Last Post

Hey everybody!
Furry thanks to all who've left goodbye comments fur me, I've really enjoyed reading them - and I know my raiser is really thankful to have all you wonderful followers out there, leaving her some nice words.
Just wanted to do a quick post, to let you know I've made it to FL - and we'll be heading to the guide dog school tomorrow morning.
My raiser did have a surprise, that we picked up on the way down here - which I knew nothing about... (nope, it's not another guide dog puppy). She'll be sure to tell you all about the new little animal, once she gets back from FL.
I do have to say that she is very cute - and I'm so glad I got to meet her!
Thanks again for all the comments you guys are leaving - I know this is going to be really hard on my raiser to give me up... and the comments mean a lot to her (and me!).
Hugs & Slobbery kisses to all!

Rudy - The dog with a blog

GoodBye to All

If I don't get a chance to post tomorrow (once I'm in FL), this will be my LAST post.
I'm leaving it picture free, as you will then have more to see later on, once I'm gone.
I've yet to see my raiser cry, about me returning to the school - but I know she'll be in tears, once she hands that lead over.
I know I'll miss her terrible - but I don't know how she's going to live life without me.
I really hope a wonderful trainer down at the school, will happen to snap lots of pictures of me - so then my raiser will be able to see how well I'm doing.
I can't believe how soon these posts I'm doing will be coming to a end. I'm going to miss running a blog, and I know I'll try with all my might to get my new owner to let me run a blog.
A furry tearful goodbye to all, and I'm sooo sorry I've not been able to stop by your blogs lately - I've been trying to save my time for my wonderful raiser.
I do hope to blog tomorrow while in FL, but if not - Goodbye!

Rudy - The dog with a blog

Last Shopping Trip

My raiser took me "shopping" with her today... all day. We went in soo many different stores (including some with clothes...), but I didn't mind - as this will be my last real "shopping trip".
As, tomorrow I'll be heading to an all day event (pictures to come... after I leave), and we'll be leaving Sunday morning.
My raiser is proud at how well I've been doing with my outings. She noted that my most favorite commands are: "Find the door", "Switch", "Heel", "Left-Left/Right-Right". Of course, she knows I love all of my wonderful commands - but for some reason, the above ones have been my favorite.
My raiser did snap some pictures of me, while on our shopping trip - and she'll be sure to post them (once I'm gone...).
I can't believe I'll be heading back THIS Sunday, time sure has flown by. I'm really going to miss my raiser, and all of my wonderful blog readers!
If at all possible, I do plan on posting tomorrow... and maybe I'll be able to do a "last post" Sunday evening, once we're in FL.
My raiser just got done making a "paw print stepping stone" for me. It's gorgeous - and not only did she put my paw print in it... she also let Little Lucy (the baby goat) put a hoof print beside mine :) I'll make sure she promises to post pictures of it, I know you guys would love to see it!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Rudy - The dog with a blog

Little Lucy

Hey guys!
I would like you to meet my newest friend, Lucy.

She's a baby Angora goat (just 1 week old) who LOVES playing with me.

(Though she looks just like a little Lamb - she ISN'T!).

My raiser is kind enough to let her inside (mind you, she wears a diaper), and I've really enjoyed playing with her!
I'm sure going to miss her though, when I head back to the guide dog school (this Sunday).

Rudy - The dog with a blog

(Movie of Lucy playing ON Rudy)

Wordless Wednesday

Riding shot gun...

Rudy - The dog with a blog

Miss Me?

As you may have noticed... I've been a little bit "behind" with posting (and visiting!).
I'm so sorry about this, and since I'll be heading IFT this Sunday morning... my goal would be to do 1 post each day this week.
My raiser has been super busy, and is so sorry she hasn't given me the time to blog.
I can't believe my time here is almost up, I hate that we've got to be leaving in just a couple days!
My raiser will be sure to post many pictures of me while I'm gone (trust me, I'm way behind in posting them!) - so you guys will have some things to view on this blog :)
Please keep your fingers crossed, as my raiser may have some possible sponsors... for another guide dog puppy :)
Pictures coming soon, with many more updates!

Rudy - The dog with a blog

New Plan

*(Written by Rudy's Raiser)*
It's almost like Rudy and I have been riding a 'IFT roller coaster'...

