For This ...

I just want to thank OccuPaws for the opportunity to work with their well-mannered puppies. We have attended races at ChicagoLand Speedway for seven years now (14 weekends), but we have never had so many positive interactions with other fans. This is just one example of how socializing these dogs has enriched our lives.



If I wasn't afraid of boring you more than I already do, I would offer detailed accounts of the two small boys that walked up 30 rows to pet Echo (we saw them two other times), or the forty year old man who has spent $5000 on Vet bills for his first dog, or the stranger that offered Echo some pet ear plugs, or the man that is losing his sight to Macular Degeneration, or ...

If I had a dollar for every person that asked a question, that offered a positive comment, that smiled when seeing the dog, that rubbed Echo's head, or that has taken his picture, then I would be a financially rich man. I do have the memories of these positive interaction, so I am a spiritually rich man. For this I thank OccuPaws.

Helio Wins

After a late night, Echo slept in until 7am. Actually we had to wake him up. He went for a relatively short walk before breakfast in the hotel. Then a return trip to the speedway for another day of racing, where Echo spent most of the day tailgating. When he tired from the excitement and attention, he would retire to his new crate.



First item on our agenda was to exchange tickets for wheelchair seating (arranged by the Public Relations staff). As we were entering the facility a member of security advised me that Echo would not be allowed in. She showed me the document stating that pets are not allowed into the speedway. I pointed out that 1)he was not a pet, 2)we had received approval from the PR staff and 3)we attended the race on the previous day. She provided me with a warning that I may not be able to enter.

This was the only instance where we were even questioned. For the most part we were treated as VIPs. They even allowed us to ride the elevator to our seats, which we used once on Friday. Strangers offered us water, ear plugs, good luck, and compliments on Echo's behavior.

After climbing the stairs up to the sixty fifth row, we were excited for the race to begin and Echo found a nice spot on his blanket to rest in the shade. He slept through most of the race, only waking to scratch out those pesky ear plugs. We spoke to a gentlemen, who is losing his sight, about getting involved with OccuPaws.



By the way, Helio Castroneves, Echo's favorite driver won the race, the second closest in IRL history (0.0033 of a second).

Comfort

Echo had a busy Saturday morning. He went for a walk, played with Kane and Sable, and attended puppy socialization. Echo was the biggest dog at puppy class, so we had to be careful not to upset the "parents" of the smaller dogs. Then he went for a long car ride, and dined at a restaurant.

We ended up at ChicagoLand Speedway in Joliet after meeting Jared and grabbing a bite to eat. We received wheelchair seating at the race track which allowed more room for Echo. It is very noisy with thirty cars racing, even 65 rows up, so we brought ear plugs. Echo scratched them out a couple times before accepting them.



He was well behaved for his first visit to the speedway. Another first after the race as we checked into the hotel. Echo hadn't stayed at a hotel either. As you can see he found the accommodations quite comfortable.



Actually, Echo spent just enough time on the bed to get the picture and then settled into the not so cushy portable nylon crate. He had no issues adapting to the new sleeping arrangements. However, as you can tell by his eyes, he wasn't happy leaving the comfort of a mattress and pillows.

Water Baby

So far, I have had a great weekend.

Yesterday, mom took me for a walk with my housemates, and did just a little obedience training. Mom was doing a lot of quilting so I just slept in her room under the table. Because I was going be at an Occupaws demo on Saturday, mom gave me a bath. Bath’s aren’t bad, I just have a little trouble getting into the tub.

TODAY! I went with mom and dad to a Health Open House at the Vitamin Shoppe in Madison. Can you guess who also was there?? Nicole and Dale! (Later on in the day, Mindy (mom’s puppy) came to keep us all company.) While the booth was being set up, I was very good, and stayed in my place (mostly). Mom was so surprised, that she told Nichole that she needed to trust me more, that I will do the right thing when asked. Am I great or what??? The rest of the day was spent greeting people, and lying on a quilt that mom brought for Dale and I. (As it turned out, Dale did not need the quilt.) When we were not talking to people, I just slept.

