Monday, October 23, 2017

KSDS Inc. College here I come :)

Turn in day at KSDS Inc. College finally came.  Saturday, October 21.  Mom and Dad have talked about this day from the first day I came home for puppy training.  Lately it has been a BIG topic of discussion.  More command training, training field trips and a lot of Good-byes.  Mom and me have worked on my transcripts to take along with packing my bags.  I asked Mom to sneak my ipad in my bag so I could blog about my adventures while in school but KSDS does not allow special devices in your room.  I did get to post however before Mom and Dad left taking the ipad.

 The day started with getting up early.  5:00 am.  Dad wanted to take Avalon and me for a walk around the lake before we headed out.  At first I thought it wasn't going to happen because it was raining but it let up enough for us to head out at the last minute.  We had packed all of my luggage and special donations for KSDS the night before so after our walk it was just getting dressed and heading out.  I was excited to get there and kept asking Mom and Dad " Are we there yet"  Mom said to take a nap since it was going to be a busy day but I was just too excited.  Little did I know what was to come ??


We arrived about 30 minutes before Fall Graduation.   Mom and Dad unloaded the car then we headed inside.  There were lots of puppies there along with puppy raisers and forever partners and their families.  

 Mom told me to watch carefully so I hear what everyone had to say.  First the commanders of KSDS College talked, then the puppy raiser's introduced the new graduating puppies and their forever partners.  There were nine of them.  Some were guide dogs, some service dogs and some facility dogs.  They all looked alike to me but Mom said they majored in different fields to do different things.  Mom said I will get to do the same thing.  She told me every puppy gets to choose their field of training

After graduation we walked around and met some of the new graduates and their partners.  I could not believe it.  MILO was there graduating.  He looked so much bigger then I remembered him and he was on such good behavior.  He decided to major in Service Dog so he is the forever partner for a person who has trouble walking and moving about.  Milo said he was sooo excited to meet his forever partner and spending time co-training with him at KSDS Inc.   We also got to see Debbie, Milo's puppy raiser along with my four legged Mom Bailey.

 Next we went to the lunchroom and all the two legged people had something to eat.  I thought for sure we would get something special since this was a special day but like always not the case.  I did see a few puppies getting some treats so I bugged Mom for some but she didn't have her special bag of treats on her hip.  I just had to be quiet and watch everyone else eat.  Dad must have been a hungry camper because his plate was full.  He went back and got dessert twice.

 After lunch Dad and me has some alone time.  There is a special playground area at KSDS so Dad and I decided to spend some time there.  They had some cool toys to play with.  After playing for a awhile Mom and Dad sat me down and told me what was going to happen soon.  We would be heading over to the dorms and I would be officially enrolled in College.   My other litter mates will be coming to the dorms too.  I heard that another litter was called back to start their official training along with us.

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We spent some time talking to the commanders when we arrived at the dorms.  Several little baby puppies about 8 weeks old were heading out with some special puppy raisers.  I heard these puppies would be flying in an airplane to a far away college.  I am glad I am staying here at KSDS Inc.


Finally it was my time to go to my dorm room.  A commander came to get me and show me where to go.  Mom and Dad can not go to the dorm rooms so we said our good-byes.  It took a long time.  Mom and Dad had lots to say to me at the last minute plus they had tears running down their face.  I was trying to be stoic but as I turned I let the tears in my eyes run down my face.   I did not want Mom and Dad to know I was scared and just wanted to go back home with them.

Mom and Dad I hope to make you PROUD of me !!  Miss M too. You have helped me make it this far and I promise I will study hard and fine my purpose.  I am excited to meet my forever partner but I will never forget all the special people who have helped me make it this far !  I LOVE you Mom and Dad - Avalon too !!
KSDS Inc. College here I am !!



Friday, October 20, 2017

Time is running out :(

 It was HUSKER football last weekend.  Dad said it will be the last time I get to watch the HUSKERS with him.  It was also going to be our last camping trip but Mother Nature had other ideas.  It RAINED most of the day so we stayed home. Mom canned and Dad worked on the computer. We did go for a walk in the rain which I thought was
funny but I am not complaining.  I love going on weekend walks with Mom and Dad.  We stopped at the tennis courts so Avalon and I could have a free run then off around the lake we went.  By the time we got home we were wet and Mom said smelly !!  We had to stay in the mud room for awhile.  I was afraid we would not dry off in time for the game but Mom said it was a night game.  Hope I stay awake !

HUSKER FOOTBALL with DAD - 
I don't think the game was going the way Dad wanted because Avalon and I actually got a few shut eyes in during the game.  He just kind of stayed on the couch and stared at the TV ????


