Puppy Meeting at Ikea

I had a furry fun puppy meeting at Ikea recently, and everybody was quite surprised that it was not only my first time being there - but also fur my raiser!
We had a great time during the meeting, and we were even given a personal tour by some of Ikea's employees! (including going "behind the scenes" so we could see the cardboard eater, ride a different style elevator, see fork-lifts & much more!).
After working in Ikea & also doing some obedience, we shopped around fur a bit and then headed over to the Ikea restaurant fur lunch time.
Enjoy the wonderful pictures my raiser's sister took!

-Brandon


Look at my furry cute sit-stay!

Brandon doing a perfect sit-stay outside Ikea


My furry awesome puppy group!

Group shot outside Ikea! (6 dogs with their raisers & 3 Ikea employees that would be giving us a personal tour)

 Guess my raiser doesn't give the best of commands... cause we're going the WRONG way :)


Picture of Brandon walking through Ikea, you can see the arrow on the ground going the opposite way... oops!


 See, I can do a loose-leash walk with other pups around!

Picture of Brandon doing a loose-leash forward

Awesome elevator we got to ride :)

Picture of Brandon & his puppy group riding the work elevator (large see-through elevator used for taking large crates & boxes, but fits all the dogs quite well!)

My furry good down-stay beside other pups

Picture of Brandon & some other dogs doing a down-stay in Ikea

My awesome raiser & I at lunch!


Picture of Brandon in a down-under (sleeping under my chair) with me during lunch time at Ikea



My First Puppy Meeting

I attended my very first puppy meeting last week, and though I didn't know many of the commands... I still enjoyed my first meeting!
My raiser was impressed with how well I did at the meeting, and she liked how I maintained myself when I was near other doggies (meaning - I didn't go crazy like some of the other doggies did).
I'm looking forward to my next meeting, and my raiser hopes that I will have a understanding of a few more doggy commands, I told her I that I'll learn them in my own time!
Furry kisses to you all and thanks fur stopping by!!

Oh, BTW - enjoy the furry awesome photos below!!

Brandon





One of the first pictures of my sweet (and awesome) Raiser with me!!




The End...

Shopping Fun

Hey furry friends!
I've been soo busy helping my raiser clean up after my amazing blogville birthday party, but I'm finally taking the time to do a post related to... guide dog work :)
My raiser took me shopping with her last week... and we went in, like - (almost) EVERY store in the City.
But it was a whole lot of fun!
My raiser did bring her camera with her... so I've got some pictures of me working in Wal-Mart, and sleeping in a waiting room.
My raiser has been so busy lately, that she's not had time to take me out to get some exposures and such. So she was quite happy to be able to work me last week, and was very impressed with how well I did!
Commands we used during our latest shopping trip...
- Forward
- Left/Right
- Heel
- Find The Door/Stairs/Car
- Switch
- Sit/Down/Stand/Stay
- Leave it

I really enjoyed our shopping trip, and had a whole lot of furry fun!
I'm off to go play with my birthday toys... enjoy the shopping pictures below :)

Rudy - The dog with a blog

Shopping Day

FINALLY the post with pictures of my shopping day :)
Rudy's Raiser didn't "have time" yesterday, to let me do the post - but she's finally letting me today.
I had a whole lot of fun shopping last week, since Rudy's Raiser was finally feeling better (she was sick ALL WEEK) she decided it was time to get me out and work me some. Which I was quite glad about.
She worked me in many different stores - but only took pictures in the first one (so she could then have more time for working me in the other stores).
She says I behave very well in town, I'm quite calm and don't pull near as much with the coat/harness on. BUT I still don't listen well, when she tells me commands (sit/down/stand/etc) - so she has to give me many reminders... but she says we're working on that :)
I did have a whole lot of fun though, I really enjoyed getting out & about. Rudy's Raiser talked to many people; who were asking about me.
It was a very enjoyable day, and Rudy's Raiser hopes to take me out again... furry soon!
I was also going to include some updates about Rudy (he's doing VERY well) - but Rudy's Raiser is going to save that for tomorrow's post (complete with NEW pictures of Rudy... thanks to the raiser that has him).
So make sure to stop by tomorrow to hear an update about Rudy.
AND for all that haven't yet, please make sure to enter Rudy's Valentine's Giveaway - that will be ending THIS weekend.
Enjoy the shopping pictures below, next time we go out in town - I'll make sure she takes pictures in more than one store :)

Al - Rudy's Brother

Bed Training... with videos!!