After dropping Nichole off at home, I went out to dinner with Mindy, Dan, Mom and Dad. (Naturally, I was very good.) Then we all went to my house where I played with Mindy’s canine puppies (she brought them over to mom’s house), Mike (mom’s human puppy), Christine, Mike’s human puppy (age 19 months), and their canine puppy. We all had a good time!

Well, off to bed….Life is SO MUCH FUN!

Slick

Nature

This morning Echo tried to make friends with a toad that he found in the yard. Echo had the upper paw, literally. The toad was not having as much fun as Echo. Then he found a lethargic honey bee in the grass. That encounter didn't go as well from Echo's perspective.

A long walk in the afternoon, primarily for Buddy who had to stay home again while Echo went out. The trip to the grocery store was interesting this evening. Lisa had Echo and I had the cart. Echo would not stop looking back at me. He may have some dependency issues, so Lisa will become his primary handler.

Friday night means the Dog Whisperer. Very good episode where Cesar rehabilitates a violent pit bull and owner. A light bulb went off and we had our dogs remain calm submissive during the show. No more high energy in the house. They were required to DOWN STAY for twenty minutes.


“Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, filling an emptiness we don’t even know we have.” -Thom Jones

Woe is me...

I don’t understand my mom at all! She gets my food ready, puts it on the floor, and then tells me to “Wait”. “Wait”! “Wait” for What? For me to starve to death? Eventually she does tell me “free” and I can then go ahead and eat. She thinks it is giving me self-control. I think that it is a form of “doggie torture”. She tells me that I am going to have to “Wait” longer and longer as time goes on…woe is me.

Mom, dad and I also went shopping today. We went to Target to buy new drinking glasses, then to a fireplace store to get fire starters, and finally Menards to buy some accessories for the fireplace. WOW! My parents sure keep me busy.

Tonight I had my puppy II class again. We worked on “leave it”, “heel”, and “recall”. I am very good at “leave it”, because mom can throw a piece of food on the floor, tell me to “leave it” and I do.

Unfortunately, it was too rainy (for mom) to walk outside today. Hopefully tomorrow I will get a chance to walk outside. Mom is such a wimp when it comes to walking outside in wet weather!

Sincerely,

Slick

Stall

Last night we moved the crates back upstairs. As per the advice from Have Paws Will Travel, Echo is sleeping in our bedroom. He adapts well to change which is a big positive.

Enjoying the Bus Ride (8/30):



Thursdays are our simulated puppy class. Because of the rain we didn't do much outside, however on our walk I did make Echo repeatedly SIT and DOWN on the wet sidewalk and grass. Buddy occasionally had issues with DOWN on moist surfaces. Echo had to LEAVE his food for a minute before eating. Also a little cradling and paw massage.

Echo is letting us know that he doesn't really want to follow our commands. He will yawn, stretch, or scratch before obeying. I remember Marlene mentioning in our first puppy classes that this is a stall tactic. It's very unlikely that he needs to yawn at the exact time we give a command.


"First you learn a new language, profanity; and second you learn not to discipline your dogs when you're mad, and that's most of the time when you're training dogs." - Lou Schultz, trainer of Alaskan Huskies

Dually and Friends Bowling

Dually Update with Bowling Photos

Sew Whatsup?

The life of a puppy is wonderful!

First of all, early in the morning mom and I worked on “place” (this is where I lay down on a rug and stay there until mom tells me it is OK to leave). We also worked on “leave it”, “stay”, “find heel” and “stand”.

Then my favorite little human person came to visit for a while. He had breakfast with us. After breakfast, mom took me for a nice long walk in Cross Plains. We walked by barking dogs (I looked at them, but did not pull towards them), little kids in strollers, and best of all, walked on a very busy street. In places on Main Street in Cross Plains there is very little space between the road and the sidewalk, and the sidewalk is very narrow. Mom and I just walked down the street as if the trucks, cars and motorcycles were blocks away. The noise and traffic did not bother me at all! During the walk, we went into the Piggly Wiggly, and a dime store. As usual, I was a super little puppy.