First off, we thought Rudy would be heading IFT ('In For Training' - back to the guide dog school for further training) June 13-18. We found out a week ago, that the IFT date was moved, and is know set for June 4th.
Not only is that 2 weeks sooner, but I also won't be able to make it - so I was just planning on another raiser taking Rudy down for us.
Plans have changed again though, and Rudy will now be leaving on May 29th/30th. But there is only one reason for that... so I can take him back.
So though Rudy is heading IFT even earlier, I will be taking him back myself - instead of another raiser dropping him off for me.

Rudy has a lot of "saying goodbyes" to do before he leaves, and 1 week from this coming Sunday... we will be on our way to the guide dog school in FL to drop him off.

I'm excited to have a dog at the guide dog school, so I can follow along with his training/report cards - but I'm not looking forward to giving Rudy up, and I know that day will be filled with many tears of sadness...

Rudy's Raiser

Traffic Walk

Hey furry friends!
One of my latest puppy meetings was a "traffic walk" & "grocery store" exposure.

With us guide dogs, we all have to "enjoy" walking along side heavy traffic, without getting distracted.

Not only do I enjoy walks, but heavy traffic has never bothered me - so it was a furry fun meeting fur sure!
We did do a quick puppy swap during the meeting, so I was with another raiser during some of our traffic walk, and while inside the grocery store.

I have ONE last puppy meeting before I head back to school for IFT, and I'll be sure to post lots of pictures of it :)

Enjoy the photos/movie below!

Rudy - The dog with a blog

Rudy with another raiser (all raiser's did a quick "swap")

(Movie of Rudy in a sit-stay beside the loud traffic - and then I tell him "Forward" and we start walking)

Da Lake

OMD, I have just found my true love fur water!
Way back (last year) my raiser took me to a guide dog pool party, and found out that I was not very "keen" of swimming.

But fur some odd reason, I've changed my furry little mind!
Today, after our "mini farm camp" ended, my raiser (her brother, sister & friend) took me to something called a "lake"... which held lots of water.

She let me go near the water to "investigate" and when I showed interest of wanting to get in, she decided to let me try it. Not knowing that I soon would absolutely fall in love with swimming.

Once I touched the water, I found my true passion... swimming, and man was it fun!
I've been reading some of my followers' blog posts, and noticed that a lot of my friends have a pool - or visit a lake. I guess that looked like so much fun, that I wanted to try it fur myself!
Since I'm heading IFT on June 4th, my raiser plans on taking me MANY more times to this lake, before I head back :)

Enjoy the pictures/movie below.

Rudy - The dog with a blog

Note from Raiser: (Rudy was on leash at ALL times during his "swimming" fun - though next time, I will be taking a longer leash!).

(Movie of Rudy with my/my sister's friend - he was on leash swimming, and then when I called him, he came swimming over to me - at the beginning of the movie clip, Rudy accidentally "hit" my/my sister's friend with his paw... while trying to "doggy paddle" )

A Change in Plans

(Written by Rudy's Raiser)
And when I was just getting used to the idea of Rudy returning to the school for IFT around June 13-16, I receive even worse news in a email I opened this morning.
Evidently the guide dog school is changing the "IFT" process... and decided to move UP the date to June 4th (of course, the exact day my brother is graduating... which means there is no way I'll be able to take Rudy back - and you have to take them back on that exact date).
Yes I did realize that sooner or later, Rudy would have to return back to the school... but since I'm not raising again (for now) this news is even harder to take in.
I really wish I could take Rudy back myself, he's going to be the first dog I did not return to the school.
Yes, I am keeping my fingers crossed, just in case something may change... but at this point, Rudy will be going back on June 4th WITHOUT me dropping him off.

Rudy's Raiser

Bark in the Park

My raiser & I attended the "Bark in the Park" (a very fun dog festival) as our guide dog group had a booth - and wanted some puppy raisers to be there to hand out SEGDI information.

My raiser & I stayed at the table for a little while, then she took me to walk around the festival. Most booths were selling either dog treats/dog toys (to raise money for dog rescues/such) - but I also found out, that almost every booth was giving away FREE samples too :)

My raiser said this event was one of the best exposures I can ever get (any other human at this event - had a dog... and I'm "somewhat" dog distracted). But my raiser said I did very well there, and (once I calmed down) I was even able to meet some other doggies.

My raiser & I also got to watch "Kyra Sundance" & her dog "Jadie" perform a live acrobatic show, which was very exciting!

I sure had lots of fun, enjoy the pictures below!

Rudy - The dog with a blog