haven't forgotten..

Hi Everyone, well if you have been checking this blog, you see that not too much has been written here lately... couple of reasons.. my Mom has (had) been quite sick for the past couple of weeks and hasn't felt up to doing much. We were suppose to meet with the other puppy families a couple of Mondays ago, and she was just too sick to even go there... we were both "bumming". And then with the Christmas holiday, we have been just so busy doing all those sorts of things.. and thirdly... "our computer" is broken, for now we can borrow this computer and do some postings but can't add any pictures. However, I can tell all of you that I am doing very well... I have done some "field trips" and can go a little longer each time ... today we did Walmart for nearly a half hour!!! and I have been to see the doggie doctor... got some shots, but I didn't mind. I also met "Santa" and visited the fire station and got to see the big trucks. Hopefully, the computer will be fixed soon and Mom can post some stories in details along with all the cute pictures she has of me... so, stay tuned, we'll catch up as soon as we can.... Love Chester.

what is this?????

So, as if my day didn't start out exciting enough... do you know that humans bring real trees into the house??? Well, mine did anyways... and then, they began to put all kinds of "balls" on it. The kitties and I have been told "not to touch", and they watch us very carefully... just to make sure that we don't... but what ARE they thinking.. a tree covered in balls... that's almost too much for a puppy!!!

But then..... the MOST amazing thing happened...

We went out side for "last call" (as Mom calls it) and when I stepped out onto the porch.. the world was so different from what I had ever seen!!!

It was cold, and wet, and white... and I LOVED it. Right away I began to race around!!! Mom kept telling me "better go now".. but how in the world can you think of doing "that" when there is all "this"!!!

I zoomed, I rolled, I ATE, and then I did it all over again. Mom just shook her head and laughed at me, she tried to get some pictures of me and my first snow... but I fear I did not stop long enough for her to do that.

We stayed out to play for a little bit, and then it was getting to be bedtime and we needed to go in. I wasn't too impressed that this "snow stuff" sticks to my paws....

but, I think I like it overall.

Snow and Christmas Tree... add to more things on my "I know what that is" list......

chester's news

Hello everyone, it's me again -- things are going well, and I am showing everyone that I am the BEST puppy there ever was!!! My house training is really coming, I think that I "almost" get it. I go to the door to ask to go out (course you have to be sure the humans are paying attention!!) I see that's what the other dogs do, so I basically follow them. I have had a couple of "accidents' in the house, but Mom says that's her fault for not watching me closer and picking up on my "signals" (whatever that means).

I am feeling a little better about wearing my working clothes and have decided that I can walk with them on and I don't need to roll around so much.



I had the best time last night Mom took me with her and Camille to puppy class. Actually it was graduation at puppy class (those other puppies are so smart)... but I still got to do play time and meet some new friends.


















One new friend in particular is Mya, she's a Boxer. I really liked her because she would play rough with me.. though Mom and Rick (Mya's Dad) did break us up every now and again.. they said that they didn't want anyone to have "hurt feelings"... but Mya is neat. AND I will probably be able to see her fairly often, because Mom and Rick are good friends, and they can set up play dates for us.

When it was time for the other puppies to do their work, I waited quietly in a crate and watched the class. Mom said that I will be working in the next puppy class... Sadie is going to be my partner because Mom will have to teach.. so Sadie said that she would come and work with me.

And here are the five puppies that graduated last night. They're almost as cute as I am.

I haven't been doing too much, I do go in the truck every day, and Mom works with me on the leash and doing my "sit and down" work, plus my "comes"... I have completely settled in and know things like, cats will scratch you when they have had too much, Trevor will growl twice and then you best leave him alone... Camille is like my Mom and she watches over everything, and old Cole can't see, so he will probably trip over you...I like going to the barn and seeing all the friends down there as well. Mom says it won't be too long before we start some public field trips... that should be fun!!! OH.. and I want to say a special hello to my friends.. the Milliard family.. they wrote to Mom and told her that they took care of me!!!! Mom was so happy to hear from them and hopes that they will stay in touch and will enjoy reading this blog!!!! Well, that's all I can think to write about tonite... thanks for reading...

hi again

Hello everyone, it's me - Chester. Things are going really well here at Sweetgrass Farm and I am really settling in and getting to know everyone around here. My very first full day, Mom just kept things low keyed and quiet. It's a lot to handle for a little guy like me and she just wanted to be sure that I felt happy and comfortable. I slept in my little crate, and slept all thru the night, which sort of surprised Mom, as she was pretty sure that I would have her up at least once. But I didn't...







The next day was "Thanksgiving" and that turned out to be a very busy day... it began with a trip to the barn. First Mom put on my "working coat".. I'm not too thrilled about that.. I don't understand why I need to wear it, none of the other dogs in the house wear one... and I spent some time trying to take it off...

When that didn't work, I pitched a little fit rolling about the floor, but that didn't help much, and in fact, it made the people in the house just laugh at me. Seems this is just something that I will have to get used to.. Mom says I will have to wear it alot until I don't fuss about it anymore.








