Puppy class 5 (I think!)

Puppy class was about 2 weeks ago but I never got the post written about it!


Since the building we usually do puppy class at was under construction we met at Belks. We did the meeting inside Belks on the top floor (the office floor) so we wouldn't be in the way of people shopping. Since it was quite tight up there we didn't have a lot of choices of what to do. So for the first half we lined up like we were at a wedding rehearsal meeting people, and the dogs had to obey and not trip the humans! I tried to lick some of the dogs, but soon stopped and obeyed.

Right before we left to go to puppy class my trainer took me on a 2 mile walk. Which made me REALLY tired! Once we got to puppy class I was knocked out, (after the wedding rehearsal!). When we finished the wedding-type line up we went on to a different kind of game/work. This time it was a game in which all the humans teamed up with 1 other person (2 man teams) and each of them had a dog. They then picked a card from a pile and we had to do the command it says on it. It could be a "down-stay", " stand-stay", "heel", "foward and stop", " a sit-stay" and you walk away, or any other commands our school uses! My trainer's team got a down-stay, and they had to walk away then come back to us on the right side. I didn't jump up when my trainer came back, and did just what she said to do, so I made my trainer really happy!

Then once all the teams finished playing the game (well they were going to call it that but forgot to bring prizes, so really it was work!) the leader started handing out letters...not to all the people there, just to some of the older dogs. I was wondering what it was (so was my trainer), then we soon found out. We just happened to be handed one to so my trainer opened it right away to see what it was, she found out it was a puppy swap paper! She had talked to the leader not too long ago and found out I was too young for that. But all that changed too quickly! It will last for three weeks, I will go spend that time at another puppy raiser's house and my trainer will be getting a dog named J.J. He, I think, is the same breed I am, and is just 1 week older. He is yellow and obeys pretty well (so I think, but we will soon find out!!). My trainer sounds like she is happy for the swap, but I think I would rather stay here with her, I mean she already left me for whole month! The trainers will be trading dogs at the next meeting, which will be in about 2 weeks!!



Frankie





Doing the "team game"
The dog furthest to the right is J.J, my
trainer will have him for the puppy swap.

The leader is walking up to dogs and trying to get them to jump on her, and the dogs should not be jumping. I didn't jump, but some dogs did!

II was pretty tired!!

News, and lots of it!!

Sorry for no posts lately. My trainer has been really busy, which then keeps me busy (well... if she isn't in the room with the computer then I can't use it). I don't remember what all I have been doing, so I will just fill you in with a couple days worth. Starting with...


Wednesday, wait now that I think about it, I didn't do anything since my trainer's parents were busy all day.


Thursday: We went to Walmart today, before entering the store I was taken to use the restroom, of course only going "little" busy (pee). My trainer knew that I needed to go big (poop) since every time she goes to Walmart, I always need to go. (she has always made it out of the store though). She was looking at fabric to make a bag, and I was just laying there. But once she started moving I whined, she knew I needed to go, and didn't know if she could make it out.

I made it out with no accident's, of course right when I touched the grass I went! I think I like to go big (poop) in the store since they make us go shopping, and never let us do what we dogs want! We also went to Tractor Supply, a fast food stop, a grocery store, and a shop that mixes up feed for our dairy goats. We were gone for a while so I was REALLY tired!

Then to find out I had puppy class in a couple hours! I tried to get a lot of sleep so I would be really wild for puppy class, but it didn't work. My trainer took me on an hour walk! She did it just so I wouldn't be wild and crazy (not like I am...) for puppy class. I will be doing a seperate post for puppy class, so I won't talk about it on this post. But I enjoyed it a lot! Then to find out right before we left that they are doing a PUPPY SWAP/CAMP (for anybody who doesn't know what puppy camp is: We have 2-3 puppy camps in the 1-2 years us dogs are with our puppy raisers. Each time we are at a different house; your dog goes to some one in the puppy group, and you get a different dog from the group. They used to do 2-way swapping so your dog would go to the same person that the dog you are baby sitting comes from, but they have an odd number of people so they do 3-way switches. Most of the time its for 1-2 weeks, this time its 3! (This is going to be my first camp, it will start the end of next month, and my trainer will be getting a dog named J.J). Which means I will be away from my trainer for almost a month!


