Bringing Dewey Home

Friday we went to pick up Dewey:

Closeup of Dewey.

I was a little sad because we had planned for a big party to pick him up from school.  We had thought we would get a small 9 week old puppy, but there was a surplus of older puppies that needed to be moved to homes.  We had planned a vacation, for next week, which would have precluded our getting a puppy, but because I would be in a crochet class for most of the day, Fred had wisely backed out of joining me when it came time to buy tickets.  So he would be at home next week.

Dewey is 15 weeks old now.  He would have been 17 weeks old when we picked him up if we had stuck to the original schedule.  So, when we needed to make the decision of do we take Dewey early, we were able to say yes even though it meant no party, because we didn't want to leave him in the kennels when he could be at home with us.

Fred is kissing Dewey on the top of his head.

Of course it was love it first sight.

Cheryl is holding Dewey in her arms.

 Dewey is a quiet, gentle dog.  He seems to have more in common with Willow than Jam.  However, that may just be the honeymoon phase and the true Dewey will peek his head out in a two weeks.

Tara, Cheryl and Fred smile for the camera. Cheryl is holding Dewey.

Tara matched us up with a good one (of course, they are all good ones! 8-).

The kennel staff surround Melisa as she holds Dewey.

 The kennel staff gave us our last bit of instructions about Dewey.  They were super nice.

Even though Dewey yawns before his big car ride, he didn't sleep on the way home!

 Then it was time for his first car ride. We got him to busy first, which he did right away. Then we got some kibble and tempted him to the car.  It is a little harder with the older pups (at least in our experience with Coach), they don't know about cars and are nervous about them.  Dewey was nervous as well.

Dewey is hanging back from the car.

Fred tempts him with some kibble.

Dewey is tempted and walks up to the car.

Dewey puts his front paws in the car.

Dewey gets most of his upper body into the car.

 At the point where most of his upper body was into the car, we popped the back end into the car and shut the door!  Mission accomplished.

Fred, Cheryl and Dewey at the Southeastern Guide Dogs sign.

Then we took our photo by the Southeastern sign and were on our way home!!

Blue Coat Trumps All

Yesterday I was having lunch with some of the faculty and the communications director started to tell me a story about his son, who is in kindergarten at Berkeley.  He said, "My son loves Coach.  It's created a bit of a problem at home.  He tells me, Dad, I just want to touch him so much!"

Jeremy continued, "But he knows he can't because of the coat.  Every time he sees him, he says all he wants to do is touch Coach.  In fact, now he says, that if he can't touch Coach, I have to get the family a black lab."

Jeremy is kind of a serious guy.  He had a bit of a perplexed look on his face.  "You know, I'm looking around the house and we have a perfectly good dog at home he can touch."  He shook his head. 

The people at the table started to laugh.  He smiled but still seemed confused by Coach's appeal.  He mentioned again how Murphy, their spaniel, was a great dog, but his son just wasn't interested.

I said, "Bring your son by my office after school on Monday, Wednesday or Friday when I have Coach and I promise to take off the coat and let him touch him."  

Jeremy nodded, but I don't think he heard me.  I think he was still pondering Murphy and his son and why Coach and his blue coat were so appealing and if in the end he would be forced to get a black lab.

Up On the Stage

Today was the Student Library Proctor Induction Ceremony.  It took place during convocation on the stage in the Lykes Theater.  It was Friday, so I had my Southeastern Guide Dog puppy Coach with me.  Now, there have been other inductions, other Fridays.  Bingo, well, let's just say, that would have been a nightmare.  HRH Berkeley on the other hand would have become bored well into the 5 minute mark and barked her displeasure at having to sit through the ENTIRE ceremony.  But, I did bring Jam to the induction ceremony last year. And he exposed himself to the audience.  The video is at the end of the post.  It wasn't a real relaxing induction ceremony for me, needless to say.  

Photo of Coach on the stage floor with the legs of our Head SLPs in the background.

Today, however, I had Coach.  Mr. Mellow.  I started the ceremony and he was lying down at the podium on my left side.  Since he seemed really comfortable there, when I went to sit down, I just left him there.

Photo of our Head SLP Elizabeth speaking at the podium while Hugh, Christina, Keebler and I are sitting in the background.

So in the photo above when Elizabeth is speaking, Coach is in front of me, sleeping and on her left side.

