Boston Store - Janesville

Banjo, Candy, and Journey at the Boston Store in Janesville. Maddi was also there.

Puppies sure do bring in the donations!

Maddi and Candy sitting pretty, during a break from playing.

Candy got lots of hugs!

Candy

Today I got a bath, and blow dry.

Then I went to Marlene's to get groomed.

It took over two hours of standing and sitting on that table.

I did so good, but I sure was glad when it was all done.

The things I have to go through to be pretty!











Finished!!

After two hours of standing on that table, but boy was it worth it.

LOOK HOW PRETTY I AM.

Marlene also put pretty bows on me, but they only stayed in for 5 minutes after I started playing with the other puppys.

Ernie and Jan

Welcome Newby

Cinder attended an OccuPaws training class on Tuesday. The puppies ranged in age from Cinder at thirteen months to our newest puppy, Gideon, at 8 weeks old. Being the oldest dog in the program and next in line for formal harness training, Cinder needs to be a good example.

Dog training is boring: SIT, DOWN STAY, LEAVE IT, repeat with corrections until she gets it right. Then repeat tomorrow in a different situation.

Cinder's obedience is progressing well. She still has a few behavioral issues: high prey drive, warning barks, and whining. She started a crash course at the park today to work on these issues before it's time to rotate to her next puppy raiser.

Gideon, the little German Shepherd, could only handle so much and then he was tired. He found a comfortable place to observe and take a siesta.

Greetings

Just a reminder for how to "How to Greet a Service Dog"

Testing

Cinder was tested on Friday night as we watched Dog Town and the Dog Whisperer. She knows that she isn't supposed to bark when she sees dogs, but she couldn't control herself - only one short bark all night though.

Saturday morning was another test at The Dog Den playtime. There was a huge group of dogs because of the fundraiser for WAAGR, so Cinder (being a service dog) was selected to move to the smaller dog area. We were a little apprehensive because on occasion she has treated a small dogs as prey. No issues today and she played really well with two Chesapeake Rescue puppies.

With Cinder being over twelve months her playtime is 9 o'clock. One big advantage of a young puppy (Neva) is that play time is an hour later than older dogs.

After her eight goal (horn) game last week, Cinder was not happy about going back to the Kohl Center for her final exam. She hesitated as we climbed the stairs to our seats. Pets from other hockey fans always makes her feel better.

Much like Pavlov's dogs, Cinder has been conditioned to the sound of the fog horn. Her flight response has been replaced by the expectation of kibble. She has been very good about lying down on the floor under our seats and now she only shifts her focus, when the horn sounds. She does look tired.



Tonight, the Badgers lit the lamp (scored) seven times and the horn seemed extraordinarily long. Cinder passed her final exam although she appeared a little dazed afterwards.

After all the stress, we finally returned home for her last chicken dinner. Her digestive system even passed the raw meat test. She looks good with a few extra pounds on her frame.

Note: Her eyes are not different colors.

Mission accomplished!

After seeing my first bus with an OccuPaws ad on it last night, I decided I'd just have to carry the camera until I could get a good shot of Promise with the bus, since she rides it all the time.

On the way to a meeting this morning I saw the 1 bus go by with an ad. I tried to take another bus that usually catches up to the 1, but it was late so we missed our photoshoot.








Then, on our way home, I was at a stop on University where lots of busses go and saw the 9 with an ad. I got a lousy shot while the other passengers got on, and then explained to the driver that I wanted to take some pictures of Promise with the bus, if that was possible. So Promise and I rode to the end of the run (not far from my house) where the bus takes a break, and got a nice photoshoot. Someone waiting for another bus helped out since it's a little hard to get a good shot of a dog in front of a bus while holding the leash.

???

Dogs in a Box

Does your dog watch television? Cinder does. She especially likes to watch the Dog Whisperer. Ever since she was a puppy the sights and sounds were mesmerizing - just like a little kid.

Cinder has a habit, a bad habit, of barking when she sees other dogs. It's not continual barking, but a short burst meant to warn or notify. So as I was surfing channels last evening, the dog show was on and Cinder warned us that another dog was in the room, actually in the box across the room. Then another one popped up and another. We received Cinder's notification as each new dog enterd our domain.

This turned into a fifteen minute training exercise. We provided Cinder with QUIET commands and subtle corrections until she would quietly watch the dogs parade around our living room.

