Love 4 pawz

Virtue's Graduation from Canine Support Teams

2010-02-15T23:09:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since this blog has been updated and we have lots of news to share. Virtue was cc'd from GDA and went to Training at Canine Support Team's. She did very well just as we all suspected she would and she watch matched with Cristy. We went to her Formal Graduation on January 9, 2010. Here are a few pics from that day.

left: Our first time meeting...I think we were both overwhelmed. I loved Cristy instantly.

Brian spending a warm Sunday Afternoon

2009-08-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

This picturess are alittle out of order......Brian dropped his favorite purple orbie eggplant in the pool....He and Landon took turns trying to get it out......It was funny to watch....

Reaching, splashing and even blowing bubbles......

Earlier that day he decided that laying and snnozing on the tube with Dad made great sense......I found them both sleeping away in the pool.....He actually floated there for a few hours with Morris....

Minature Golf & A Virtue Update

2009-05-30T21:36:00.000-07:00

Brian was a great sport at the Minature Golf Course......He did very well with the balls rollin by.

Virtue was Career Changed from Guide Dogs...She came home and here are a few pics....

Here are two pictures to show you how much Brian has grown since she went IFT November 08.

Her favorite position for Relaing...Yes flat on her back with a smile

Let's Play Ball

2009-05-07T21:56:00.000-07:00

Brian at his first Baseball Game.....

I had fun with Madison and Marcus...It was their First Game too

I met Micheal a HUGE Angel's Fan.He liked me right away

I would really, really, really, like to run on all that green grass

You really don't want me to pick anything up off this ground ? Are you kidding me have you been down here......

Dana Point Whale watch weekend

2009-03-19T20:46:00.001-07:00

On March 14 & 15th we went to Dana Point and spent the night in a hotel. It was the "Festival of Whales" we got the chance to ride a free shuttle, enjoy some Art Work.

On Sunday morning we heading out to the boat and went Whale Watching. We actually saw Whales......

The weather was great and warm...........

We saw seals on the way back.....Some big Pelican's

A nap was in store after the Whale Watch......

February....

2009-03-01T21:03:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics of some of our adventures in February........

The "Innerlight Art Exhibit" artist from the Braille Institue.

I liked the rian......and didn't want to come in the house........

Obedience..I've been working really hard on that......

Laying by the fire on a rainy night

Working some very steep satirs....

Brian & Virtue update

2009-02-22T19:26:00.000-08:00

We received a picture of Virtue in harness....with a postcard. She has passed her preliminary blindfold test and seems to be doing well. We have everything that can be crossed, crossed. We have hopes that Virtue will make it to become a "Guide".

In the course of a day in our office Brian is faced with some things most dogs will probably never see....He watched a new employee do "fit testing" it was a strange site with a cylinder over a persons head while wearing a mask with a hat on top. Brian actually helped this person remain calm.

Brian watched as Reggie our Educator packed up her dummies she uses for CPR Training...Brian could not help himself he ran over and grabbed one by the nose.....

A Day with the Doodle

2009-02-01T19:43:00.000-08:00

We spent the day with Yaeno and Caleb. Here she comes down the street with that silly boy. They looked so proud, she walks tall and with such confidence and his tails just wags the whole time. Yaeno will tell you she is a Big City Girl a New Yorker who will walk anywhere. It was great to see them come down such a busy street.

Lunch was great at Cheesecake Factory in the Marina. Than we went back to Yaeno's where she showed us some of her pottery and the beautiful earrings she has been making. She has a piece in a show called "Innerlight" Art from the Braille Institue. It is running from Jan 30 - April 19th at Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale.

You know we got all our hugs in...Yaeno life has completely changed since she has a guide, she is on the go constantly....I was tired just hearing about everything she does...and she goes Salsa dancing every thursday. She took us on a tour of her complex..what a beautiful place and the Marina right across the street. I can say Caleb is one lucky dog.

Catching Up again.......

2009-01-26T22:58:00.000-08:00

Brian Is getting older.....He loves to play with Landon...steal his favorite bone, lay in the sun.

He is a very good boy............

He really loves to sleep on his several beds around the house......You will find him sometimes on Virtue's bed in the corner...Sunny side up

Time for Catch Up

2009-01-01T19:12:00.000-08:00

My computer has a bug so I am playing catch up for the last month. Brain made an appearance on the Mark & Brian Show 95.5 KLOS....This was on December 17th....It was interesting. I have never been to a radio station before we where greeted in the lobby with a sign to welcome the pups to the station....It was myself and Brain, Chris with Mark, and Lori with Nigel.

We waited till they where ready for us to go on the air...You could hear Mark & Brian on the air talking about having the pups on..anticipation, we didn't know what questions they where going to ask, how long we where going to be there etc. Lorri has been there before so she was a pro.....
Here are a few pics of us at the station.....Mark & Brian held Mark & Brian while they where on the air....They both seemed to really enjoy the pups...They spent time with us after the interview taking pics and talking...Nice Guys

In Motion & Puppy Kindergarten

2008-12-01T21:25:00.000-08:00

Brian is learning to come when called....He comes with enthusiasm. It's fun to see puppies run....

Run Brian Run

We started puppy kindergarten...We actually now have 5 other puppies in class Brian is the token yellow male.

Here is a picture of Brian with Kai and Kenley.