Photo of the long line of waiting SLPs to be inducted.

Now, I show you this photo of all the 20 new SLPs, just to give you an idea of how many people needed to walk up, get a pin and shake our hands and then go back to their seats.  It took about 6 minutes.  I had to step over to the right hand side of the podium and leave Coach and shake everyone's hand.  Coach never moved.  Not one muscle.  

I checked on him, leaning back and peering over to see if he was still in the same position as kids were sitting and walking in between handshakes and "Welcome!" But little Coach didn't even dream and wiggle in his sleep.  He stayed still and calm.  For the whole ceremony.

It wasn't until it was all over, when I finally came up to the podium and indicated that all 560 people could clap for the new SLPs that Coach reared his head.  I then slipped my foot out and stepped casually on the leash.  He was just getting into a sitting position.  After all, who wants to move fast when you just had a lovely nap?

Not Coach.  He sighed and slipped back into a down stay.  What a good boy!!

Student Library Proctor Retreat

Coach likes laps.  He has fallen into Christina's lap and has his butt sticking up in the air. Christina is laughing.

On Saturday we had our student library proctor retreat where the idea is to train the proctors and also to bond as a group.  We also want to get all of their photos for the bulletin board.  We were going to take their photos with Coach.  We decided to take our photos as well this year!

Coach and Jan are sitting side by side.  Jan is peering over his head and has her arms around him.

 Jan and Christina work in the library with me.  Jan is the library assistant and runs the library proctor program and keeps the library running smoothly and she took most of these photos.  Christina is our collections development librarian and also helps with middle or upper division classes depending on where the need is.  They are both super to work with and Coach loves them.

This is a long distance shot of Coach and one of our student library proctors having a quiet moment. She is sitting and he is getting his ears rubbed.

 We had a full day planned of different activities such as designing t-shirts with our theme (literature is a treasure) and games like musical chairs.

Coach has decided that enough is enough and he should take a break under the atlas stand.

After a few of the games, Coach decided he needed a rest and he found that the atlas stand was a good place to hang out under.  He is very good at deciding when he is tired and walking away from people and lying down either under my desk or on his bed, essentially saying "I'm done!"

Close up photo of Coach under the atlas stand.

But, he's so cute, no one ever gets offended.

Annie is reading a book to Coach who is looking up at her.

 The kids all thought he was the best and even tried to read to him for a cute photo op.

All of the student library proctors got their photos with Coach.  Here is one with Alex and Coach.

Overall, the retreat was a great success.  There was much eating, bonding and game playing.  I think they may have learned how to shelve books.  I'm not sure....

We'll teach them that again!

Show Me Your Pearly Whites

Three teeth in four days.  At least three teeth that I have managed to hear cracking as Coach, our Southeastern Guide Dog puppy, happily crunched on them as they fell out in his mouth.  Me, the ever hysterical, "OMG! What have you got now in your mouth!" mother, I am constantly vigilant about those kind of noises and so I dig deep in his mouth and pull out jewels like the baby molar below.

But it is apparent by the tiny little stumps of teeth in his mouth that little Coach has been losing teeth for a while now.  He should look like one of those prize fighters that didn't win; the ones laid out on the floor with the stars circling their heads and little birds tweeting above them.  But no.  He's a much better fighter than that.  

I tried to take a nice photo of his new baby incisor, but what a struggle I got! It was like holding on to Voldemort in worm form.  Sheesh!  All I wanted was a photo of his mouth.  You wouldn't think that would be a big deal.  

Evidently, it is.  So, instead, you get a nice crisp photo of his incisor.  Soon he will have all adult teeth.  He will be a big boy.

That makes me a little sad.

First All School Convocation

Last Wed. was our first all school convocation.  Our school likes to start the year with a big gathering to welcome everybody back.  We also have a tradition of having the seniors escort a kindergartner into the gym accompanied by a balloon.  In the past, the little ones held the balloons, but they soon grew tired of this onerous task and then at various points in the convocation a balloon would softly and slowly drift upwards to the very high ceiling of the gym as seniors looked a bit panic stricken and kindergartners giggled.  

Serious seniors would try to admonish their kids to keep a firm hold on the balloon, but usually, temptation was too much.  Off it would float and whoever was speaking would hear some giggles and look over to the right and watch silently as the balloon made its slow journey up to the top.

