Advisory Chooses Southeastern Guide Dogs

I do have the best advisory there is.  I always do.  And for the past three years, I have had a wonderful group of very talented and funny girls and boys.  They are all juniors now and will be heading into their senior year next year, which makes me a little sad.

We had a spirit day today and all the advisories were supposed to pick a theme and dress up in costume.  Our kids decided to dress like Southeastern Guide Dogs.  Julia told them all "to wear black pants so they would look like Corky."

The Southeastern Guide Dogs (Girls only) with Corky and two Puppy Raisers (Me and Mrs. Fletcher).

Now you might notice in the photo above that there are just girls.  The girls got to wear the glitter letters and Caroline made headbands with felt dog ears on them for them, assuming the the boys wouldn't wear them.  This was confirmed this morning when Wade said, "Yeah, I'm not wearing that" and it was echoed by three other of the boys.

Good call Caroline! Julia brought nose paint, but not everyone was into that.

Just the girls who did nose paint, Caroline, Julia and Kimberly.  They rock!
Caroline made the ears and Julia made the shirts. Kimberly got it all to school on time.

 So, we took a photo of just the three who went whole dog, so to speak! 8-)

The whole advisory group. Everyone participated!  Such a nice group.

Here's the whole group.  I think they all rock.  They all participated and were great.  They are a very sweet group and Mrs. Fletcher and I have a lot of fun with them.

Dewey Speaks: I Attended an AC Conference!

Disclaimer: This blog is to be used as Entertainment Purposes ONLY. This is not a critique or evaluation of my training, my raisers or my pup sitters. With that said – I hope you enjoy. 

Thursday night my Auntie Mel came to my house and loaded me in her car. I was excited, as you may remember, last time we had some pretty fun adventures. My raisers kept talking about their trip to New York City, but I was more interested in seeing Ambassador Duke. He has fun toys. 

Friday morning, Auntie Mel worked from home. Early afternoon I was loading into the car again, only to find myself (and Auntie Mel, - duh – I can’t DRIVE) at a hotel in downtown St. Petersburg. The valet parking dude was all wound up tight, so I tried to tell him the DEWERS way of doing things “Relax Dude, everytings gonna be all-right”. I don’t think he understood Dog Talk. 

Dewey lying on the floor looking sleepy.

Into the lobby we go. There are pups in coat everywhere! WOOF. Let me just say there was this little golden retriever named ZIVA (like from the TV show NCIS) and boy… was she a hit. I must say I might have given her my number…. If I had a number. (Note to self: Get a number). One dog got so excited his tail knocked over the entire chess set that was on a table. It was NOT me. Really….. (I will NOT throw my buds under the table and mention them by name. That’s just dog code.) 

Auntie Mel then went to do a blind fold dog weight evaluation on three dogs the trainers had brought. On the way there, I saw my sister and my brother. How fun! Auntie Mel apparently did really well, as she won a prize. Who doesn’t love prizes? 

I finally overheard someone say we were at the AC conference, which was funny, cuz the room was really COLD. I am not sure if Auntie Mel does air conditioning work, or why all the dogs would be there. She doesn’t really tell me what we are doing or why. Why was she there anyways? But I am such a free spirit I didn’t really stress about it. My friend River and Andros sat near us. But I tried not to listen to what River said. Her ideas can be kinda crazy. The adults were doing a lot of laughing at this table. I later found out AC stands for Area Coordinator, not air conditioner. 

The AC vent (this time I mean air conditioner) and compressor for the conference room were next to our table. Turns out it must have had a leak of some sort, so randomly, it sounded like water was running. This made the raisers all do a double take and look under the table. I think the raisers thought one of us dogs were going busy (pee – in layman’s terms). I tried to not be offended. I would never do that inside!! 

Dewey asleep under the table.

Dinner was eaten by humans and pups. The event ended and we went to fetch our car. The same crabby man was not there, so that was good. 

I must have had a bad dream that night. Mel says I was sleeping peacefully and then all of a sudden I stood up straight in my kennel and just looked at her. I don’t remember what it was. And no, I didn’t write it down. I can’t hold a pencil. I was told to lay back down, so I did, and that was the end of that. Weird. 

Saturday we spent the day down at Southeastern Guide Dog campus. This is where I have heard my big brother Coach is. I didn’t get to see him, but I hear he is doing well. I will come here one day for my training. Maybe I can meet him. 

During the day we did obedience with Trainer Jen. She taught the raisers some “relaxation techniques” for their dogs. Seriously? I laughed. Did she not hear of me? I am Baby Dewey Dew Drop. I have no stress. Relaxation is my middle name. Auntie Mel and I ROCKED this drill. Sweet. A+ for us. WOOT. 

