the 27th - a day late...

Just thinking about my Moxie - yesterday was her birthday..... all "my" service puppies are because of her. Happy Birthday little girl, your work continues.....

just checkin' in....

So.. this morning we all met at Otis's and Rick's house to head to NEADS and check in with Dave. Stoney joined us, but his Mommy didn't... she was sick. I was all for having Stoney with us... until I realized that the humans said I needed to ride in the back of the jeep with all those Labs!!! AHHH.. not impressed...

Don't get me wrong.. I'm all for fun and the like, but those Labs!!!! all they wanted to do was wrestle and bite each other.. well... Stoney and Monty wanted to, I think Otis was as appalled as I was.... (he squished into the corner)...










I kept asking if I could ride up front with the humans.... but they said no the whole time....










We finally arrived at NEADS. Met with Dave at the campus for a little bit, and then, into the city we all went. It was a really hot day!!! and the city was really hot. Still though, we had "work" to do (and since Mom was working with Stoney, I got to work with Bernice and Mom took lots of photos of me!!!) Here we sit road side, watching all the traffic (sure don't have that on the farm!!!)







And then, it was over to the train station. (Rick makes a good doorman!!!)












It was nice and cool in the station, so Otis and I were more than happy to practice "under and stay" and get cooled off.....











Vickie and Monty had work to do... being puppies they often like to "rush" on the stairs. So Dave took a little time to work just with them.....












teaching... "take one step at a time". By the way, I do this lesson very well.....











We then moved out to the platform to wait for the train. Other than being quite warm out there, this wasn't any big deal. A freight train came threw while we were waiting for the regular train... I just sat and watched....









Then the real train arrived. Again, no big deal... though they are rather loud. We sat and watched people get off with all their things - luggage and bikes and the like--










And then Dave wanted us and the humans to walk along the platform. Going nice and easy and just staying calm....












Back and forth a few different times. And then we practiced getting on and off the train a few different times.










After that, we boarded and sat for a bit. We practiced "under the seat".. which for me... was just great. The train cars had AC and I was more than happy to enjoy the coolness.











I thought that Vickie was doing a great job, and I wanted to be sure to let her know that.....











From the train cars, we went onto buses. You know they are "icky" things.. they're loud and they smell funny, and Dave wants us to be able to walk behind them (which really I think is silly... who walks behind a bus???) But we do this too, I guess Dave likes to see that we can be calm and not worry about such things....








Rick tells Otis and I what great work we are doing.....











From the train station and buses... it was the hospital next. And the elevators. We all loaded on (mom still really doesn't like them!!!)











Vickie enjoys the view... I take a nap......(they were nice and cool too....)










And then, it was back to NEADS where we picked up ... "Thia"!!! She's another Labradoodle and is coming home with us. She will be Bernice's partner for a while. I'm pretty excited to think there's another doodle in the bunch....

The ride home was very quiet (finally got those lab puppies tired!!!) Otis and I cuddled up and rested from a long and exciting day in the city.

ready to go.... Norton

visiting the kids!!!

Hello everyone, so here I am again.. off on another adventure with Mom and Camille!!! Mom called it a "pet visit"... not too sure exactly what she meant by that, but it sounded fun!!!

When we arrived, I first met Kuma... goodness he's a big dog, but super friendly and I liked him right away. Hey if this is a "pet visit" I'm all for it....










Then, next to arrive was Kingston... he's a French bulldog. What a great little guy he is, I was fascinated by him. He doesn't move or sound like "regular" dogs.. but I liked him right away too...










And then, if it couldn't get much better.. the room began to fill with children!!!! I LOVE children and I was so excited that it was hard to contain myself. Mom must have reminded me a hundred times to be "easy and settle"... (oh you have to be kidding!!!)








and then I realized, we couldn't visit those kids!!! In fact, they were behind a fence and we had to be on one side and them on the other. Talk about unfair!!! Mom said she understood, but at this "visit", we wouldn't be allowed to meet the kids....bummer!!!!!








I kept saying to Camille "can you believe this??? all those kids and not one pat!!!!" But, you know Camille, she has done this sort of thing a million times and took it all in stride... REALLY???? (decided to just flop over and forget about it!!!)