Digs the Dirt

Hey ~

I got to sit on grass and to nose around in the dirt at the Madison Garden Expo this weekend.






The grass felt sooo good, and the flowers smelled so nice ~ I know Spring has to be coming soon!




I was sleeping in the Olbrich booth when who showed up but my sister Maddi (with Theresa) ~ I let out a big "woof" and then gave her lots of puppy kisses.




I couldn't dig in all that good smelling dirt, so I had to wait to go outside where I could play in the snow. Can't wait for spring to come....

Casey (with Marlette)

Cinder's Ready

After enduring her first, and only heat cycle, Cinder returned to our home last week. So far her once inverted vulva has remained out (normal) and besides for some behavioral issues at the puppy coordinator's home, she continues on her journey to be a guide dog.

Being without a dog for an entire week, after Neva left, left us to ponder why we raise dogs and to appreciate their presence. The house sure was quiet without our canine trainee. We concluded that the benefits definitely outweigh the negatives

Since we only have Cinder for a couple more weeks before she gets rotated again, we jumped right back into the process. She attended her puppy playtime and a hockey game on Saturday. The Badgers played well, scoring eight goals which meant four fog horns. We were well stocked with her dog food, so she never moved when the horn sounded - just received positive reinforcement.

On Sunday, Cinder went to Mounds and faced aisle after aisle of temptation (food, toys, dogs). Next we needed to get Lisa a Valentine's day present, a new washer and dryer. Lisa was excited; Cinder not so much. She held her down stay through the sales/purchase process and was much better behaved than the other customers' children. The last stop of the day was lunch where we met a potential puppy raiser. Cinder watched eat, but the staff felt sorry for her and gave her a dog biscuit.

The washer and dryer were delivered on Monday which was a great test for calm greeting and staying in her "place" while the delivery staff was in and out. She passed this test with flying colors and also an unexpected visit in the evening from a door-to-door salesman.

We found some of Neva's raw meat in the freezer and have been supplementing Cinder's diet. She needs to add a few pounds. No digestive issues!

Garden Show

I took Maddi to the garden show at the Expo Center in Madison and who did we meet but Casey & Marlette. Maddi & Casey had a fun time after not having seen each other for a month or two.














There were a lot of nice garden arrangements. Maddi wanted to sit here for a bit and rest. There was a lot of walking to see everything.

















When we got home, she took a nap with her favorite new toy, a huge orange monkey.

Boston Store - Madison again

Woof Everyone,

Wilbur here. Was yesterday ever fun. I got to play in two puppy playtime classes and then I came with Harley to Boston Store in Madison. I got to see some old pals and some news pups I never met before. They had a nice big blanket for us dogs and the kids to sit on. But later on I got kinda hot so I stretched out on the cool tile floor. Here are the big dogs chewing each other's ears.



Harley told me all about OccuPaws newest grduate team - Sophia and Timber...wow is he a big dog! Boy oh boy, did the humans have fun talking while we got pet and played. and that big jar got filled up to the top with green paper :-)

There are some more pictures of all of us here.

Bark at you soon,

Wilbur

Janesville Boston Store

Saturday Maddi and I were at the Janesville Boston Store. We met a lot of nice people. Maddi spent most of the time trying to nap.

I'm not scared

Hello from Casey ~

Just when I thought I'd seen everything, my Mommy takes me to Hilldale and there was a TIGER in the lobby. I was so surprised, I let out a big "woof!" Its eyes were looking right at me! But it didn't have any smell, so I figured it was OK to sit next to it for a picture. Now it doesn't scare me anymore. I'm already 6 months old, so I have to behave myself!




Anyway, it's much more fun playing with the grandkids when they come and stay overnight. They love to play ball with me.

And I'm learning my "Place" in the kitchen when Mommy is busy cooking, so I'm not underfoot. She even gave me a "Hot Dog" to play with so I can practice for our "Puppies on Parmenter" Dog Jog in Middleton. That's coming up May 22, and you can "Have a Dog with the Dogs" at Capital Brewery after the dog jog. Hot Dog! I hope they'll have a hot dog for me, too!

Sometimes I meet Wilbur and Harley at Boston Store to promote Community Day. We saw a real cutie this week! She was just learning how to walk ~ but she has just 2 legs, and I have 4. She was so happy to pet all of us.

Bye for now,

Casey (and Marlette)