Pictureless Wednesday

I was planning this furry nice post, complete with LOTS of pictures from our Monday shopping trip... all for me to find out that my raiser FURGOT the camera :(  We went all over the place Monday doing Christmas shopping (my longest shopping trip yet) and we even passed lots of furry cool mirrors, yet we couldn't get a single picture, cause she furgot the camera.
Humans, you just can't count on them.
So instead of showing you how the shopping trip went, I'm just gonna have to tell you all about it.
I of course did wonderful, throughout the entire shopping trip (don't I always!), but I did have to remind my raiser a few times to "ignore it" when she found some things she really liked. (Were not Christmas shopping fur yourself, you know).
My raiser said I walked perfectly beside her while shopping, and whenever she stopped to look at something, I just laid down beside her feet, until I was told "forward" again.
I met lots of people while out shopping, everybody wanted to pet me (duh...) but my raiser had to make sure I held a sit-stay while I was being petted (which I did quite well at), remember the saying "four on the floor" (no jumping on people).
I even met some furry nice people while in Target, and one of the humans I met, said his first dog was named Brandon, what can I say... it's a furry good name!
My raiser has been furry busy with Christmas shopping, but she did tell me that she didn't furget about me, and that I'll be getting LOTS of gifts on Christmas.
I'm furry sorry there are no pictures in this post, maybe next time...

- Brandon

Christmas Shopping 101

Since all of you guys are most likely trying to finish up your Christmas shopping, I think I should give you a few tips to make shopping WAY more fun.
To start of with, make sure to ALWAYS stop for mirrors when out shopping, you never know how cute you may look:


Picture of Brandon and I in the mirror

 Moving on; when you (or your shopping friend) comes across something that you (they) REALLY want, look at the price tag first - can't afford it? Just look away... (this is when the "ignore it" command would be useful - more fur the humans than us pups!)


Picture of Brandon laying down beside the purse section at Belk - he's completely ignoring the purses

 After shopping for a while, make sure to stop at the food court and get a little "fuel" in you - of course, that doesn't ever help me AT ALL, since I'm not allowed to eat any of that human food...

Picture of Brandon in a sit-stay under the table at the food court

And when your raiser (or friend) has her (or his) hand full of shopping bags and wants to go into yet ANOTHER store, just give them this furry cute look...


Picture of Brandon in a sit-stay giving his "puppy face" look to the camera!

Trust me, it ALWAYS works!!
I do hope you will be able to take some of my "advice" and put it to good use on your next shopping trip!
Just remember to use that "ignore it" command on something you really don't NEED :)

- Brandon

Wordless Wednesday - Double Me!

I just love shopping when mirrors are involved!

Brandon



Picture of Brandon sitting beside a mirror



Shopping

Brandon has been quite busy lately; and has a WHOLE lot of updating to do - but fur now I'll update you on Brandon's shopping experience...
For just having Brandon for a little over 1 week, he has really been busy going places. Not only did he attend college classes with me; and some random stores around us - he took a trip with (some) of my family & I, to go surprise some awesome friends of ours, that were a few states away.
Brandon & I stayed at their house for a few days (he did GREAT!) and we did a LOT of shopping while we were there. He went to a HUGE mall with us, and went in about every store imaginable! Of course Brandon is a little young to be doing lots of walking, so he was carried from store to store - but once we went into a store, he was put on the ground to do a "little" bit of exploring. Leaving all the distractions alone, Brandon did amazingly well!
We also went down-town shopping were our friends lived, and Brandon got to visit cute jewelry shops, clothing stores, museums and much more!
All in all, Brandon is doing wonderful with his training, and has met more people than I can count!

Brandon's Raiser

Last Shopping Trip

My raiser took me "shopping" with her today... all day. We went in soo many different stores (including some with clothes...), but I didn't mind - as this will be my last real "shopping trip".
As, tomorrow I'll be heading to an all day event (pictures to come... after I leave), and we'll be leaving Sunday morning.
My raiser is proud at how well I've been doing with my outings. She noted that my most favorite commands are: "Find the door", "Switch", "Heel", "Left-Left/Right-Right". Of course, she knows I love all of my wonderful commands - but for some reason, the above ones have been my favorite.
My raiser did snap some pictures of me, while on our shopping trip - and she'll be sure to post them (once I'm gone...).
I can't believe I'll be heading back THIS Sunday, time sure has flown by. I'm really going to miss my raiser, and all of my wonderful blog readers!
If at all possible, I do plan on posting tomorrow... and maybe I'll be able to do a "last post" Sunday evening, once we're in FL.
My raiser just got done making a "paw print stepping stone" for me. It's gorgeous - and not only did she put my paw print in it... she also let Little Lucy (the baby goat) put a hoof print beside mine :) I'll make sure she promises to post pictures of it, I know you guys would love to see it!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Rudy - The dog with a blog