So, we went to the place called the "barn" I don't know what to tell you about it. It was fun, and exciting, and scary and interesting all rolled into one. Some things were familiar ... like the broom, I tried to help sweep, but kept getting asked to "move" out of the way...

So, after that I thought I would just stand guard over the grain buckets and watch what was going on.

Then, Mom took me to see some "flying things".. she calls them chickens and guinea hens, and tells me that I am not to bother them or bark at them. (that was pretty hard to do)... so, I just sat and watched them for awhile. These "flying things" were penned up, but there is one.. (his name is Mr. G) that is loose. I decided not to bother Mr. G.. he's kind of "mean".. well maybe not mean, but he makes a lot of noise and I just thought I would give him lots of room.







After that I met "Mocha" she is a small version of those big things that Mom called horses. I didn't want to have anything to do with the big ones, but this small one seemed OK. I didn't get too close, just in case - I had no idea what she might do, but actually she was just too busy eating grass... er.. hay I think Mom calls it. When I get a little bigger I am sure I will feel much better around these creatures.

In the afternoon, "family" came for dinner. Everyone just loved me, but there is one little girl who became my best buddy. Her name is Naomi and she was so good with (and to) me. We had a great time rolling around on the floor together...

And she gave me all sorts of hugs and tummy rubs... I liked her very much. Mom said this was a great introduction to "children".. I like children....

Naomi worked on my sit command, but I just had more fun being a puppy.

There is another "child" in the house, a baby named Abbie. She's kind of neat, but doesn't do much, so I had more fun with Naomi.Just the same though, baby Abbie makes all kinds of strange noises and has all this "equipment" around the house, so it's nice that I spend some time with her as well. Here's a picture of the "babies" together.

And last but not least, today, Mom took me a on very short trip to a "store".. it was fun going inside, lots of people.. lots to look at. We only stayed about 15 minutes, and then I was thinking that was more than enough..so did Mom, so we packed in and came home. And that's my report of the past two days... I have a feeling there will be lots to tell you as time goes on....but I think I am off to a very good start..

Hi.. this is Chester...

Today (actually yesterday).. Camille and I went to meet Cindy and pick up future service dog... Chester. An exciting day to be certain and the beginning of a new "chapter" in my "life of dogs".

"Looks like they're here"... according to Camille...










"the NEADS" van(check out their website, it's pretty neat)











It was a long car ride for such a little guy - pit stop - was definately in order.

"Hello Camillie, and yes -- I am most handsome"














"are we there yet??"














"and you're Hunter??"













Dancer and Cole wonder how long "this one" will be staying....









"this must be a good place for puppies.. look there are toys on the floor"

"what did you say "this was" Camille??-- a cat??"

"OK.. so you're a cat.. nice to meet you, where are you going??"

"Wow, it's been a long day.. "

"but I have a feeling that I am going to be well loved here"

today...

later today, I will meet with Cindy from NEADS to get Chester, an 11 week golden retriver puppy who will begin a new chapter in my life of "raising service dogs"... can't wait, pictures and his life story will be kept here on this blog......

pidder patter...

got an email from Linda (NEADs) this evening, they are trying to figure out HOW TO GET OUR PUPPY TO US!!!!!looks like the pidder patter of little four footed will be happening before the end of the week....Oh my goodness, I can hardly wait... I wonder what "it" is.. girl/boy, golden/black, lab or whatever... time will tell, but I wonder if I will sleep tonite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

another email

tonite when I got home from the POC dog club meeting, I found an email from Linda (the Maine rep for NEADs) informing me (us) that our puppy is in the near future. Looks like this puppy raiser thing is really going to happen.. I wonder "what" we'll get, usually it's a "bigger" dog (lab or golden type) but sometimes they do raise smaller breeds for hearing dogs and/or the like. Time will tell I guess, in the meantime, we just wait......

got a note...

came in from dog class on Monday (the 28th) and had received an email from NEADS... they had been going thru some changes and finally has had the chance to review my application for puppy raiser... said that they will be in contact with me.....

step one..

The application for puppy raiser arrived in today's mail... spent some time this evening filling it out, to put back into the mail tomorrow......step one... done.

Moxie's birthday gift

A new blog... a big decision...a special day. Today would have been Moxie's 12th birthday, sadly she is not here to share it with me as she passed on February 3, 2009. She was (is) a huge part of my life and to say that I miss her greatly, hardly even begins to tell the story.

I have, however, decided that I "want" to do something about "this".. I could continue (and actually probably will) cry over it, or I can get active and be positive. So... in honor of my dear little dog, I have applied to be a puppy raiser with hopes that a puppy that lives with me for a short time, will become a life long companion of someone who needs them.

Paper work is coming from NEADS, an organization that I know well. If and when "my" puppy arrives, this blog will be the journal I will keep with regards to raising a service puppy. My goal is that when the puppy is one day matched with it's new owner, this journal will be copied and passed onto them.

So, on Moxie's birthday... I am thinking ahead and looking forward to an exciting new adventure.