Working Fun!

Hey furry friends!
Sorry I've not been posting everyday - I hope once things calm down I can get back to posting more often!
My Raiser is running behind - but she hopes to get the items she ordered (today!) in the mail soon; for the HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY I'm doing here on this blog in a week or so (it was going to be the first of Dec - but my raiser doesn't have the items yet!).
So stay furry tuned for the awesome giveaway she's doing (she will be doing TWO giveaways - one fur dogs and one fur the humans!).
My Raiser's life calmed down a little bit after Thanksgiving, so she took me out shopping (including PetSmart!), she worked me in the shops (working on not pulling, and obeying commands on the dot). She worked me for a while in PetSmart, as I have a dog distraction... really bad. We worked around some other dogs; then headed over to the cute hamsters for a distraction test; I was really wanting to play, but my raiser made me listen to her (sorry no pictures/videos - she does hope to take some shots next time though!). After I did good she put me in a sit-stay so I could watch them play, those things are soo cute!
Overall I did good; my raiser just wishes I'd calm down around dogs, but I'm still a puppy for goodness sakes! She didn't take ANY pictures shopping today, but when we go out again I'll make sure she takes some good shots of us working.
I will be updating you guys on the 2 giveaways my raiser will be doing (1 for the furry fellows and 1 for the humans) real soon.
Have a furry great evening,

Rudy
The dog with a blog

A Blast into the Past

Hey furry friends!
My Raiser had some time on her hands (which isn't that often!) and decided to put together a furry cool flash in the past slideshow.
To show all of our newer followers some older pictures of the dogs she raised. (she did say it will include some of me!).
So enjoy the furry fun slideshow below, it's just various pictures of the guide dog puppies she raised over the years. If you are new to our blog, then you will enjoy seeing the new faces of dogs you haven't met.
(the pictures she will be showing are only of dogs she has raised - 3 previous to furry cute me... so I make 4!)

Rudy
The dog with a blog

Smilebox slideshow/scrapbook of the guide dogs I've raised

A Clue... (still a chance to win the prize!)

Want a clue?
I found out my puppy's name today... yes, I KNOW MY PUPPY'S NAME!




I checked all the comments (and the list I made) - and not a one of you bloggers' out there guessed it!


So... haven't guessed yet? Go to the Name Game post and leave 5 name guesses in a comment (make sure they haven't been guessed already!).


I promise NONE of the names that have already been guessed are it.


Have you already voted your fav 5 names? Think it's a little unfair that you didn't wait 'til now?


Well, since I'm feeling really good today - and want to giveaway the prize still...


Go to the Name Game post and leave in the comment 2 other names - that haven't been guessed already :)

Got it?
Haven't guessed yet - go the the page and leave FIVE name guesses
Have already guessed before today - go the the page and leave TWO name guesses



Yes, you can use some of the names that have been used - just note that any names BEFORE today ARE NOT the new puppy's name. (want a chance of winning - don't chose any of the names that were posted)
So there is you clue and whether you've guessed or not - go back and do it again :)
(two if you've done it - 5 if you haven't).


Make sure to look at the post below this one - as I did a update on Brax today.
Have fun guessing - any questions? Feel Free to ask!


P.S. One other clue... it is a FOUR letter name :)

Note - if it wasn't clear - the clue was NONE of the names guessed so far are it. If you go leave a comment on the post right now - that doesn't count, as this post was done before the comment. So as of right now NONE of the names on the post are it. (The other clue was it is a FOUR letter name - these are the only 2 clues in the post, there isn't a hidden one!)

Toby's Raiser
The human sometimes with a dog that has a blog

What four letter name goes with one of these?

Remember Him?