I betcha you never knew that there was a command for "BED"!
You may think that every dog knows that command by heart... but maybe not the exact way I do :)
What is the command 'bed"?
When my raiser gives the command "bed" I'm to find the closet dog bed and lay/sit/stand on it... until I'm given the command "okay/take a break/come". This ISN'T a "stay" command - as I'm allowed to play on the dog bed... and get up and move around (as long as some part of my body is touching the bed... I'm good!).
This command is quite helpful for my raiser when we have company over - eating dinner - playing games - watching TV - cooking - etc :) I can stay on the bed for a short time of 1 second... or a time of 2+ hours... all depends on what my raiser tells me!
I've known this command for quite awhile (back before November 2010), and my raiser thinks it is one of the best commands I know!
I can do this command on different beds... in different rooms... and with different people.
(Please not that this command is not a "have to" in the guide dog book - it's something the raisers CAN teach the dogs if wanted).
Enjoy the 2 movies below of me doing the "bed" command - both are in 2 different rooms, with 2 different beds.

Furry Thursday kisses,

Rudy
The dog with a blog

(Movie of Rudy doing the "Bed" command in the dinning room - when I say "bed" he finds his bed and stays on it 'til I say "okay or come")

(Movie of Rudy doing the "bed" command in the living room; with a different bed)

New Year's Party... for our Guide Dog Group

Last Saturday was our furry awesome New Year's Party with the guide dog group.
It was AMAZING - all but 1 pup showed up, and we also had some "older" dogs come (some that graduated from the guide dog school - and are in the breeder program, or got Career changed due to allergies). So it was a very "dog" crowded place!
I also got to meet the newest pups to our group: "Hedy", "Happy", "Waffles" & "Judy", which are all so furry cute!
My last puppy sitter (who currently is raising Waffles) was there - and my raiser was so surprised that I cared more about the lady - then I did about her puppy "Waffles"!
Which isn't normal... because I'm really dog distracted! Guess I just really like my sitters!
We did obedience before sitting down to eat - and I did PERFECT with my commands, getting them all correct right on the dot. When we did the puppy swap (all raisers trade puppies) my raiser ended up with "Happy" one of the new pups. And after I calmed down, I did pretty good with the raiser who was working me.
We did the awards/gifts before we ate - and I was given this HUGE baggy with cool things in it. One of which was a awesome water bottle toy (pictured somewhere below) that I love.
My raiser handed out SEGDI puppy raiser bumper magnetics that she designed to all the current puppy raisers. (Thanks to Build a Sign - as they donated all those to me for free!). The puppy raisers LOVED them, and our AC thinks the school may be interested in them too :)
Once the people finished eating - all the dogs were given doggy cake, which was amazing - we took a group picture (and some pictures of my brother "Al" & I together), then it was time to leave.
I really hope you guys enjoy the pictures & movies below!
I'm off to go eat some snow :)

*Btw - if you didn't see the post my raiser did yesterday, it gives out ALL the info we have on her last dog Toby. And tells you what career he chose to take. So make sure to check it out - as he's got a fun filled life ahead of him!*

Rudy
The dog with a blog

(Movie of Rudy doing the command "down" during puppy class)

(Movie of Rudy doing the commands "down" & "stand" during puppy class - he was the first pup to stand and our AC told him great job - which you can "kind of" hear in the video)

Working Rudy 2

Back in August, my furry fun raiser posted a Working Rudy post. Complete with a couple movies of me doing some basic commands inside the house (and at YMCA).

I'd like to share some more "Working Rudy" movies with you.

Yesterday, after my raiser finished doing her own "photo shoot" (taking photos of me outside - which she will be posting soon!), she took a couple movies of us working on a couple commands.

I decided to post 3 of them below - for your viewing pleasure :) I am working out of coat, on leash; outside. You may notice a few cars driving by from time to time, my raiser was happy they DIDN'T distracted me! I don't know if I did that great in the movies, but my raiser said I did furry good!

Enjoy,

Rudy - The dog with a blog

(Movies below are all based on the same commands, just taken & done a little differently. Some of the commands done below are; sit-stay, come, heel, switch, & forward. With some cars driving by as a distraction in some sections.)

Photo Shoot - Doggy Style!

Hey furry fun friends!!
My raiser has been a little bit busy over the last couple weeks... and sadly only let me post a couple times :(
I'm hoping some things will die down soon, so I can get back to posting (almost) everyday!
I really hope all of you guys have missed me.. I've sure missed reading about each of you guys! And seeing your furry fun faces :(

My last puppy meeting was the ever so fun... PHOTO SHOOT! Yup... we had REAL photographers there... taking pictures of us furry fun doggies! (which we should be seeing some of the pictures later on... and hopefully I can post some that were taken).
Due to the fact that my Raiser's sister (who is ALWAYS taking pictures during the meeting), was a bit distracted by a little Chocolate Lab puppy one of the photographers brought with them... so she only snapped a couple shots - and it didn't show all the cool action of the photographers taking pictures of us... but don't fret your furry faces... cause though you can't see all the fun action... you can imagine it!
Just imagine...
Almost 7 photographers... with huge cool cameras... all snapping pictures of the same thing - at different angles - people calling us puppies - trying to get us to look at the camera. And the hardest part... ?
Doing all those down/sit/stand stays for the photos... but best of all...
I made my raiser proud... she was very happy with how good I was!!

