Rick has a new "project"

Guess what... it's another snowy day... and you know how I can tell... because Mom has a day at the post office and I get to go with her. (she always works on very snowy days, because her boss has to travel so far) I like going to work with Mom and the people who come by like seeing me there. Everyone comments on how fast I am growing....and how well behaved I am.








Of course I am a good girl... Mom says I have a very special job to do one day!!! And besides, I am told that "well behaved" dogs get to go places, and I love to go.











This is my friend, Rick... and he works with me on Tuesday nights when Mom teaches the dog classes. I work with Kathleen on Mondays and now with Rick. Mom says we are so lucky to have good friends help with our training. I like working with different people!!! It's especially nice, because they all "speak the same" to me, and it makes it easy for me to follow their directions...







"sit stays"...these are easy Rick!!!!

Just waiting for the word to "release".. but knowing I must stay put until I do hear it....

I do like puppy classes and learning new things, but the BEST part.... "visit time" after school... I do lots of work, but I have lots of fun too...

and until we meet again.... Love, Ginger

checking in

Hello friends, and thanks for checking in on my blog... it's Ginger as you already know. Last Thursday was a"check in" day for Leo and me as well. We hopped in the car with humans Teena, Kathleen, Linda and my Mom, and canines Freedom, Leo and myself and headed for NEADS. They have lots of snow there too, but works continues year round for all of us...

We played (worked) with Dave in the training room. Leo and I showed him that we can (and do) come when called - even when we are playing with each other, and we showed him our "sits, downs, stays, and that we wear our gentle leaders and capes without any reservations. He took lots of notes on us and seems pleased with our progress.

From there we went to Home Depot to do some work in the store. This turned out to be a great place to practice... we pushed the shopping carts around, was admired by lots of people (they're used to seeing the NEADS puppies there)

practiced our obedience commands in public

and sometimes we just sat still and "took in the surroundings". In this photo a man was cutting a big piece of plywood with a saw... the noise was quite loud, but I was more interested in the fact that Mom might be handing out some treats.

As you can see, we took it all in stride (Leo doesn't look too worried about things!!) Talked with Dave and got our "new lessons" to work on, and the day seemed to be over in a heart beat. On the way home, we stopped to eat a the Cracker Barrel (a favorite of all the Mom's) and Leo, Freedom and I just hung out under the table... no one even knew we were there.

So, another month.... come and gone, we're going to check in monthly at NEADS, and Mom "fears" that will only make our time together seem to go faster. But, we're not going to worry about "that" just now.

and until we "talk" again.... Love, Ginger

back at the hospital...

Hi.. it's Ginger.. I hope the title of the blog didn't worry you, I am just fine!!! But, I have been doing my service dog "work" at the hospital and I will tell you all about that in just a minute. Let's talk SNOW!! I am loving the snow and when I get the chance to be outside in it.. I'm there. We have alot of snow right now, and when I go out to play, it's more like swimming that running. Fine with me.. I eat it, roll in it, hop in it.. dig in it.. and simply have fun.

This is Tonka.. he is one of Mom's horses, he likes the snow too. Course, he's a lot bigger than me, so he doesn't have to swim in the snow.. he plows thru the snow!!!!










The winter days are happily going by. I do all kinds of different things, here I am playing with baby Abbie. She was tossing a ball for me, I chased after it and brought it to her. I kept waiting for her to tell me to "drop it".. but I don't think she knows how to talk. She kept telling me to do something, but I couldn't figure out what she wanted....

However, when she reached into my mouth and took the ball out, I pretty much figured what she was trying to say. Oh well, I like Abbie .. she and I have a good time together.











Mom and I had such a good time "training" at the hospital, that the next time we went, we asked Leo and Kathleen to go with us.... I really can't call this "work".. we love going into the hospital. People are always asking to pet us and watch us do out work. Now when we go, they even know us by name....Mom and Kathleen are planning on taking us there at least once a week.






We call these the "slippery stairs". They are covered in tile and the footing feels a little strange at first. Beside the hallway that they are in is loud and echos... it's a good place to work. Here I am watching brother Leo as he heads down the stairs...








but lucky him... some people came to use the stairs and he got all their attention on the landing.











I wanted it to be my turn so I could meet some nice people!! Both Leo and I can easily do stairs, it's just that we have to do them the way our humans want... usually that means slowly and one step at a time. They even make us stop and wait on the stairs. It seems sort of silly to us.. but it's what we need to do.....

and then... we hear the words... "time to go".. Not that we care one way or the other.

Leo and I are also in puppy classes.... it's great fun that we can be together so much.











so.. snowy days, service puppy training, and puppy classes.... what more could I ask for.. and until we "meet again"... Love, Ginger!!!!

a real snowy day!!!!

Hi everyone, it's me again!!! What a great day I had today. This morning we awoke to this.. a real snowy day!!! The wind was howling and at times, we had what Mom calls a "white out". I didn't spend much time outside, because the weather is kind of dangerous, but I did spend some time in the snow, and I got to go to work with Mom again this afternoon.

Oh ya.. you could call me a snow puppy for sure!!! This photos were taken early in the day, because tonite... when Mom went to let us all out.. the snow is so high that we can't even see the fence anymore. Mom is either going to have to do some major shoveling, or just let us out the front door for a bit...

I found this cup under the snow.. I don't know how it got there (neither does Mom) but it was great fun to play with for a while.

a "white out".....

A bit of time has passed (again) since my last blog posting.. I went and saw Dr. Spahn again.. this time I got the last of my shots. As always, I was perfect. I'm getting big!!!! I now weigh 32 lbs. and officially I'm the biggest dog in the house. Mom says that I'm not looking so much like a puppy anymore...

While we waited for the doctor, Mom had me practice "under" using the benches in the waiting room. It took me a little to figure this out, but once I understood... I do "under" every Sunday, because I now go to church each week with Mom and Dad.. these were good benches to work with, and Mom says we're going back to work there again.

The week after the New Year, my brother Leo came to stay with us. His Mom Kathleen went on a little vacation, so Leo came here. This was such a great week, Leo and I had so much fun. Mom would let us go out to play and we played so "hard" that she would have to bring us in and make us take a little rest. Leo is such a good dog, my Mom really loved having him here.

My "work" in public continues all the time. As I told you, I now go to church, and I go to work with Mom sometimes.. but here is my first ride in an elevator!!! Mom took me to the hospital in the town that she used to live in, and we "played" on the elevator. I really didn't see what the big deal was. Sure it made some funny noises, and it felt a little strange at first, but it wasn't any different than riding in the car.






Mom had me sit quietly and not go out the doors until she said it was OK.. which I did. Sometimes other people got on the elevator with us, but I just sat and wagged my tail at them. They asked Mom all kinds of questions.. but we're used to that too.

Now that the holidays are over, we'll be starting up with puppy school again. So, it will be fun to get back to seeing all my friends, and going to school with Leo. Next week (if the weather stays good) we're also going back to NEADS and check in with Dave... that will be fun!!!