Shopping Fun

Hey furry friends!
I've been soo busy helping my raiser clean up after my amazing blogville birthday party, but I'm finally taking the time to do a post related to... guide dog work :)
My raiser took me shopping with her last week... and we went in, like - (almost) EVERY store in the City.
But it was a whole lot of fun!
My raiser did bring her camera with her... so I've got some pictures of me working in Wal-Mart, and sleeping in a waiting room.
My raiser has been so busy lately, that she's not had time to take me out to get some exposures and such. So she was quite happy to be able to work me last week, and was very impressed with how well I did!
Commands we used during our latest shopping trip...
- Forward
- Left/Right
- Heel
- Find The Door/Stairs/Car
- Switch
- Sit/Down/Stand/Stay
- Leave it

I really enjoyed our shopping trip, and had a whole lot of furry fun!
I'm off to go play with my birthday toys... enjoy the shopping pictures below :)

Rudy - The dog with a blog

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)

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

Christmas Buz!

Hey furry friends!

My raiser has been busy the last couple days (and many more to come!), but she's made time to take me shopping with her! Seems as though the stores are TWICE as busy around Christmas time, I get twice the exposure; and twice the fun!

Not only did we do regularly in town "work" and obedience (working on commands "easy", "wait", "right/left", some basic dog commands, being calm and ignoring people), my raiser also worked me around some dog items in a couple stores, trying to see how distracted I was over dog food and such. Of course I wanted to go sniff the things right away, but with a few nice reminders from my furry cool raiser - I ignored all the doggy things - and dog food laying on the floor :)

I also had to ignore the awesome people calling me over to them... (including adults) But I listened to my furry cool raiser - and we were on our way.

I'll be headed out shopping in the next week or so - to find the perfect gift for my raiser (with her sister's help of course!) I would give you some hints on what I'm getting her - but she has to proof read my posts... but I'll make sure to tell you after Christmas though!

Yesterday while out shopping - we stopped to eat at Ruby Tuesday's - I behaved perfectly; and laid "under" the table while my raiser ate.

Then heading off to some other shops; as my raiser needed to find some gifts for her furry awesome friends.

She took FOREVER while shopping - I don't see why she had to try on millions of clothes for herself... when she was shopping for her friends - NOT her.

My raiser did give me lots of praise though; and was very proud of how I did in town (mainly working on ignoring people/food and walking WITHOUT pulling). Evidently I got an A+ on both of those things... !!

Shopping was quite fun; as I did meet some dog loving people - who just loved me :)

My raiser & I have had some response to the Holiday Contest/Giveaway I'm doing, (which ends NEXT week - so hurry and enter if you want to win a really furry good prize!) we've also noticed that some of our blogging pals have been posting it on their blog; I'd like to say thanks to all who have entered and/or posted about the Holiday Contest/Giveaway I'm doing. It's my first ever contest; and I really, REALLY want a good "turn out"! The only way that can happen... is if you HELP by entering and/or passing the contest info along :)

Furry thanks for reading - Have a furry GREAT evening!

Enjoy the shopping pictures below,

Rudy
The dog with a blog

Wordless Wednesday

Shopping use to be so fun...

Now I'm the one on the ground!

Not that I'm complaining or anything :)

Rudy

The dog with a blog

My Boy TOBY

Remember him??
Toby was the male yellow Goldador I raised before Rudy. He returned back to the school in April 2010.
Every month since then I post a report card from the school about him....
Well, this time I'm going to post... A PICTURE of him!
A guide dog trainer down at the school has twitter and is always taking pictures of the dogs she and other trainers are working with. I have NEVER seen anything about Toby posted before.

But when I checked out her twitter account today... this is what I saw!

"Toby enjoying the Sarasota gift shop"


This made me soo happy! I've not seen a picture of him in a while.
I'm glad he's out getting exposures and having fun. Thanks so much to the trainer who posted this picture!

