April 24th.....
Hi....... my name is Danforth... I'm 11 weeks old and the newest member of the Sweetgrass Farm family. My new Mom says that I'm training to become a service dog and that we have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. Right now, though, I am meeting all the others here on the farm... including this cat who I understand is called Mona and thinks that she is the number one "person" here.
She seems friendly enough, and I have the feeling that I will want to stay on her good side.... "nice meeting you Mona"....
So, Mom... what's next.... it was late by the time we got home tonite, and it all seems very good, but I have a feeling there is much to see....
We went to bed fairly early.. I get the feeling that Mom had a long day... (something about leaving Debbie "behind" and me coming back instead).. but the next day, I got to meet other members of the family. This is Livy... she's a cocker spaniel, and she isn't much older than me....we hit it off right away... she's fun, she likes to play (and tells me the "older" dogs don't play much)
Oooo... they keep a nice big water bowl here...
Oh yeah, I can swim in this!!!! Though I quickly heard Mom saying.. "ah ah Danny.. not for swimming!!!"
So, this is my first report.. Mom says that we will keep a blog (funny word) of our year together and that we'll have many great adventures... hope that you will be reading a long... this is going to be a fun year.. with...
"Danny boy".....
So, here it is... the day that we say goodbye to my beautiful "yellow dog". Before we head back to NEADS.. we stop to shot the "farewell photo".. which I have done with all my puppies... sitting out by the old mower, with the farm in the back ground.
And this little country girl is headed off to great adventures and into advance training....
"how do you give them up"... with lots of hugs, tears, and many good wishes...
Our day at NEADS goes as usual. When we arrived everyone knows that it's Deb's turn in day and I have such love and support. Deb seems "quiet" to me... she knows that something is up .. they all know
I smile on the outside, but not on the in... and for all the times that I have taken puppies back... it's not ever "easier".. and in many ways I find it harder to do...
But this little gal has become very special to me. i think it's because she is most like the personality that I would pick in my own personal dogs. I have always loved her "drive and spirit" and have secretly thought that if she doesn't make it, I would like to have her back. But, we don't talk about "not making it"...
We meet with Dave and talk over the past month. (notice where Deb chooses to lay).... Cappy is talking about in great detail...
and it is decided that Cappy will have another month with us, and will go to Kathleen's and see how she does there. She is such a sweet baby, and a bit immature, so we feel another month in a home will suit her much better.
We head over the local mall to see the puppies work. Linda and Sasha work with Dave on the stairs....
Dave's son has joined us today, and right away hits it off with Debbie. I don't find this surprising, for the past year, I have watched how Deb can work her magic on people....
And I take a few moments and step back, just to see her work ... she does well, but I notice that she watches for me... which is endearing, but I hope won't be a downfall when she needs to be working with another.
At lunch, she tucks under the table, just as she has been taught.....I eat, but knowing our time is coming to a close, I don't have much of an appetite
Back at NEADs.. everyone gives us those moments to ourselves. It's such a pretty day.. we head outside for some pictures....
I think that just a year ago, I met this beautiful girl at this very spot... threw the tears that I was crying for another... and now, here we go again... the chapter is closing..... the future looks bright, I again go into the "waiting for the good report" mode....
And meet my next little buddy.......
I have a feeling that change is in the air. Mom has been talking a lot about my leaving the farm and heading off for advance training... I sort of had an idea that this is how it all works... I know that I am not the first puppy in training that has lived here, but it seems like the time has gone by so fast... Mom thinks so too.
Cappy is going too.... so Mom just wants us to have the most fun week that we can. Lots of play time outside in the warm spring sun.....
We race and chase, and I notice that Mom seems to enjoy watching us... and taking lots of pictures.
We have also been making trips to the places that I know. Cabela's being one of these spots.... Mom tells everyone that we are here to say goodbye.....
and I get lots of hugs and kisses, and wishes of good luck. People seem happy and sad at the same time.... I'm not sure how I feel about it all....
But at each spot, I know how to work and be good all at the same time. Mom tells me that she has loved all her puppies, but that I have become her favorite. We are very close, and I have a feeling that we are both going to miss each other....
Our last day on the farm... Mom takes Cappy and I out for a walk in the woods... just to enjoy some quiet country time before things begin to change....
so much fun... to sniff about and "just be a dog"... it was a great day.
