a day at NEADS

Sorry everyone, my Mom realized that she never did get back to my blog and finish the story of our trip to NEADS.. silly Mom, she has so much going on that she sometimes forget to keep my blog up dated.. I guess we'll have to forgive her.

So, here we are at NEADS "headquarters".. I've been here before, but Mom never has. She was so impressed with the campus and was so happy to see it in "real life". We'll be back again, of course, for other training dates, but the first time is always special...

We met with Dave, and he loaded us into the van and took us to the mall for some training. Kelly was with us - as was Freedom and Pia - but the training was mostly for Kelly and I.



We "played" on the stairs, in a glass elevator and just all around the mall. Nothing special about this... until...

Mom got some advise of things she had never thought of. For example, the stairs... we do stairs all the time, but did Mom ever think of taking just one step at a time??? What if my new partner can't do steps quickly...so I need to stop and wait and only move when asked...I can do it.But we just need to practice!!!

I'm such a good boy!!!!







You know.. all this training is so good for my Mom. She has trained dogs for many years (over thirty to be exact), but the things we do together has taught her so much more. This makes her very happy, my Mom always loves to be learning..

Another example... (besides the stair thing) is.. how about working me on the right side. Being that "dog trainer" thing... Mom tends to work me to the left (where most dogs work)...but again.. what if my new partner needs a right side working dog. (She looks rather uncomfortable having me on the right.. guess she has to work to do with this one... it makes me a little unsure as well!!!)

Listening very carefully to Dave as he gives us training advise!!! (notice I am snoozing... I'll leave this part up to Mom, she'll explain it later to me!!!)

After our training, we did a little tour of the campus... Kelly and I waited outside while Mom toured the puppy house. I remember being there

Mom let me enjoy the snow, looks like it will be about the last I see for this year.

And then it was time to pack up and head for home. It was a very busy weekend, but so much fun. I will be happy to be in my "own bed" again, and back on the farm.. but life was(is) pretty exciting!!! Onto more adventures...

and I am yours..... Chester!!!!

a year

Yesterday (the 27th) was Moxie's birthday.. if she were still with me, she would have been 13. But since she traveled over "Rainbow bridge" her birthday is now celebrated in another manner. It was a year ago, that I decided to become a puppy raiser, and have the joy of this beautiful dog now in my life!!! "Our" boy Chester. Making a decision to be a puppy raiser was certainly a good one.. not only am I having great fun doing this, but this journey has brought many new things into my life... especially... new friends.

And so, as his training continues and our adventures lay ahead, I remember my dear little Moxie in the spirit that is Chester. It is my hope, my dream that he will one day be as cherished as Moxie was (is) and that thru him..

her spirit lives on...

"good boy Buddy!!!!"

some day??

Hi everyone, here I am. Mom hasn't posted lately on my blog, because we have been pretty busy, but things are going well. I just celebrated my six month birthday and am growing into a very handsome Golden... or so I am told. I have been going to classes and getting out into public as much as possible. Mom said she is planning a big field trip to the city of Boston sometime soon... I don't know exactly what that means, but I am sure to find out.

We did
have a big adventure last weekend though. We picked up Kathleen and Kelly and drove a long ways to attend the spring graduation. Mom hopes that one day I will have a graduation.. I actually slept thru this event, but Mom greatly enjoyed it. There were 21 dog/handler teams that graduated!!!







While we were there, we took advantage of the city surroundings and did some training work. I didn't see what all the fuss was about, sure it was much busier and louder than it is at the farm. But it was all the same to me.... listen to Mom, behave myself and follow her directions... nothing to it.







We don't have traffic like this at home (nor traffic light either) so Mom was excited for me to do my work here. I was fine, so was Kelly and Freedom... Pia is a "real" service dog.. so she didn't think this was such a big deal either.

Then it was onto see the graduation. The thing I liked best was all the attention that I got. And I got alot of attention. People there seemed to know me, they said I have gotten big since I saw them last... I guess they knew me when I was in the "puppy house". But however they knew me, I just enjoyed the hugs.

I did meet up with someone very special... this gentleman had a golden that he dearly loved. His golden lived a long time, but has now gone to puppy heaven. His golden's name was "Chester" and yes, that's right... I was named after his golden.

The other people in this photo are friends of the gentleman... they are my sponsors!!! And when they were given the opportunity to name me... they picked the name Chester.. in honor of their friends golden. I like my name.. so does my Mom and it's a good name that I will live up to. We also found out that these folks are blog readers!!! (so we'll send out a special hello to all of you!!!!)

After the graduation and greeting all the people, I was getting tired. Since we made a date to go to NEADS and do some training the next day, we stayed in the motel that night. I got to ride in an elevator... that was kind of cool.

And then have my first night in a motel... away from home. Mom brought my crate, and I was pretty tired so I settled right down and was quiet all evening.

My next blog will be all about going back to NEADS and having a training date with Dave... so come back and read that one.. it will be up soon..

until then.... I am yours.... Chester