The Expected... but Unexpected News

I know you guys have been waiting for the "exciting/sad" news I told you I would be posting soon, but I wanted to put it off as long as possible.

This post will be so hard to write - that I'm actually going to hand the keyboard over to my raiser...

(written by Rudy's Raiser)

Hey guys!
If any of you guys out there are puppy raisers, I know you are already guessing what this "news" may be.

As you know, Rudy is in training to be a guide dog for the blind - which means, someday... he'll end up having to leave. (We call it "IFT" - In For Training, where they head down the guide dog school for further training... and then hopefully get placed with a blind/disabled person).

We thought that IFT date would be in March/April, but we were quite glad to here Rudy wasn't going in around that time.

I was then told to expect him to return late May/early June. Which, back in March (when I was told) seemed like a while a way... but when I received this email last week, it seems like moments away:

" Good morning,

It's that happy/sad news time…. your puppies are almost ready to head off to college.

We were able to learn through somewhat "unofficial" channels that Al and
Rudy are due IFT June 13-16, so you probably won't get the letter from the
school for another few weeks.

Let me know if you'll need help with transport. Once the letter goes out we can contact
other groups and see if there's anyone else going to Florida.

Hugs to you, and to Al and Rudy!

***** and ******* "

So to sum this post up... Rudy will be going IFT around the week of June 13-16 2011.

In some later posts, I'll write up some more about the IFT process and such - but for now, I really can't stand to think about it.

What makes it even harder, is the fact that I really don't know if I'll be raising again. These dogs take a lot of green papers... and though the school pays the medical bills (and heart worm pills) - everything else is paid by us puppy raisers. (Unless I have a sponsor)

Yes, I'd love to raise again, and I really hope I'll be able to. This guide dog puppy raising is my life, and I don't know what I'll do without it.

After Rudy returns to the school, my goal would be (if I'm not raising) to be a puppy sitter for the group - but I'll be sure to update all of you on Rudy's training progress once he returns :)

I will be keeping this blog up, and even if I'm not raising puppies - I'll find something to post about! And we all know Liberty (our English Mastiff) will love to step in and do some posts.

Have a wonderful day, and Rudy sends kisses to you all!

Rudy's Raiser

A (QUICK) Blast in the Past - and Welcome back RUDY!

Hey furry friends! It's me... RUDY. (Didn't know if you guys would remember my name), I was gone SOO long at that thing called "puppy swap" and you guys got updates from my bro "Al".
But I REALLY hope you guys missed me, you did... right??


Please note the title on this post "A (QUICK) Blast in the Past" - that means the "blast in the past" will be QUICK. Wanna know why??
Because it's NOT about me :( I told my raiser, if this post isn't going to be about me... it better be quick. So she promised it would.

BUT, before I continue on with "A (QUICK) Blast in the Past" - I'm reminding all you guys out there, that my Valentine's Giveaway, ends TOMORROW! You just have to leave a comment (on that post) if you want to enter... so make sure to ENTER before it's to late!

On to the QUICK, (very quick... and nothing BUT quick) blast in the past...
If you remember correctly, my raiser did promise that she'd post some more pictures of "Al ", the dog she had during the 2 week puppy swap. (since she didn't have time to let Al post all the pictures).
The pictures in this post, are of a shopping trip... to Mary Joe's. My raiser & Al had to pick up a couple things, so off they went to Mary Joe's.
So the pictures below... are NOT of me, sorry!

I do hope you enjoy the pictures below, and I do plan on posting pictures of ME, furry soon!
Don't forget that my giveaway end tomorrow!

Rudy - The dog with a blog







I think Al was trying to convince my raiser to make him some stuffies... why else would you need fabric, thread and TASSELS! (Which BTW - tassels make THE BEST chewy things)

My Pizza Cook (and a sad GOOD BYE to Big Al)

(Written by Rudy's Raiser)
For all my current readers, you know that Rudy has been participating in a "puppy swap" in our guide dog group. (for 2 weeks - all the raiser's swap dogs, which helps with the dogs training and much more!) .

Rudy will be coming back tomorrow (after our guide dog meeting) and Al will be heading home.

**I've got many more pictures of Al, that I've not had time to let Al post... so we will be doing a couple more posts about him, next week, complete with pictures!

Onto my awesome Pizza Cook helper...

Tonight, is PIZZA NIGHT at our house (we make our VER OWN pizza) and Al has decided to "help" with some things...

He was a great helper... by NOT tasting AND ignoring the pizza/dough!