The year more than 20 balloons were set free, faculty knew that the end of the balloons had come.  Their demise was predicted.  But no, more sagacious minds were at work and they came up with the ingenious balloon bracelet.  Now, there is no temptation.  No giggling, no interruptions.  No serious seniors (only happy ones). After all, who wants to give up their fabulous balloon bracelet? 

The all school convocation is joyous and filled with balloons.  Balloons attached to strings which are attached to tiny braceleted wrists.

Photo of the back of Coach's head as he looks out onto the gym floor and the crowd filing in.

Over 1300 people were crowded into the old gym because the weather wouldn't allow us all to walk the distance to the new gym.  The little kids just couldn't make the walk in all that rain.  So, we will have to inaugurate the Straz Family Field House with a different All School Convo.

Coach is lying at my feet with his Southeastern Guide dog coat on.  Can you see the rain sprinkles on it?

This time we sat over on the opposite side from the kids and had a good view of the seniors with their little escorts.

Pairs of seniors walk in with one kindergartner in between them.

It's a great tradition.  It's surprising how many lifers (lifers are students who came in pre-k or k and stayed until senior year) remember who their senior was and who was their little kindergartner.

You can see how intently Coach is staring at something (probably a cheerleader!) as he is surrounded on all sides by students.

Coach got his first exposure to over 1300 people clapping, shouting, and singing in unison. He was a bit disturbed by it at first.  He vocalized a little bit.  Well, a little loudly.  He made a really weird sound that had all the seniors and little ones in our area turning their heads and staring at him.  But gradually, he got used to the noise.  The cheerleaders were another thing.  He watched them and was interested. 

Every time he wanted to bolt forward, there lots of people around and I had to pull him back.  Eventually, he just settled in for the ride.  It didn't last too long. About 20 minutes.

Photo of one of our head student library proctors (a senior) talking with her kindergartner.

But it was something everyone enjoyed.  At the end, Coach even enjoyed it.

Bring on the bagpipers!

Buckets of Drool

Coach is not a fan of the car. I recall a story that my parents told about driving from Florida to Los Angeles with me in the car when I was a wee child.  You can imagine how long that trip took.  Every morning, getting into the car and driving and driving and driving.  Then getting out of the car, only to get back into the car the next morning. For a little one, it was excruciating.

At some point, I decided that I had had enough of the car.  I think we had finally made it to Los Angeles,  and were in our apartment and were just going out to dinner, but I had reached my car boiling point.  As we rounded the corner and the convertible came into my sight, I started screaming and crying, perhaps I even threw myself onto the sidewalk.  Yes, I threw a fit! However, I do believe we ate somewhere within walking distance.

Now, I am being punished for such histrionics.  Coach is not fond of the car. He has a tendency to puke.  We think we have the puking solved by not feeding him breakfast until I get him to work.  That has worked quite well.  However, the poor boy is quite a drool machine. It just kills me to see him so drooly.  Mostly, he just hunkers up near the air-conditioning and I keep it blasted on high for him.

Photo of Coach in the car with three strings of drool dripping off his muzzle.

After an errand, as we round a corner and the car comes into sight, he has a tendency to throw himself down on the floor in a rather dramatic fashion(only without the screaming and crying and kicking, for which I am grateful!). At this point, I usually just pick him up and put him in the car.  If I have time, I will work on cajoling him closer to the car.  Sunday at Frenchy's, he did this in front of three passers-by.  They all stared at me like I was taking Coach to his doom.

"He doesn't like the car.  We're working on it." They all smiled (thankfully). Two of them walked away.  One stayed to watch the show as I tried to get Coach closer to the car.

"He really doesn't like the car?"

"Nope. But he will."

I looked down at my drooling, calm and quiet little man. "He will." I said softly and patted him on the head.  Then I blasted the air-conditioning.

Surviving Distractions

Yesterday was Coach's second Southeaster Guide Dog puppy meeting and his first Saturday meeting.  I was very proud of him as he didn't seem at all distracted by the other dogs.  The first part of the meeting was obedience training and we worked on distractions.

Coach is sitting on the left of the photo and staring at the little boy and girl in their swimming outfits as they walk by on the right of the photo.

A mom and her two small children walked by and AC Carolyn co-opted them to be living distractions, and had them walk back and forth in front of the dogs.  Coach did get up out of his down stay the first time they walked by, but the second and third time, he ignored them.

