time for church...

Hello everyone --- I'm Norton!!! I guess you already know about me, since my new Mom made a post to this blog, but now it's my turn to introduce myself and add my name to list of service dogs that have written on this blog!!! (I didn't even know I knew how to write!!!). In case you haven't noticed, I am not a golden - like Chester and Ginger were (are).. I am a Labradoodle. NEADS uses a variety of dogs for service work, granted the retrievers (labs and golden) are the more popular ones, but we doodles and poodles have our spot as well. Mom said that I am very cute, but she has also admitted to me, that it's going to take her a little time to think of me as a service dog and not just a big teddy bear, or a muppet. That's OK, I'm out to prove her "wrong" and show her just what kind of a service dog I can be!!! You all wait and see.

One thing for sure, she didn't cut me much slack. On our ride home from NEADS we stopped at a place called Cracker Barrel. Guess it's part of the trip - and I had to "hide" under the table with Otis and Edgar. I did very well.. Mom was pleased. Then Sunday morning, I was up and dressed again....

Heading out to church. All the folks at church were so pleased and surprised to see me. Mom had thought it might be a bit of time before she had another service puppy to work with, and of course, the fact that I'm not a golden (will they ever get over that???) had some to do with it. But, I'll tell you... it didn't take me too long to warm those people up to me!!!!

I have to say, it took me a little time to get comfortable at church. Mom insisted that I could fit under the pews, and I wasn't so sure about that. So first I wiggled one way and then another, and then again... Mom said I wiggled more than baby Abbie!!!!

I tried to convince Mom that I just couldn't do this, and she kept saying "yes, you can - YES you WILL" so I finally gave in, found a spot were she was pleased enough and I chilled for the rest of the service. I'm a fairly large dog, but I guess I need to learn how to 'get small" and chill....

So, here I am ... service puppy number three at Sweetgrass Farm. Mom says we have big adventures ahead.. and if that's one thing I can tell you about being a doodle... I'm always up for adventure...

ready to go....... Norton!!!!

Hello..... NORTON!!!!

"Chapter Three" begins with two stories!!! The first one being --Dave's birthday. It so happened that when we (the Maine puppy raisers) were due to check in this month, the day fell right on Dave's birthday. Now, you just HAVE to make something of that, right??? So, even though Kathleen and I don't have puppies right now, we still check -in, and because it was Dave's birthday, Kelli and Ed joined us as well. This is what we "looked" like as we entered the building for our day of training!!!!






The "New York puppy raisers" were in on this as well (Hi gals!!!) and they supplied this beautiful cake. Dave got a few presents (one being some nice lobster meat!!!)










And to say he was surprised would be an understatement... we caught him completely off guard (which is hard to do)...











Otis and Edgar weren't too sure what all this fuss was about, but they waited quietly while the humans did their thing (just what service dogs are suppose to do). We only have two puppies in Maine right now.. Otis and Stoney (Edgar is waiting for his new placement)... but that won't stop us from being at NEADS each month and waiting for our next arrivals....




Course, the day couldn't be all party (it was all fun, but we have to be serious too).. so we made our way to the city, the hospital and train station. This time we really lucked out, as the train pulled right in. The conductor was so great and said that the train would have about a 20 minute wait and if we wanted, we could take the puppies on board and walk them around. What a great opportunity (especially for our country dogs)....







awww.. look at this sweetie pie... this is Vicki, and she is being raised in Mass. Her Mom will be joining us as well... between New York, Mass and Maine, we have a really nice group that comes together once a month. It will be fun to watch this little girl growing up....







But HERE's the second part to this story... this is Lorna and service puppy in training.... Norton!!! and if you haven't guessed by now, Norton is a now a Maine dog. Lorna had been asking Dave to take a little break and Dave thought we might enjoy bringing this boy to Maine with us.... course, we jumped on that idea!!!!








He is a nine month old Labradoodle. Very smart, full of energy and lots of fun. Lorna gave him an excellent start, and even though he is based from the farm now, I have a feeling that he will be enjoyed by all of us. I know that Bernice will love having him on a puppy swap, and Kathleen said she will do the obedience classes with him while I teach.