Don't forget to visit the giveaway post Rudy did - I know you want to enter... !

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

USNA...

****Warning! Very long post ahead****

Hey furry friends! I'm finally back from the short furry fun "vacation" we were on.
So sorry for the warning at the top - but thought I should let you guys know... that this post will be a "little" long!
If you have time please read about the fun trip -I know you will enjoy it - I even mention a cannon in the update :)

Thursday
Back on Thursday, we left the house. To drive hours & hours on the road. (Getting to the hotel around midnight). I don't have much to tell - as we were just driving... so no fun update on Thursday. But...

Friday
I found out what we were doing. We were up in Maryland... visiting? My raiser's brother, who's at the Naval Academy (USNA). I've met my raiser's brother a couple times (back in May/June). So I was furry glad to see him again - and see some of his friends!
The family got to eat lunch with him (in the dining hall where all the other's eat). And I sat quietly on the floor, like a good dog!
We all went to watch the parade - which I really enjoyed, 'til I heard the band playing. My raiser had to make sure to keep me quite - because I really wanted to join in! What we didn't realize they were going to do was... Fire off a cannon... not once, not twice... but over 7 times! My raiser was so shocked I didn't even bark!
After hanging out for quite awhile we headed to some place where they go running - but since there would be obstacles on the way, I stayed back with my raiser's mother. When my raiser got back from running - she went on and on about how fun it was climbing & jumping over things. If it was so much fun... she should have taken me!
We headed to someones house that night to eat dinner (our family and some others made pizza), getting back to the hotel late at night I was soo sleepy! On

Saturday
My raiser, her mom & me headed downtown for some shopping. While the others went to the Navy football game. Little did I know that downtown was also called "dogtown". More than half the people brought their dog along! I saw and ignored soo many dogs, from little hand held dogs - to dogs that are taller then our family dog Liberty! (who's an English Mastiff!). It was a fun time in downtown, and we even went into the store called "The Black Dog". While in there we did have some families ask if I was "The Black Dog" - nope, I'm just a very cute black puppy! But I was soo happy they thought I'd be "The black dog!". After the football game ended we all headed to someones house for a cookout! I really enjoyed getting all the awesome attention. And later on I even got to "help" play volleyball... but my raiser made me stay on the sidelines :(

Sunday
After church we headed to the mall for some lunch, I slept quietly while they ate, and pretty soon it was time to say our goodbye. My raiser's brother went back to the Naval Academy - and we headed on home. I enjoyed the hours of sleep on the way home, and was so glad to see Liberty when we walked through the door!


Now that my update about our trip is over, please enjoy the pictures (and movies!) below, I most likely left out something important about our trip... but I'm off to sleep some more... so enjoy it how it is... :)
Someday soon I'll stop by your blog!

Rudy
The dog with a blog

(Movie of Rudy playing with the balloon we were given at the hotel)



(Movie of Rudy watching the band at the parade)


(Movie of Rudy listening to the cannon)

(Movie of Rudy watching the parade - as people march by)

Wordless Wednesday

Rudy
The Dog With A Blog

Outings with Rudy (complete with PICTURES!)

Yesterday was our first day with Rudy.

Of course we headed off to town for shopping time :)

Rudy has a VERY sweet temperament and is calm and quiet.

For the first couple months of a raising a guide dog puppy, you are allowed (if wanted) to let it receive affection in coat (to learn that the coat is a good thing). Rudy is very sweet with children and is the calmest thing! (see pictures below).

I've already had many comments on how well we've trained him... to bad I can't take much credit for it!

With him being only 9 weeks old we can't wait to find out how is temperament will be as he gets older, so far he has been the calmest pup I've had!

I'm very happy we have all of you guys out there to follow our adventures and we look forward to sharing many good times together!

Housebreaking & crate training has been going very well. And so far in public he's been doing amazing!

Please enjoy all the pictures taken yesterday of our outings!
Rudy will be posting on the blog in the next couple days, I know you look forward to that :)

P.S. I do hope to visit some of your blogs in the next day or so... if "time" lets me...

Rudy's Raiser

The human with a dog that has a blog

Shopping carts are the way to go! (For the first couple outings we use shopping carts - not jumping straight into walking through the entire store!)

You can tell he is quite fazed by this girl...