Coach's face is in the foreground and the red and black broom is in the background.

Carolyn then came by with a broom which she used to sweep near the dogs.  Coach was completely disinterested in the broom.  I found this funny, because when there is a broom that is leaning up against a wall doing nothing, he finds it irresistible!

Coach is looking toward the red and black broom that is angling toward his face from the right of the photo.

Even when she swept right by his face, he still didn't care about the broom.

Carolyn is bending down and holding out some silk flowers to Coach who is leaning out to sniff them.

Next were assorted silk flowers that were banged together and flapped appealing in the wind.  He did manage some interest in those and got up to see what they were about.  

Coach is in the bottom of the frame and is staring at a little red wagon  being dragged by  at the top of the frame.

Wagons though, boring.  Moving on....

Coach is lying down all curled up and someone's hand is upon his head.  Coach's tongue is hanging out.

After obedience training, we went on a walk that included a wooden bridge.  Coach then got to meet some of the new puppy raisers in the group.  He maintained his calm demeanor the whole time.  Good boy!

Coach is lying down in the foreground.  Liz, a black lab, is lying down with puppy raiser Brian behind her and golden retriever Gail is off to the left.

Everyone was pretty tired and thirsty.  

A game of puppy tic tac toe is in progress.  Coach has just been place on the corner square and is looking up at me.

We had time for a couple of games of puppy tic tac toe and then it was off to the air-conditioned cars and home!

On Being a Good Citizen

By Fred
Cheryl is back at school, back to her normal busy routine, and today is Coach's first day here with me. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we will work on being a good citizen of the house.

A picture of Coach with big, round eyes. 

A good citizen of the house does not run up and down the stairs; he does not pee or poop on the floor; he does not seem too sad when I eat lunch in front of him, and he does not sniff my plate if I walk away for a second; he does not chew my shoelaces when I'm on the phone; he does not torture Willow; he knows (somehow) when I am busy with work and when I am bored with work; he licks my face but not the furniture; he pretends to understand what I'm saying.

So far, Coach is a very good citizen, but it's just his nature.

Coach's First Day at School

Today Coach went to school for a full day of work.  Because of his car sickness problem, we decided that a delayed breakfast was the best choice.

Coach is sitting at the far end of the kitchen by the pantry (magic) door.  He looks wistful and a bit hungry.

Coach didn't agree and sat most of the morning close by his dog food and the magic door where the dog food lives hoping that breakfast would be served.

Coach at the bottom of the passenger wheel well all curled up.  He's not asleep, but not looking at the camera either.

On the car ride in, I cranked the AC down to freezing and blew it just on Coach, because he is the most precious cargo.  He just sacked out and fell asleep.  But no puking!  So, that plan worked.

Coach is sitting on the floor beneath our bulletin board.  The board says, "What's Your Favorite Book?"

Here's Coach under our end of the year bulletin board where we asked everyone to write in their favorite book.  We got some great responses.  No one put in any dog books.

The Headmaster is seated and leaning over a bit to pat a sitting Coach on the head.

Later that morning we stopped in to say hello to the headmaster.  Coach was just as calm and sweet for Mr. Seivold as he is for everyone (sigh of relief!).  

I'm kneeling by Coach, who is seated and looking up at Coach Dom.  Dom has just opened his office door and is seeing his namesake for the first time.

That afternoon we drove over to the Straz and knocked on Coach Dominick Ciao's door to see if he wanted to meet his furry namesake. 

Coach is sitting in the locker room box with a #30 blue jersey behind him.  You can also see a blue helmet.

 We even got a tour of the locker rooms.  Coach got to sit in Austin's dressing area with his #30 jersey! Austin is Coach's sponsor.

Coach Dom and I are talking and I am holding Coach (the dog) in my arms.

Coach Dom asked some detailed questions about the puppy raising program at Southeastern Guide Dogs, like how long coach would be with me (until about May or June) and what do I teach him (basic obedience and socialization skills.  We also talked about what the trainers at Southeastern teach and what happens to Coach when he gets called in for training.

Coach Dom is holding Coach.  Coach (the dog) is staring into the camera.

I do think Coach Dom was pretty impressed with how laid back and calm Coach was. They seemed to get along very well.

Coach is sitting next to a sign that says Play Like a Champion Today!

Coach seemed ready for the start of the football season!  Go Bucs!