Livy and I have been having a great time together... and tonite, Mom let us rough play as much as we wanted (and never told us to "go easy")
She's been a great little friend....
Mom even let me ride in the front seat (something that is never allowed!!!) She said I have been a great co-pilot and that I am her best "yellow" dog...
tomorrow...
and that is the last of... "the days with Debbie".....
So, here we are!!! and pretty much this photo explains the whole reason!!! It's Spring graduation and there are many wonderful teams that will celebrate their success.....
But one puppy in mind!!!! is Rylie!!!! for among all the dogs.... she is the special one for Mom and all of us!!!! Rylie certainly isn't this cute baby anymore, but Mom can remember when she looked just like this!!!!
But, I should start the day with the beginning. So, we met up with all the other puppy folks and traveled down together. Now, Linda K is an amazing cook and she offered to make lunch for all the humans.... when they got to graduation... they had what Mom called a "tailgate party"......
It was pretty cold and windy, but everyone just bundled up and stood in the sunshine and ate Linda's wonderful lunch. Course none of us puppies had any of it, but I will say... it sure smelled yummy.....
Dave and Lee even dropped by to see what we were up to - out there in the parking lot - and were invited to join..... you never know what sort of fun Mom and the other puppy raisers are going to have!!!! I love it when the group gets together!!! the mood is always so jolly and happy!!!!
Abbie came with us to graduation and she was so very excited about the idea of seeing Rylie again. She and Rylie were very close when they were together on the farm, and it's been almost a year since they have seen each other. Abbie had all sorts of stories to share with everyone about her and Ry and how she couldn't wait to see her again.
Linda S (the chapter leader) makes this "badges" for each of the puppy raisers at graduation time. She even made one for Abbie and Abbie was so excited to have one. She kept saying that she helped to train Rylie and told everyone that would listen.
After the tail gate party, we all went inside to wait for the meet and greet. This event happens before graduation and it gives the puppy raisers a chance to see their puppies once again and meet the new partners. By now Mom was getting pretty excited too.... I had meet Rylie back when I was a little puppy, but I began to feel a bit unsure about all of this, hoping that I wouldn't be forgotten... and Abbie told me.. all was fine.....
They lead us to this big room, and there were all the graduates... most of them looking for the puppy raisers... and then... there was Rylie and her new Mom.. Abbie couldn't wait to give Rylie's "baby book" to her Mom and she was very excited to get it.....
It took Rylie a few moments to realize that Mom was there... but once she did, there were many kisses... and as you can tell, Mom was pretty excited to see her once again.
Even though so much time has passed, so much training has been done, and new adventures always await... puppies never forget their people!!!! Mom says this is "what it's all about"... raising good puppies, sharing all she can with them, and passing them on... to do the good work that they are destined to do. Which means... there will come a day when all this will happen to me.... sometimes it seems a little scary, but Mom says that we take it all one step at a time, and each thing will happen as it needs to.....
The time together seems so short, but many stories are shared, and Mom says it's just so nice to see that Rylie is happy and loves doing the job that she does. Mom says that she can now "stop worrying" and continue with her part of the job......(though she wasn't really worried...)
Abbie gives that one last hug... the time is complete, and this puppy chapter has come to it's close for us... and it's opening for the new..... it's what the puppy raisers do.
But Mom wasn't the only puppy raiser that Rylie had. Once she went into advance training in the prison, she had a weekend raiser.. and that was Mae. Mom and Mae knew each other, so Mae always sent "Rylie reports" to Mom when she had her. Mom said that made her so happy to get these little reports and she hopes that maybe, when I go to advance training... maybe Mae will be my weekend raiser (though that probably won't be the case..but they can dream!!!)
Then it was time for the graduation ceremony.... there were a lot of people there and there was a lot of excitement... people like to talk about all the dogs, and ask questions about the puppies.... Mom loves to talk about us!!!
And here's Rylie's class....... everyone up on the stage...
Mom cried when it was Rylie's turn on the stage.... and then she hugged me and said..."Debbie, it's all about getting a red vest!!! that's the goal!!!" (oh my, I hope I get a red vest one day!!!)
But for now, I wear blue... and continue to practice all the good manners Mom has taught ( like laying quietly threw the graduation)
It was a fun, busy day... we had treats afterwards.... Abbie gave me lots of love and said that she loves me as much as she loved Rylie....
And you know, I love her right back..... these are special days... I am a special dog....
and that's a "day with Debbie"....
