Recall, Breeder Evals and Waiting...

So, 3 weeks ago, I sent Partner back to San Rafael.

Since then... 

I have heard that he has been pulled for breeding pending his final medical exams!

This is great and hopefully means that he has passed all of his behavior tests and they are just waiting on the more extreme physical tests before passing him as a breeder.

Unfortunately... 

It will most likely be weeks before we hear anything more.

Oh well, no news is good news for now and I am crossing my fingers that he passes these last few tests because I am dying to raise one of his puppies!

Until then...

Puppy sitting!

Lots and lots of puppy sitting! So far, since Partner's recall I have gone only about 2 full days without a dog! It has been awesome working with some of the other dogs in our group and it's great to have something to keep me busy while I am waiting to hear about Partner.

Taos

Krista

Kingston

Bike Trail Socialization Meeting

Last Friday our meeting was located at one of the bike trails near us! 

It was a beautiful day and perfect for a walk!

We also got a chance to meet our club's newest member: Omar.

I'll admit I stole him for a bit...

So cute! I think I'm getting Puppy Fever! I'm already excited for puppy #6!

For the first half of the walk, I gave Partner to a new member to handle. 

He seemed to really do great with her. He was on a head collar so she really didn't have to worry about him pulling or being distracted by dogs at all.

It was pretty impressive seeing him working so well with someone else- especially someone with less experience. He is just now starting to get to a point in his training where I feel comfortable letting other people handle him.

The second half of the walk, I took him back, removed his head collar and just enjoyed the nice walk with him. We didn't see many other dogs that weren't from our group on this half so I didn't  have much of an opportunity to work on his dog distractions.

Even though I didn't get a chance to work with him around other dogs, it was still really great to go on such a nice, relaxing walk with the group.

Phase Report...!

An exciting number appeared next to Carrie's name on the Phase Report this week!

Carrie is in Phase 8!!

Yay!!!

I'm so very proud of my pretty little girl!

Phase 8 means that she is going through all of her final testing to determine if the trainers think she will make a  safe and efficient guide.  If she passes these tests, she will be matched with her new handler. They will be "In Class" together for 2-3 weeks where they will learn how to work together as a team.

Good job Carrie! And good luck on your tests! Be good!

Carrie's Littermates:

Cameo, as it turns out, will not become a breeder. She was just NOT interested in the whole business behind that haha.  She will be spayed and placed into a string.

Cavalia is in Phase 4

Chip is in Phase 7

As far as I have heard, Cammie has been pulled for breeder

Group's Puppies:

Loomis has moved into Phase 1!

Spruce has still not shown up on the report. We're not really sure what's taking so long for him to be neutered and placed into phase 0... Hopefully he will be on the report next week!

Quick Group Update

I would like to very quickly introduce 4 of our group's newest members.

Welcome to:

Britt-

Britt is being started by a fellow college student.  Britt is her 3rd puppy! When her raiser's summer is over, she will be finished by her raiser's parents.

Laurel-

Laurel was presented at GDB's San Rafael Fun Day! She is her raiser's first puppy!

Portola-

Portola is her raiser's 3rd puppy! Her raiser's 2 previous pups were full of energy but Portola is just the pokiest little thing! Quite the difference!

Taos-

Taos (Pronounce Taus) is his raiser's first puppy. He is enormous- weighing in at 25lbs at 10 weeks! 

It is always exciting when our group receives new members! We are like a big family and I wouldn't have nearly as much fun without them.

Good luck to all of the new puppies and their raisers

Ventana and Ruby Graduate!

Today, two of our group's puppies graduated as working guides at Guide Dogs' San Rafael campus!

Ventana and Ruby are both now official guides and will both be staying in California.

Graduates lined up

Ventana's head in the front right corner

It was a great day for a graduation- not too hot which is always nice.  Unfortunately, GDB is redoing their dorms and graduation stage so this graduation was set up in a relatively tight area.  It was very hard to see and I was unable to get any pictures during the actual ceremony (Except a few of Partner).

Handsome Partner

After the ceremony, it was totally chaotic with so many people in such a tight space so I was only able to catch one quick (and not very good) picture of Ventana. 

Ventana in her GDB harness

I couldn't even find Ruby!

But Partner did get some pets and loves in by a whole bunch of people. It always surprises me how calm he is when people greet him.

A group of people surrounding Partner 

Rough Pets

Good luck in your new homes girls! And congratulations to your new handlers!

Top 2 pictures borrowed from Stanislaus County puppy raisers :)

Phase Report!

I wanted to share the good news with you all that this week Carrie has jumped to phase 7! 

I'm so so glad that she has finally moved out of phase 5! Hopefully either she worked through whatever was keeping her there or, as Ashley said, it is possible that her trainer has just been behind on her paperwork.

Carrie's sister Cavalia is in Phase 2

Her brother Chip is in phase 5

As for the rest of our club:

Loomis:

Was removed from breeder evaluations due to a littermate having a luxating patella. 

He has been altered and transferred to the Oregon campus.

He is in Phase 0.

Cameo:

Carrie's sister Cameo has been pulled for breeder! Yay! 

Their other sister Cammie has been pulled for breeder as well!

Spruce:

Spruce was removed from breeder watch due to 2 of his siblings being diagnosed with some form of dysplasia. He will be altered and placed into phase 0.

Ventana and Ruby are both graduating this weekend!

I am hopeful I will be able to attend- If I do, I will be sure to take pictures and post about how Partner does!

Pool Party!

Yesterday, our group had our annual pool party/ice cream social! 

I took like a million pictures

Partner after getting in to pool!

Ashland

Ashland

Fiddler wants to get back in!

Loomis was afraid of the water

Lipton 

CC'd Shawnee

Wes

Liton

Party!

Wes

Shawnee on the diving board

Wes

Fiddler in the pool

Spruce

Retired Guide Ricardo

CC'd Douglas

Loomis

Ashland

Ashland

Future raisers with Lipton!