What I have been waiting for. . .

So I just opened my e-mail box and there waiting for me was the message that I have been waiting for, for nearly nine months. I was extactic!!!! It was a note from Tahoma's partner along with a cute picture. I am so happy that they are doing well, here it is:


Hi Megan; thanks so much for your super caring and generosity. The real generosity is Tahoma, she is superb. She is not only smart but more important sweet and loyal. It is said Labs take on their characteristics from there puuppy raisers. . . . She always is looking for you . If she sees someone , a woman , about your height she wags her tails and heads for her. Still , she is happy and a great learner. I took Tahoma to Israel in January . She was unbelievable . After take off , she sat on a shopped up on a seat , curled up in a circle until we landed in Tel Aviv . She enjoyed the trip so much we are trying it again in July .


Here is our only digital picture of Tahoma, taken by a friend. Everyone loves Tahoma (we have one friend who said he never liked dogs until he met her, and he loves her. Although he's well into his sixties, he loves nothing better than to chase her around the couch!), and she is especially wonderful with children. She loves to play with them and is patient with them while they figure out how to play with her. Here she is with little Adina. We also love the album you made. So many people love to see those pictures and they love to see her puppies!


Thanks also for your toys and letter. Tahoma has really been enjoying them - especially the dental dino. I gave her a big belly rub for you. You are welcome to come visit any time and follow up in person!

So I am on cloud nine right now. . . I can't believe my girl went to Israel, that is so cool! When I talked to him at graduation he said he goes every January and July but didn't want to take her because he didn't know how she would work there. I am so happy that it worked out well and that he is taking her again. So, that is the news from my first update on my first (and only) graduate (so far, hopefully more to come. *hear that Sherman* lol) YAY!!!

Sherman and the cow

A few weeks ago for puppy class we went to Thanksgiving Point. (It is a great place, they have a petting zoo, flower gardens, a dinosaur museum and all sorts a other stuff) We walked around the flower gardens and then looked at some animals. We were also allowed to get on a horse drawn cart with all of our dogs and had a ride around the place. It was such a good experience for our dogs. I just snapped a few pics while we were there. It was a lot of fun, the dogs got to meet chickens, bunnies, horses, llamas, peacocks, goats, and cows. Sherman wasn't too interested in any of the animals except the cow that he got to touch noses with. It was so cute. I just missed getting a picture of the cow licking Sherman on the nose.

Sherman on the carriage ride. He spent most of the ride laying on Hartley who is the baby of the group. He is a month younger than Sherman and has such a cute face. (unfortunatly you can only see his other end in this pic)

Sherman and the big cow

Prudy Update

After Prudy was initially diagnosed with allergies she was put on Z/D ultra. I was supposed to have her on it for nine weeks to determine if it was food allergies. After three weeks on that nasty food she was almost worse. Her coat got really coarse and dull, she had really bad indigestion (expecially at night. I had to leave my window open) and she started getting little sores all down her tail and was itching more than before, and she just smelled horrible. So, I called the vet and told him that I hated the food and what kind of alternative I could use. He had me come back in for a recheck for her. We decided that it probably wasn't food allergies so we did the blood test to see exactly what she is allergic to. (He also gave me a full refund on the food which was really nice.) Now she is back on her regular food and already looking a lot better and has more energy. The vet called me today and said that the results from the test were in and that she is allergic to dust mites and storage mites. So, basically dust and mold. Now I am waiting another week until her meds are all made up and then I can start her on an injectible medication that she will have to be on. I am glad that we are over the hump and are able to get somthing to make her comfy. The poor girl has been miserable for a long time. I spent most of the day deep cleaning my room and washing my sheets so maybe that will help too.

Last Vaccs WOOHOO!!!

Sherman got his last vaccs so he is ready for the world. He has been going on a lot more outings now. So to celebrate getting his last vaccines I took all the dogs hiking. They had a good time.

Lazy, lucky pets get to sleep on the bed while Sherman spends his time on the floor or dog bed.
Sherman and Prudy at the vet, Sherman gets his last shots and Prudy got her rabies. They are done for a year. YAY!!
Three dogs in the car on the way to the canyon. They were all such good passengers.
Walking the kids. They were so good. Sherman really enjoyed himself.
Sherman on the rocks.

> My little sister Tori went with us and walked Lucy.
They were watching the waterfall.
Sherman tells Lucy a secret.

