Work Time!

Hey guys, I'm finally back to blogging! (fur now anyways...)
My raiser just wanted to make sure I was feeling my best, before I got back into the "blogging world" and she has finally given me the go ahead!
A quick update on my medical situation:
Most of my readers have seen the previous posts, keeping you updated on what's been going on with me (I spent 9 days at at Specialist - due to urinary issues I've been having - and all the tests/etc they did on me, including the results of all).
I've now been on these super duper antibiotics for 1 week & 3 days now for my UTI, each day is quite different. Some days I'll be doing great and can "hold it" for around 2 hours, but other days I have to go out every 15 minutes (my raiser is just very thankful that it's not the "every 5 min" as it was before I went to the Specialist). 
My raiser did talk with the school, and they agree (along with my raiser) that I should continue my daily dose of antibiotics, in hopes that I'll show drastic improvement over the course of the next week or so. But fur now, we are just hoping & praying that I'll stop having the issues all together :)
Back to the post now...

Our guide dog group's Area Coordinator (AC) told my raiser too try & keep my outings to a minimum for a little while, due to the fact that I'd been in a kennel for the past 9 days, I may have brought some bad habits home with me (nah...), and we wouldn't want to stress the cute puppy too much, while I'm trying to recover.
So my raiser has been very careful on how many outings she takes me on and tries not to over do it.
She's still been having me attend college classes/church with her, but is slowly building me up to more "regular" outings/etc (like shopping).
My raiser has been taking me out with her to quite a few places recently and has been very impressed with how well I'm doing (under the circumstances...). My raiser's sister tagged along to one of our last shopping trips, to not only grab some pictures of me working... but also to give me the chance to work with another person.

I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've posted, and I know my raiser did a horrible job at keeping you guys updated... and visiting all of you :)
Please continue to hope, cross paws/fingers & pray that I keep on the recovery path and enjoy the shopping pictures below!

-Brandon

Picture of Brandon & I doing a slow forward in "Mary Joe's" (fabric store), Brandon is doing a great job at keeping a loose leash!

 

Picture of Brandon in a down-stay inside Mary Joe's, with me standing beside him

Picture of Brandon & I, again doing a forward walk inside Mary Joe's - Brandon is still maintaining a loose leash!

Picture of Brandon in a down-stay beside my sister at Best Buy; they did a great job working together... with me there to distract him!

'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

Fun While Working

I had a furry fun shopping trip yesterday... filled with lots of "Rudy... sit/stay" (snap of picture)... "Rudy... Forward", go another 2 feet... "Rudy... sit/stay" (snap of picture) - and on and on... My raiser thinks taking pictures with me in a "sit-stay" is a lot of furry fun for HER. If she could just realize WALING FORWARD is a LOT easier for both of us and will get places quicker.

Other than the picture taking part of the shopping trip... I did have lots of fun! I really enjoy working with the guide dog harness, and I love getting to go into shops. (please note: My raiser IS NOT allowed to/and doesn't use the handle of the harness).

My raiser said I'm doing much better with my pulling, and she was very impressed with her our worked during our shopping trip.

Have a furry good weekend... and enjoy the pictures below!

Rudy - the dog with a blog

Um.... Mom... could we GO anytime soon??



YUMMY - it's the candy section!



Mommy.... PLEASE, can I have just one???




Finally, not a "sit-stay" photo... See, we are MOVING in the picture...

Toby is a Working Dog!

(Written by Rudy's Raiser)
**This post DOES include what work Toby will doing - and NEW updates about him**
Remember the post Rudy did back in December? About Toby finding a NEW job to do? After the school found out he had severe allergies - they were left with the decision to Career Change Toby - or adopt him out as a pet. I was told the school loved how Toby worked, and they decided to evaluate him for the Gifted Canine program (He'd be a service or therapy dog - maybe for an injured veteran or a disabled child). I heard in November 2010 that it was official - Toby was to be "let go" (adopted out) as a pet. And of course - he was offered back to me. It was a hard thing to say "no" I won't take my pup back, some of you guys may have said "yes" in a heart beat - but for many reasons (that can't be listed) I had to say no. I hate doing that, Toby was one of my favorite dogs.
I waited over a month watching emails closely - as I really wanted to find out who adopted Toby. I soon gave up on receiving a email and just emailed my AC, who forward my email down to the school.
I soon got this email back:
"Hi *****,
I heard back from the school with some exciting news. Toby's been adopted by ******* County Search and Rescue in Florida, which means he'll doing very important work! His handler's name is ******.
Good job!"
I've been waiting since December to post that email - but I wanted to make sure it would work out.
I just received this email this morning:
"We have just heard from the school - that the person who adopted Toby has decided to use him as a Search and Rescue dog for ******* county. What a great career for him. I'm really proud of you - this is a big win for Toby and I know he is going to make a big difference in his new job.
Thank you again for all you do for these puppies.
With much love
*** and *****"

To make a long story short...
Toby was adopted out - but instead of being adopted out as a pet (like we all thought) he was adopted by someone who decided to use him as a Search & Rescue dog - yes Toby will be working - not as a guide dog, not as a therapy dog, but as a Search & Rescue dog.
With the last email, I also received a PICTURE of Toby with his new handler/owner (pictured below). This was one thing I was really hoping for - as I really wanted to use it on his blog, so I hope you guys like it!
Though Toby isn't a guide dog as I hoped, I know he'll do amazing work with this program - and if something does go wrong, he'll do his best at whatever path he decides to take.
Thanks to all who kept through reading all his adventures (May 2009 - April 2010), we really appreciate all the comments you left for us, when we went through hard, good, and amazing times.
Hope all of you guys are having a great day - Rudy sure is... as it's SNOWING outside! (Pictures/movies coming soon).
Thanks for taking the time to read this! Congrats to all who guessed Search & Rescue would be Toby's new job!

Rudy's Raiser

Pictured below is of Toby & his new handler/owner

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.)