On Monday of this week Miss M and Miss K didn't have school so I got to go see Miss M ride a great big puppy !!  I have never seen a puppy that big.  Mom said puppies that big are called horses.

I am just so proud of Miss M.  I have worked over a year and a half teaching her commands and now she is teaching commands to this big puppy.  They walked around an area kind of like the tennis courts we go to but it was round.  While they walked Miss M gave commands to the big puppy.  There was a commander there helping Miss M.  First she had a long leash helping then after a bit of time she let it go and Miss M was teaching all by herself.  Mom and me watched from outside of the fence.  Mom told me to be really quiet as not to frighten the big puppy.  I was whining about the flies so Mom finally put be back in the Ford while Miss M finished her teaching.  Before we left Miss M showed me some more big puppies that were in their kennels.  I wish my kennel was that big.


After command training we went over to Miss M's Grandma's house.  I love it there because that means Miss M and I are going to get to play - which we did.  Mom came over a little later and we had a photo shoot.

Miss M set up her jumping stations and we practiced jumping along with practicing commands.  I wanted to make sure she knows her commands because she is now a command trainer to that big puppy.  I wonder if she grades that puppy like she grades me at times ?  After we played for a long time we had our photo shoot.  I must have said "cheese" 100 times!  They were also making funny noises ??  I think they were trying to get my attention but I was getting bored.  Finally picture time was over and Miss M and I got to play some more.  We finally went back home and all of a sudden when we got in the house Miss M started crying which made Mom, Miss K and Grandma T cry ??  I think it has something to do with me going back to KSDS College soon.


The next day Mom and me went to that BIG castle that Grandma Keuter lives in.  We had lunch together in her lunch room then we went to this special room.  I took my seat but Mom said I need to get down because other two legged people were coming in and need the chairs.


They did come in then Mom showed a slide show of KSDS Inc. along with some pictures of all of the adventures Mom, Dad and me have been on.  She has been showing that a lot lately.  After the slide show Mom talked about KSDS Inc. and Puppy Raising.  She really knows a lot -
I was impressed.  It also helps me to learn about KSDS college for when I am off to College.  Dad is sadly counting down the days which are just a few away.  Mom has already packed my bags and packed the bag that she will give to KSDS Inc.  I think it has all of my training records in it.  I might sneak in there one night before I leave to see what it says.  Hope I am getting good marks.  I know I have gotten some really good grades and then I know I have gotten some not so good ones.  I have tried to get all good grades but when you are a puppy it is hard.   I know though we have worked hard to get ready for college so I hope it will all pay off.  I don't want to disappoint everyone who has helped me in my journey to become someone's forever partner who needs my help.

Yesterday, Miss M, Miss K and Grandma T came over to say their final "Goodbyes" before I leave for College.  Miss M and I took a walk together alone while Mom stayed inside.  Miss M and I had our private goodbyes which I really liked.  Miss M brought some really pretty flowers for Mom for allowing me to share in my adventures with her growing up.

I LOVE YOU Miss M - I am going to miss you at College.  I will try and remember everything you taught me and I will be counting down the days to Graduation and seeing you again !




Thursday, October 12, 2017

Miss M's Command School

Boy, when Mom said we were stepping things up to prepare for my ACT testing when I go to KSDS college she meant it.  Yesterday I went to the biggest command school I have ever seen.  Miss M and Miss K's command school.   They even had special command uniforms like me.

 Our adventure actually started the evening before.  Miss M and Grandma T came over and we talked about our plan at the command school for the next day. I wonder if they teach puppy
talk ?   After our planning session we headed to the bathroom.  I knew what that meant.  Bath time.  I don't like taking baths in the house - like them outside - so I protested a little but it was three against one so in the tub I went.  Miss M put on shorts and got in the tub with me so I felt a little better.  Nice warm water and bubbles.  I smelled vanilla.

So yesterday morning we were all up bright and early.  Mom had packed everything we needed the night before so it was breakfast then out for walk.  Dad took both Avalon and I for a walk around the lake.  He made sure we did our business so no business would be done in doors.  Avalon was not going to get to go with me to command school but I told her I would tell her everything when I got home.

When we arrived I was greeted by lots of people.  I felt like a celebrity !   Everyone pitched in and helped carry our materials and my kennel to the school.  We stopped along the way to do some last minute business which Mom was sooo glad I did.  Mom and Grandma T had to check in then we headed to Miss M's command class.  There were lots of two legged kids there sitting in their command chairs.   They are lucky they don't have to be in kennels.  Mom set up my kennel in front of the room and I took in the lay of the land.  Miss M and her teacher reviewed the schedule for the day.  We had a full day ahead of us.  I was feeling a little nervous but Miss M always makes me feel confident.