It takes a village (er chapter) to raise a puppy, and Norton... you're our new project!!!



Welcome to Maine!!!!

the closing post - Chapter two....

And so, with Ginger off to "college" and I anxiously await the news of all her next steps...

The vests are hung by the door - waiting for the next little bundle to come and fill them, and step out into the world to learn the things that a service dog needs to know.

But tonite, my heart feels as empty as the vests.....

Best wishes my G-girl... you own a piece of my heart forever......

it's turn in day....

So, here it is... turn in day... my term for returning Ginger to NEADS, where she will now "turn into" the dog she is suppose to become. We are merely a stepping stone on her journey, and though I know full well how this all works, the emotional side of me doesn't have a clue. She stayed with us longer than Chester did, which all in all worked well... because I feel she needed more time. She is a softer dog than Chester and the time to do some growing up served her well.






It was a super cold day, so I didn't get as many "farm photos" as I would have liked... but here are a few good ones to show that she was (is) a part of our family and farm.










Because Kathleen was heading off to visit with her family, Leo came to stay with us for a couple of nights and then turn in with Ginger - and with T -, so it was two goldens in the back seat of the truck, as it has been many times. As little puppies, they certainly did not take up this much space!!! They love each other and it was a rare treat that litter mates get to become such good friends and see each other so often.

Bernice and I arrive at NEADS in the afternoon. I was grateful that the weather was good and the traveling easy. Dave was waiting for us, and Sherry had the tissues ready....

It was nice to have the time to say those final goodbyes.. because even though we will see the "puppies" again, they won't be ours... so truly this is "the good bye". Of course we always hope to meet them again at the side of their awesome new owners.. but there is still much to be done before that day arrives. I didn't even try to "look good" for the camera.... I give up......

The "sibs" having some quiet time together, they will meet up with sister Clover who is also "in".... so I suspect the next few days while they go threw vets checks and the like, they will have a grand time together.....

They are all beginning to look like service dogs..

And that one last look into those beautiful brown eyes, that sweet face who has looked at me like this "millions of time" and asked... "what are we going to do next?"

It's a kiss --- a hug ----

it's goodbye...............

last night at "home"...

Sometimes, it's hard being a dog... well, it's not hard to BE a dog, but it's hard to understand these humans that I live with. Something is up and I can't quite figure it out... first off, Leo and I both got baths. And not that I haven't had a "hundred" baths before, but it seemed as though Mom wanted it to be even "better". She went over and over me, and then poor brother got the same treatment. Course, once we were nice and clean, Mom said no more running out in the muddy yard...




Then... all evening, she kept taking lots of pictures and telling me to "be a good dog" and that I have some really exciting things coming up. She took many pics of Abbie and I... she said that she wants to be sure that Abbie will remember me.. because she's so little and might not.










I love Abbie... always have!!! She gives me lots of hugs and kisses, and when we go out to eat, she likes to peek under the table to see me... and tells me "good girl Gingeeee".... (then I thump my tail!!)










Pics with Tatter and Camille.....












and more with Abbie.....













I'm a bit worried... something is up for sure... I hope these humans are going to be OK....

happy new year

Now... I don't know exactly how humans celebrate the New Year, but let me tell you... this is certainly one good way to do it!!! Mom didn't tell me that brother Leo was coming to our house and so I was so happy and surprised when he showed up at the door. I couldn't wait to get outside with him, to race and run.. and I wanted to show him my really neat mud hole!!!! The ground has been so nice and soft, perfect for holes... and Mom said, go ahead and run.. enjoy your day!!!!

Leo's Mom is going away on a trip, so he is here for just a couple of days and then Mom said we will be going off to college together. I must admit I "worry" a little when Mom talks about "college" because it seems to make her kind of sad... since I really don't know what she means, I just try and cheer her up.

Watching Leo and I having so much fun seems to do that. She said that we will need big baths.. but in the meantime, it's all fun and games....