Fun Firestation Outing

About a month ago I stayed after puppy class and brainstormed fun outings with my leader. I had made a few suggestions of outings that I went on with my puppy group when I lived in California. One that I remember that was a lot of fun and really good for the dogs was going to a fire station. The pups were able to meet a fireman in his gear and walk around a firetruck with the sirens and engine on. So, she asked if I would be able to set something like that up. I said "of course"

So, the next day I called the Pleasant Grove Fire Station and they were very happy to oblige. I was so excited that they were willing to do this for us. We scheduled to do it on March 7th. Unfortunately, that morning they were out on a call. I called my contact at the PGFS (I had his cell number) and he said they were just dropping the patient off at the hospital and would be there soon. So the group went to the Library across the street and did some work on the "go to bed" command for a while. Then my contact called me and said that his truck got called out to another place but the other truck was coming and when they got there they would do anything that we wanted them to do.

About ten minutes later we headed back to the Fire Station. The captain was there and had one of his men get in all his gear including oxygen mask (which is good for the dogs to get used to the noise) and he gave us an overview of the gear and how the fire station works. It was really neat. Then the fireman in all his gear came over and we let the dogs greet him one at a time. They were all wonderful, not a single one was at all nervous or scared of him. They all ran up wiggling and let him pet them. It was so fun for the dogs and the fireman really enjoyed it too.

This is Dax with the Fireman. (Dax just got his recall for April 19, we wish him luck, he is a fun dog)
This is our only black lab in the group right now, Safari.

Our club Grandma, Myra. (Myra also has a recall for March 28th, leaving our group with three pups until April when we are expecting SIX new puppies. It will be fun to have a big group again.)

Fullerton was absolutely adorable (he is being handled by one of the new guys getting his puppy in April) He went up and sniffed the gloves, his tail was wagging but he was totally in control. It was so cute. :)

He gave the Fireman a few little licks on his mask too.

All the dogs did wonderful and I think it was a very successful and fun outing for the people as well as the dogs. The firemen also asked us a TON of questions about guide dogs and the training and stuff like that, it was fun to answer their questions. We didn't get to do anything with the engine since we ran out of time. But, it was still a great outing. I could not be happier with how it all went. I am so glad that I could set it up. :D

Month day and First Outing

Well, Myra is gone. She left yesterday and she was a very nice little house guest for the holiday. I forgot to mention that she is Spankys half sister. They share the same dad (Domingo) and I can actually see a lot of similarities between them, both in looks and personality. (The only thing she is lacking is Spankys neurotic side. . . which is a good thing) I actually called her Spanky a few times. Oops! But she was fantastic. This is her in my 3-D glasses after seeing the movie Bolt. (which is super cute) I thought it was funny.
Myra and Fullertons last pic together. It was so cute Fullerton would always go and sit under Myra when she would stand like that. They are some sweet pups.
Today is Fullertons 3 month birthday. I weighed him in today at 20 pounds. He is definitely growing. So, for his 3 month day I took him on his first outing and he did marvelous. He was a bit sniffy and "environmentally aware" but what can you expect from a 12 week old puppy on his first trip to the grocery store. It was a quick in and out grabbing some whipped cream on the way. We got stopped by one person who cooed about him and told me a long story about her childhood lab. . . and Fullerton did a wonderful "sit, stay" while she talked. I was very impressed his "stay" is really coming along. (in the picture his eye is a little messed up because of the Halti, silly thing is not conducive for great picture taking. *sigh*)

On the way out I ran through an isle with random holiday/celebration stuff and this hat was too cute not to try on him. He was a sport though. :)

Unfortunately, (as of yesterday) he is back on his rice and cottage cheese meals. *sigh* I was really hoping we were over it but it came back with a VENGEANCE!! He got a new prescription from the vet that he will have to take for 3 weeks and then *cross your fingers* he will be okay after that. Other than that he is a great little pup and is learning new things every day, he is so smart and is already showing some great initiative and not much phases him. (except getting in the car, once he is in he is fine but he doesn't like getting in, we are working on that) :) Have a great week everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving!! (and my house guest)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
I want to start by giving a small (very, very small) list of things I am thankful for:

1. My Family (who have supported me through everything and put up with my weirdness and only abandoned me a few times when I sing to loud in the department store and then get my hair caught in a hanger. . . (so I may have had too much caffeine.) :)

2. My Friends (for similar reasons but I won't list the weird things that I do in front of them. ;) and BTW if you read this I consider you a friend. Because I also am thankful for my blogging pals, it is so nice to know that there are so many of us out there working toward the same goal of helping the blind gain independence.

3. My Puppies (who have taught me an infinite amount and have enriched my life so much. I am blessed to have had so many wonderful dogs in my life and have been honored to be the one to raise them, that's Prudy, Tahoma, Glennie, Adeline, Sherman, Spanky, and now Fullerton)

4. My Education (I really do enjoy school and I love learning new things)

Those are the main things but I am thankful for so much more, my health, technology, to not live in an age where I would have to wear a dress all the time. (I hate dresses!! WITH A PASSION!!) Anywho, I will stop there.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Not only do we get to celebrate all the things we are thankful for but we also get to have an excuse for a few days off of work and a day to gorge ourselves to bloatation with nummy, delicious food. (especially mashed potato's and gravy, stuffing and pumpkin pie. . . mmm. . . salivating already) but it is also a holiday and people go out of town. And when certain people go out of town other certain people are there to watch their guide dog puppies. So, during this weekend I have Myra. She is a sweet girl. The last time I had her she was much smaller and especially when I am used to having Fullerton she seems really big. But she is a sweetheart. Here is Princess Myra. (she is 14 months old now)
Here is Myra and Fullerton. They are really great together and don't seem to be distracted by each other at all. In fact, they haven't really tried to play or anything. It is really nice, this is Fullertons first time with another dog since he left his siblings at GDB and he is doing wonderful with her.
This is just too cute not to share.
Myra and Fullerton. After Myra got here she claimed the bed and Fuller had to be on the floor. After a while he crept over and did a little army crawl over to Myra and eventually he was right next to her. She didn't seem to mind though.
I felt so bad for Myra because Fullerton is a pretty squirmy puppy, he doesn't hold still for very long so he would crawl all over her while she was trying to sleep. (I think she would make a good mommy, she is very patient with him.)
Then he finally fell asleep. WOOT!!!

"My what big teeth you have. . . and stinky breath!"

And Fullerton chewing a big boy bone. I think all Fullerton really needed was a mentor dog. He is finally sleeping with her around and he is actually chewing on a bone. It makes me happy. Hopefully he continues after she goes, I am really happy she came.
It is also fun to have a big dog around. My family has a tradition of going to the movies every Thanksgiving morning and Myra is going to join us. It will be the first time I take a dog out in a long time. Hopefully she enjoys the movie. Apparently it is about a dog but I don't remember what it is called. And it is in 3-D. It should be fun. Too bad Fuller has to stay home. I think he would enjoy it. :) Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

~~Megan, Myra, Fullerton & Spanky (in spirit, I really hope he finds his forever home before Christmas so he can spend the holidays out of the kennels.)