Wordless Wednesday

 Trying to figure out my new camera...

uhhh...? Haha

Frankie!

Wordless Wednesday: Sleepy Dogs



Sleepy Carrie

 

Frankie sleeping in class



Sleepy Hanalei

"Why are you taking pictures of me?"

Frankie's First Day of School

Today was Frankie's very first day of High School!

In the morning when we first got there, he was very nervous. Much different than any of my GDB puppies!

He is a little uncomfortable in new situations. He was a bit unsure of certain people-specifically large people.  When tall people walked by he would sort of do a little crouching "I'm not okay with you yet" stance.

Surprisingly though, after just a couple hours he had completely stopped doing this and was allowing everyone to pet him.

In my first 2 classes he was fidgety and didn't understand the whole laying down thing.  I let him kinda wander on a short leash and was clicking (Yes, I get to use a clicker!) and treating him whenever he was relaxed.  By my 3rd class he was able to stay on a down for longer than a few moments and by my 4th he was able to sleep through the whole thing!

I am amazed at how quickly he went from being a scared little dog to a confident puppy. He is a lot more work than Carrie but it is so much fun!

From now on, it looks like Frankie will be coming with me every Monday and Thursday (The days when Carrie goes with my mom to work in the hospital).

I can't wait to take him again!

Such a happy guy!

My Blog is Expanding!

Please welcome "Frankie" to the blog!

Frankie is a Golden Retriever, Border Collie Cross and he has been selected to be a Diabetic Alert Dog.

One of the puppy raisers in our club trains these dogs to alert to blood sugar changes.  She asked my mom to help foster one since she is a liscened dog trainer and also a PR!

We are one of only 2 fosters the program has so far.  The way I understand it, the dogs are chosen from a local shelter based upon their ability and willingness to work as well as their general behavior. They are then boarded at The Local Bark where the trainers teach them scent discrimination and socialize them to the public.

Frankie is sort of a test dog for puppy raisers! We will be taking Frankie everywhere with us- just like the Guide Dog Puppies. We will also get the opportunity to teach him scent discrimination!

We will have Frankie for a few months while we work on exposing him to the world and training him to alert to the highs and lows in blood sugar that his next owner will experience.

So, my blog is expanding. I will try to keep you posted on Frankie as well as Carrie (Although I will still be focusing on Carrie).  We are still unsure if this will be a onetime experience or if we will be taking in another foster after Carrie returns for her formal training. If we do it again I will be starting a new blog!