400th post!!! (Picture Post/Catch up)

Okay I am a MAJOR slacker! This is my 400th post, so I am going to do a picture post of the last month.

A few bullet points for the month before I start with pictures:

• Snickers turned 7 months old. (I really need to switch his to his "big boy" collar but I am in denial)
• Picassa is in phase 2!!!!!
• The dogs enjoyed Christmas (And I fostered the CUTEST 2 year old chihuahua named Fabio over the holidays from my work and fell in love with him. He finally got adopted last week and hopefully things are going well. There are a few pictures of him so that is why I mention him.)
• Snickers is getting the snip-snip in two weeks. Sad day! :(
• I miss Picassa
• Snickers is a whopping 53 pounds and as tall as Paris
• Puppy-traded Snickers for Jacinda for a whole week
• Paris is pretty much the awesomest pet dog EVER!
• It snowed so much while I was at work one day that I was stranded there for four days, and got some major cabin fever. (I have never appreciated a hot shower and non-pre-packaged food before in my life. Fortunately I always have 7 days worth of food stocked in my car, just in case. . .my paranoid personality finally pays off! :)
  
• Oh, and had a weird dream that GDB called me and told me they had misdiagnosed Paris and I had a month to get her ready for harness training. *ominous music plays*
• Started school again which Snickers loves attending with me.
• Ummm. . . I think that pretty much sums up the month.

This is because Paris go kicked downstairs for Christmas dinner and was not very happy about it. Every time I would look away she would be a step closer to the top until I looked over and she was sitting on the top stair. She is too smart for her own good. She did get a piece of Christmas ham and turkey though. :)

2010 in review

Here is a quick recap of what happened in 2010. (And an update on the holidays will come soon)

January- Started my journey with leash making, Paris was 10 months old, and Fullerton appeared in phase 8 of formal training.

February-Paris turned a whole year old and Fullerton was in phase 10!!

March-Things really started to click with Paris and I loved raising my stubborn girl. Not much else going on in March.

April-Hosted my first Green Leash Give-away (which reminds me I should do one soon), went from having 2 months left with Paris to 2 weeks, and Fullerton graduated as the best guide dog in the world!

May-Had to say goodbye to the Paris, picked up puppy #9 Picassa, found out Paris was cc'd for eye issues, moved to SLC, and decided Paris would be my forever dog.

June-Picked up Keiko from the puppy truck for another raiser in my club and got to spend a couple days with him, Got my Paris back and was thrilled to have her as my forever dog, and fell in love with Picassa and her quirky personality.

July-Picassa turned 1! I turned *cough, cough* 25. . . and started preparing for Fun Day!!

August-Went to Fun Day and made a couple new friends, Picassa went into heat :(, Found out I was receiving a Male Chocolate Lab to raise as my tenth puppy and was super stoked!! 8 days later I picked up Snickers and I love the boy to pieces! I also started a new job at an animal rescue and rehabilitation center and love it.

September-Picassa came out of heat, I started classes at UofU my new university, and Snickers became legal.

October-Snickers went on his first hike and I enjoyed my time with three of the most amazing dogs in the history of the world!

November-Had to part with my sweet girl, Picassa and send her off for breeder evals, found out Picassa was dropped from breeding and would be put into harness training.

December-Celebrated 6 months of having Paris as a pet and spent Christmas with good friends, family and puppies.

It was a great 2010, here's to an even better 2011!!! Happy New Year Ya'll!!

30 for 30-Day 24 (Blog Discovery)

I discovered another blog today that really made me laugh out loud. Especially

This Post,

and

This Post!

I think you all would really get a kick out of it, so when you have a spare minute you should go check it out. :)

30 for 30-Day 21 (Major Failure)

Okay, this posting every day thing is tough! And I am failing majorly. . .I will try really hard not to miss again but this weekend has been crazy. For now I'll leave you this picture. Park City is covered in snow today. My car got plowed into it's parking spot at work and I had to dig it out. Not fun! Hope everyone else is having/had a great weekend. :)

30 for 30-Day 19 (Failure)

Darn, I totally missed a day. :( I am unhappy about that but I think I can get a free pass becasue I've been uber busy with work and my upcoming finals. I will answer your questions and suggestions in the next couple days and hopefully I don't miss again. Unfortunately this is it for now. . . Have a good day!

30 for 30-Day 16 (The History of my Pups)

I thought for today's post I would tell y'all about all my puppies. Sorry if this is horribly boring but too bad. :)

Prudy was my first puppy. She was born May 1, 2002 and I received her the end of June that year. I enjoyed raising Prudy and we went through a lot together. I raised Prudy during my senior year of high school and my first couple semesters of college together. We were also in a car accident together that I almost died in and Prudy wouldn't leave my side while we were in the hospital. She went through a split season my first summer with her so she was around a year old. Back then we boarded females in season at the vet so I dropped her off for her month long stay while being in heat. After the longest month EVER I got to go pick up my girl when she was finished with her heat. A week later while at a puppy meeting I noticed blood again. Not good. . . she went and spent another month at the vet for her second month of heat and after that she was spayed. So after 2 1/2 months of being at the vet I got back a fat, lazy puppy who forgot all her training. I kept her until she was almost 21 months old to get her back into shape before she left for training. When she was in training she made it to phase 8 out of 10 before being career changed for separation anxiety and relieving in harness. I got the call that she was cc'd and the next day was on my way to pick her up and make her my pet. She was an amazing pet and I loved every second with her. Unfortunately she passed away when she was six and I miss her every day.
Prudy and her brother Patriot the day they arrived at 8 weeks old.
5 year old Prudy in the snow.