Enjoy the couple pictures below,
Update on the giveaway: Ordered the items I needed... so the giveaway will be coming REAL soon!

Rudy
The dog with a blog

Working Rudy

(Written by Rudy's Raiser)
Rudy is doing so well in his training, I decided to let him show you a couple movies of a few easy commands he knows.
Just so you can see what he's been up to lately! (and to make up for those farm camp pictures... that got deleted!)
So enjoy the movies - please note Rudy thought it was play time, so he wasn't to "perfect" in a couple ones!!
The following movies are all very basic commands - and are focusing only on - "down", "sit", "stay", "come", "go get it", "give", and "leave-it". Most were taken inside the house - but 2 are at Zumba class (at the YMCA)

**Upcoming obedience movies of him working in coat on leash - very soon!**

Rudy's Raiser

The human that has a dog with a blog



(Movie of Rudy doing a "sit", "down-stay", "leave-it" to a stuffed animal, then a "come" - still ignoring the stuffed animal)



(Movie of Rudy in a "down-stay" at Zumba class in the YMCA last week. You can see people dancing/moving in front of him)

(movie of Rudy in a "down-stay" at Zumba class in the YMCA last week. The camera was sitting down so it isn't too shaky! You can see people behind him doing Zumba - the only reason he's in a different spot then the last zumba video - is he was "out" of the camera being so close up... so I moved him a little for the movie!)

(Movie of Rudy doing a "come", "sit-stay", "leave-it", and "go get it". In the movie he comes running to me - before going to pick up the toy (which I gave him permission to do) - and it looks as if he may have jumped on me... but really he was so excited - he just ran to me - and did some tight little circle - than ran and grabbed the toy!)

(Movie of Rudy doing a "down-stay", "leave-it", "come", then a "go get it". He did it so well - and knows I was very proud of him!)

(Movie of Rudy in a down chewing on a bone - I use the "give" command, put him in a "stay", throw the toy... then tell him "go get it". He runs after the toy - so cute!)

Letters From Camp... Outing time!

*(Posted by Duchess's handler, Toby's Raiser)*
I received a email yesterday from the father of the family Toby is staying with. It was a really long email with great details about his training, but I did take some parts out to make it shorter for you guys (if something sounds a little odd, it may be because I took a section out).
Enjoy!

"Recorded my first 4 hour working session with Toby. My gut feel- he is going to make it! The first place I took him was the bus stop. After that we dropped the 5 year old at pre-school and then went to the insurance office to conduct some business. We went in the office and he did very well staying in a seated position to greet the staff. After introductions and some petting, we went in to a private office where he laid down and slept for an hour. PERFECT.
We then drove to down town where we could walk past restaurants and shops.
We met some toddlers where Toby sat so they could approach and pet. Once again PERFECT!
Toby had a few issues walking past some sidewalk displays with plants and he also jumped when a semi rig bounced over the railroad tracks. We left that area and entered the new city hall. We rode the elevator up, stopping at 2 and 3 and then back down also stopping at 3 and 2 before exiting at 1. He was once again PERFECT! He remained in the sitting position as the door opened and closed on each floor.
We went down Richardson without issue and even stopped to watch some men making a racket by throwing kegs of beer out the back of a truck and loading them up on dollies. No issues with beer for this dog but the handler’s urge to enter a pub created a minor distraction. The will power prevailed and Toby’s work continued.
We passed a few pedestrians without issue and the number of bumps to prevent marking had dropped to near zero.
We took another pass down main street and he once again returned to PERFECT. He passed the flowers, plants, pedestrians, poles hydrants, signs without a single bump. He is really smart and learned how to meet expectations really quickly.
We made a pass through Lowe’s where I stopped and talked to several people and made a restroom visit. He was PERFECT Again!!!
He does very well with “come”, “sit”, “stay”, and “down”. Very sharp with “stand” and “forward”. He also knows “heel” and “switch” but could use a little practice to make those perfect. will get some pics to ya soon...” Looks like Toby's main issue at the moment is marking things, but it sounds like he is getting better!

I will be doing a "Paw it Forward" post soon, and passing it along to 3 other doggie blogs, so stay tuned!

Duchess's Handler & Toby's Raiser "The human that has a dog with a blog"

Doggy Fun!!

I was quite surprised when my raiser woke up this morning and told me we were going to PUPPY CLASS!!
It may not be a big surprise to you guys, but this is my THIRD puppy class in the last 3 weeks - that's 1 puppy class a week!

