I can't believe that I haven't reported this longer ago, but the family has a new baby!!! This is little Reagan and he was born on March 2nd. Here is Mom, Abbie and little Reagan all together...
Abbie loves to help out with Reagan, she loves all of us, and I remember how special I felt with Abbie when I first came to the farm as a little tiny puppy. One thing about our family, everyone is welcomed and encouraged to love each other, so (even though there aren't any photos) I am even allowed to be around this tiny baby. Mom says it's important for dogs to be able to "see what babies are like", and then we know....
The other thing about my family, it seems as though there is always something to celebrate. And it so happens that this weekend is Mom's and Deb's birthday. We had a party for them and the house was filled with humans and dogs... it's nice that we dogs are always invited to everything!!!!
On Easter Day itself, we went to Mom's.. Mom and Dad house. I don't know what Camille is thinking in this photo, she looks kind of grumpy to me. Maybe it's because all the snow is gone??? I really don't know....
Mom has to get some pictures of ME with Reagan, seems like she gets everyone else. But, either way, we had a nice Easter with all the family together....... and Mom had a nice birthday too...
life of..... Rylie....
Mom seems to think that these check-in's come faster and faster. I think I have to agree, it seems like we go to neads, and then we are back there again. They don't have as much snow here as we do at home... Spring is on the way for sure (or so Mom says!!!!)
We always get the best greetings and warmest smiles when we arrive. Mom says she feels like a celebratory when we are there... everyone knows the Maine puppy group for sure. Often people come out of their offices to see us and see how we are all doing....
Our check-in's always start the same way... Dave takes us in one room or another, we (the dogs) have to lay quietly and the humans talk. They report on how we're are doing, if we are having any troubles, and then Dave gives us "homework" to be doing for the next month or so. For some, the day of being turned back to neads is getting close.....
In this picture we have (on the left) Mercury, Moxie, Marv (way in the back)... Vega, Grahame (who was just visiting with us) and Otis... Mom couldn't fit me in the photo.....
But here I am.. and after I heard what Dave has planned for today... I'm pretty excited.... Dave wants to see how we all play together out in the dog yard. Not only is it important that we are good dogs in public and in our work, but we have to be sure to get along with others. This is just my thing... Mom dog sits for all kinds of other dogs, and I always have friends to play with.... I love to play with others...
What a great time we all had... this is me, Otis, Moxie and Marv playing together... we have played before as each one of these friends have come and spent time at our house...
I am the smallest by far (I weigh just 44 lbs.) but let me tell you, I can keep up with those big guys, and I don't let them pull me around!!!! Dave was pleased to see that we all know how to play "nice"... no one got too rough or too excited... which is very good...
Course it can be just fun... we had to practice some down time.. both to rest a bit and to see if we could get right back to work when needed. I am proud to say, we can do that too....
I had hoped that the day would be all fun, but no.. we still had to go into the city and do a bit of work there too. So, back to the hospital, where the humans got some lunch and we got to rest under the table and wait... I think that waiting is a big part of service dog work......
We took a ride in the elevator ( there goes Mercury)... this is beginning to be old hat for me. I know all about elevators, and they are no big deal....We practiced on the stairs and working around all sorts of people. Dave seems very pleased with all of us... our humans have done (and are doing) a good job.
And then, the day is over... Dave just makes sure that everyone knows what to do until the next check in. We say goodbye and head for home... another month down... Mom says our time together is coming to a close....
life of..... Rylie!!!!
Today is a special anniversary date for Mom... because it is Moxie's birthday. For those who don't know, Moxie was Mom's dog and Mom loved her dearly. This is a photo of the first day they met, and after that first kiss, Mom and Moxie were bonded. Moxie and Mom went on many adventures together and did so many things, and Mom realized time and time again, what "dogs can do for humans" and always treasured knowing.
Sadly, dogs don't live as long as humans, and when Moxie passed away, Mom's heart was broken. She really didn't want another dog just then, afterall, she did have Hunter, Trevor, Camille and Cole still to love, but there was still a place in Mom's heart that felt so empty. So....Four years ago today ---- Moxie's birthday, is when Mom decided to raise "a puppy or two" for NEADS. She was so happy to be accepted into the program, and now as it turns out... I am the fifth puppy that she is raising for NEADS.
Some day, Mom will probably get another baby cocker to be her own, but she told me for now, raising service puppies keeps her heart happy and when she does this, she is keeping Moxie alive in her heart. And with all the puppies that she raises, she sends her prayers and best wishes that service puppies (like me) will find that bond that only a human and a dog can have....
I am hoping so...I am hoping to be someone's very special dog.. just like Moxie was...
life of.... Rylie!!!!
So, after "resting" for the past week, Mom finally said, I could "get back to work"... and tonite, we met up with all our friends at the mall. Supposedly it was to do service dog work, but the truth is, Mom is on a fact finding mission, because Linda, our leader, is going to be receiving an award at the spring graduation. She has been our leader for 20 years, and NEADS is going to give her a special award... anyways, since Mom knew we weren't doing too much work, she thought this would be a good first night out.
Everyone came and it was nice to be back with my friends... though, they thought the night was as boring as I thought. Here's Marv, just chillin' under the table, waiting for someone to do something!!!!!
Kathleen started Linda talking about the history of the Maine puppy chapter... and Mom found out all kinds of things she didn't know. Kathleen and Mercury are now together and they are getting to know each other and work things out.
