checkin' in again (7/28)

Mom says that we only go to NEADS once a month, but from my point of view... we were just here!!! I was quite surprised to see my sister there this time.. her name is Rayvan and everyone said that we look so much a like. (though I think I am just a tad better looking!!!)

Sister seems to look a bit worried in this photo... she heard that we were heading into the city. I told her, the city is no big deal and just stick close to me!!!!

Here we are.. on the streets again. Dave is giving all of the humans last minute advise.. but if you notice.. all of us dogs look pretty cool about the whole thing. I wonder if the humans will ever be trained.....

I'm ready to get to work... let's get moving I said to Mom. The city is a fun place to be... so much going on, not at all "quiet" like the farm is!!!!

We rode in the elevators again. Here Monty and I enjoy the view. (it's a long way down there).... Monty was more comfortable than I was.. but still, I handled it pretty well.

At the train station.. the humans were back in training... all we had to do was "under" the benches... but Dave had a lot to tell the humans. Kathleen and Rick were good students... paying attention to Dave....

Then everyone switched puppies... Mom got to work with Vickie and practice some "unders" with her. She knows how to do them, just wasn't so sure that she should listen to my Mom. Funny how we get used to working for just one human.... Mom says we need to be able to work for any of the humans....

At the end of the day, we found out that Vickie is coming home to Maine with us... she is doing a puppy swap. She will be going home with Auntie Linda to start and then will come over to the farm for a while. Her Mom know this is an important step in the training, but it's still hard to let go......

Now, you all remember Norton (he was the last dog that wrote on the blog).. well, Norton went into the prison training and his handler did this awesome drawing of him. We have found out, though, that Norton won't be a service dog... when they x-rayed his hips, they did not pass. So, Norton was needing to do a career changed. As it turned out ... Dave (our trainer) has been looking for a dog to call his own.. and he decided that Norton would be the perfect dog for him. So, Dave will be his new owner and Mom thought that was a very good idea. Norton was such a great demo dog in her classes for her, and so she knows that he will be a good demo dog for Dave... and the other neat thing.. Mom will get to see Norton often.  There are  many reasons why we don't always become service dogs.. but that doesn't mean there aren't other jobs, just as important, that we can do....

The ride home in the jeep was pretty squished... there were five dogs, four humans, four bags of dog food.. all to squeeze in. Mom said she was glad to see that both Rick and Kathleen could still smile even though they are squished...

Linda and Vickie squished up front... only Mom had "room"... guess next visit, the humans said we will need to take two cars!!!!

This little fellow was new to the puppy house... all I can tell him is, "sleep well" because the work ahead is hard... though fun!!!  And so another day of good times, work and adventures...




Bogey!!!!