New Plan

*(Written by Rudy's Raiser)*
It's almost like Rudy and I have been riding a 'IFT roller coaster'...

First off, we thought Rudy would be heading IFT ('In For Training' - back to the guide dog school for further training) June 13-18. We found out a week ago, that the IFT date was moved, and is know set for June 4th.
Not only is that 2 weeks sooner, but I also won't be able to make it - so I was just planning on another raiser taking Rudy down for us.
Plans have changed again though, and Rudy will now be leaving on May 29th/30th. But there is only one reason for that... so I can take him back.
So though Rudy is heading IFT even earlier, I will be taking him back myself - instead of another raiser dropping him off for me.

Rudy has a lot of "saying goodbyes" to do before he leaves, and 1 week from this coming Sunday... we will be on our way to the guide dog school in FL to drop him off.

I'm excited to have a dog at the guide dog school, so I can follow along with his training/report cards - but I'm not looking forward to giving Rudy up, and I know that day will be filled with many tears of sadness...

Rudy's Raiser

A Change in Plans

(Written by Rudy's Raiser)
And when I was just getting used to the idea of Rudy returning to the school for IFT around June 13-16, I receive even worse news in a email I opened this morning.
Evidently the guide dog school is changing the "IFT" process... and decided to move UP the date to June 4th (of course, the exact day my brother is graduating... which means there is no way I'll be able to take Rudy back - and you have to take them back on that exact date).
Yes I did realize that sooner or later, Rudy would have to return back to the school... but since I'm not raising again (for now) this news is even harder to take in.
I really wish I could take Rudy back myself, he's going to be the first dog I did not return to the school.
Yes, I am keeping my fingers crossed, just in case something may change... but at this point, Rudy will be going back on June 4th WITHOUT me dropping him off.

Rudy's Raiser

No News... ISN'T Good News

*(Written by Rudy's Raiser)*
Most of my older followers will remember Toby, the third dog I raised for SEGDI (he went back in April 2010). I've been getting monthly report cards from the school about him. But when it got to October - I received nothing, asking my Area Coordinator, she said when they have time - they send them. But I remember always receiving them on (close to) the same day each month. I'm told "No News is Good News" but in this case.... No News is bad news...
I got a call from my Area Coordinator today - telling me she heard from the school.
I'm crossing my fingers; wishing for good news... then I hear her say
"Toby has been career changed". Yes he's out - he'll never be a guide dog.
I'm told he was let go do to severe allergy issues. BUT he isn't out of the program completely (which means he isn't just being adopted out as a pet). Toby does still have a slight chance to become a gifted canine. Though he can't become a working guide dog, the school did really like him and have decided to evaluate him for a different line of work. (could be with a veteran - or as any kind of service dog).
I wish Toby the best of luck with his evaluations, and hope he blows the people away with amazement.
I'm so sad to hear he didn't make it as a guide, knowing all those hours, days, months, I had him raising him up to be the best guide dog I could didn't work out. But knowing he does still have a slight chance of working makes me happy.
We all know, that if he doesn't make it in this program - he will get adopted out (which I did tell my area coordinator I can't adopt him, though I'd love to - we don't have the room). But even adopted out as a house pet, Toby can always change peoples lives. Just cuddling up with a family who needs a pet is helpful.

For those who have no idea what I just said up there - he's a review :)

1. Toby was just "put out" of the guide dog program due to severe allergies
2. Toby isn't being adopted out yet, as the school does really like him - and hopes he has a chance with a different career (the gifted canine program)
3. Toby will undergo some different evaluation tests, to find out if he is capable of doing a new task
4. Over the next 2-4 weeks I should be hearing some more news (I hope for good news!)

Thanks so much for following our blog, Rudy will be posting before he heads off to his puppy sitter tomorrow (as we will be heading to a dairy goat show). Just thought I'd update you on Toby,

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

There is 2 kinds of news in the world...

The good- & the bad

First off- the good news

My trainer took me to the vet yesterday to get a eye check up & a heart worm test (required by the school). The vet says my eyes look wonderfully and my trainer can slowly take me off of the eye cream!! We also found out the heart worm test was negative!! (not like my trainer was worried or anything).

And now for the bad news

Guess what my trainer is writing up on her computer??? The abbreviation for it might be "P.S.I" Those are the 3 words that describe bad news- (1) "Puppy", (2) "sitter", (3) "information"- puppy sitter information!?!

She then told me that I will be going "away" this weekend- this will be my 3rd time this year getting "puppy sat". Can she not just take me with her??

But of course I already tried that... the only reason why she can't take me with her is because she is doing "goat showing" this weekend at the state fair, though both her last dogs "Frankie" & "Brax" were able to go. It is not fair! I am told that it was way to much with Frankie & Brax- and now that she has twice as many goats to show I would have been tied up the whole time.

I will be leaving to my "new home" on Thursday night (after puppy class) and coming back sometime on Monday- the following week.

Wish me luck!!

(my trainer took some pictures of me @ the vet- I was trying to drag myself out of the room in some of them-vets are not my favorite place!)

Toby

"the dog with a blog"

Bad news...

(Toby looking Depressed about puppy camping)




My trainer just told me that I am "going away" this coming week, and in return she is getting a different dog!




















Here's what's going on:



My trainer is going to 4-H congress next week, and was planning on taking me, until she realized that I was too young and it would probably be too much for me (and I haven't slept on a tie down before), so she decided to call her area coordinator and see if she could switch dogs, (the other dog is over a year old), she agreed and we were planning on doing the switch-off tomorrow at the puppy meeting. Until the area coordinator realized she would have to fly somewhere and I would be to young to go with her. She told my trainer that she could still take her dog, but she would have to find a puppy sitter for me Toby.




After a whole lot of phone calls she finally found a helper. One of the families in our puppy group has 2 daughters that are both interested in raising. One already is(she has my sister Cassie), the other is waiting her turn.


So it is now final that I am going to their house tomorrow and not going to see my trainer 'til the following week, isn't that awful!!



I can't believe she won't take me, I am soo adorable, cute, & cuddly. Besides, I might've been able to "hold it" on the airplane.

But at least I will be able to play with my sister for a week!









Toby






(My sister -
Isn't she cute?!)

Cross That ... Career-Changed...

Right after I finshed writing that post I got this email:

"This is to let you know that Frankie has been career changed due to Skin Allergies and Harness Reaction. Due to her allergies & Harness Reaction she will not be placed in Gifted Canine and we are offering her back to the raiser. Please contact the raiser and let me know if they would like to adopt Frankie back. If the raiser decides not to adopt Frankie she will go to public adoption."

I decided to go ahead and publish the other post just because it took me so long to write it.

I am told Frankie will go to her new home in 1-2 weeks. I really wanted to adopt her but I couldn't raise another guide dog puppy if I do since we already have so many dogs with our old farm dog, new pup Liberty, and Red.

I think it was more medical issues than anything that put her out. She wore the harness 3 times before she went down to school and she didn't have a problem. If she didn't have medical issues I bet they could get her over the harness reaction.

But hey I am not the expert, they are.

Oh well, I hope to have a better dog next time (less medical issues!!).

If I find out who is adopting her I will post any information on the blog, I know she is getting spayed in the next couple days, but that is all.

Please hope that she is placed with a person that will let me visit her(and lives near me!).

I was bored so I added more photos of her at the bottom. (I think I take too many photos of my dogs!)

Enjoy,

Frankie's trainer