Lucy and Sherman play a nice game of tug.
Sherman won and had a fun time prancing around with the jolly ball, while Lucy looked on in disbelief.

Megan, Prudy, Lucy, & Sherman

Random facts

Here is a random fact: It is VERY awkward to have people ask you about guide dogs while you are trying to figure out if your little sister would rather have disney princess or floral underwear. Maybe next time I will leave the cutest little puppy home and not attract that kind of attention to myself. :)

I was checking out at the store the other day and the cashier notices Sherman and commented on how cute he was. The bag boy also joined into the conversation.
Bag boy: "A dog, where's a dog?"
Cashier: "This lady has one right there." (pointing at the ground)
Bag boy: (peeks around register) "Oh, it's a guide dog"
Me: "in training"
Bag boy: "He isn't your guide dog?" (He looked really confused)
Me: "No, he is in training to be a guide dog for the blind."
Bag boy: "Oh, I didn't know they needed to go through training."
Hmmm. . . some people

Here is another one,
Customer at work: "You got a new one."
Me: "Yep, this is Sherman, he has been a great puppy so far."
Customer: "So how old is he, around a year right."
Me: "Nope, he is about fifteen and a half weeks old."
Customer: "OMG!! He is HUGE!!!"
So apparently my little 29 pound boy looks like he is a year old, I hope no guide dog is that size at a year old. There is no way they would be able to guide. lol. After he left, I burst out laughing so hard.

Megan, Prudy, & Sherman (who apparently is HUGE)

Fun Day is just around the corner!!!!!

I am so exited about Fun Day this year. I just got the e-mail about it and RSVPed already for both the San Rafael and Boring fun days. Last year was the first time I have been able to attend Fun Day because my first puppy was too young during the first fun day then the next she was in season, so I couln't go, then my next puppy was too young the next year and I had to go to a stupid family camp, then she left a few months before the one after that then I was in between clubs after moving to California and didn't want to go by myself AND puppyless, the next year I was FINALLY able to go after trying for five years and I had a blast and met a ton a people and did the activities and met littermates. So, this year I am going to make it to both. I am so glad that it worked out like that. I asked for work off about four months ago and have been making travel arrangements and all that. I am so ready. I have recruited my sisters so they are going with me to both and then two of my cousins who live in Cali (I lived with them for 3 months when I first moved to California) are going with us to he San Rafael one. I can't wait to meet some of you! Anybody else planning on going?

More on Adeline

I got pictures of my girl at her new house. She looks so happy and I know that is where she was meant to be. Here is an update her new mom sent me.

Adeline has loved going to the beach - and yes - in the water. She enjoyed her bath too. Since I switched her to Flint River Ranch food she has stopped shedding. She loves to run free and chase tennis balls with other dogs. She has a good solid recall from a distance. She weighs 56 lbs (Madeleine is 60) so I have a handful.
In agility (intro) they do go over and on obstacles. We did "tunnel" - she adored that, "Tire" jump through suspended tire. A-frame (climb up and down). First series of classes is on leash. She is very eager to do everything so far. Each class introduces a few new things. Madeleine is more advanced and we are working on weave polls - these are a challenge for dogs. Also we now work objects in sequence for speed and control. It's a bit of a mind game for the handler. All in all I think Adeline is very happy. She looks at me with those very grateful eyes each time she is allowed to do something new. I'm also fortunate to have her as my own dog.

I just couldn't be happier with the outcome of Adeline's CC. The more I think about it the more I realized she just wouldn't be a happy guide dog. She would do it just to please but wouln't really love it. She needs to do something that she loves. And she has definetly found it.

Adeline at the puppy truck with Mick and her new mom.
Adeline and Madeleine meet. Her new mom said that they had a great romp and already love eachother.
Adeline and Madeleine play. (Adeline always liked to play keep away with Prudy)

Megan, Prudy, & Sherman

So happy!!!

I got an e-mail from Adeline's new mom (1st raiser) today. That made me sooooo happy. Here is what she wrote:
Hi Megan,
I picked up Adeline on the puppy bus last night. She has really grown - such long legs! She put on weight while in the kennel. Her tummy is bare from the spay operation.