Our Area Coordinator is trying new & different places to do obedience with, so this time all of us dogs met in a tennis court! (after puppy class our raisers took off our coats/collars/leads and let us all play with each other; we sure had a blast!)

We worked on so many different commands.
For 5 minutes of the class we did a short "puppy trade" where all the raisers traded dogs.
My raiser got a cute little black male Lab (Sparky), and I went to Sparky's raiser.
This didn't go over well with me, I went crazy trying to get back to my raiser. (I have some "issues" with leaving my raiser, but our area coordinator is working with us on that.)
The Area Coordinator is now talking about doing puppy swaps for me every other week (between puppy classes) , which means I would be going to someone else's house for a WHOLE WEEK, and it would be more than once!


We had extra long leashes (lunge lines for horses) for us doggies to work on "come" from afar.


Some other dogs got "side tracked" when they were called, but me? NO. My raiser called me and I went STRAIGHT to her!
(it may sound like I'm so obedient, but my raiser says she is going to let me try the same thing with a different person next time; she some how thinks I will come to her, no matter the distance, but bets that if another raiser tried it I would still go straight over to her (my raiser).


At today's puppy class we also started a "new" command. (though my trainer has already taught me this).


"Place" is a command the raiser's don't have to teach us dogs, but it would be nice for us to learn. "Place" means our raiser's give us a blanket/bed, and when the place command is said we are to stay on that blanket/bed, it is to be our "place".
We can take 3 feet off of our "place" and we still won't be disobeying, as long as some part of us is on our "place".
My raiser has already taught me this command, but I know it as "bed". She did get permission to keep using the same command, so she doesn't have to confuse me with a different one.


I got to do puppy class in harness, and was very proud of it. We weren't going to be bringing the harness back home with us, but since another raiser had already left, my raiser was given the harness for another week (til' next puppy class).
Enjoy the pictures of my puppy class, and don't forget I LOVE hearing from my readers!



Toby
The dog with a blog






(Close up of only Toby - he is "smiling" and has 1 front foot in the air)

(Picture of Toby & I; Toby is in a stand-stay beside me)

(Picture of Toby & 3 of his siblings playing together, left to right- Toby, Duchess (in red collar), Rocky (you can see 1 foot & a tail), and Spike.

(Picture of Toby finishing up his "come" command, with a "heel", he is on my left side, and I am petting him)

(Picture of Toby (left) & Spike (right) doing down stay beside each other, with both raisers holding them)

(Toby & Spike doing a "sit-stay" beside each other, with us raisers holding them)

(Toby & I in the corner of the Tennis court, Toby is in a down-stay)

(Toby inside a restaurant in a "down-stay", looking at the camera)

An Icy update...

Toby and his siblings siting on ice-

(left to right) Cassie, Rocky, Spike, and Toby
(Toby's other sister Duchess had already left)

Hey guys,

Saturday I was taken to an ice skating rink... for puppy class!!

We arrived about 30 minutes early, so we just wandered around watching the ice skaters, and meeting new people.

Once everybody arrived, we headed outside (yes it was COLD!!), and started obedience.

We did some "right rights", "left lefts", "sits", "stays", "stands" and lots more!

After all of our trainers/raisers were frozen we headed back inside.

We then worked on "down under" (going under the benches inside), my trainer told me I did very well.

When I thought we were done, my trainer took me into a room called "The Puddle", which I than found out pretty quickly was a small ice rink... and all of us dogs were taken on it.

For the first little bit I wasn't to sure about the ice, but soon I was comfortably on it, and so were all the other dogs:)

We had 10+ dogs & puppies on the ice, we had fun!

My trainer even got someone on ice skates to take me for a "ride", she could skate fast!

Before leaving we decided to get a group picture - but the only ones my trainer has are blurry :(

However; she did manage to get pictures of me & my 3 siblings (one had already left), without the trainers/raisers in the pictures!

And I won't even start the story of what happened on our way home from the ice rink,

Lets just say the policeman & paramedics were quite nice...

Enjoy the pictures,

Toby

The dog with a blog

(Toby sitting on ice, beside person on ice skates)

(Toby & his 2 siblings on ice,

Rocky laying down, Spike standing up licking Toby's face, & Toby sitting)

(Toby running after person on ice skates)

(Toby & me on ice, both standing)

(Picture of random dogs on ice, Toby's face in right bottom corner)

(Toby jumping onto ice)

(Close up of Toby running happily on ice)

(Close up of Toby's cute face, while he is doing a "down under")

(Toby sitting beside bench- getting ready to do "down under")

(Toby laying down under bench, staring off at a cute little puppy that's not in the picture!)

(Black & white picture of a little girl petting Toby, while he is in a sit stay)