Mel sitting with Dewey in her lap.

Then we went inside and the raisers did something. I don’t remember what. I was napping. I remember getting a lot of treats from Blue’s mom. She was trying to tell Blue to be more like me. I don’t think he was ready for a nap. But I was, so I snoozed. 

Later Auntie Mel handed me off to some person I didn’t know so she could go do a Blind Fold Immersion. The trainers put a blind fold over her eyes and then she got to experience firsthand what the visually impaired students do when they come to the school. She had to find her dorm room, figure out which hallway she was in, navigate inside her room, go out of the building, find the porch, the outside area for dogs, and back in through another door. She did that first with the trainer and then the next time she had a guide dog to help her. WOW! That will be ME someday. How cool is my job gonna be? 

Trainer Jen trying to get Dewey to
load in to the crates in the van.

The day was jam packed with lectures, tours (new vet center ROCKS) and get this --- I got to load in the vans that the real guide dog trainees use. Ok, so the idea was not my favorite at first, but after you hear Trainer Jen’s squeaky puppy voice, you pretty much just do what she wants so she will stop (Sorry Jen – love ya). There might have been a treat involved. 

The conference ended, we returned home, I greeted Duke, ate dinner and crashed. As typical, Sunday is RELAX day at Auntie Mel’s. I was hoping that would be the case. I am Pooped. 

Monday off to the office….. more napping. Sweet. Life is good. 

PS. Love you mom and dad. Where is New York anyways? 

Suddenly Bad

This morning, I got up, after shooing Jam off the bed in what has become a morning ritual of

"Please let me get up on the bed."

"No."

"Here?"

"No."

"Here?"

"No."

You get the picture.  It's tiring.  But this morning, we had things to do.  I needed to get up.  I had no time for playful morning rituals.

Jam had other ideas.

I brushed my teeth and walked with them downstairs where I fixed my usual large glass of New Orleans coffee with chicory to jumpstart my morning.  Then I started to think about my day and what I needed to do.  Just then, my coffee call arrived, so to speak and I headed off to the downstairs restroom.

Imagine my surprise when both Jam and Coach burst through the partially opened door.  Coach left as the bathroom is very small, but Jam was in a mood and looked around for something to tempt me. I could tell that there was trouble a foot and with my hand held out trying to forestall whatever evil he was planning, I said, "Jaaaaaaaam!"

It did no good.  Jam looked down at the decorative Talavera pot beside the toilet where I store extra rolls of toilet paper and he grabbed the last roll of paper and skedaddled.

Jam, happy with his roll of paper.

 Now you might be wondering, was Cheryl left high and dry?  Did Jam take the very last roll of toilet paper?

View of the mangled paper after I got it back.

Was I forced to yell for Fred who was upstairs working hard in his office?

Another view of Jam's torn up roll.

Thankfully, no.  There was actually some toilet paper on the toilet paper roll!  Thank the Heavens above!  Crisis averted.  But I'm not sure why he was tempted by the TP in the first place.  Jam has never been a toilet paper stealer, so this was unusual action for him.

Protective action has been taken so that future bathroom visits will be safe and secure.  Now, if only I was sure that Jam understood what that NO meant and why the TP was taken away.  We will definitely have to wait and see if this is a new delight of his.

Frenchy's for Lunch

I'm still practicing with my camera and as you can tell by the following photographs, I haven't got the lighting just right.  Things are a little orange, due to the orange awning at Frenchy's Rockaway, our beachside restaurant of choice.

portrait of Fred, that I really like.

 The hostesses were really pleased to see Coach.  The one did ask if he was a service dog, but then gushed that she loved dogs and was so pleased to meet him.

Fred and Coach on the deck of Frenchy's.

 We did have a minor problem with my shrimp taco order: no shrimp.  It was a special and had to be sent back.  First time that has ever happened.  I won't be ordering that again.  I'll stick with what I like, the California chicken sandwich.

Close-up of Coach.

Coach was super good and there were no pigeon to bother him.  No small children to throw fries at him either.  Smooth sailing.  A week and a half left until IFT.

Bamboo Politeness

Today we visited the wonderful bamboo nursery: Bamboo Gardens in Palm Harbor.  If you haven't been there, and you want some bamboo, you should make an appointment.  Yes, I did say make an appointment.  You can't just drive up and go in.  

Close up of some big bamboo.