GDA Evacuated.....home for the weekend

2008-11-19T19:29:00.000-08:00

When I woke up on saturday only to hear that GDA had been evacuated at 1:30 a.m. and the dogs where safe but in a Santa Clarita parking lot. Some of the puppyraisers in that area took dogs home and the rest where loaded back into the vans and driven to the Rose Bowl. We are very lucky and where able to get Virtue back for the weekend.

Here is a link to a news story done on the evacuation.

http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=19CED27D9AFD3B6F5E68C99B52903EDF?contentId=7886965&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

A few pics of her time home. She settled right back to her normal routine....she went to Chruch and to a Koi Auction. She was very excited when we picked Brian up from the Murphy's and they played the rest of the afternoon.

Brian laid on top of her like a stuffed animal....

When we took her back to GDA on Monday she was not reluctant at all....she was in a hurry to get to the kennels we stopped and spoke to Dave Ponce and Linda two of the trainers she was happy to see both of them. When the kennel Tech took her she never looked back. I will miss her terribly but look forward to whatever the future holds for her.

Puppy In Training

2008-11-14T22:34:00.000-08:00

J-Brian was picked up on Oct. 31st. Here are a few pics of his first weeks

He went out with us for Sushi..here is is asleep under the table.

Encouraged Marcus to collect canned foods for the Cub Scouts

He came face to face with Mika one of our cats.

He is absolutely certain that Jasmin should play with him. She is just hoping he will loose interest in her and stop following her around.

He's found a soft place to rest.......

Likes to watch TV..........

Virtue "In for Training"

2008-11-06T20:43:00.000-08:00

Virtue has been turned in for Formal Training. We have really enjoyed raising her, she is a sweet, sweet girl. Marcus & Madison spend time with Virtue

Playing with Ethan

Big Sis to Brian

She's so good she can take herself for a walk

2008-11-06T20:42:00.001-08:00

Puppy Pick Up "J-Brian"

2008-11-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

October 31st we picked up our 6th GDA puppy "Brian" a yellow male lab.....cute as can be. Here are a few pics of our day.

He is a sweet boy...

Here he is with Virtue Running to keep up

The next adventure begins...Virtue has a repreave from Formal Training till next saturday.

Balboa Island

2008-10-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

On friday we took the Balboa Ferry to Balboa and had a grand adventure. We started out at Dutch's house and we played for awhile. Here are a pics of our day. We had lunch and went for a long walk. We stopped and played in the surf for awhile. Then Dutch and I took a shower to try to get some of the sand off us.

Resting while the humans had lunch

Yeeehawwwww we found the water..............

WOW...this is fun....... Dirty dogs need a shower

A shower is not the same as a bath.....I know I'll get washed again before the day is over

Beach Cruisers and wet dogs...sounds like the beach to me !!!!

Have bus will travel

2008-10-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

The OCTA had a training day for service dogs. This gives service dogs of different types the opportunity to ride public transportion. There were Guide Dogs from all three schools in California, Canine Support Teams and CCI also attended. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bus-guide-dog-2180231-dogs-blind

They had three buses for us to ride, the buses where equipped with wheel chair lifts, lots of noise, muffled PA system, air brakes, pull cords, etc. The drivers gave us the opportunity to get on and off at the stops.

We stopped at Knott's Berry Farm we here we ran into some of our friends......

Lex Dutch Virtue Derby

Fountain at Knott's

Nap time after riding the bus

Partner's Dinner

2008-09-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to the Partners Dinner with hopes of catching a glimpse of Yaeno and Caleb. I was not disappointed. Yaeno was there with that wonderus doodleboy and they were great. She told me of all her adventures and much she loves him. Well those of you who know me know that feeling is more than mutual.

She is a busy woman......Dancing, Pottery, Cruises and is planning a trip to Japan.

Yes...He did hug me..he laid his head om my shoulder.....

Virtue had a Great time too....she wore a gold collar with some bling and pearls...I hope to get some better pics without the devil eyes...but here she is "Ms. Virtue".

"Virtue"

2008-08-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

Virtue aka Miss Sissy Lou
meaning: "Work of Great Merit"

Just alittle background on my current pup in training...Virtue is now 19 months old and had an original turn in date August 08..... BUT she was up for breeder consideration. That was not to be she has TVD and will not be a breeder. However, she will still be going in for Formal Training on November 1st.

Here she is as a puppy discovering our toy box. It's been interesting with the pups to see who will chew up stuffed toys and who does not. Virtue loves her stuffed toys and does not tear them up. She likes to always have something in her mouth when she greets someone at home.

This is the longest we've had a dog before we had to turn them in. It makes it very, very hard to say goodbye. This girl has a personality that will just steal your heart, and yes she's definately stolen mine.

Noah was turned in just a week after he turned 15 months and was working well before two.
Landon never got turned in and was nuetered and career changed at approx. 12 months
Caleb was turned in at 17 months and working before he was two.
Dawson was turned in at 16 months and career changed about 3 weeks after that for severe hip dysplasia
Virtue will be 21 months when she gets turned in

She's a big girl now..........

Pictures in Jacket

Pictures with some of the other animals she lives with

Pups...Past & Present

2008-08-10T22:05:00.001-07:00

I am a puppyraiser for Guide Dogs of America. I have raised 5 pups for GDA...

Noah Working Guide

Landon Career Change

Caleb Working Guide
Yaeno at Graduation

Dawson Career Change

Part of the Stark Family here with Ethan

Virtue Puppy in Training