Our friends Linda and Ozzy were there as well. Ozzy, as you can see, is in "wheels". The kids all thought that was pretty cool, and let me tell you... it doesn't slow him down one little bit. He likes to show off all the obedience work he can do - in wheels....








Aside from French bulldog Kingston, there was also Angel. She did obedience work too, but I was happy to see, she wanted to greet the kids as much as I did. Her Mommy had to "speak" to her as well.... (glad I'm not the only puppy!!!)









After the "show" our Mommies said we could visit each other for a little bit. I LOVE Angel.. in fact, I just had to sneak in a little smooch!!!









So, a pet visit, where the pets couldn't "visit", but Mom says that will happen more often than not, and if I'm going to do this service dog thing... I'll need to get used to that idea...


either way, I added new friends to my list.. including FOUR new Frenchie friends....




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

graduation!!!

This morning, we were all up early and heading out the door. Camille and I, along with Mom and Dad (and all the other puppies and raisers) were heading out to celebrate the spring graduation at NEADS!!! We met up at Kelli, Rick and Otis's house... the day was very warm, all our snow is gone and Mom says it's almost like summer.










Come on everyone!!! I'm ready to go and see what graduation is all about!!!!










but, before we got to graduation, the humans had to stop to "eat". What is this "eating" thing anyways.. they (the humans) always seem so happy about it, but us (the k9's) just have to hide under the table and wait for them. Actually we had to wait even before the "eat".. because it was busy there.








Mom says learning to wait is a good thing for a service dog... I say it's boring!!! But I am getting quite good at it.












Otis has it down pack... he just slides under anything (in this case a bench) and just "chills". Monty was trying to do the same thing, but like me... he's younger and this chill thing can be hard for us. Still though, he did a good job and all the Mom's and Dad's were pleased.








After just a bit though, Monty thought the under thing was getting a little much, and he tried to sneak out on Bernice....

Graduation is always such a special event, Mom says it is what all us service puppies are working towards. If we make it to graduation, than it's a great thing. I plan on making it to graduation that's for sure!!!!










Gerry gave a welcoming to all....












and when I looked around, I spotted some other friends!!! Here is Lynn and Checkers - I met them at mall night. Checkers is now Lynn's puppy, but her "other" puppy Gem was one of the graduates!!!









Camille!!! She's always so "perfect"... look at her sitting quietly and listening to the event. Course she's older and knows how to behave....











After a little bit though, she laid down with me and we snoozed while the ceremonies were going on... more "chillin'" I would much rather be socializing!!!!










Which I got do!!! This is Susan, and she is very special to me!!! She is my sponsor (she's the one that gave me my cool name!!!!) and she keeps careful track of my progress!!! I think she is great.... (and thank you for all your support of me and my other service dog friends!!!!)






By the time the day was over, I was pretty tired!!! It's hard work "chillin'" and then greeting all those people and meeting all the other dogs, and going out to eat, and having to behave all the time and......well... you get the picture!!!!

Bernice said I could share the back seat with her, so I stretched out, place my head nice and comfy in her lap, and fell right asleep.

A tired doodle for sure.....

Norton!!!!

walkin' in the dark...

We ended up with a really warm day today, and since Mom didn't have to teach dog class tonite, she said (to the family) "let's get ice cream and then do some walking with Norton in the dark". In the dark??? that sounded kind of silly to me, but I love to go, and walk is a favorite word... so --- let's go.







Rick and Otis met up with us. The humans first got ice cream (while Otis and I just waited for them)....











And then we hit the streets. This is a small city that we went to.. so it was noisy and there were lots of people out, because the weather was so nice. I just plodded along, enjoying all the sights and sounds... and then something caught my attention....









It was Kathleen out walking with Monty. (they live in the "city"...) So, we asked them if they wanted to finish the walk with us. And the "three" of us (plus humans) had a nice time together. We worked along the busy road and took a few of the quieter (darker) side roads.....







I have to say, with my Mom.. I just never know where I will end up.. or what I will be "up to"....but that's OK by me...






always ready to go.... Norton.