Weekend Retreat

I had the joy of attending a 4-H retreat with my raiser this past weekend and boy was it bundles of fun!!
I was suppose to attend two 4-H retreats with her in March, but due to the serious medical issues I was having earlier in the month... I ended up spending my weekend at the specialist, instead of with her at the 1st retreat.
So my raiser was very happy when her 2nd retreat came up, and I wasn't having any medical issues.
She knew this retreat would be such a good experience for me, and didn't want me to miss it the second time around... thankfully, I was able to attend!
We both had a blast, and this is one of the first times I've been in this kind of setting (cabins - tie downs - camping stuff - etc).
My raiser and her 4-H friends took LOTS of pictures during the retreat... and I happened to star in most all of them, guess I'm very popular with the camera :)
I met lots of new people at the retreat and my raiser was impressed with how well I worked; and I  even got to attend some different workshops & a dance with her (including "team building" & hip-hop classes!).
Enjoy the enormous amount of pictures below...

-Brandon


Taking a break during the dance...

Picture of Brandon laying down, resting his head on my legs (I'm sitting beside him)

My raiser & I rocked out the dance floor!

Picture of Brandon and I dancing

Had to take a quick break from the dance, to give my raiser a kiss!

Picture of Brandon giving me a kiss (I'm kneeling down)

And my raiser had to pass along a furry awesome hug to me...

Picture of me holding Brandon in my arms, during the dance

Group shot with some 4-Hers!

Picture of Brandon and I with some other 4-H ers, we're all pointing & staring up at the sky

Another group shot with more 4-Hers!

Picture of Brandon and I with some more 4-Hers

Workshop time!

Picture of Brandon in a sit-stay during a workshop, you can see some 4-Hers behind him

I was even able to watch some 4-Hers play a interesting game...

Picture of Brandon in a down-stay watching other 4-Hers play a game that includes hitting foam balls everywhere...

Lunch time = nap time!

Picture of Brandon asleep beside our table during lunch

Man do 4-Hers pack a lot...

Picture of Brandon in a down-stay, you can see a huge pile of luggage behind him

Never knew you could fit into the cubbies...

Picture of Brandon, another 4-Her and I all sitting in the cubbies in our cabin

So I have to sleep here???

Picture of Brandon sniffing the spot between 2 different bunk beds

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



The Girl Did it...

Yes the title of this post is furry important, but before I go into detail on what happened... let me start out with what I was going to do on Saturday:
This WAS my furry cool agenda for Saturday:
10:25am: Arrive at puppy meeting
10:30am: Obedience training during puppy meeting
10:45am: Play with other cute puppies
11:00am: Head into the assisted living with the puppy group and meet elderly people

But a little female puppy decided to ruin my wonderful plans. My raiser was allowing me to play (on leash) with another little guide dog puppy, it was a female Lab that was 10 days younger than me (and about half the size). I was being a very calm boy and making my raiser proud and then all of a sudden my raiser noticed blood all over both of us puppies. She soon found out that the other little puppy bit my ear, and gave me a 1/4 inch tear on the tip of my right ear.
So instead of heading in to meet elderly people, my raiser had to take me to a local vet, and I ended up having to get 4 stitches in my ear.

**Raiser's note: Please know that it wasn't a "serious" injury and there wasn't blood gushing everywhere, but the bleeding wouldn't stop completely, and our Area Coordinator said it would be best if we head to a vet and go ahead and get it stitched up. And please do know that the puppies were not playing rough, but the little female lab accidentally grabbed his ear, which then didn't turn out well!**

But I'm totally fine now, and though I didn't enjoy the "rest" I had to have on Saturday, I'm back and "bouncing" around now.
Just make sure you guys realize that it wasn't MY fault, the girl did it...

Brandon

Brandon doing a "loose leash" walk beside me, during our obedience training outside the assisted living place

Brandon doing a wonderful sit-stay with me in front of him

Close up picture of Brandon walking on a "loose leash"

Picture of Brandon sleeping in my sister's lap in the car, while we are on the way to the vet

Picture of Brandon sitting on the medical table at the vet office

Close up picture of the 4 stitches that were put in the tip of Brandon's ear

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)

'Busy' - Is My Raiser's New Name

Ever since Spring started this year, my raiser has been extra busy. And when she's busy... I get very little "blog" time. (Spring time for my raiser, means lots of dairy goats are kidding... so not only has she got all of her normal animal chores, she also has to hand milk the adult goats AND bottle feed the baby goats). So I'm so sorry I've not been visiting any of you lately, but thanks to all who have continued reading our posts (and leaving wonderful comments!). I would love to say things will "calm down" some in April... but my raiser has goats due to give birth all the way till the end of May. So, she'll be busy for quite sometime :) She's going to try to fit some more "blog time" into our days, as she knows I enjoy reading about all my follower's adventures; so I hopefully will be stopping by (some) of your blogs sometime soon!

Pictures of me playing with the every so cute baby goats... coming furry soon :)

Happy Tuesday!

Rudy - The dog with a blog

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

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)

Vision Walk

Hey furry friends!
The puppy meeting last week was the Vision Walk, all us pups (and raisers!) met there to walk. It was a furry great exposure and we even saw some real working dogs too!
This was the last meeting for some of our fellow guide dog puppies (Sparkie, Cindy Jay, Bingo, Angel & Elsa). As they are heading down to the school this week for IFT (In For Training). Those were some great dogs in our group and my raiser will miss them! (Sparkie was a dog my raiser has had at our house before and she loves working with him).
I'll miss them too... but hey, we've got new pups in our group!
We did a 2 mile walk, once we finished our AC had us in the shade and we did some obedience.
My raiser said I did quite good with my obedience, and I was furry tried when we got home!
Enjoy the pictures below,

Rudy
The dog with a blog