a picnic (5/11/14)

well... look where we are today!!! at NEADS!!! and as you can tell, we're here for a party!!! Mom and the other Maine puppy raisers.. and other puppy raisers are here to celebrate puppies and being together as the raisers. Everyone was so happy to come to this event, and I can tell  you, it was so much fun!!!!!

It just so happened that I was the youngest puppy here... so bring on the cute factor!!!!

And I was so happy to see my friends... course I snuggled right up to Dave!!!!












                                                           Go ahead... hug the puppy!!!!!

After I got lots of hugs and kisses, and Mom got to talk to a lot of the other raisers, we went inside to have our photo done. I got to have a couple of photos done.. one with the Maine group and then one with just me, Mom and Abbie  - oh yeah, forgot to say, that Abbie went with us as well......

There were other things to do other than visit and do pictures.... they had a duck race just for us!!! All the "duckies" had numbers on them, and who ever duck crossed the finish line, they won a prize. Well, those silly ducks got all caught up in one place and they weren't moving.....

So Gerry went over to the edge and helped to push them along.... Mom was just hoping that he wouldn't fall in... (which he didn't!!!)

Duckies at the finish line.... I wonder if one of them was mine!!!

and just to state ... if Mom had let me go, I would have been more than happy to jump in that water and help those duckies along!!!! Mom said she might be in for an "interesting summer with me at the lake".... have to say, that sounds kind of cool.....

Back to the party.... after the race Gerry and Dave handed out awards and certificates for all kinds of things.... (our duckie didn't win)... the awards were for the puppy raisers and the number of years that they have volunteered. Two families have been volunteering for NEADS for 11 years!!! and one of them was Kathleen!!!!!

There were a lot of people and puppies there... it was such a nice day and Mom said she had the greatest time!!!!

Me too... I met a lot of new friends, as well as friends that I already knew.....

But I have to say... I sure did get tired, and at one point, I just gave in and Mom had to carry me. (which she says won't be happening much longer.... I'm getting heavy!!!)


We'll be coming back to NEADS soon for our check in day... I like coming here, but today was certainly one of celebration and fun!!!!




a year of training with Danny Boy!!!!!

adventure day (5/8/14)

I know that I don't look very excited in this photo... but really I do like going out on adventures!!! (or field trips as Mom also calls them)... and when I hear these words, I know we are up for something fun. This trip was to the hospital, Mom says there are many things to "work" with there... but I like meeting all the new people!!!!

Our first stop this trip was the elevator. I have to share here, my Mom is not a fan of elevators.. and she would avoid them if she could. But, because I need to know about them... so bravely gets on and off we go. I don't see what the big deal is... you get on, quietly sit in the corner.. and yes, it feels kind of funny, but other than that..... Sometimes, other people get on with us, and they smile and ask what we are doing...

After we went up and down several times, and practice getting in and out of the elevator.. it was onto the stairs. Now, I'm still working on stairs myself... I can do the up real well, but sometimes on t he down, it gets a little scary and I try to rush just to get it done. Mom says I need to learn to take the stairs slowly...We sat and watched Cappy make a few trips, and then it was my turn.....

"oh no"... do I really have to???? But Mom is patient, and had some amazing treats, and we took one step at a time... and before I knew it... I had done the stairs, both up and down at a nice slow pace. Mom was pretty pleased with me... but I have to say... I was pretty pleased with my self!!! Yeah for Danny Boy!!!!!

A few days later, Mom and Dad had to go on an errand. It was a long ride away from the farm, and Mom wanted me to go along. She said it would be good for me to have a long car ride. I like the car, so I simply slept most of the way. When we got to our destination, Mom walked me around and showed me "firetrucks"... antique fire trucks to be exact. They're pretty big, but since they just sat there... so did I......

I was allowed to even climb up on a couple of them.... I liked this one with this big wide step. Mom said I could be a fire dog!!!! then Dad said "no", because I don't have any spots... (what did that mean anyways????)

It was fun to walk about and explore. The day was nice and warm and I loved sniffing in the grass......

Yup, this was a pretty neat place.. Mom said we'll probably come back here again.... fine with me, I like any adventure that we take!!!




a year with Danny Boy!!!

therapy dog weekend (5/5/14)

This morning, Mom, Livy, Camille and I all packed up early and headed out. Mom said we were going to a "therapy dog seminar" and even though this really isn't for me... she said that I would be able to have a good time and see some new things. Sounds good to me, I like new things!!! So, we get to where we are going, and I see tables all set up... but this is where I usually go to puppy school, so something is different for sure!!!!

