I learned about the Birds and the Bees

 It has been a busy time here and also a very slow time !  Let me tell you why.  First, Miss M came and surprised me.  We got to spend the afternoon together.  Went on a walk, practiced commands and just hung out.  Forgot the the camera so no pictures but that was OK since I got more attention instead of Miss M and Grandma T trying to get me to sit/stay to snap a picture.  I always hear them saying it is hard to take pictures of me since I am so black and blend into everything.

My next adventure was to a dog beauty salon with Avalon.  It was a first for me but Avalon goes about every three months and gets her fur trimmed.On the drive over to the salon she was telling me all about it.  When we got there-first we took a shower in a special bathtub and had our hair blown dry. Then I got a combing and Avalon got a fur cut.  Last, we had our ears cleaned, nails done and some really nice smelling stuff put on our fur with a beautiful bandanna put on.  I heard the nice lady tell Mom Avalon behaved nicely but I was kind of a challenge.  I tried to tell Mom it was the first time for me and it was soo exciting that I couldn't help myself. I think Mom went later to have her hair done too ?

Mom and Dad have been talking about their special "Therapy Puppy" Ruthie a lot lately.  I never knew her but Avalon talks about her.  Avalon told me that Ruthie went to the Rainbow Bridge a year ago this week. Mom and Dad raised her like they are raising me but then Mom went and got certified with Ruthie as a Therapy Team instead of going to another forever home.  Avalon said when she was being puppy raised her and Ruthie would go together with Mom and do special talks to kids and adults.

The rest of the week Mom and me just did our day to day routine.  We always go for our bike ride around the lake with Avalon in the morning, work on some commands when we get back then several times we headed to the food place Mom likes to go to for more fixings for the turkey.  That turkey must be something special.  I have not seen it again since we picked it up a week ago.  

The weekend came and for the first time it was really COLD when we went for our walk.  Mom and Dad put on lots of clothes.  I am sure glad I was wearing my fur coat.  It was nice to get back home and relax with Dad in front of the TV to watch the HUSKER game.   It was a good game. The HUSKERS won so Avalon and I didn't have to worry about Dad.  He was a happy camper and stayed on the couch.

After the game Mom and Dad sat me down and had a conversation with me about the "Birds and the Bees".  I thought we were going to be talking about those flying things in the sky but that was not the case.  The Birds and the Bees have to do with becoming a Mommy Dog which seems funny.  Avalon said they talked to her about it too.  However, Avalon did not tell me about what was going to happen when we went back to the Vet the next day.  I was soooo excited to go to one of my favorite places but boy did things change soon after.  I had surgery.  The Vet doctor explained to me that I would be sleeping when I had surgery but forgot to tell me I would not be feeling on the up and up afterwards.  I was told I now will be a forever Guide/Service puppy for a forever partner instead of being a Puppy Mom.  Not that being a Mom is bad I just won't be one.

I spent the night at the puppy hospital.  Dad stopped to see me in the evening but I don't really remember much of that.  I was very sleepy.  The next morning Mom came and picked me up and I was sooo excited I leaked all over.  I haven't done that for a while but I was getting scared that I was not going to see everyone at home again and when Mom came I knew everything was going to be OK.

The rest of the week I was on restricted play time.  That was a bummer !!  I spent the first day in my kennel except to go take a break and then the next few days either in the kennel or mud room.   Avalon and I could not play together and I did not get to go on our morning bike ride.  Mom and dad did give me a little white pill each morning that made me sleepy so I did sleep a lot.  Miss M, Miss K and Grandma T came to visit me but Mom said I could not get excited so they did not come in the mud room.  We did take some pictures though with a BIG turkey.  The one Mom bought at the food store was a lot smaller so maybe the one outside was growing up since we bought him a while back.
 Mom cleaned and got ready for the holiday she called Thanksgiving.  When the day came Avalon and I did not get to visit with the guests but had to stay in the office.  Mom said I still can not get excited because of my surgery and Avalon sometimes likes to visit too much.  We did get to visit though when guests would come to the office door.  There were new people I have never seen before along with some I see a lot.  Mom said next year at this time I will probably be at KSDS college.

 The next day was another HUSKER football game.  We went for our morning weekend walk even though it was Friday and I even got to play some.  Not too much though because of the surgery.  Mom and Dad did some work around the house putting Thanksgiving stuff away then at 2:30 the game started.  It was a sad day in HUSKER LAND as Dad would say because they lost the game.  Dad was a sad camper :(

This weekend Mom and Dad started taking the Thanksgiving decorations down and putting up ones for Christmas.  Another holiday Avalon told me about.  She said we will get to go visit someone called Santa and tell him of gifts we want from him. Avalon told me to start making a list and check it twice before we go.   

Mom and Dad spent most of the day outside decorating and it was dark when they were done.  I got to come out to look at the decorations and Mom tried to take a picture but being black I just did not show up.  The decorations looked so pretty along with some decorating I did on the mud room wall while they were out.