Friday: Well today was quite a surprise!! While my trainer was taking me on a walk (which was going to be a mile walk, but ended up being less then half a mile) we ran into a dog, it wasn't a stray dog since it had a collar with a tag on it, but my trainer did not recognize it. She just kept going on her walk though, since she thought maybe our neighbors got a new dog. She told me to ingore the dog and keep walking, but the dog kept following us, passing right by the house that she thought the dog lived at. My trainer tried to keep going on the walk but I wanted to play with the dog. (or, I thought she was injured and needed my trainer's help!) My trainer soon gave up and took me home. The dog was right behind us and followed us right to our house, so my trainer stopped, put me in a "sit stay", and caught the dog to look and see what it's tag said. She found out it didn't even live on this road. She went to take me inside and to tell her mother about the dog. Her mother then came outside to look at the dog and asked us (my trainer) to catch her so we could find the dog's real home. Even though we just caught it a couple minutes ago it didn't want to be caught, but when my trainer brought out some food the dog was caught. She brought the dog in the house, we called her owners and waited, my trainer gave her a bath since she was quite dirty, and then tried to get ahold of her owners. (the dogs name was Daisy) The owner answered and said he would come over and get her. She was only at our house for a couple hours, but it was still fun to meet her!


After that my trainer's mom and brother were gone more than half the day shopping at car stores, but when they finally finished and came home my trainer left, she went to Belk's to go shopping, and left me at home! Not that I didn't mind, but she should have given me a choice. And then when she got home, she told me "I know you are so sad that I didn't take you shopping with us, so I am going to take you to Belk's tomorrow when I go with my younger sister", CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT! I mean I was mad that I didn't get to choose, but then she comes home and tells me I am going. A dog's life is just not fair.

My trainer's mom then went to go buy pizza (of course not for ME) so my trainer's family stayed up watching a movie and eating pizza. No, I was not with them, I was IN THE CRATE! See what I mean- A DOG'S LIFE IS NOT FAIR!




Saturday(today): Yes today I went to BELK'S, of course on the way I found out we were stopping at the vet, not to pick anything up. To get me checked! I think I am going to have to get my baby tooth pulled, and I am having a problem with my hip. I am told that I will have to come back in to get an x-ray, even though it is a slight problem it might be a bigger problem in the future. But after the vet stuff, we went to go shopping (Belks). Like always, I needed to go big (poop), of course I wanted to do it inside, and they wanted me to do it outside. My trainer just so happende to get me to do it outside, so once I was empty I decided to pick clothes for myself! I mean what's a shopping trip if you can't shop? It sounded like a good phrase to me, but that didn't work with my trainer. I soon ended up with my trainer's sister in the dressing room, since she wasn't walking around the store at the moment. It meant I couldn't get into any trouble. We finally left Belk's and before coming home we made a quick stop at a yard sale and picked up a cute stuffed bunny. I found out that it will be mine!! We are going to the beach next week and she is going to bring it so I can have a new toy. While we are at the beach we are going to go to our granny's pool so I can play in it. (well, that is what my trainer says, but from what I have heard from other dogs I think I will stick to the side of the pool, of course my trainer is going to find a way to get me in though).


I am puting some pictures on at the bottom, and will be posting more when I get home from the beach! I also won't get the puppy class post done until we get back from the beach, but I hope this post will be long enough for you until then!!





Frankie


My trainer with Daisy
(the lost dog)



The evil looking face is because I just stole
the pigs toy (the blue teddy bear isn't mine,
but it should be!!)

8 months

I can't believe I am already 8 months old!
From what my trainer says she still thinks I am a little puppy that doesn't like to obey (don't believe her). Really I am a nice obedient puppy that only disobeys a couple times.

*NOTE BY TRAINER* Remember this is a puppy talking (and yes 8 months still is a PUPPY) so don't believe ANYTHING she says.

Can you believe that!?!? My trainer messes up one of my best posts with red words.
Well I will leave you with some 8 month pictures.