Then Scott comes in and begins to set up a bed!!! Right in the  middle of the room, and I also notice there are lots of other pieces of equipment... walkers, canes, wheelchairs... and so I now think.. "oh this is what Mom said when she talked about some new things!!"

It was fun to see other dogs arriving too.. and I got to  meet some new friends. Some even smaller than me - even though they are older than me -  and one big dog... well, he even looked a little like me!!! Mom said maybe one day, I'll be as big as that lab is!!!

This is Brian... he's a Skye Terrier... Livy was quite taken with him. He was very nice and he liked both Livy and I very much. He's kind of a "funny" looking dog, but I thought he was pretty cool. 

Then it got down to "serious business"... all the humans had to sit and listen to the teacher... and as you can see, the dogs knew just what to do. Mom said they would certainly become therapy dogs this weekend... she was impressed how nicely everyone behaved. 

But, it wasn't all "sitting around". The dog handler teams had to prove that they knew how to work. I got to work a little bit, but since I'm not heading in this direction for my "work".. Mom and I mostly helped out... (I was the distraction puppy!!!)

The students learned all sorts of thing, so it wasn't just the dogs who had to "behave".... this is Rangley, and he was practicing on how to behave around someone who is in a wheelchair. They did very well.....

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So even though this really wasn't "for me"... I did get to do some new things, Mom had me walk with this wheelchair, and I practice some of my obedience lessons, but mostly, it was a day to be out and about and seeing what there is to see... 



and any day like that is fun!!!!

"a year with Danny Boy!!!" 

A new month (5/2/14)

Well another day here on the farm, and one thing I can tell you, there is always something fun, new and exciting to do... I've only been here a little while and I'm already learning and doing so much. A lot of this is due to my little buddy, Abbie, we have such a good time together and she loves to be with me.  She like to do the "training" as she calls it... here we are working on a word that she calls "touch" 

And then she gently rolls me over, so she can "handle" me... actually, I think the belly rub is kind of nice!!!! She always smiles and says that I'm being a "good boy".....

This word is called "come" and the best part of that, I get to run as fast as I can to her, and then I get a tasty little treat. I'm thinking that "come" (with that treat) is going to be my favorite one to do!!!!











this command is "better go now".... though I have to tell you, that once I have "gone".. it's Mom that cleans up after me. (Abbie won't do that part!!!)

Almost every morning, we walk up to the barn and help Mom with the "chores", as she calls them. I like these morning walks..... it's a great way to start a day.

We check in on the horses - this is Silver - and feed them their breakfast. Abbie and I put out food for the chickens and the barn kitty too.... then it's time for my breakfast....

Abbie has even taken me into the hay loft... Mom throws down these bales for the horses, but Abbie and I like to climb on them!!!!

This is my first night at puppy school!!!. My Mom is a teacher, so I get to work with Kathleen while Mom is busy. But first I got to meet up with my new class friends. This is Mary, she raises service puppies too, so she is always happy to see a new puppy....

Mary's dog is called Peace... she's older (and bigger) than me, but she is very nice and we are going to be good friends....

There are lots of other dog friends as well. Mom says that I have things to learn, but puppy class is also a place to play. I have no doubt that this is going to be a good time....












And now, it's time to get serious... Auntie Kathleen and I take our seat and think about learning some of our "commands"...

it's a busy time, a busy life.. but I'm loving every moment...


a year with Danny "boy".....

my first farm days...

 April 29th....

So, the first thing I can tell you about being here on the farm (and my new Mom) is.. we don't waste anytime. Mom has the idea that "this is how it is, and let's get going". Today I got to look around the farm and it's really cool. I can tell that everyone here thinks I'm special and I feel so loved....

And aside from having Livy as my very special buddy... there is another .... this is Abbie.... she is Mom's grand daughter and right now she is staying at the farm with her family. Abbie loves "all the puppies" that come here and she couldn't wait to get me outside and show me around.

She tells me that I look like "ry-ry"... who I have learned is my half sister and also spent time here on the farm. Abbie says that she would like me to meet Rylie one day  ..OK... but right now, these woods have all sorts of fun things to smell....

We also met another little "grand" (as Mom calls them).. this is Reagan... and he's just over a year. I wanted to talk with him, but he was pretty happy playing with his tractor (he's learning to walk)...

So, I just followed behind him and chased him about. I get the feeling that there are quite a few "babies" in this family and I think I will feel right at home with everyone.

He's kind of cute, and he has dogs too... so, he's not one bit worried about me getting close to him....

And my buddy, Livy.... there are other dogs here too... (I'll have to share pictures of them).. but we have Camille, Hunter, Trevor and Tazzy... plus there are some big animals that live down at the barn....but since everyone already likes me.... I like them too...

its a year with Danny Boy.....