national service dog week.....

OK, here we go again... off on another "service dog event"... now, don't get me wrong, I love to be out and about, but this is the third one this week. The life of an SD... busy!!!










Looks like Cece feels the same way!!! She does all sorts of things like this with her Mom... and notice the RED vest?? yup Cece is a NEADS graduate and working dog!!! Remember way back last spring when we went to graduation... well, Cece and her Mom Sandy were the guest speakers... that's where they met my Mom.







Today we were at the mall to promote service dog awareness. The mall was fairly busy for a summer afternoon, and the fact that it was raining outside helped. So, here we are all together.. Otis, Cece and me!!!











And here are the "peoples"......










This was so silly... a man had a vendor filled with toys near our display. He thought this silly wind up toy would bother Otis and I... NOT... we thought it was interesting for a little while, and then it became boring. Mom couldn't figure out if he was trying to be nice, or just see if he could get us going... he actually annoyed Mom.. but I didn't care on way or the other... neither did Otis...













He might be growing up, but Otis still gets the attention...what is he .. famous or something???

This nice lady came by to see us, and this is her service dog.. a beautiful Gordon Setter. He was pretty nice, and I liked him right away.

Mom, Rick and Sandy did a lot of talking about service dogs to the folks that came by. We dogs just enjoyed all the attention.... another fun day....

love Ginger

SD's by the sea

Tonite, I got to go to the sea. It isn't that far a ride from the farm, and I love to go there. But we were here for another reason, other than the ocean. Our friend Lynn had set up an evening to go and talk to the public about service dogs. It is, afterall, National Service Dog Awareness week, and it looks as though it's going to be a very busy week.







Otis loved the ocean too... he told me that if he hadn't been in his working clothes, he would have gone and jumped right in!!!!












Abbie came along with us. She had fun running on the beach, but when a lady came along and was asking about us... she ran right over and said "my Ginger". I guess she just wanted to be sure that the lady knew who I belonged with!!!!









Mom took us down closer to the water. The salt air and breeze sure felt nice on this hot summer evening.











It was tempting to run into the water, But Mom wouldn't let me go either. she said a sandy dog was going to be enough to deal one, let alone a wet, sandy dog.








We took so photos of Otis and I together (he's getting big!!!) and then we went to Lynn's house to have dinner. There was a nice group there.. Teena and Freedom, Kathleen and brother Leo, Rick and Otis, Linda (our chapter leader).. my family and Suzan and puppy Friday (who might be Suzan's future service dog)....

After that, it was time to give our demo on service dogs. Mom said a little speech about what it's like (and how fun it is) to be a puppy raiser...I helped her by standing with her. Suzan then gave a talk about the laws with regards to service dogs.... and Lynn ended the evening talking about being a weekend puppy raiser.

The crowd that came to see us wasn't so big, but the people that did come, certainly had a good time. They had lots of questions and enjoyed visiting with all of us.

AS it seems with any events that we do together, the night went zooming by and it was time to head for home. We sure do keep busy, us service dogs... but it's all apart of the "job"...

Love, Ginger

a summer party

The month of August, not that I know it to be any different, but Mom has told me that this is the last month of summer. Do the seasons change? I remember coming to the farm as a small puppy and seeing the snow come, then the spring and the summer, but somehow I get the feeling that it's all going to change again. Seems strange to a dog.

Since it is the end of summer (or so I am told) Mom and Dad hosted a party for all the service dogs and their families. Everyone came, and it was very fun for me to have all my friends here at my house.



We all met on the front lawn (because the back isn't finished yet) and Dad cooked good things on the grill and everyone brought something special to eat. Course we puppies couldn't have any of the people food, but it sure looked good. We had a great time visiting with each other.

Abbie and Otis are becoming very good friends. I don't mind sharing her with Otis.. she can teach him good things about being around kids!!!

And after a long and very fun evening, they "crashed" together.... Mom says that raising service puppies is a very special thing, and it brings her many wonderful times...

I am thinking that being a service dog just might be the same...

love, Ginger

sick puppy!!! :(

Oh my... well, after being at Auntie Kathleen's for the puppy swap, and then our big day a NEADS, I wasn't feeling too great. Mom seemed to pick up on it, but I wish I could speak human, because I would have told her for sure. You see I had an abscess in the back part of my mouth, I didn't feel like eating, I couldn't swallow very well ( and kept drooling) and I didn't want anyone to touch my head.

Mom took me to the vet and they found it right away. But because it was so sore, I had to stay at the vet where they made me very sleepy. They had to lance the abscess - yes I know -eewwhhh... and when I woke up I felt so much better.