Frankie

When my trainer took this picture I was

looking out the window at a lawn mower.

I like this picture, I look good in

my uniform!

I really like my trainer! Can you

tell!??!

See I do like her.

Pictures

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Update (pig)

The pig is now about 1 month old.
Even though he is older I STILL can't play with him. I mean, they let me be with him, but not really "play" with him. His name is Milo, (the name idea was from me and my trainer's mom!!). He is really small and soft, I can not believe how long he sleeps! He is soo pampered, he gets fed every 2 hours and my trainer is always holding him and playing with him. I think since she came back from her trip she has fallen in love with the pig and just ignoring me. And maybe she only wanted to come home because of the pig...

Anyways I am attaching some pictures of me and Milo (just laying together, even though I think a picture of us to playing would be way better!!).

Frankie

I was pretty good in this picture, once she

was done taking it I just went to sleep.

Right after my trainer took this picture she

had to move my head, because I laid on him!

Updates (TRAINER!!)

MY TRAINER IS BACK!!

She got home Thursday night, and my trainer's parents were kind enough to take me with them to the airport! So I got to see her before her siblings did. We got there before her airplane arrived, so I had time to use the "restroom" on the way to the luggage claim were we were going to be meeting her. (And when I mean "on the way" I mean IN the building). She called right after she got off the plane to let us know she was in the airport (the plane was over an hour late) so I got really excited! She was coming down the escalator (I saw her before she saw me!) and then she called my name. I got so excited that I ran and jumped on her right away. (it's been a month), we all headed to pickup her luggage so we could go home (noting my trainer traded with her dad pretty quickly, she had 2 big bags that were carry ons, and he had me...). She spotted her suitcases pretty quickly so once we got them we went home. I wasn't obeying since I was really happy to see her, but she soon got me to lay down so we could go home. Once we finally got home, her siblings ran out to greet HER; I mean I was gone for over a hour and they don't even say "Hi Frankie!" they just skipped me and ran to her (they probably know she has gifts for them!). Right when she got her suitcases up to her room, he father then came and said to pack a bag since we are getting ready to go out of town. (for all who don't know, my trainer's brother went to the US Naval Academy 6 weeks ago, and we all were going to visit him the day she got home), so she dumped out things from her carry on and started to pack. Her mother then called and said that they had to go drop off the pig with its baby-sitter (because the farm sitters didn't know how to bottle feed the pig. For all who don't know about the pig I did a post called "Oink") She got back home from doing that and was then told that instead of leaving around 2 in the morning we are going to leave at 10pm! Of course that was in a couple minutes so she ran upstairs to finish packing. It was 10 before she was done packing, so she wasn't ready to leave. We were already on the way when she remembered what she forgot (Money, a gift for her brother, a charger for her camera, phone, swimsuit, dog toys for ME, and more!) but to fix the problems (she happened to have travelers checks and could cash those, she is going to send the gift for her brother, the camera almost ran out of battery, she had to stay with an adult all the time since she didn't have a phone, her sister's friend happened to bring a swimsuit she'd borrowed from my trainer and her own, and I got to play with water bottles to make up for not having dog toys!) They did remember my uniform which was a good thing! I had a blast, and got to stay in a hotel for 2 nights! We got back home at 3 in the morning, and I went right to sleep!! My trainer is on American time (that is, she is not always sleepy since she is on her country's time) and she has to feed the pig every 2 hours (with some help from her mom at night...). I will leave you with some pictures!

Frankie

Me sleeping while a really boring something
was going on!


And then I decided to wink!














This was a wild bunny my trainer noticed,
and it was friendly enough to come close enough
to not have to zoom in for this picture!!




This is a boat my trainer's family (not including
her) rode. She was going to take me on it but thought that wasn't a good time for me to get
seasick (since I have never been on a boat before).
...but it was fun watching them!

Work

I hear that word everyday it seems like. I know they use it when they take me to town, and when I go to puppy class, but both of those are fun. I know what "fun" is! And puppy class is like a big ol' party. Sure, the trainers make us perform and do this command and that, but work?