Bamboo Gardens is on 4.5 acres on Jerry and Mary Ann Smith's backyard.  And what a backyard it is! It is filled with the most amazing varieties of bamboo that you will find.  And they know their business too.  Your name and the bamboo you buy will go into their database, so that when you call later and wonder what it is you bought and can you have some more, they can tell you.

Why do I tell you all of this?  Because in addition to being an amazing nursery with great bamboo, Mary Ann was also the most accommodating and friendly person I have met when it comes to welcoming a guide dog in training into her business.

When we walked in with Coach in his blue coat, she took one look at him and started to tell us about the neighbor's bulldog she had just met.  Then as we walked to the barn, she turned to me and asked, "Do you think he would like to meet some chickens?"

"Why, yes he would!"  She told me where the chicken coop was and I took Coach over there for a chicken exposure.

A photo of the back of Coach's head as he stares intently at the chickens.

 Coach was thinking maybe we were having chicken for dinner, but I was prepared for a lunge.  I had a firm grip on the leash and as we got close to the coop, I had Coach sit down.  A chicken appeared.  Coach jumped up.  The chicken flew off with a squawk.  Coach looked at me.  "It's a chicken, buddy.  They do that."

We went around to the side and sat down to see if they would come closer.

You can barely see a chicken down at the end of the row by the fence.

You can see the back of Coach's head and some of the chicken as he stares down the fence row.

 The chickens never got any closer, so we ended up leaving.  I didn't want him lunging and scaring them.

We walked all around the bamboo gardens and looked at cool bamboo while Fred and Mary Ann decided on what to buy for the yard.  Then, as the three of us were talking, Coach started to twirl in  front of us.

"He's starting to poo!" Fred said in an elevated whisper, which is as close to a shout as Fred ever gets.  And this is where I really take umbrage with the poodle man last night, because in mid twirl I grabbed the leash and made tracks away from Fred and Mary Ann and went behind a bush so they wouldn't have to see or smell Coach.  And they WEREN'T eating and I was able to do this.

And then I bagged it all up and tossed it in a trash can.  After all, it's polite to take care of your poo!

Fred bought three bamboos, and he is out planting them now. If you need bamboo, go to Bamboo Gardens, and take your guide dog puppy in training with you.  The chickens won't mind.

Where are you pooping?

LUNCH

Summer vacation for us means that we are going out to eat.  Fred recently celebrated his 60th birthday and he received a lovely present of a Visa gift card of $60 dollars, which we decided to use at the Sand Pearl Resort to have a nice lunch out.

Fred and Coach relax by the player piano at the Sand Peal Resort in Clearwater.

The Sand Pearl is pretty hoity-toity and even though it is a dressy place, we decided that we would take Coach with us.  After all, he is 15 months old.  Old enough to go poo beforehand and know how to behave himself in a restaurant.  Right?

We decided that we would park a bit of a distance away from the Pearl and walk in just to make sure that he had a chance to poo.  We walked out to lone bit of grass that bordered the entrance to the beach and Coach did his little circle dance.  It was a three twirler.  Oh my!

We walked up to the Sand Pearl with confidence.  Our boy had pooped.  We were poop free and ready to eat and experience the high life.  (And people wonder why we don't go out much! 8-)

After walking through the lobby, we encountered the player piano.  It was doing an admirable job of toodling through some barely recognizable tunes, so I had Fred and Coach stand beside it for a photo.  Coach didn't see too impressed with it.

Lunch was delicious.  The hostess was very impressed with Coach.  Coach was on his best behavior and entered and exited with calm assurance.  Nicely done, Coach!

DINNER

Dinner was different.  We decided to take Jammers with us and go coatless and more informal: to the Dunedin Smokehouse!

Now, we love the Smokehouse for several reasons

1. They have amazing wings.
2. They have a great beer selection (Magic Hat)
3. Our favorite waitress is there (Lisa) and she loves Coach and Jam
4. They have a big patio that allows dogs 
5. All the staff brings water bowls
6. Coach in coat is treated like a king
7. The rest of their food rocks too!

So, it's a natural for us to go there with the boys.  We usually pick a table by the railing and under the awning and since they had the fan on, by the fan.  We were lucky.  We got all three tonight:

• Table by the railing
• Table in the shade
• Table right in front of the fan!

The boys were out of everyone's way.  It was cool, the wings were hot, the beer was cold.  Awesome.

And then, the poodle man showed up.

Really.  

It was a family.  A mom, two middle school kids and a dad.  They had a poodly-doodly thing.  But essentially, Dad was a poodle man.  I saw them coming down the sidewalk and I knew trouble was coming in caramel curls.