The other bit of news I have, Otis, who was puppy raised by Kelli and Rick, decided that he didn't want to be a service dog. So, he was let go from the program... but, the good news, he is going to live with Linda!!! and will work as a "demo dog" when she goes and talks to people about NEADS!!!. This also means that Kelli, Rick and Otis will have lots of time to be together once again.... and as you can see, he is always happy when he sees his "old" parents.
So, I am thinking that being a service dog is a pretty neat thing, but if for some reason, I don't make it ... I know that my life is going to be a happy one... and for any dog, that is a very good thing...
life of.... Rylie!!!!!
So, I had my "surgery" a few days ago.. and I have to tell you, I did not feel very well. Mom said she felt sad for me, but she took very good care of me, and said that in a few days, I will feel like my old self again. I wanted to go out with Mona....
But Mom said "no".. she says that I need to "stay quiet" for a few days.. to rest up so I can feel good again. I know that Mom knows best, so I will do as she says...
But, while I am "resting" there will be no dog school.. no playing in the snow.. I can't even do dress up time with Abbie (so Tatter had to step in my place)... I have to be nice and quiet, and actually Mom makes me rest in the crate alot... it's kind of boring...
I missed not going out in the new snow.... and playing with my friends.... I can't wait to feel better!!!!
I also missed out on meeting Melissa.... she came to dog class one night that I wasn't there. She wanted to meet some NEADS dogs because she is going to get one!!! Moxie was very nice to her and now she can't wait to have a doggie of her own. Mom says stay tuned, because one day (hopefully soon) Melissa will get the call that it's time for her to go to NEADS for training and then we'll be seeing her at a graduation!!!!!
and for now, that's the VERY QUIET life of..... Rylie!!!!
I had a very nice time with Kathleen, but I have to say it's nice to be home again. Kathleen lives in the "city" and I got to do lots of walking on the "streets". We saw all kinds of things, people, big trucks, firetrucks...garbage cans, barking dogs.... things that I don't see here on the farm. As I said, it was fun... but I think I like the quiet of the farm...
Besides, my friend, Darci... missed me... my kitties sure do like me...
Mom says I am going to go and see the vet tomorrow... she says it's time for my surgery... that doesn't sound like fun, but I know that Mom will take good care of me!!!!
life of..... Rylie!!!!
Mom was a little worried that the snow we got yesterday would keep us from doing our check-in today at NEADS. But since the snow has stopped, and Mom doesn't mind driving...the chapter folks decided that we would go. As we pulled out this morning, this is what the farm looked like..... it's pretty snowy around here.
We met at Rick and Moxie's house, and while we were waiting for everyone to show up.. Mom took this picture out of the front window of Moxie's house. She says that she is getting tired of all the snow.. but I notice that she likes to take lots of pictures of it..... I, of course, just think the snow is great, so I don't mind it one little bit!!!!
We arrived at NEADS, and met with Dave in the conference room. Everyone seems to be doing quite well, and Dave wanted all the humans to do another puppy swap. I later learned that I wouldn't be going home with Mom today... Vega ( the new york puppy) will be going to the farm...Moxie is staying at NEADS for abit, Marv is actually going to the farm too, because his Mommy is going away for a little while... Mercury - who is new to us - is going with Rick and I am going to Kathleen's... whew.. it's hard to keep up with our adventures...
However, before we left for the city... Mom and I popped in to say hi to Gerry. She always likes to check in and see how he is doing. He has Mom's last dog... Bogey.... and she likes to hear how things are going. Bogey loves being Gerry's pet dog.....(and he'll get to do lots of swimming at their lake)....
And Bernice got a nice surprise... her last puppy, T, came for a visit. T is doing great as a pet dog too... it's nice for me to know that if I don't make it as a "service dog"..I will have a very nice family to go to.....but, Mom and I don't like to think about that right now...
Ok.. I'm ready... let's head to the big city.....I might be a country dog.. but I can handle the city!!!!!
It was a cold day .... so we decided to go and work inside at the hospital.....
Our humans had some lunch and then as we were heading over to the elevators.. this nice gentleman came over to me. He loved me and Mom had a hard time pulling us away..... I like people, I would have been happy to just stay with him all afternoon... I didn't need to do any work....
Riding in the elevator.... quite the view from here. I wonder if that is my friend walking down there..... "hello to you, my friend!!!"
Here we are... Moxie, Marv and me... just waiting to see what Dave wants us to do next......
There was time enough to hurry over and see the train. It pulled in just as we arrived.... Trains are fine... I kind of like them...We practiced on the stairs in the station, walked on slippery floors, did "unders" with the seats that are there... just all kinds of things that good service dogs have to do... Mom said I was perfect with everything (of course!!!)
As I said before, we have a new member of the Maine team.. this is Mercury.. he's going to be Kathleen's buddy (after I do my puppy swap with her). He seems like a nice chap and I am sure we will get to be good friends. Mom says that's what "puppy raisers do"... they bring up their puppies, and move onto more puppies... It makes me a little sad to think that Mom isn't always going to be my Mom... but she says I have a very special "job" to do and when it's time for me to move on... I will.... but we'll talk about that at another time...
for now, I'm heading home with Kathleen and see what things she has to show me... and that's "the life of... Rylie!!!"