Mom wanted to go to quilt club today, so she piled me into the car, and I went to Walcott’s quilt club on the east side of Madison. Lots of ladies pet me, and I was able to sleep for a couple of hours while the ladies “yakked”. Nothing is better for a little boy than to be surrounded by ladies.

Tonight mom and dad took my housemate Reggie to get a nice bath and brushing. While Reggie was getting spiffed up, I went to dinner and, as usual, just laid down under the table while everybody “oohed” and “aahed” over how good I was. Reggie smells terrific now, and his fur feels so soft!

Well, off to bed.

Slick

Karma

Echo lost another tooth this morning. Not a big deal, but we found this one lying on the floor. Still waiting for the replacement for the canine tooth that Buddy ripped out. He hasn't lost any of the puppy canines, so we aren't worried yet.

Echo made his last scheduled trip to the veterinarian as a puppy. He received a booster shot today. Nothing required for the next twelve months. Hopefully nothing crops up before then.

We stopped at the scale on the way into the office and he gained ten pounds since his visit three weeks ago. Our big boy tipped the scales at almost 48 pounds.

Just for fun we took a stroll through the grocery store. We have noticed that we spend a lot more money when we are raising a guide puppy. More stops at restaurants and stores. For Good Karma, we have to buy something.

Doctor, Doctor

What a hot day! Mom took me out for only one walk outside, early this morning! She said that it was too hot to walk in the afternoon…but we did some interesting things. We looked at a house that is under renovation. Mom took me up and down the stairs to make sure that I was not afraid of them. Then we went out to lunch at Culvers in Sun Prairie.




Mom’s puppy, Mindy is having a baby in October, so I was able to go Mindy’s Dr.’s office and wait with mom while Mindy had an appointment. Did you know that the Dr. did not even know I was in the room until mom pointed it out? I went under the bench in the office, and just waited quietly.



We worked on the usual commands, “sit”, “down”, "find heel" and “stay”. Mom says I still do not understand the “stand” command so she is going to work hard on that over the next few days. Mom has been playing “ring around the Rosie” around trees, tangling the leash a little and telling me to “fix it”. Fix what??? Why is she tangling the leash? Doesn’t she know how to walk around trees yet??

That’s all for today.

Routine Day

Yesterday their was a Dog Whisperer marathon. Fortunately we didn't see it until the evening, otherwise we would have been couch potatoes all day. Echo actually watches the show; He likes listening to and watching the dogs on television.

Of course we had to try one of Cesar's techniques. I placed a cookie onthe ground and told each dog LEAVE IT and made them wait patiently for five minutes before they could have it. Some may consider this canine torture.

This morning Echo walked to the park. No one else was out, so he walked alone. A light breakfast followed by some play time with Buddy. He was tired the rest of the morning. Still recovering from the busy weekend and change of routine.

Things picked up in the afternoon with a trip to Walgreen's. Echo and Buddy went for a walk before dinner. Again Buddy ate right after the walk and Echo waited. He had to go out to dinner with us. He watched us eat while resting under the table. One more delay for custard before Echo was finally able to enjoy his dinner.


“We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment.” -George Eliot

Labor Day Parade

Well, a group of us made it to the very hot, Labor Day Parade in Janesville. Slick, Deegan, Moby, Oliver and Archie all made it though the event. Nobody really cared much about anything that was going on. Archie really did not like the drums in the marching bands, but by the 3rd band decided it was best if he just stayed put and pretended not to care. I think us puppy raisers were more scared by the sudden blast of sirens (especially the first one!) than the dogs. I am pretty sure Slick slept through most of the parade!

Thanks to everyone who made it out! It was a good outing with very well behaved dogs. We had lots of questions and lots of compliments! And hey, the dogs even got a picture with a clown :-)

Labor Day Parade (pics)

Just hangin' with a few of my buds waiting for the parade to start.


Mom was very happy with me and my pals' self control...


I'm not quite sure what this guys' problem was but I'm pretty sure he is having a bad hair day.


Wow, I think I found my long lost twin!!!


All for now,

Slick