Poodle man peeled off from the pack and pulled the doodle into the empty field that sits next to the Smokehouse.  The empty field that borders the railing along which we were sitting. Jam had spotted them.  He sat up.  

"Hmmmmmm." I said.  Grrrrrr was what I was thinking.  Poodle man was walking up the empty field following the railing like a trail. His doodle was sniffing around.  Jam was standing now.  Mind you, we are eating.  "Fred," I said.  "Grab Coach. This man is bringing his dog!"

And poodle man stops.  Doodle stops.  And the world stops. 

Jam thrusts his whole head through the bars of the railing in an attempt to get to the doodle.  He makes it to his shoulders.  He is straining.  The doodle is straining too, but it is of a different sort.  

"Oh my God!" I am actually hissing. "Fred! Is that dog pooping?"

"Yes."

I turn back around and poodle man has a baggy out to scoop up the offending poo.  I cannot catch his eye to scald him with my irritated look.

"Really?" I turn to Fred. "Really?!"

Fred with Jam and Coach sitting at his feet as Fred frowns thinking
about the rude customer at the Dunedin Smokehouse.

 Of all the places to walk your dog to poo, you walk him in front of the people with dogs, who are eating in a restaurant.  You had an entire empty field.  And you chose to have him poop 2 feet from our table.

Really? I. Don't. Have. The. Words.

If only I was Amy Poehler.

Summer Activities: Walking, Napping, Posing, Eating and Playing Frisbee

 This summer we aren't going on vacation.  We are having a staycation. Taking it easy at the house and relaxing at home.  That means lots of organizing of closets and drawers.
 

Michele is holding Coach on her right and Andros on her left.
Both dogs are sitting with their tongues hanging out.

I've signed up for a half marathon and will be walking with the Southeastern Guide Dog team.  In fact, the photo above shows Michele and Andros and Coach on our Sunday 3-mile walk in preparation for it.  They can only accompany us on the beginnings of the training as it is long and hot.  If you are interested in joining our team, sign up as an individual and then choose the Southeastern Guide Dog Team.  You will need to let me know that you have joined as we will be getting t-shirts!

Coach is drinking out of a collapsable water dish on the trail.

Of course, we walked early in the morning when it was cooler and we brought lots of water for both the pups and the humans.

Closeup of Jam napping on the floor.  Sun is shining in through the french doors.

One of my other summer projects is to learn photography.  I have a new camera and my goal is to create better photos for the blog and just to learn how to use the camera better.  I am going to a photography bootcamp on Sunday, so I should be better on Monday!!

Close-up of Jam looking down.

As it stands now, I am taking lots of dog portraits.  I'm not sure the Florida Center for Creative Photography quite had that in mind when they let me RSVP to the 10 day photo challenge, although I did warn them it might be 10 days of dog photos!

Portrait of Coach laughing with greenery in the background.

After all, my dogs are super cute! And so photogenic. 

Fred sitting at an outside table with Coach on the far left and Jam in the back in-between him and Coach.

We are also doing a lot of eating out on our summer staycation.  Here Fred is with Jam and Coach at Casa Tina's on the porch.  The boys are very good out and about together.  

Portrait of Willow looking left and smiling.

And we can't forget our leading lady at home: Willow.  She only lights up this way when the frisbee comes out or there is a piece of bread being offered to her.  She's a silly girl, but we love her.  Mostly she holds herself above the fray.

Here's hoping  your summer is delightful and productive!

Austin and Coach

Every now and then Coach's sponsor, Austin, will come by to check on Coach and see how things are going.   

Austin is sitting on the floor with Coach in his lap.  Coach is
looking back over his shoulder at the camera. 

As you can see by the photograph, Coach adores him.  I'm glad Coach is such a good boy.  They make a nice pair.

Corn Maze and Acorns

Today we took a drive out to Bradenton to Hunsader Farms because we thought that their Pumpkin Festival and Corn Maze would make the perfect exposure for our Southeastern guide dog puppies Bo and Coach. It is located at 5500 County Road 675 in Bradenton, FL.  You will need to pay $5. for parking, but there is plenty of space for parking.  

We arrived about 10 am and it the festival started at 9.  Of course, Coach was ready for his 10 am poo, which arrived right on time and just a few yards from some port-a-potties, so we were all set to enjoy the corn maze, poo free!

Melisa and Cheryl stand with Bo and Coach in front of the pumpkin patch.

 We were all prepared to pay the $8 entry fee, but we got a very nice surprize at the gate:

"Guide dogs get in free."

"Really? Thank you!"  We were all amazed.  We are used to getting hassled or questioned.  This was the first time we actually got a perk from having a puppy.  Go Guide Dogs!!