But he did seem to get a "little" bit of flour on his face (trust me, it was an accident... but makes for very cute pictures!).

Please make sure to leave a comment saying good bye to Al - he does leave tomorrow morning and I know will miss all of you!

I'll miss him for sure, but I will be doing a couple posts with pictures of him next week (Um... I never got the time to post all the pictures of Al!)

For all who have (or MAY) enter Rudy's Valentine's Giveaway (which was going to end tomorrow), please note that we are postponing the ending date... Till the FIRST of March 2011 (This coming Tuesday). Due to the fact that I'm REALLY, REALLY busy :)

And with the huge banquet and auction coming up this weekend... I know all of us will be quite busy!

So make sure to head over and enter Rudy's Giveaway... which now ends 3-1-2011.

Wishing Al a very happy but tearful Good-Bye - we will miss you dearly (and I know all of our furry awesome followers will too!), but we sure enjoyed the time you were here... and know you are dying to get back with your very own raisers!

Rudy's Raiser and... "Big" Al's Puppy Swap Handler

Liberty will sure miss you!

Fresh Air

Fresh air is wonderful!
With this amazing weather outside, Rudy's Raiser has been taking me on lots of furry fun walks. (Not only to visit with animals - but down the road too!).

On our last trip down the road, I got a whole new FUN exposure... walking beside a stroller - with a baby in it! (A family member was baby sitting).
She was soo cute, but I did very well at ignoring her while we walked down the road... though I did want to give her lots of kisses :)
Rudy's Raiser thinks I'm doing much better with not pulling (as you can see in the video clips below), and she really enjoyed taking me on the walk.
She did decide to walk me in harness most of the time (I did get to do a "fun walk" - out of harness for a little while), as she wanted me to work "both styles" (in/out of harness) and I needed some more exposure with the harness.
All in all, she said I behaved very well - she did take some pictures (see below) that I hope you enjoy :)
Have a wonderful Thursday!

Al - Rudy's Brother

P.S. Rudy comes home THIS Saturday... which is when his Valentine's Giveaway ends - so make sure to stop by and enter!









Rudy's Raiser working me...

(Movie of Al & I walking down the road, Al is in harness walking beside me. We are walking away from the camera, but I then tell Al "Right about" and we then walk toward the camera - Al does very well at not pulling)



(Movie of Al (in harness) & I walking beside the baby stroller my sister is pushing - Al ignores both the stroller & baby)

(almost) Wordless Wednesday - What Happened To The Bunny?

Liberty, Red & I decided to work together... at making the bunny toy, a PERFECT toy.
We ripped her arm off... we made stuffing come out of her neck... she has no tail...
She is now a perfect bunny... what do you think?

Al - Rudy's Brother





The tearing up process...

(Movie of Red, Liberty & Al tearing up the toy. It starts out with Al flying down the stairs - he then grabs the bunny and they are off. Please turn your speakers down... one of my family members was being a "little bit" loud - sorry!)

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

Blog Review and HAPPY 500th POST!

Rudy has given me the permission to write this review... as I'm his brother, he thinks I should be able to rate things just as well as he can, um... we'll see!!
Either way, I'm new at the blogging thing - but I hope to give Rudy's Raiser a fair review :)
BTW - THIS IS OUR 500th POST!!

Quantity of Output: I give her 3 paws up for this one - though she doesn't always let us do a daily post, we do post quite regularly! But once her life gets busy again... I thinks we won't be doing near as many :(



Quality of Output: 4 pretty paws for this one... we LOVE the pictures she uses for the posts, and I'm thankful she takes the time to tag each & every one of them! (for our visually impaired readers). She always has great ideas for posts, but leaves the blogging up to us!



Client Pawticipation: Oh yes, all 4 paws for this one - she tries her furry best to answer your questions - and our email is posted on our blog. We really enjoy receiving emails from you guys, and don't mind at all answering questions!



Pawticipation Part II: YES, Rudy is always allowed to take part in whatever contest/event he would like to. He's also allowed to run his own giveaways/contests on this blog... and Rudy's Raiser provides all the prizes :)



Client Satisfaction: We sure hope so... this blog centers around the training/raising of a guide dog puppy - and by the comments we receive, it sure sounds like you guys enjoy reading our blog! (Right??)



Overall Rating: I'd say around 3 paws overall, though I know Rudy would give 4 paws for everything :)

We hope you guys are enjoying our blog, we try to please our readers - answer any questions - post lots of furry cool pictures - and visit all of you guys :)

Pictures of my furry cool shopping day AND a short update about Rudy coming Monday!

