

This year, we had a slight snafu regarding our entry and we were placed 81st out of 100 groups.

Arriving at our staging area.

Ready to roll.

To make matters a bit more trying for us was Dylan had been given an anti-itch medication while she was up at GDA.  One pill twice a day,  morning and night.  Its sort of like Benadryl, the drowsy kind.  The morning of the parade I gave Dylan her pill, which I never do as Chris is the nurse. However, I failed to mention this until I saw Chris giving Dylan her pill as I was shouting, NO WAIT...too late!  She got a double dosage of her meds.  Calling vets all around, we finally were told she would be fine, just a bit drowsy.

A bit sleepy with Avery

Needless to say, we had a sleepy puppy up in Downey.  But it kind of worked out, because our neighbor's daughter, Avery, had made a Santa hat for Dylan.  She could have cared less that something was sitting on top of her head.  Plus, she was the hit of the parade with her cute Santa hat and garland trimmed vest.

A bit spaced, but looking good.

The days are counting down for our time with Dylan.  She is scheduled to go into formal training in February.  I have to say that in the beginning it seemed like 18 months was an eternity.  Raising and socializing her to be ready for her next move, we felt like this was  never going to happen.  Just two months left.  We are hoping she brings love, sunshine and trust to her new owner.  Also, secretly hoping that just maybe, Dylan changes her mind about this guide dog thing.

Schmoozing with OCFA

It has been awhile since my last post.  Dylan is still progressing toward her goal of becoming a guide dog.  Also, while I have been absent from posting, Chris received an offer to work part-time for  the OCFA.  (that's Orange County Fire Authority).  Working occasionally from home but also attending classes, keeping the firefighters up on their immunizations and various other duties, it has offered her a chance to take Dylan along to the fire houses she visits.

While attending a class being taught by another nurse educator, Dylan sat in with Chris and was somewhat of a hit of the class.  I know, hard to believe, right?

Dylan hanging with the firefighters

And, although the class was stimulating for them, Dylan found a comfortable spot and decided to dream doggy dreams.

What class?

Waking just long enough to see if she could garnish anymore attention.

Am I going to be tested on this?

Leaving class, she could not help but get just a bit more firefighter love.

That's right, I'm cute...

As I mentioned, Dylan is doing very well in her training and time is running short for us to keep our girl.  But, that can wait for now.  Coming up is the Downey Christmas Parade which we will march in and the opening of a new building on the Sylmar campus.

And finally, there is still time to purchase your Guide Dogs of American 2017 Calendar in time for Christmas gift giving.  Only $10 with all proceeds going to GDA.  Just let me know and I'll get the calendars to you.  Free shipping is included and supplies are limited.

How could you resist...

Lifting the Cone and Watching Chess

Well it's been two weeks since Dylan got spayed.  You would never know it by her actions.  After the first few days of being groggy, we kept her "cone of shame" on for a few more days.  Then it was like nothing ever happened.  We weren't able to go to the graduation as it was just 5 days after her surgery, but I think we could have gone and she would have been fine.

Late last week, we took her to see her first movie.  Trying to pick a movie that's not too loud, not too long and doesn't have any animals or barking dogs in it was a challenge.  We discovered months ago that Dylan will bark at our TV screen whenever there is an animal shown or if she hears an animal, even if it's not a dog.  So we picked The Queen of Katwe.  It's a great movie and a true story about an Uganda girl who becomes a Chess Master.  No guns, no barking dogs or roaring Lions.  It was a bit long, 2 hours, but she laid down on the floor and just chilled the entire time. And, as it was the first showing of the day, no popcorn was on the floor when we got there.  That is until Chris dumped hers on the floor and then it was a free-for-all.  That dog can suck up more food quicker than you can say, NO!

Going in to see her first movie.

Our next experiment is to take her on a plane.  Maybe a short trip to S.F with an overnight stay.  I wonder if that's tax deductible?  Anyway, hopefully we'll be going some time this month.

The latest word is we will be turning Dylan in sometime in February.  Can't believe she has been with us since August of 2015.  We have learned so much and it's been fun sharing her adventure.

Buckets of Shame

After returning Monday from our out of town visit up north, we drove up to Sylmar on Tuesday afternoon to pick up Dylan.  Her kennel stay included her being spayed.  We arrived around 2:30 in the afternoon and were told she was still sleeping from the anesthetic and it would be about 20 minutes before we could take her home.  When she did come out she was a bit groggy, to say the least, and could hardly stand.  And of course she was wearing that, "cone of shame" collar.

Groggy after surgery

It seems all the GDA puppy raisers call it that, not because their dogs are to be shamed for being operated on.  But because the dogs hang their heads down and it looks like they are ashamed of how this silly cone makes them look.

She got home and we placed her in her crate so Bailey wouldn't bother her and want to play, although any chance of Dylan playing was between "forget about it and none"!

Out for the count.  Bailey wondering what's up?

She came home with some meds and ointment for a rash.  Seems she always picks up something at the kennel.  But this morning she was a bit better and ate some and thanks to our area leaders Nancy and Brian, we were able to put a soft cone on her that allows two things.  It doesn't kill you when she runs into you and she doesn't clank into everything while she's walking.  

Really!  I gotta wear this thing?

One dog we saw while up north visiting Paul and Robyn had no shame.  He would walk around with an orange bucket in his mouth.  Say hello to Axel...whom we met at the Sunset Magazine Center in Napa.

With Paul and Robyn

and Axel!

As much as you tried, he would not let you take his bucket.  And, after you tried removing it, but walking away frustrated because he would not let go ever, he would come up and bump into you with the bucket.  Too funny!

So for the next 10 days its easy does it for Dylan and then it will be the home stretch for her until she goes in for formal training.    

There is a graduation this Sunday and if you are available, you can come and see the next generation of Guide Dogs.  It is free and open to all.  Just go to guidedogsofamerica.org for details. (or maybe sign up to be a puppy raiser)