In remembrance of Ruthie -  Rest in Peace at the Rainbow Bridge 

Ruthie and Avalon with Santa-2011

Scary Times at the Village

 Dad said this is the BEST time of the YEAR !!   It is Nebraska football season and also the World Series of Baseball.  Dad was very excited and the weather was so nice we watched the final game outside.  Dad even shared some of his drinks with us - mostly what he called backwash but it was a first for me.  I have watched Avalon do this so I knew just what to do.  GO CHICAGO CUBS !  Way to WIN !!!

The weekend came and it was NEBRASKA football again.  Mom made dinner early and it cooked all day making the house smell so nice.  Mom and Dad finally took the boat out of the water but not before they took a ride around the lake.  Avalon and I didn't get to go but we watched from the deck.  Dad said it will be gone all winter but in the spring it will be back.   We went swimming in the lake when they got back and I must admit the water was cold.  While we were swimming Mom and Dad finished putting all the outdoor fun stuff  away and cleaned up what was left of the garden.  I guess it is official - Summer is over - and fall is here.  Winter is around the corner.  Something called snow is coming.

 Halloween finally came.  Avalon has been talking to me about it and said it can be scary.  Miss M and Miss K along with Grandma T came over and Avalon and I watched them put all kinds of fun and scary things up in the yard.  Then before it got dark Mom took me out to look at all of the cool decorations.  I was not scared !!  I am a BIG girl.  However, when it got dark outside all of these scary people came to the door and wanted treats.  Mom and Dad put treats in their bags just for saying "trick or treat" - they didn't have  to do any commands.  I didn't think that was right!

Mom watched me closely when someone would come to the door.  She said a small black puppy can not get out on a night like this.  I could get lost and it would be scary.  I really didn't want to get lost so I listened to Dad when he would say - Sit/Stay when someone would come to the door.  Miss M and Miss K even came back to get treats before the night was over.

Mom had her handyman over to fix the redecorating I did in the mud room.   I thought a hole in the wall would look nice along with roughing up the casing around the doors.
I thought I did a good job but Mom didn't like it.  Bill, the handyman put up some stuff on the walls to deter me from redecorating again.  Now I think that looks funny !  I also celebrated my 8 month birthday.  Thought there would be cake and hats or something but Mom just said I am getting older and we were off to run errands.  I just don't understand why Avalon doesn't have to go and gets to stay home by herself.  It is not fair but Avalon reminded me she gets car sick plus she is just a forever puppy now not a service puppy in training like me.                            

 Saturday and BIG Red football.  It was a night game so Dad was excited all day long waiting for the game to start.  However, it was a really SAD day in Husker land.  They lost the game BAD.  I thought dad was going to cry so I told Avalon we should go over and comfort him.   I don't think it did any good since he went to bed right after the game was over and did not even listen to the radio like he usually does.   This meant early to bed for Avalon and I too.

 This week Mom and I went to a store called Target.  Mom said we were on a mission to buy a turkey which I have been told people eat for a Holiday called Thanksgiving.  I asked Mom if the turkey we were going to get would be like the ones that walk through our yard sometimes ?  They are BIG birds and make funny noises.  However, when Mom picked the turkey out it was hard and wrapped in plastic.  It sure didn't look like the ones that visit us sometimes in the yard.

Avalon and I finally went on a trip
together this week too.   We went to see one of our favorite people, the Vet.  It was Avalon's yearly physical and I had a pre-surgery check up.   Mom said it is time to make sure I don't have puppies and become a mommy instead of a Guide/Service puppy.  We had the talk about the birds and the bees and I am glad I will be a trained dog and not a mommy.  Not that being a mommy isn't cool - I just want to be a forever assistance dog for someone who needs me.


Saturday has come again and the HUSKERS are playing at home. Mom and I took some food to the Humane Society then ran some errands while Dad went to work.  When Dad got home Avalon and I got to spend time in his Man Cave in the basement during halftime.  I have never been there before - It had lots and lots of HUSKER stuff everywhere.  Dad played a game hitting balls with a stick.  I tried to help him put one back on the table when it bounced off  but he wasn't to keen on that.  I thought it funny that he would hit them in holes on the table just to do it again.

It is with sadness that I tell you that BABY passed away on November 9th.  I didn't know Baby much since she stayed away from me because I played too hard as a puppy, but Avalon told me Baby had been around for 18 years.  Avalon told me she was here for all of Mom and Dad's forever puppies and also all of the Guide/Service puppies they raised.

REST IN PEACE OVER THE RAINBOW BRIDGE !

Fall has been BUSY !