Well this week I got to go see "work" for myself. My trainer's dad took me to his office with him 3 days in a row. He had a new crate there in his office and he took my dog bed(at home I have to share it with the big house dog, but she never does give me a turn). Dad put me in his office, and didn't even put on my official puppy coat. I knew this wasn't home, I'd been here before with my trainer. Dad closed the door to his office and just let me wander around for a bit. It was really interesting, like the living room at home but with rolls of paper everywhere. I was on my best behavior; if he didn't notice me he might not remember to put my coat on. I just walked around quietly and checked out all the stuff...lots of stuff. Then I went into the crate, I mean that's what it's there for right? I layed down in the crate on my comfy bed and waited. But he didn't come close the door. After awhile I ever so slowly came back out, walked around the room, layed down and played with a toy Dad had brought with him. I was very good all day and Dad never remembered to put on my coat. But when he would leave the room for a conference he'd put me in the crate. I couldn't complain, he'd been so nice already to let me stay out so long.
It wasn't just a small nap that I took in the crate and then Dad was back. The next day we did the same thing. And when Dad had a conference he'd take me out to do "busy" then I'd go in my crate. I dont' know if Dad had forgotten my name or what, but people kept coming by Dad's office and asking why he called me different unflattering names. They said that I was a perfect angel. Dad acted surprised both of the first two days at how good I behaved.
The third day Dad was going to show me what a conference was. He seemed really nervous about it. We had to drive 2 hours away for a meeting in a big room that would last all afternoon. I wanted Dad to be proud of me so I tried really hard. I had to wear my coat and I just sat down under the big table. I sat there and waited...and waited...and waited.
Then a moth flew by. That must be my signal to go check on Dad. He must've forgotten that he left me here. I tried to follow the moth, you know like Alice followed the rabbit in that play my trainer took me to. Well, Dad hadn't forgotten me and he let me know that real quick when I jumped up and ran after the moth. I sat back down and got comfortable. I think all the other dad type people in the room forgave me. They all complimented him on how well behaved I was. Him!? What about me? I'm the one that had to work so hard to behave for sooo long and they praise him?!
Anyway, now I know what "work" is. I like "fun" better!

Frankie

Oink!

You won't believe this, my trainer left weeks ago and I've been missing her somethin' terrible. Her family knew I was sad and lonely, so I figured they'd bring back my trainer. The left the house today and came home with...this! This is not my trainer. This is a poor substitute for my trainer.



They tell me to be nice and gentle because this little guy is only 2 weeks old. He's so tiny, I can't even get him to play. He just keeps trying to nurse me. And you know what, I think THIS needs a name. My trainer isn't here so he has no name yet. Any ideas?



Frankie










I know, Milo. Doesn't he look like a Milo?


But my trainer might like your ideas better than mine.

Letter

My trainer's family got a letter from her today. They all took turns looking at it, maybe they'll let me have a turn with it. She said that she went to the service dog school in Tokyo and bought a t-shirt and a keychain; wonder which one is for me. She said that she visits the guide dog school this weekend.

I hope she brings me back really cool souvenirs. I'll post photos of them before I chew them up!

Frankie

puppy class

Not only did we tour a construction site, but we also practiced "Kennel-in". There was a fast "sit-stand-sit" excercise and we even played a card game. We had to do whatever command was on the next card in the deck.



























I didn't know I still got to go to obedience class even though my trainer was out of the country. I was so excited! And, I really didn't know that my trainer's brother was going to expect me to obey at obedience class either. I needed to show him who was boss, so I pulled and pulled. One of my trainer's friends took over and worked with me some. Then this morning my trainer's brother, who'd evidently gotten some advice on how to handle me, started out my day with some obedience work today. I can obey...if I want to.

Breeder Evaluation

My trainer warned me that this form would come after she left on her trip. So it did come, and I did pose. I did not like posing for these photos though. They kept making me stand up against the wall and trying to make me stand up straight. And if I moved they put me right back there again. I didn't see the reasoning for it though. Why couldn't they just get me doing something cool? No, they wanted a plain boring shot of me just standing there.
Then you know what they did? They stood on a little flat box and picked me up in the air. I thought they were going to drop me! I tried to wiggle free, but the more I wiggled the more times they started over. Finally, my trainers dad held me still and he stood on the little flat box. They said "We got it!" and they wrote down my weight.