P.S. Rudy's Raiser was lazy enough to copy the review picture from another blog... notice she didn't even change the date!?

Al - Rudy's Brother

NO NOISE

Seems as though Rudy's Raiser has been using "NO NOISE" a lot lately... but not in the way you think. (Yeah, I've got barking issues... but we're ignoring that right this second).

For some odd reason, Rudy's Raiser seems to think that I don't need to be making my own noise. She doesn't like the idea of me grabbing a sterile bone, and throwing it across the hard wood flooring... just for the fun of it.

To prove that I was really throwing the bone all over the floor - she decided to take a short video for you guys:

(Movie of Al playing with the bone on our hard flooring - he picks up the bone, and throws it across the room, even though it's soo annoying - it is kinda cute! Note: it's not near as loud in the movie... as it was in person!)

Now "No Noise" is not only for barking/whining issues... it's also for bone noises. I think it's fun, but whatever.

BTW - Rudy's Raiser did take me shopping yesterday, so I enjoyed a day out in town working. Pictures coming soon :) Have a Furry Fun Friday!

Al - Rudy's Brother

Animals Galore

OMD, Rudy's Raiser decided to take me on a short walkie outside... to meet some of her farm animals!
Thankfully, she took her camera out with us; so I do have a couple pictures to show you :)
I met the cutest little horse, lots and lots of goats, saw something called a "Alpaca", sniffed a rabbit, played with kitties, met the "pasture" dogs that get to stay with the goats, watched some huge horses walk past us, looked at a "llama", and I even saw some mini pigs!!
It was a whole lot of fun, I never knew my own brother (Rudy) lived on a farm! He's so lucky... I wished I had pals like that to hang out with daily. Maybe I could convince my own raiser's to buy a horse or 2??
Happy Thursday, and Rudy's Raiser told me that we may go to town today :)
Enjoy the pictures,

Al - Rudy's Brother

Note from Rudy's Raiser:
Hey guys!
I just wanted to say a quick thanks, to all who voted for Rudy at Mango Minster. Rudy did win Readers Choice, Best In Show - and it was all because of your vote!
My nosey self, went and counted all the comments/votes later on... and (if I counted them up right) Rudy won by only ONE vote. So when I said "every vote counts" I really meant it!
Thanks again,

Rudy's Raiser

Enough's about Rudy... this blog post is suppose to be about ME... enjoy the ever so cute pictures below, I do hope to show a couple more later on.

These cuties smelled REALLY good...


If you look really close, you can see 2 large horses in the background... but all those annoying goats are in the front


See how cute Flash is?? I think he's adorable, maybe Rudy's Raiser will let me in his pen next time...

Wordless Wednesday - No Biting Allowed

Al - Rudy's Brother

Trust me... she used the "NO" command, after snapping this picture :)

This Thing Called "Spell Check"

I think I'm finally understanding the rules for blogging, this odd keyboard, how to upload photos, AND how to view all of your furry cool blogs.

But first things first... Rudy's Raiser, seems to think I need to use "spell check", before publishing a post. She keeps telling me there's always a chance I could spell a word wrong... and without spell check, I would never know.

I'm a dog for crying out loud - I'm not suppose to know how to spell!

That didn't go over well with Rudy's Raiser though, she made me click that "ABC" button, and you know what?

Like HALF the words turned yellow, and she made me fix each & every one of them.

I think it would be much simpler if we just skipped spell check.
Whatever, some raiser's are just hard to work with. I don't get how Rudy ever did blogging on his own, it's like his raiser OWNS and RUNS this blog, and you have to do it all her way.

She also seems to think I need to work on better "training manners", she even made me a list:

- Learning to NOT pull near as hard

- Doing commands when told

- Quit Pulling

- Learning the command "NO NOISE"
- Quit Pulling

- No barking allowed

- Quit Pulling

- No Trash Surfing

- Quit Pulling

- Quit taking ALL the toys out of the toy bucket, every single second

- Learn to "come" when called

- Did I mention, no pulling??

You get the idea! She seems to think I need to work on soo many things, but we are only taking it one step at a time. She mostly is working me on NOT PULLING (near as hard). Seems as though, I'm 3-4 times as strong as Rudy was... and he was already pretty darn strong!
She is happy that I'm getting along with her other dogs, and how calm I am (most of the time...), she's looking forward to working me out in town, but due to the fact that she's SICK right now, she's yet to take me anywhere.

Enjoy the pictures of ME below - at least I can upload photos onto blogger, without any help.

BTW - as many may already know... she did make me use spell check on this post :( Though I think you guys would enjoy reading misspelled words.

