spent the day with Dave....

And we're off again.... it's check in day with Dave... this month's trip doesn't feel as cold as it was last month, but already the Moms are talking and hoping we aren't going to the city... I (Cappy) haven't been to the "city", so not so sure what they are talking about....

Deb and I have become very good friends. We're together alot, and Mom says that she's needs to be careful about that.  It's good that we are friends... but Mom says that she doesn't want us depending on each other....

While we wait for Dave... there's always a good opportunity to get photos. But, this time when we were waiting for Dave... something quite special happened.....

Debbie and Mom got to meet the lady that gave Debbie her name. It was quite fun, because we were just there in the lobby at NEADS, and this nice lady, hearing Mom say "Debbie" came over and said, "I believe that's the puppy I named!!" Mom was so excited to meet her, and learn how Debbie got her name, and it turns out, she is named after someone who was very special to this lady. 

OK.. so we can only "be good" for so long!!!! and because we are puppies and Mom understands, we are allowed to do a bit of goofing off....

It was a special visit for Auntie Bernice too... she got to see her "puppy in training"... this is  "T"... and he popped in to visit. T isn't a service dog, he didn't want to do that job, so now he is a pet dog and loves being with his new Mom!!!

Ah, yes... more waiting, but now it happens when Dave is here and all the Mom's have a talk with him. I just do what Deb does... and that means lay quietly and listen. It's easy work, so why not....

Because Mom and I were working together today, Deb worked with Auntie Linda (that's who I work with in my Tuesday night class)... as you can tell, this group of Mom's all work together and make us the best "puppies in training" that they can. And since we love them all, we can work with any one of them. 

After everyone had talked, and decided that "yes" it was too cold to go and work in the city... they all went to lunch. This was my first visit to a restaurant, it was so warm and smelled so yummy, but Mom right away tucked me under the table and told me to stay. I did fidget for a little, but then decided to just give up and slept while they ate...(so did all the other puppies)....

Back at NEADS, we spent some time in the training room and working on the stairs. You have to go up and down very carefully, and be certain that your human is ready to go. I learned that you don't take the next step until your human says to. It was interesting....

Deb already knows this work, she did it too, but she also watched to be certain that I was doing it right!!!!

and back together again!!!

The last thing we "played" with was this giant gorilla. I don't know what Dave thought we would do... he actually looked kind of silly pretending to be a giant gorilla...

We were quite entertained by it all. Look at Mookie, he walked right up to gorilla Dave and wanted to grab that big wonderful toy and play. Everyone was very pleased at the way we responded to this... I guess it shows that we are "steady"....

Deb just laid and watched us younger puppies. I'm sure she would have loved to run over there and play with gorilla, but Mom wanted her to practice a down stay while all this was going on.... which, as you can see, she did easily!!!

Matty's turn!!!!!

Finally, Deb had her turn to check out gorilla Dave....

Her opinion... "really Dave, is this all you got???"













so, another fun, monthly, winter check in day. The Mom's had a great time together, we puppies had a great time together... and over all, check in days... are great days together!!!

and that's.... Captions from Cappy 
and     days with Debbie!!!!!!

new snow---ssss!!!!!!

I have to say, Mom seems to be a bit grumpy these past few days (weeks)... we seem to be getting alot of snow, and since this is my first winter, I don't know...... how much snow does one get. She says it's just "winter"... and she tries to have fun with the snow and with us, but some mornings when it looks like this....

and I watch her get all bundled up to go to the barn and take care of the horses... I'm thinking that she is wishing for better weather. 

We all come into the house looking like this... though the cockers with their longer coats bring in more snow that we labs do. Mom says she's happy that we come threw the "kennel door" because everyone can dry off before going upstairs into the house. Mom says this door saves her a lot of extra work....

Dad's been doing alot of plowing this year too, he says that he's running of space to put the snow banks..... that sounds funny to me... can you really run out of space????

Sometimes Mom takes one of us up to the barn with her --- lately, it's been Cappy, because she's the new puppy. but on this day... Mona walked up with her. We love going up to the barn, there's so much excitement when the big animals are anxious to be fed.... just like us, only on a bigger scale!!!!

Abbie came to visit and to play with us. We don't see her often enough, though she loves to play with Cappy at puppy school. Today we did dress up, and I got all sort of pretty beads and necklaces to wear....

More snow... even Tazzy seems like she has had enough of it....

Cappy, bracing again the wind.... because it's cold too....

Mom doesn't let us stay out too long in this weather.... especially little Cappy who seems to get cold quick....