 We first went to Miss K's command class.  Miss K greeted us and introduced us to her command teacher.  I think they were in the middle of some command training but stopped when we arrived.  Miss M talked about me, KSDS and puppy raising.  Next, I showed the class some of the commands I have taught Miss M.  She did pretty good.  I asked Miss M if some of the kids could pet me since they were asking so we walked around and met with everyone.  They even told us some stories about their puppies at home.

 After Miss K's class we went to see another command class.  These two legged kids were much smaller.  I think I heard the commanders say they are just starting their command college training just like I will be in about a week and a half.   I tried to asked them some questions about school but they must not teach puppy talk at this school.   After that we went to see some other two legged kids who were a little older.  I think they are in a command class that is helping them decide if they want to be Guide/Service/Facility kids because they sure asked a lot of questions.  We stopped at two other command classes before we went back to Miss M's class.

Miss M and I went up to the front of the class and Miss M talked about her adventures with me for the last year and a half.  Mom had made a video so Miss M's command teacher turned off the lights and we all watched.  It was cool to watch it.  I looked soooo small when I first came home to
start my puppy training.  I had

kind of forgotten some of the great adventures we have been on.  Mom calls then training trips but I call them FUN trips except the ones when we were just running errands.  I wish I could have stayed home with Avalon but Mom said all of these errand trips will help me when I return to KSDS for college. From watching the video we did a lot of training trips so I hope I am ready.  I hope these trips helped Miss M at her training school too ?   After the video all of the two legged kids went to have lunch.  Mom, me, Miss M, Grandma T and Grandpa D stayed in the command center and had lunch.  After lunch everyone left and it was just me and Miss M in her command room but not for long. We went to a few more classrooms where Miss M talked about our adventures.  It was cool.  Miss M and I were flying solo for the first time.  Mom is usually always with us on trips but this time she left and we did it on our own.  COOL !! Command training must be paying off for both of us !

Miss M and her classmates in her Command Classroom  :)
Thank You for a Wonderful Day of Training


Monday, October 9, 2017

Studying for my Puppy ACT

 It has been another world wind week.  Mom has really stepped up the training field trips and keeps saying I need all the studying I can squeeze in before I head off to KSDS College and my ACT test for the direction my training will take me.  I am excited and scared all at the same time.


 We stopped at Home Depot to look at those funny round orange things Mom likes to put out in the yard.  I picked out two I liked and Mom picked out two she liked.


The next day we were at Walmart looking at rows and rows of very nice smelling things.  Mom said it was for the trick or treaters who will come to our house.  I will be at KSDS college so I asked Mom if I can take some with me for the puppy trick or treating there. I want to make a good impression.


 Two days later Mom made me go grocery shopping with her.  I was kind of excited about going on this trip because Mom said we would be picking up stuff for camping.  I LOVE camping !!!


The weekend came and camping we went !!  While Mom and Dad were getting things settled at the camp site I thought I would jump up and give directions.  I thought I was helping out but that is not the way Mom saw it.  She said if I did that at KSDS during my ACT test it could be a deal breaker - Whatever that means ??


It was Fall-O-Ween at the KOA camp so we put up fall decorations.  Took Mom and Dad some time to get them all up but after they were done a camp director on a funny looking cart came by and said we won the decoration contest and would get a free pizza.  COOL !!


 After they were done we relaxed on the deck.  Mom was doing some cooking in the RV because I could smell it.  Dad had peanuts which is a favorite of Avalon and I.


Finally it was HUSKER football time.  We watched inside because there was a whole bunch of small bugs that would not leave us alone.  It was a night game and lasted a long time so Avalon and I tried to get a few shut eyes in. I am sorry to say that Dad's Huskers did not win.


The next morning we all slept in.  Late night the night before.  Mom thought it would be cool to cook breakfast outside so as Avalon and I were eating our breakfast Mom cooked their breakfast.


 Mom cooked some round flat things that looked liked a toy she throws and we play with so I thought she was making toys for us.  Not the case.  They put sweet syrup on them and ate them all.


Dad gave Mom a thumbs up for breakfast.  Avalon and I gave her a paw up.  Everyone was stuffed and happy.  Later in the day we went for a long walk and checked out the rest of the camp site.


Night came again and Mom and Dad were playing with fire.  They made a big camp fire and as the fire burned we watched - could you guess - more football.  It was a nice evening.  We went to bed earlier then the night before since we would be getting up and going home the next morning.

Happy FALL Everyone !!