The Expected... but Unexpected News

I know you guys have been waiting for the "exciting/sad" news I told you I would be posting soon, but I wanted to put it off as long as possible.

This post will be so hard to write - that I'm actually going to hand the keyboard over to my raiser...

(written by Rudy's Raiser)

Hey guys!
If any of you guys out there are puppy raisers, I know you are already guessing what this "news" may be.

As you know, Rudy is in training to be a guide dog for the blind - which means, someday... he'll end up having to leave. (We call it "IFT" - In For Training, where they head down the guide dog school for further training... and then hopefully get placed with a blind/disabled person).

We thought that IFT date would be in March/April, but we were quite glad to here Rudy wasn't going in around that time.

I was then told to expect him to return late May/early June. Which, back in March (when I was told) seemed like a while a way... but when I received this email last week, it seems like moments away:

" Good morning,

It's that happy/sad news time…. your puppies are almost ready to head off to college.

We were able to learn through somewhat "unofficial" channels that Al and
Rudy are due IFT June 13-16, so you probably won't get the letter from the
school for another few weeks.

Let me know if you'll need help with transport. Once the letter goes out we can contact
other groups and see if there's anyone else going to Florida.

Hugs to you, and to Al and Rudy!

***** and ******* "

So to sum this post up... Rudy will be going IFT around the week of June 13-16 2011.

In some later posts, I'll write up some more about the IFT process and such - but for now, I really can't stand to think about it.

What makes it even harder, is the fact that I really don't know if I'll be raising again. These dogs take a lot of green papers... and though the school pays the medical bills (and heart worm pills) - everything else is paid by us puppy raisers. (Unless I have a sponsor)

Yes, I'd love to raise again, and I really hope I'll be able to. This guide dog puppy raising is my life, and I don't know what I'll do without it.

After Rudy returns to the school, my goal would be (if I'm not raising) to be a puppy sitter for the group - but I'll be sure to update all of you on Rudy's training progress once he returns :)

I will be keeping this blog up, and even if I'm not raising puppies - I'll find something to post about! And we all know Liberty (our English Mastiff) will love to step in and do some posts.

Have a wonderful day, and Rudy sends kisses to you all!

Rudy's Raiser

Wordless Wednesday

I may be a HUGE doggy... but I can always fit in a small dog bed :)

Rudy - The dog with a blog

Happy Easter!!

Hey furry friends!
I'm doing a quick post, to wish all of you a Happy Easter!
I just logged into my account... and found out that I've just reached 300 followers!! (My "goal" before heading down to the school... was to reach at least 300 followers) - so today is a very Happy day!
I do have some "sad/exciting" news about ME... which I'll be posting soon.
Fur now, have a wonderful Easter and enjoy visiting with all your family/friends!

Rudy - The dog with a blog

Wordless Wednesday

I miss you guys - I'm soo sorry I've not been posting/visiting lately! Spring time is quite busy here at the farm... :)
Happy (almost) Wordless Wednesday!

Rudy - The dog with a blog

Um... Why am I NOT In The Picture?

Hey furry friends!
My raiser was asked to do a review for Easy Canvas Prints, and from what she told me - she was quite excited about it!
She took FOREVER deciding on what picture she was going to pick... but in the end, she picked a picture of her & her sister. She still had many other pictures she wanted to use, so she asked Easy Canvas Prints if she could possibly review 2 canvas prints. When they told her yes, I was soo excited... because I just knew she was going to pick a wonderful picture of ME.

But when that package came, and those amazing canvas prints were pulled out... there was NOT a single thing that had to do with a black doggy. She ended up using the other one to give to a friend.

I told her I shouldn't be reviewing items on this blog, that don't have to do with ME, but she says that "us raisers" would like some cool things too.

Since this canvas has NOTHING to do with me... I'm going to hand the blog over to my raiser real quick:

Hey guys!
As you may already know, Rudy isn't to happy with me picking a picture without him in it - I'm so sorry about that! (Maybe next time Rudy!).

I would just like to say some quick words about the canvas/order process.

First off, not only do the canvases look amazing, but they are so easy to order! (hey, if I can do it... anyone can!).

It's very easy to place a order with Easy Canvas Prints, and it only takes a few minutes!

They have many different fun settings when designing your very own canvas style, and I really enjoyed doing it!
Shipping was very quick; and you will fall in love with it when you open the package!

These make GREAT gifts for family/friends, and really spice up a room!
A huge thank you to Easy Canvas Prints for letting us do a review!

Back to Rudy...

Thanks for that wonderful review... that still had NOTHING to do with me.

I did get to attend a wonderful puppy meeting Thursday, and will be sure to post pictures soon (we even took a "live distraction" with us to the puppy meeting... one of my raiser's baby goats!).

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Rudy - The dog with a blog

(almost) Wordless Wednesday

I'm so sorry I've not been posting much... but fur now, these pictures below (of me attending an April puppy meeting) will have to do :)

My raiser has been soo busy recently, but I'm still trying to fit in some blogging time!

P.S. I just returned from the vet yesterday... I'm officially a "neutered" dog now.

Rudy - The dog with a blog

A Few Updates...

Hey guys!
As you may have noticed already, I've been quite busy lately... and haven't had time to blog... or visit any of you guys (sorry!).

I wanted to do a (somewhat) quick post today, and give a couple updates.

First off:
The guide dog school has just started neutering/spaying (some) of the guide dog candidates (the only reason why they weren't being spayed/neutered, was the fact that all the dogs from SEGDI were in the "breeder program" too - but the school has decided to go ahead and start spaying/neutering more pups).

Since I've had some recent medical issues (and my raiser thinks I'm developing an allergy to corn), the school has just told us that I'm to be...

NEUTERED. Yep, that "big" dreaded word... but more news on that later.

And another quick update... but WAY more exciting :)

My raiser has had some friends over for the last couple days... and they LOVE me! I'm really enjoying all the extra attention :)

Furry Friday Kisses!

Rudy - the dog with a blog

My New Friends :)

Newest Friends

One of my raiser's "dairy goats" just delivered twin girls Friday evening (born on April 1st!).

And she promised me I'd get some playtime with the new little guys.... next thing I know, these 2 little babies are SLEEPING inside with us. (I think my raiser might love them more than me...) But I do have to say, that these little guys are soo cute in diapers!

My raiser does have to make sure I play calmly... evidently I can be a little "ruff" sometimes, but she says I'm treating my new roommates very nicely.

Enjoy the pictures below! (and yes, they are both still inside the house)

**Please note, that my raiser does bottle raise all of our baby goats, as it keeps the babies really friendly, and then she gets all the milk from the adult goats - and the main reason the babies are inside, is the fact that it's to cold outside for them right now**

Rudy - The dog with a blog

(Left to Right: "Persnickety Pineapple", Rudy, "Rambling Raspberry")