4th of July Parade

We left at 6:30 am this morning to go to the parade that the guide dog group was doing.

We did it last year and won first, and the years before we won to, so this year we didn't enter to win, just to walk in it with the guide dogs and float.

We gave away candy and dog biscuts. There were almost as many dogs as there were kids!

My trainer took some pictures, but none of use walking in the parade.

Frankie

Me and the neon colored clown

Katie (my sister) under the float

Waiting for the parade to start

Missing mom

No not my real mom, my human mom!

My trainer is leaving for a trip next week... and will be gone a WHOLE MONTH!

And I am not allowed to go with her. Life is soo unfair.

I can't believe she has known this before she got me, and never told me that she was leaving for longer than a day without me.

Since she can't take me with her, I have to stay at home. My trainer's brother and sister will be watching and working with me.

So if there aren't that many posts, don't worry. I don't know if my trainer will let my sibling's let me use the blog when she is gone. But we will find out. I might get them to take pictures of where they take me so then you can see some photos.

But one way or another I will get some posts uploaded.


Frankie

Guide dogs are...

Picture taken June 30,
(the post was done a week ago)

Hey guys!!

My trainer wants to tell you something.

Hey, I was bored and came up with something, comment on how you like it!!

Guide dogs are...

Generous

Understanding

Intelligent

Doggone cute

Easy Going

Dilligent

Obedient

Greatly appreciated, and

Smart

And Frankie stands for...

Friendly(well sometimes)

Rambunctious

Active

Needs to smell everything

Kind

Indepentdent

Eats anything and everything!

What? I just read though this, how could my trainer write that!?!

I am really friendly no doubt about that. I don't EAT everything in sight, just some of it. And, I only smell stuff ... because it smells good!

But she is right on the independent; I can do anything on my own even if it turns out to be a disaster! (It's only happened a couple times).

Frankie & Trainer

Rodeo!

Hey guys!

I went to a rodeo with my trainer's family yesterday and had a blast!!
There grass tastes soo good and the food...

Well we were there for over 4 hours! I did soo good, well I we will have to talk about that later!
There were horses and cows there, I even had horses galloping right in front of me, but its not like I have never seen I horse before - we do own 2.

I think I liked the greasy pig chase the most, they let out a greasy pig and over 100 kids were after it and 1 of those 100 have to catch it! The poor little pig didn't even have time to run before the kids came after him. It was quite funny even if my trainer's sister didn't win!

I also got to watch barrel racing team roping, bull riding, and bronco riding (horses), and at the beginning I even got to see a parade of horses with flags!

Look at the bottom for pictures, the only pictures of me though are just looking at horses so you won't get any pictures of me and a horse.

Frankie

Watching the horses

Parade

Bucking broncos

Dress up

Do I look cute??

Have you ever wanted to play dress up? I haven't!

AND YOU DON'T WANT TO!!!
But my trainer wanted to keep her little cousin occupied, so she let him dress me up!

With some help, he dressed me up as a pretty little girl(I think).

Then he dressed me up as a dog in bloomer bottoms.

And since she knew that I wasn't liking it very much she only let him dress me up one more time. It was a 2 part bathing suit(not that anyone in my trainers family wears it!). It was a little shirt and shorts so it looked kind of like it!! My trainer only got one picture since I wouldn't let her take more pictures, so we just went with the one!

Frankie

Pictures

My trainer has been keeping a file of photos taken of me, and naming them by how old I am.
I decided to post them so you can see how much I have grown since 4 weeks!!

Frankie

Puppy picture(when we dropped off Brax),
4 weeks





Harness picture, 6 weeks




















Library, 9 weeks


Touring the Biltmore House, 10 weeks















Night time, 11 weeks


Train/puppy field trip, 12 weeks

















Baby goat, 13 weeks

YMCA, 15 weeks















Puppy class, 17 weeks
(4 months)

Park, 20 weeks(5 months)


















And now(notice the new collar!) 6 months

Movie "stand stay, come"

This movie is like the other one but no treats are involved.
Also, if you notice at the end, I don't like the "come" command that much!!

