Guide Dog Brogan

This post is from Mike:

I'm coming up on my 13th birthday in two weeks. That got me thinking about some of my brothers and sisters. My mom raised my litter herself, along with my real mommy, Holly. Holly left us a couple of years back. Holly had two puppy-sets. I was in the first set.

The above photo is of me when I was just a little guy (I'm in the middle!). Holly is on the left, and Chuck is on the right.

Anywho, I was thinking of one of my little brothers. One puppy from the second litter was purchased by Guide Dogs for the Blind. They named him "Guide Dog Brogan". Being Internet-savvy, I went ahead and Googled him. I found a nice story about him!

Read all about Brogan and his human!

Here is a photo of one of the puppies in Brogan's litter, at four weeks of age. Mom knows it is one of the four boys, so it may well be Brogan himself.

Zen and the art of "stay"

I've been practicing my stay lately. I've been doing a nice straight sit for one television commercial. Then I get to lay down for 2 commercials. (Mom lost her stopwatch so now she just uses the tv to time me)

Mom throws dog food past my nose when I am staying but I already know that's a trap so I just keep all Zen and don't fall for it.

Jewel says she is also working on stay but not for as long as me. She's also learning to walk next to mom on leash. She says that is very hard because mom walks slower than we can run.

Jewel and the pool

Today I'm posting a link to some video mom took of us playing in the back yard. Mom says be sure to have your sound level high enough to hear the commentary, otherwise it won't make sense.

Anyway, remember I'm the big one, Jewel is the little one, and Mike is the old and slow one!

Download the video here!

Happiness is....

I was reading an old Charles Schulz book last night (okay really I was chewing on it but work with me here). "Happiness is a Warm Puppy".

That made me think about what makes me really happy. So I started a list:

• the smell of a freshly opened bag of dog food
  
• that last turn when we are in the car and suddenly I know we are going to agility
  
• tortilla chips that land on the floor
  
• any other food that lands on the floor
  
• the smell and sound when a new can of tennis balls is opened
  
• walks in the park
  
• quiet evenings at home with everyone grouped within 3 sq. ft. of each other even though the house is plenty big and we could spread out a little more
  
• watching Animal Planet, but not the 2 reptile guys, just Animal Cops and Funniest Animal Videos. Oh and I like Lassie on Nick.
  
• frozen greenies
  
• frozen bananas
  
• following mom absolutely everywhere around the house just in case she gets lost although she claims she will be just fine
  
• visiting the Vet to get more cookies, I do love those people
  

The Upside (down)

This is me when I was younger, and I'm upside down! 

The Game

Jewel is getting pretty big now. At last weigh-in, she was 36 lbs. That's about 1/2 my size. She is a worthy opponent now at the "Comparing dental size" game. I just love that game. We play for hours on end.

Usually Jewel is on the top, since she's smaller. You can tell which one I am. Jewel is very dark yellow, I'm a little lighter in color (and I'm BIG), but I have a dark yellow racing stripe down the middle of my back!


The "Comparing bite size game", pt 1 


Pt 2 


Pt 3 '

All work and no play.....

In case you thought we were slacking (well we were a little), here's our homework for the next four weeks.

1) Work on faster sit. Get attention, say sit, reward only fastest ones. PLAY! Reward criteria must change. "Beat the dog" / PLAY! / Attenion / SIT

[Ahem....we Labs really enjoy being thumped on the side when we are good, in case you were wondering about that last part. I personally like being thumped with my tug toy, but that's my own little fetish.]

2) Attention with heeling. If Splashy is in correct position he should be able to catch the toy when drop from under arm. PLAY!

3) Mom must pick ONE AND ONLY ONE release word and practice using it.

4) Play "Ready Steady Go" when on stay, releasing to my wonderful awesome very cool tug toy. I just adore this game but Jewel says she does not get what go means.

5) Work on attenion when dog's name is said. Reward fast response only. This one is for Jewel too.

Green, redux

Today I finally asked my mom to buy me some Greenies. You all have been talking about them so much. Well, she bought me a bag of "treat size" greenies. Because, you know, mom and I are on diets.

I have to report that they are okay....but not as good as fresh veggies. Or bananas. I really love bananas. Greenies are nice though if there is nothing better around.

Jewel, however, is very pro-Greenies. In fact she ate hers AND mine. Jewel does not like veggies yet, but she will when she is older. Anywho, she will take any available Greenies, just give her a call.

So, I guess that shows it takes all kinds to make a world.