So, it's playtime in the cellar/kennel area. We love to race about and get rid of some energy where it's warm and the footing is good....

Cappy and I have the greatest games together, I love that we have the chance to be together......

A few days of sunshine.... 

it's pretty but again, it's very cold......

Dad switches from the truck to the tractor... this is what he and Mom call the "clean up plowing"... after these past few storms, he even had to plow so the horses could get threw...

A lot of snow comes off that barn roof, and it take big equipment to move it.....

Out for a walk in the new snow....  I know the humans are tired of it, but I have to say I still thinks it's grand!!!!

And as long as I can find my bucket somewhere under the snow, I can come up with the greatest of games!!!!

I tried to get my new friend Billie, to play "bucket" with me... but I seem to be the only one who "gets" this game of mine!!!

OK.. my turn... this is Cappy!!! and that's a picture of me, and my "auntie Bernice" in puppy school. I love puppy school when I get the chance to visit with all of my friends, but I have to say, I sometimes don't like the work that I have to do. Auntie Bernice is very patient with me and gives me lots of good treats... so, I like that part too!!!!

This photo sort of looks like I'm running away... but I'm not... this was "playtime" and I was going to visit one of my pals......

I can do a good sit stay!!!!!!

And, I certainly can pay attention when I need to.... Mom says that I'm doing a pretty good job, but there's a lot more to come!!!!  



and so, that's our "shared" blog... with

days with Debbie and
captions from Cappy!!!!!

not feeling too great...

Hi, it's me... Debbie... I'm not much up for writing on the blog tonite, I had an operation today, and even though I was (and am) very well taken care of... I don't feel too good right now. Mom says that in a few days, I will be back to my old self... but for now, this blanket and dog bed are about all I care about. So, until I'm back on my feet... 

the days with Debbie, are going to be quiet ones!!!!!

Captions from Cappy......

So, Hello... my name is Cappy, and I have joined Debbie at Sweetgrass Farm. From what I understand it is not the "usual" thing to have two service puppies in training at one place, but my Mom thought she could get me started and then perhaps, I will either go to another puppy raiser, or when Deb leaves for college, I will stay on here. We puppies don't exactly know about such things, but for now, this  is where we are.....

I have found that Mom doesn't cut any of us puppies a break, I arrived here on Thursday and tonite, I find myself in puppy school. I got to meet some (human) family members!!! This is Abbie and Sadie... 

Abbie loves puppies (she has one of her own that her Mom is working with)... but she really loves me, she says that I look just like Rylie... and that she loves me. (Rylie was the last black lab that was on the farm, and Abbie's buddy - so I guess that's why she already is in love with me!!!!)  

Abbie walked me all around the training room, showing me all the places of it. I will be working with Linda tonite, but it was fun to explore with Abbie before puppy school started. I think I'm going to like puppy school... I have already met so many new friends.. and I know that Debbie likes to go...

Actually, I'm not just in one puppy class... I go to three of them!!! (My Mom is the teacher).. so on Monday nights I work with Bernice, on Tuesday nights I work with Linda, and on Wednesday nights, I'm back with Bernice again. Mom calls this "socializing" and she says it's very important to me right now....

I like "socializing" very much, and as it turns out, the Wednesday night class is all LABS!!!!  As you can see they're mostly yellow ones, but there is a chocolate and of course me. We labs have quite the party at puppy school....

I'm not afraid of anyone and Mom (and Bernice) often have to slow me down a bit when it comes to play time....

Mom says that puppy school is just a small part of all the things I am going to do and learn, and with Debbie still here to show me different things, I am going to do just fine. 

There are so many things to do and see here on the farm. I walk up to the barn in the mornings with Mom, I have met horses, chickens and guinea hens. I love to be outside with Debbie playing in the snow, but she has this one game that at first I wasn't too sure about... it's called.... carry the bucket.... 
Deb loves to play with this huge bucket thing and it makes quite the banging noise...

At first I just stood back and watched, but when Deb went onto something else, I decided to check it out.... 

And ya know what... it's not big thing. I don't know if I would carry it around, but certainly nothing to be concerned about. Mom was very pleased to see me checking it out..she says I am very brave.

Deb and I are going to be good friends... I love to follow her about and see what she is up to. 

And of course, have someone much like me to play with...














So, I don't know how long I will be here on the farm, but it seems like a good place to start and I am ready to see what it's all about.... and the saying of my blog (Mom says I have a blog now???) will be....



captions from Cappy!!!!!