Brax was the first guide dog puppy I raised for SEGDI. (I received him back in 2006 - he returned to the school in Jan. 2008).
He was also one of the fastest dogs to go through training. (Training is normally 6-8 months).
When Brax passed his medicals and started training (end of Feb.) he had 2 1/2 months of training... and then was placed with a blind lady!
No he wasn't ready to be matched - he was actually pulled out of training to be placed with a lady who couldn't find a match.
He was already zipping through training, so when they did decide to place him, he got extra training in little time.
The comments on him from different handlers was "He knows what to do and always tries to please".
Brax was a great dog. And with him being the first dog I raised, it made me really proud to hear that he graduated!
I didn't get to attend graduation (puppy raiser day), as his new owner had to leave 1 day early.
I've still not been able to meet with Brax's new owner - I hope to sometime soon.
If Toby ends up graduating, we may make a trip out to visit Brax "on the way" to see Toby.
Though I don't talk to his new owner that often - when I remember I do make a point to call her up sometimes and get a "little" update.
Last time I talked on the phone with her was back in Feb. 2010. Then is when she gave me her new email address, so we could talk more frequently.
When I sent her an email back in Feb. I never got a response, she had gone out of town that week and when returned the email happened to have been looked over.
I never tried sending another one, I just kept forgetting!
When Toby passed his medicals, I sent out a email to my address book. She happened to be saved in the book and that email was sent to her.
A couple days later I received a email from Brax's owner:

"Congratulations!! That's two under your belt. I hope he's as wonderful as Brax is.
Brax is doing wonderfully. It's hard to believe he's been here for two years.

His older little brother is having problems. He was diagnosed with enlargement of the heart six months ago, and just was diagnosed with cancer. He has another six months with us at the most. Brax really loves him, and I know he'll grieve as much as the rest of the family will.

We're going to the *** convention in **** this weekend. Ugh!! Ten hours on the bus each way! Brax will do fine. It's his human who probably won't!
Talk to you soon!"

I was so excited to read this from her. Of course the part about Brax's "Brother" (her other dog - I think it's her retired guide) was quite sad. I really hope that have some good "last times" together.

I have asked her to write a little something for the blog (she used to do that a couple times a year). But since she is heading out of town today/tomorrow I know she won't have time 'til next week sometime. (I'll make sure to post it when I receive it).
Though it wasn't much of an update, it was still great to hear from her. I'm so proud of my boy and hope he continues to be a great help in her family.
I did get her address so I could send something to Brax. Want to know what?
A BIRTHDAY GIFT!
Yep, Brax's birthday is coming up quickly. He will be FOUR YEARS on June 3rd!
So... I went to PetSmart, bought him some goodies - and I'll be making some homemade dog cookies soon. Then I'll ship out the birthday box. (also, whoever wins the "Name Game" will be receiving some homemade cookies for their special dog!).

Have a great Friday, just heard today that I'm picking up the puppy REALLY late Sunday... maybe I'll do a post Monday morning instead :)

Toby's Raiser
The human sometimes with a dog that has a blog

(almost) Wordless Wednesday

This is not a last time picture of Toby - this is a picture of Brax and I back in 2007.
(Brax was the first dog I raised - he graduated as a working guide in 2008).
Just thought I would change up "Wordless Wednesday" a little - and not do a "last time" picture of Toby (like I've been doing).

I've talked to Brax's owner recently - so stay tune for an update!

Toby's Raiser
The human sometimes with a dog that has a blog

I look so young and Brax looks so old!

Paw Prints on her heart...

My Raiser likes to remember the dogs she raises. Besides the hundreds of pictures she takes, there is 1 other thing she uses to really remember us by.

When she had her first dog Brax she was given a "stepping stone kit" for Christmas.

She decided to use it with Brax a couple weeks before he left. She took a paw print from him and his name tag - she put those items in the stepping stone for a nice memory.

The following year before Frankie returned to school my Raiser remembered to buy a stepping stone kit. After she took Frankie's paw print she decided to start a tradition - every guide dog she raises will have a stepping stone with their paw print in it.

Well my time has "come" for me to return, I leave THIS Tuesday, so the beginning of April she bought a stepping stone kit for me - and it soon came time to use it.

Beside my paw print she also put my almost new name tag (we got it back in February) in it and even used mini rocks to spell out my name.