My 2nd puppy was Tahoma. She was born May 5, 2004. She was always a sassy and stubborn little girl and I really loved her. She was a tough puppy and challenged me a lot, especially after mellow, easy Prudy. Tahoma was incredibly smart and I knew she had great potential. She left for formal training 4 days after her first birthday. After about four months Tahoma was pulled for breeding. She had a litter of seven puppies the end of November and after they were weaned she went back into training to be a guide. She cruised through training and then graduated as a working guide dog. She is now working in Ohio with a blind Rabbi and spends 2 months a year in Israel and also travels around the east coast so her partner can officiate at weddings. He teaches at a college so she goes there as well and all his students just love her.
Tahoma at 9 months.
Tahoma in harness.

Glennie was number 3. She was born September 27, 2005. She was my first transfer puppy so I got her when she was 5 months old. She was also the first puppy I raised while living in California. She had some issues to work through and I was up for the challenge. She was food and toy aggressive and didn't like going out in public. She made wonderful improvements during our short time together but being a guide was just never in the cards for this girl. She was career changed at 6 1/2 months and is now living as a pet in California.
Beautiful white Glennie 5 months old.
Glennie sleeping in the sun.

#4 was Adeline. She was born October 25, 2005 and I got her as a transfer puppy too, she was a little over 5 months when I got her. She was a great dog and we hit it off immediately. She was a sweet dog and loved to go out and about and meet new people. She was also about the happiest dog I've ever had, her enthusiasm was contagious and she always put a smile on my face. She left for formal training at 17 months old and was quickly career changed for a fear of men which shocked me. She is now living with her first raiser and is a therapy dog and runs agility as well. She loves her life and is in the perfect place for her.
Adeline at my work at 8 months old.
Adeline showing off her jumping skills in the Agility arena.

My 5th puppy was Sherman. He was my first male and I was really nervous about that. My fears were ill founded though as Sherman was just about the best puppy in the world! I absolutely fell in love with this cuddle bug. He was a mellow, go-with-the-flow dog and took everything in stride. When he left for formal training I had no doubt he wouldn't be a guide dog, but I was wrong as he was career changed for soft trachea. Bummer! I would have kept him in a heartbeat but he is the type of dog who needed a job so I asked if there was another school that would take him. A few days later he was taken into the Dogs4Diabetics program and after almost a year of training he graduated as a medical alert dog. WooHoo!! He is a happy working dog and his partner is just perfect for him.
Sherman at 8 weeks.
Sherman enjoying his new job.

Spanky was my 6th puppy. He was a transfer that I got at 11 months. I raised him while I worked at a summer camp for blind and VI kids. He was a great camp dog and all the kids loved him. We did have an ongoing battle with my socks. He ate 12 pairs of my socks while I had him and I still to this day can't figure out how he got them. He was career changed before he made it to formal training for some fear issues and is now a very loved pet in Oregon.
Spanky 4 months.
Spanky at 14 months.

Well, that's all I have patience for now, so the rest will be tomorrow. :) Enjoy!

30 for 30-Day 14 (Love my Boy)

No matter what kind of day I am having this sweet boy can always put a smile on my face. Thanks Snickers I needed that today. :)

Picture Post of the Last Month

It's been almost a month since my last post, and since I don't want to bore you all here are some pictures from the last month. I guess the most important thing to say is that Picassa's recall got bumped up from the 8th to the 3rd so she is leaving in just 2 short days, and all the pups are doing great.

Pictures from my last hike with Picassa.

Rafferty, Joaquin, and Picassa.

A play date with Snickers's half sister Kasha.

Paris, Snickers, Clifford, and Kahsa.

Snickers in a Halloween Shop.

Snickers the executioner. . .so scary!

Snickers first elevator ride. He did fantastic, just watched the ground wondering why it was getting so far away.

Snickers LOVES to shop. . . or maybe not!

Snickers first restaurant. He was phenomenal!

Halloween, Picassa as Thing 1.

My puppy group all decked out for our Halloween parade through the mall. Julimae the pirate, Sugar with wings and clover on her head, Antigua the Bee, Christina in a cute black and green dress, Jacinda in a blue dress, Kyle the pony, Snickers and Picassa as Thing 1 & 2, Clyde the Bee, and Breeze and the white rabbit in Alice and Wonderland.

Snickers passed out in the mall.

Snickers on a kiddy ride in the mall.

Kasha and Snickers both Forte puppies laying on a bench.

Picassa and Clifford also 1/2 siblings with Kentucky in common sitting on the bench.
Picassa saying bye to Mitch after puppy meeting. This was her last puppy class. :( I know she is being naughty but it's still cute.
Snickers discovered a fountain and jumped up on the rim, also being naughty but so cute!
Picassa in class. She looks so cute in this picture.
Picassa at work.
Snickers being his crazy, cute little self.

Okay, I am going to try really hard to be better about blogging. So stay tuned more to come soon!

P.S. I am going to attempt the 30 post in 30 days for the month of November. So this is the first in the series. :)