Mom says that "tomorrow" is a very big day... so "big" in fact, that she said I needed to have a bath!!!! Good thing I'm a lab... because I don't mind the water (or baths) at all... I actually thought it was rather fun, much easier to splash and "swim" in the tub than it is the water bowl.....
Abbie came and watched, wanting to be sure that everything was OK with me. I assured her it was...... but it's always so nice to have a friend that carefully watches over you.....
We got up early in the morning, left all the others behind and met up with my other neads puppy friends. Yup, it's back to visit at neads today and to have a look at the big city. This is my first trip....Mom said we were going to have great fun... not sure how I feel about the city, but I certainly like being with everyone....
I got to hang out with Dave too.... (he's my buddy).... Dave said I was being a good little boy, and did that make me feel good!!!!
The city was pretty exciting and yes, a bit fun too... but goodness ... it's noisy. Certainly not like the farm!!!!
And I have to say, I felt very little here. Mom thought I looked very little, and she kept a careful eye on me and encouraged me all the way......
We went into the hospital.. I take it neads puppies go here a lot, because everyone seemed to know us!!! Course, me, being the smallest.... I got all the attention!!!!!
The humans sat, talked and had lunch together.....
The puppies???????? well, you can see what we did... (walking around the city takes a lot of energy!!!!)
Sasha got a little nap in too......
Up and with it... we're off to the see the bus station and the trains.......
And just like at the hospital.. everyone wants to say hello to me..... I have a feeling that people like puppies!!!!!
When we got to the train station, I learned a couple of new things. One... my Mom is afraid of the trains!!!!She really isn't around them much and just doesn't like the way the roll into the station... so, when Dave wanted us to hop on and off the train, Mom said... "please do this with Danny"... she thinks that I might misstep and fall between the train and the platform. But Dave and I knew that I could jump over that little space between... which, of course... I did.....
After hopping on and off a few times, we just waited for the train to leave. Dave likes us to see and hear what a train is like. I suppose I should have been paying better attention....
But, I couldn't resist resting my head between Dave's feet and taking a little snooze.... needless to say, trains don't worry me in the least!!!!!
As we were leaving the train station and heading back to the car... the sky was looking rather grey. Mom said she hoped we could get back "before the weather'.....
We didn't...... but rain or shine, if I become a service dog... I will still have to do my "work"... so leave it to Mom to say... "good practice Danny!!!" That's OK.. I don't mind the wet ... but it was beginning to feel like a really long day.....
I was more than happy to hike back to the car...... (I can move right along when I need to!!!)
Let's just say, once I was back in the car... that is where I stayed!!!! I was pretty tired.... we went back to neads, picked up some dog food and all the other things that the humans needed... and headed for home. It was a super fun day... but I was so happy to just sleep, and I hardly moved the whole ride home!!!
a year with Danny Boy!!!
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!!!!!
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!!!
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.....
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!!!"