She was perfectly comfortable with all the men around the bus including one with a beard. I arranged for Madeleine and Adeline to have their first meeting at the home of Dennie (the bus driver) and his wife Bonnie. They had a great time playing. I'm sure she has never played rough like this. Afterwoods they continued the play in side my house for hours. They were both good about relieving themselves and eating from opposite sides of the kitchen. It was hard walking them on two leashes, so I'll need to get a brace or do one at a time for a while. I separated the dogs for the night, with Adeline sleeping in the ex pen in my office. They were so tired!

Thanks for all the photos - I'll forward you some soon. Will try taking both dogs to the beach today...

I look forward to many more updates about my sweet girl! And here is a Sherman picture just for fun. It was too cute not to share, with the tongue sticking out and all.
Megan, Prudy, & Sherman

Phase Report Day!!! & Meet our new friend

They are all still doing good, YAY!!!

Adeline's Sibs:
Albright 417H LAB M 5 No
Alya 423H LAB F 3 No
Argyle 419H LAB M 3 No
Artemis 420H LAB M 8 No
Avery 421H LAB M 10 No


Glennie's Sibs:
Cortez 44H2x LAB M 5 No
Gaucho 44H1 LAB M 5 No
Giovanna 44H3 BRDEVL LAB F 4 No
Glenetta 44H4 LAB F 5 No


Homies kids:
Renna 487H LAB F 5 No
Rose 488H LAB F 3 No
Russ 485H LAB M 3 No

Meet Lucy Vial!!!

This is Lucy she is a two year old female lab/german shorthair pointer mix. She belongs to my cousin who is going to Africa until August to build schools for the kids out there. Her roomate is going to keep her during the week and I will have her on weekends while the roomate is working. She is a really sweet girl and has such a cute face. Her and Prudy get along really well too and Prudy loves having a dog her size to play with. I love her coloring too. She is a liver color on her feet and gets darker up her body until it is black, her tail is black and goes liver towards the end, and she has white spots on her legs face and chest. She also has a long dewclaw her right hind foot. It is interesting. We are going to have fun this summer!

Megan, Prudy, Lucy, & Sherman (no more Adeline, she is having fun with her new mom)

Prudy's Fifth B-Day!!!!

I can't believe that my baby girl is five years old! So, to celebrate her b-day I took the day off to have a mom and daughter day. First, I took her to Petco to pick out a new harness because hers is getting rather old and ratty, we also got a furminator. (Yes, I finally gave in and got it, that brush is the most amazing thing ever, I nearly filled an entire garbage bag full of Prudy and Sherman hair. It was awesome!!) After that I took her up the canyon to go hiking. She loves hiking and I will usually have to jog to keep up but I let her lead me wherever she wants to go. Then we went back home and I gave her a bath because she jumped into a little lake/river under a waterfall (a little one) Then I made her a cake. I had a good time and I hope she enjoyed it too. I still can't believe she is half a decade old.!!!

New harness. The last one she picked was green, this time she choose red. She looks good in it.

In the little pond under the waterfall. I don't think it qualifies as a lake. lol

Hiking up some rocks. She chose the most dificult way to get up the mountain. But she loved it and once we got to the top the view was AMAZING!!!!
Prudy takes in the beautiful view.

Back in the lake on the way down the trail.
Prudy gets a bath, and of course we can't leave Sherman out.
Prudy waits impatiently while I put icing (pureed cottage cheese) on her cake.
I was a cake decorator for a day about a year ago. That skill finally came in handy while decorating her cake with shredded carrots and peanut butter.
Finished product.
Prudy REALLY wants to eat her cake.
The cake is finally ready. Prudy waits patiently for the "okay"
MMMM. . .the best cake ever!!!

Warning:
The next picture you are about to see is the most grotesquely amazing picture that I have ever taken. It was totally a fluke but it turned out awesome.

You can totally tell how much she enjoyed her cake.
This is how Sherman enjoyed Prudy's b-day. I was so sad that he isn't old enough to go hiking or to the pet store, so he stayed home most the day. He didn't complain though.

So Prudy had an eventful b-day. Of course she didn't eat the whole cake. The rest is wrapped up in my fridge. I may pull it out and give her a little piece every once in a while. What a lucky spoiled dog. She is glad to not be a PIT otherwise she wouln't get those fantastic b-day treats. (Last year she got Frosty Paws Ice Cream, and loved it)

Megan, Prudy (the big b-day girl), Sherman, & Adeline