Frankie

Movie "Stand stay, leave it"

This is the hardest command that I have learned so far! "stand stay" is a command that I have just started learning, and I am doing good at it. Well enjoy.

Frankie

Movie "sit stay"

This is me doing a "sit stay", it was kind of hot outside so the movies were taken in my trainer's room.

Frankie

Movie "down stay, leave it"

I am in a "Down stay" with a "leave it" command.

Frankie

And the names are...

Girl: Dove
Boy: Reese's
Thanks everyone for the name ideas!! Both names were chosen from commentes on the blog.

Also, I will be doing a post on some commands I am learning but I have to get a movie first!

Frankie

Park

I have been meaning to put pictures of me going to the park on my blog.

If you remember the post on going to the Y with my trainer(http://guidedogawareness.blogspot.com/2008/04/ymca.html), my trainer also takes me to the park afterwards, it's really fun and I got to go down every slide there (even the long tunnel one!). Then my trainer got in a big red swing and put me in it with her.
I put my paws out when we were swinging and it looked really cute, but we didn't have a camera! So we went back the next week and tried to do it again. It didn't turn out the same, but it was still really cute!

Frankie

Me on the swing (face shot)


If you notice you can see one paw holding on!

Puppy class 3

Hey guys!

I'm a little behind on the post for puppy class 3, but I am just getting the photos downloaded now.

It was a lot of fun, and we have started (since puppy class 2) working outside. Its quite hot out, and they are trying to get the dogs ready for all the heat down in FL when they return. It was really hot when we went in May, so I wonder how hot its going to be at the fourth puppy class!
We worked around cones, and on some different surfaces like a tarp, a crate taken apart so you can feel the metal, towels and a couple other things. Some dogs shyied away and wouldn't go over them, but me... I went over them right away not even noticing them! Though the whole class I sounded like a horse, since I was pulling so much (or so my trainer says). My trainer noticed that my siblings and other puppies the same age are wearing collars that are nylon with a little bit of chain for the lead.
go to: http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.aspdept_id=251&pf_id=0062 to see what it looks like if you don't understand what collar I am talking about.
Well my trainer got one of those kind of collars to help my pulling (I am not allowed to wear a choke chain collar in till I am over 6 months) so she bought a blue half nylon, half chain, collar. It's worked real well, and has helped my pulling a lot. She still looks forward to getting the choke chain collar though!!
Go to the end of the post to see pictures:)

Frankie


Doing figure eights around cones, (I am at the
end of the line)


waiting in line to go around the cones (note: one cone has a ball on it, the others have really good looking treats!)

The last ones

The girl is on the left,
and the boy on the right
Any name ideas??
History:
Born: Tuesday 7pm, June 3, 2008
Breed: Nubian
Color: black and white with a hint of brown
Mothers name: Carmello Candy bar (Candy)
1 girl and 1 boy.
Would like candy names, We already have:
Gumdrop, Skittles, Peppermint Paddie, and Milky way. Comment on candy names!!
I will hopefully get to play with them later today.
Thanks, can't wait to hear the names!

Frankie

Alone or not?

Now I am all better (hopefully!)

I got sick Friday night and Saturday morning... and did a "big" in my crate, it was really loose and had blood in it, so I was taken to the vet later Saturday (mind you right when we'd get back home we have had to run out again to go to a graduation and dinner). Well my trainer didn't want to take me with her as the sickness might be contagious to other dogs (there is a service dog in our church) and people (everyone likes to pet me and sometimes doesn't ask). So, we called our area coordinator to ask permission to board me. BOARD ME! Out of all things my trainer planned on leaving ME at the vet. The shots are bad enough but staying there over night, is my trainer going crazy!

Yes I stayed over night, I am still alive and in one piece, but still I had to be in a kennel with no people there, just dogs. So pretty much, I was alone!

Since yesterday after my trainer picked me up I have not had anymore accidents and when I went outside it wasn't loose.

Frankie