Fred and Melisa walk the puppies up to the corn maze entrance.

The corn maze is an extra $2 (puppies were not free 8-), and it takes about 20 minutes to go through.  The corn is about thigh high at this point.  Some areas had corn shoulder high.

Melissa and Fred are following Bo Peep's lead.  After all she found her sheep.

At first I lead, but I hit a dead end, so everyone called for me to quit leading.  Boo!  Then we let Bo lead for a while.

We came upon the tower to help guide walkers who are lost.  We asked to have the dogs come up and take a photo.

 As we rounded the North side of the maze we came up on the tower where two boys were sitting in hopes that someone would get lost and they could shout instructions to them.  I called up and asked if our puppies could come up for a photo.

Melisa is getting Bo settled for a photo on the wooden tower.

I think they were bored.

"Sure. Do you want us to get down?"  He called back.  I was thinking that would be a dereliction of duties so I assured him that he could stay there.  I just wanted a photo.  I didn't want anyone to "DIE" in the maze!

Bo and Coach peer out through the slats of the tower as the boy maze guards (?) watch.

 We hurried off the tower as a group with kids was coming up behind and their kids started up the tower as if it was a part of the maze.  Sigh.  People following people without thought.  Doh de doh.  I didn't want our nice maze guards to get in trouble for letting us up for a photo.  So we hurried on.

Moving on down the maze.  The children are finally coming off the tower behind us.

As we made it to the far North end, we stopped for a photo.

Fred and I and Bo and Coach at the far North End.

Then we moved on to the South end and trying to find out way out.  We let the dogs decide a few turns, but Coach took us in a big circle.

Melisa leads us again with Bo in charge.

 Then we saw the great pumpkin in the distance.  It actually held a wild bird show, so we didn't get to go inside, but it looked really cool!  There was also a pumpkin cannon that went off every hour.

As we walked to the South you could see the Great Pumpkin Tent in the distance.

 We passed a few people who grumbled about us having guide dogs and how they thought that was cheating or could they just follow us.  But Bo did lead us out.  Good girl.  

We've spotted the exit.  I raise my arm in joy.  

 It was hot work, so we got a drink after it all.

Everyone needed a drink after.  Here are Bo and Coach getting a drink from  Melisa.

There was a stilt walker outside the maze, but there was a long line, so we didn't wait.

There was a stilt walker.  Bo didn't care.

We saw some strange things happening in the distance and we headed over there.

We came upon the bubble kids area.  This is where small children were placed in inflated bubbles.

 What we saw was parents and grandparents stuffing their children into plastic bubbles.  They were inflated, sure, but then they would roll them around like Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka.  You know the blueberry girl?

We tried to get Bo and Coach to look at the bubble kids.

 Surely, the dogs would like this.  But no.  They couldn't care less.

Bo is staring away from them and Coach is staring at Bo.

 No matter how I tried, Coach would not look at the bubble kids.

Here I am instructing Coach on why he should care about the bubble kids.

 Even direct pointing and cajoling didn't work.

Bo is still staring in a different direction and Coach is ignoring me.

He was obstinate.  They just weren't interesting.  Bo agreed.  Acorns on the ground were much more tasty and interesting.

Finally, when a kid appeared upside down, he was partially interested and Bo looked over as well.

Finally, a kid came by and made it a little fun.  But he quickly grew weary and looked for an acorn.  Sigh.

Coach didn't care about the spinning water people either.

 He had the same opinion for the people in the spinning water bubbles.  So what?

Can you see the acorns on the ground?  Well, that's what Bo and Coach were interested in .

 Acorns, though!  OMG.  The acorns at the farm were AMAZING!  And they were everywhere.  I had to pick them out of his mouth all the time.

Bo is interested in Dinosaur land.

At least Bo liked Dino land.

Melisa and Bo at the tie dye stand.

 They had over 100 vendors at the booth area.  I got some cute Christmas presents.

There was a petting zoo.  Bo and Coach got close to a deer.

 Then Bo and Coach got to see a deer.

Stiltwalker with Melisa and Bo and Fred and Coach. 

And take a photo with a stilt walker.

Coach and Bo look at some llamas as a little girl tries to pet Coach. 

 They did find the llamas and the ponies interesting.

Coach sniffs at the ponies.

 Especially the ponies.

Bo and Coach are fascinated by the ponies and the llamas.

 Bo like the ponies as well.

Here we are with the Hunsader sign!  Come to the corn maze!

So, they did get interested in something at the end.  Corn maze at the beginning and ponies at the end.  It was a good day.