I am on some medicine just to help me feel even better and already I do. I am so happy that Mom knows me well enough to understand that I wasn't myself... and I just want to tell all puppy people that when you think your doggie isn't feeling well... we probably aren't'....

Love Ginger

big city work

Hi everyone, it's me again... so, I spent a few days with Kathleen and Bob, and had a pretty nice time living "in town".. then met up with Mom and it was right into the truck, and on our ways to NEADS. Goodness, a gal just doesn't have a minute to catch her breath some days. But, from what Mom tells me, if I do make it to being a service dog, this is probably how my life will be... certainly not boring, that's for sure!!!






So, our check in with Dave and the good folks at the academy. We did the "usual" meet and greet, the humans asking questions and getting good advise from Dave. Then we went on to show him how well our training is going. Mom said this photo was a "practice for our graduation photo", time will tell I guess...







And of course, we had to do our time in the city. I'm getting pretty used to that. We usually spend a little time walking about, sitting near the curb, and then head over to the hospital for all the "cool things to work with".









Do you remember that silly game Mom had us all do at puppy night - the one where we had to squeeze into a laundry basket. Well, here's the reason why... look how nicely I can curl up under a chair that is bearly big enough to "hide" me. (even Mom was impressed!!!!)










Baby Otis has the right idea (I mean, "Otis" - Mom says we have to quit calling him "baby" - he's getting so big!!!!)











We practiced down stays all over the hospital. Not only is it good to work on, but it gives everyone a minute to take a break and just get used to everything that is going on.

Course, we always draw quite the crowd. Even though the hospital folks are used to the NEADS puppies being around, it's still an eye catcher -especially with us.... (we are such a good looking bunch!!!)








We rode the elevators about a million times (poor Mom). T isn't all that excited about them either - course, you can see what Leo and Otis think about it...I'm doing better with them. I do fine in the enclosed elevators, but those glass ones - course Mom totally understands, she would take the stairs if she had the choice!!!!

And then, before you know it, we wrapping up with Dave and heading for home. The days sure go by quick, Mom tells me that summer is almost over.. too bad, I liked summer - this being my first one and all.

saying goodbye for now, Love Ginger!!!

the great puppy swap

At Dave's request, all the Mom's (and Dad) of the Maine puppy chapter did a "swap the puppies" for a few days. Mom was sad that I was "leaving her", but really - it's a good experience for us to try living in different places.

The swap went like this... Bernice took Otis, Rick got Leo, Kathleen got me.. and Mom got T.







I don't know.. does she look like the poodle type... I'm thinking goldens really are more her style!!!












We did the swap at puppy class. So Abbie was in bed when T arrived at our house.. the next morning, Abbie couldn't quite figure out what he was. Mom told me that she kept saying "where's Ginger" (she really loves me, you know)...










She did however, find T interesting, and tried doing his obedience work with him - like she does with me. But T, not being around babies much, didn't understand her....









However, she did decide that "T the pooda" was a pretty good guy and for the few days that he was at our house, she enjoyed him as well.


I had a pretty nice time with Kathleen, she lives "in town" so I had some good walks with her and Bob in and around the traffic. The puppy swap was a good idea, even if it was hard on the humans!!!


Love to all, Ginger

dog days of summer

Every summer, my Mom and her friends from the Piscataqua Obedience club, put on an obedience demo for the public. They have done this for 22 summers (we think) but either way, it's a big hit and many people come to watch. All kinds of dogs come and show what you can "do" with obedience....








The show has it's own music, and Dad is in charge of that. He carefully picks out the best songs that will match the type of work the dogs show.









The performance is held near the beach, and it was a perfect summer night. This year, Abbie was "big" enough to enjoy the events... she loves us dogs anyways, and always wants to be a part of what we are doing.












Cammie... getting ready for the show!!!!!














Mom is always the '"MC" but she would rather just be a "performer"... and this year, I helped her. It was great exposure for all the dogs, especially for "us service dogs"










this is the parade of dogs... we do it first to show all the people what kinds of dogs will be doing the show.

We show many different types of obedience, from group work to basic commands... this year we did nosework, rally, flyball and talked about service dogs. The crowd had much to watch.








Mom didn't get as many pictures as she would have liked to.. but she did get this one of Otis showing that even babies can come when they are called.

We got lots of petting and then ended the evening by going out for dinner. It was fun, and maybe there will be "better trained puppies" because of this show....

Love to you all, Ginger...