 Fall, I have been told means

HALLOWEEN

is around the corner.  I am not sure what that is but I do know it means buying funny round orange things called pumpkins at the farm. Dad loaded us all up and off we went.  While Mom was looking at the funny things in the barn Dad and I went and saw some big birds that have their own house.  That is cool.  It was just like a dog house.  After Mom bought her supply we stopped and looked at some four legged animals that thought I looked funny.  They asked me why my fur was soooo black.  I told them I came that way.  They also asked me about the vest I had on so I told them I was in training to be a service dog but that was a ways away.  Right now I am in puppy training.

 I thought it was time to start getting cold here in Nebraska but Mom and Dad have been out on the boat a few more times.  They keep saying they are going to take the boat out of the water but then say maybe next weekend ??  Just one more ride.  Avalon and I have even been swimming in the lake on our walks around the lake.  I know I have a fur coat that keeps me warm while swimming but I must admit the water is getting colder.  I don't care though - I could swim everyday !

 I sooooo miss by best buddy Miss M.  She has to go to her two legged school five days a week which means I don't get to spend as much time with her as I did this summer. Sometimes though she will surprise me and come over and off we will go to play. I have her work on her commands.  I hope she doesn't get rusty on them since we are not working on them as often.  However, I have taught Mom commands so we still work on them so I can get treats.
 Miss M's Grandma has those funny round orange things in the front of her house just like Mom.  Miss M was telling me about Trick or Treating on Halloween and that she was going to be here and I could go with her and Miss K.  She said you wear funny outfits and get treats when you go up to someone's house.  You don't even have  to do commands.  How cool !!

 I want to tell you about two little girls I met at Hy-Vee with my Mom.  They get excited just like I do sometimes when I meet new people.  They were telling my Mom that their Mom has a service puppy.  Her puppy is being trained here in Omaha.  I tried to tell them I know commands and I could teach them but I think they already knew them.  I did still get a treat !!

The weekend came and that meant HUSKER football.   We went for our weekend walk plus swimming then it was game time.  Mom stayed in the kitchen and wore some funny stuff and cut up hot peppers.  We had to stay in the mud room just in case a hot seed would fall on the floor and Avalon and  I would make a dive for it.  Dad had all of the TVs I think in the house on and he paced between them.  So sometimes we got to watch with him and other times we couldn't find him.  I don't really understand football but I do know we won.  Mom took me out for a victory picture.  Won't be picking me up much more.

 Milo asked his Mom to call my Mom to see if I wanted to go on a training trip to a Halloween store.  I said yes and guess who else was there - My sister Wheels. We played for a little while outside then went inside the store.  There were some scary musical monsters right when we got in but all three of us were big troopers and just walked right by them.We then walked around and looked at all of the cool stuff in the store.  Mom asked if they had any outfits for puppies but they only had a few and I was NOT going to put those on.  They were for baby puppies and I am too old for that!!

After we walked around we went
back outside and all us puppies hung out while the mommies talked.  It was cool to have someone other then Avalon to talk to.  Milo, Wheels and I talked about all of our adventures and what costumes we were wearing for Halloween.


Mom and Dad spent an evening with my two - two legged sisters.  Since Mom and Dad did not take me I need to wish them my sisters a

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

My two legged sister's birthday are two weeks apart so they celebrated them together.  Grandma Keuter took everyone out at the Grand Lodge restaurant where she lives.   Mom's brother was there too along with his wife.  I did not get to go because Mom thought I was too tired from our field trip earlier.

Milo and me had another training field trip and this time Grandma T came.  It was in a store like the grocery store we go to all the time but it was much bigger.  Things started out Ok but for some reason I just got really excited seeing Milo's Mom Debbie that I started jumping on her and things kind of went downhill a little.  Debbie took me outside and had a talk with me then we came back inside. I told Mom I was sorry for my behavior and would try not to get so excited again.  I don't know if she understood my words but she could see how sorry I was by me trying to snuggle with her.

While I was outside Mom and Grandma T walked Milo around the store. I was kind of jealous but Milo told me it was cool and that he has had to leave a store before when he got too excited.

Now, let me tell you about yesterday.  I heard Mom and Dad talking about going to go see the HUSKERS play and Avalon and I were going to get a babysitter.  I was overjoyed when I found out it was Miss M and Grandma T.

First we went on our weekend walk then Grandma T came in her car and picked me up.  I didn't know I was going to get to go on a training field trip while they were babysitting.  Avalon didn't get to go but she said she was happy staying at home and relaxing.

First, we went to see some really nice older people and listened to Miss K play her violin.   I stayed on the floor and listened with Miss M.  Miss M and Miss K's parents were there and we had a great time together.  After listening to music Miss M, Grandma T and me went out to eat. I thought that meant every one was going to get to eat including me but that was not to happen.  I did a good job at down and under and waited for them to finish their treats.  Next, we went and visited Grandma T's parents at a beautiful cemetery and then came home.  I was so excited to get back home that I was able to escape and run down to the lake and try to take a dip.  I don't think Miss M and Grandma T were very happy about that !  I hope every time we have a babysitter it is that FUN !

GO BIG RED - FOOTBALL !