P.S. For anyone that hasn't entered Rudy's Valentine's Giveaway, please make sure to stop by and enter!

Rudy's Brother, "Big" Al

Help Rudy Win "Best In Show"!!

(written by Rudy's Raiser)
I just wanted to give you guys a heads up, that voting for "Best In Show" at Mango Minster has started... and Rudy needs your vote! (if you aren't already voting for another pup/cat).
So furry please (as Rudy would say), head over to Mango Minster and cast your vote... for RUDY :) He would really appreciate it! (Voting is now via comments - so just leave a comment on the Best In Show post, that you'd like to vote for Rudy).
*Voting ends TONIGHT (8:20pm EST)

Al is having some trouble figuring out this thing called a "keyboard" - but he hopes to be posting in a couple days.
(For all who missed the last posts - Rudy is attending a "puppy camp" & for the next 2 weeks, we have his brother "Big Al").
Hope you all have a great Sunday, and don't forget Rudy's "Valentine's Giveaway" is coming up tomorrow.
- Picture below is of Rudy, not Al.



Rudy's Raiser

Saying Good Bye - For a Short Time

(Written By Rudy's Raiser)
We headed out to the puppy meeting this morning (a fun mall walk), and this is also where we'd be doing the "puppy swap".
Rudy did get to do some obedience training with me first, before I handed him off to the other puppy raiser.
Once we swapped, I didn't see Rudy until after the puppy meeting ended (we went off in small groups - and wandered the malls). The dog I have for the following 2 weeks (Al, Rudy's brother) is HUGE (maybe that's why he's called "Big Al"...), and the guide dog harness had to be loosened drastically, before I could even try and clip it around his belly!

Putting aside Al's hefty weight, he's a great dog, (well, he does have issues in some places - which we are working on, but he does enjoy working).

Al does look quite like Rudy, but they are totally different with training & such! (Rudy likes to do his commands, right on the spot, when told. Al has to "think about it" before following through with the command!), I'm eager to see what Al can do, and I'm looking forward to working him tomorrow, and introducing him to the farm animals!

I can't what to find out the odd habits he may have, it's quite interesting having the brother of the dog you're raising!

I will be sending out a reminder tomorrow, but (if you have time), furry please head over to Mango Minster - and vote fur Rudy (who made it into Best In Show... by winning first in his category!), Rudy would just love to win Best In Show. We thank you for your vote :)

And don't forget - Rudy's VALENTINE'S GIVEAWAY is coming up this Monday!

Enjoy the pictures below, and please note that the first THREE pictures are of Rudy (with me)... NOT "Big" Al (Rudy's brother).

Have a great weekend!

Rudy's Raiser

All pictures below, are now of "Big" Al, NOT Rudy

I'm leaving...

No, not for good!!

But it's "puppy swap" time at our puppy group... and I'll be gone for 2 whole weeks.

For those of you who don't know what a "puppy swap" is, I'll explain...

During the 1+ year our raisers have us, we have to participate in a "puppy swap". This swap could be at any time... and for as many weeks as the Area Coordinator wants.

The AC will assign us dogs a different raiser for those weeks (she tries to place us in different environments... for a dog who doesn't go to work with it's raiser; they place it with a raiser who would take the dog to work) and for those weeks we follow the new raiser's schedule.

This is to get us dogs used to working in different environments - being handled by different raiser's - learning to obey with someone other than our normal handler - and much more.

My puppy swap date has been set for THIS Saturday, I will go to stay with another raiser for 2 weeks... and then return back to my current raiser.

While I'm away, my raiser will have my brother "Al" (also known as, and called "Big Al"...).

Sadly, I won't be able to update this blog while I'm gone - BUT I've given permission to my Raiser that (if Al wants) he may update my blog while I'm away.

I really hope he won't scare all my followers away... and you will continue to read my posts when I return. He's a great dog (like me!) and I just know you'll love him.

My raiser will most likely update once or twice about Al, before letting him on - but he's related to me, so he'll get the hang of it quite quickly!

On a different note - furry thanks to all who voted fur me at Mango Minster, and though I didn't win the "readers choice" award... the judge just so happened to pick me as the winner!

I'm furry excited to have won, and I'm looking forward to the Best In Show competition, that's coming up.

AND... I also want to thank The Teacher's Pets for picking me as one of their friends to highlight on their "Thankful For 3 Friends" blog hop, furry thanks!

Have a happy Thursday, and I do plan on posting before I leave,

Rudy - The Good Old Dog