I'm happy my Raiser will have this to remember me by, I know she will really miss me and cry lots, so I hope this helps :)

See pictures below of the cool stepping stone!

I can't believe I will only be doing 1-2 more posts before I'm turned in, I will treasure each word I type knowing I won't be on this blog anymore :(

With the wait being 2-3 months before my Raiser receives another puppy this blog won't be updated nearly as often as I've been posting. My Raiser would love to post each day, but she won't have many things to post about.

Please note that she is NOT abandoning this blog, and she does plan on updating it frequently.

This blog will also be used for updates about ME.

So when she receives ANY information on how I'm doing, what career I may have chosen or just a random update it WILL be posted!

I hope you guys will continue to follow this blog whether or not it's updated often, because one day... their will be another puppy!

My Raiser is planning on doing the giveaway drawing next week (April 18th - Sunday), so if you haven't already entered please make sure to!

I won't be here to draw a name, so early congrats to the winner!

I plan on doing a picture post tomorrow, and hopefully 1 more Tuesday (before I leave for FL, or maybe once we reach FL).

My Raiser has many pictures of me (and will have many more) so she plans on doing some pictures posts for me.

Happy Sunday, this is my LAST EVER Sunday with my Raiser... :(

Enjoy the pictures below!

Toby

The dog with a blog

I've been tagged!

One of my newest friends "Lola" tagged me to play this pawesome photo game.
Rules:

1). go to your 1st photo folder.
2). find the 10th picture.
3). post the 10th picture and tell everyone about it!
4). tag 5 other doggie blogs so they can have some photo fun, too!!

Well we have 2 different photo files - one "all" photos and another "just guide dog" one.

This one is from the guide dog section -



It's a photo of BRAX (My Raiser's first dog), I'm NOT in it!
Brax is with another doggy - Rei (we met with her & her Raiser in 4-H back in 2007!).
They are both in a down -stay (not looking at the camera).

This is from the "all" photo section (yes, it just so happens to be dog related too!)

It's a photo of BRAX (why not me? How does Brax get to be in both?).

He is sitting in front of the guide dog booth my Raiser made at a fair back in 2007 - a third place ribbon is tied to his collar!

Kind of funny how both are of Brax - from 2 different sections...

Now, for the people I'm tagging -

1. Khyra
2. Erin & Pompei (this is also Rei's Raiser)
3. Bunny
4. Dory
5. Mimi & Cabana

If your name is above then TAG!

I really don't know who has/hasn't done it. So if I just tagged somebody who's already been tagged - sorry! (I have heard some of my friends are already tagged - I hope some of the above aren't tagged!)

I also just received some pawesome awards - I plan on posting them tomorrow in my BIRTHDAY POST! (which won't be posted 'til night, as my Raiser will be doing Easter petting zoos - and I'm going with her!)

Toby
The dog with a blog

Frankie & Brax

I received a package from TheMusketeers for Frankie & Brax (they both entered the "most sporty dog" contest in February)- Frankie won 5th, and Brax was in the top 25(there was over 80+ pets that entered).

Frankie got a engraved medal and a couple different certificates, Brax got a certificate also.

Thanks Cody, Joyce, Lady, & Zena for doing these awesome contests!!

Toby's trainer

Thanks...

Hey this is Toby's trainer,

I just wanted to say a thanks to Scout & Freyja for featuring "Brax" on their blog for the Mr. dog contest. If you guys don't remember Brax, he is the first guide dog I trained- he is now a working guide dog for a lady in FL.





Toby's trainer

Puppy Class Pictures

I did not get to wear a harness this time, but we had bouncy balls and scary face masks! My friends and I had lots of fun. We even worked with treats (some dogs got treats even through they weren't aloud to), but I did not get any treats, I was one of the good dogs!! Don't forget to leave a comment on my post, well... and look at my Puppy class pictures.

Brax



See, they are scary!




We are all laying down waiting for the ball to roll by

And now they are rolling balls right in front of our noses! How mean.















I am all worn out.



We are getting ready to work with treats.