Day 64

I miss my family, but I love Julia. She took me hiking yesterday. Look how expertly I navigate the river!

Day 63

My people are going away for the week, and I get to stay with Julia, my favorite puppy sitter!  Julia and I go way back -- I lived with her after I left my dog Mom.  A week in the city - I am so excited!

Oh, please, can I jump on this cute little girl, pin her down, and lick her to death?  Mom thinks that I still need to work on my people greetings.

Day 62

Here I am, waiting for the train.  Since I have not yet earned my puppy jacket, I cannot board the train, but it's fun to wait!  I love people watching - also leaf watching, cat watching, squirrel watching, bird watching ...

Day 61

Puppy Pantomime

Day 60

Abram's cousin, Judith, is visiting with her boyfriend, David.  Judith has fallen in love -- with me!  She wants to take me home, but Mom said no.

Day 59

 

Mom took this photo this morning.

 



And this photo on January 31.  Look how much I've grown!  

Day 58

 

Getting out of bed Monday mornings is hard, don't you agree?

Day 57

 

I love when Abram takes me for a walk!

Day 56

 

A picture perfect descent!

Day 55

 

Abram loves me, but I'm not so sure he appreciates my puppy kisses.

Day 54

Sometimes, when I outsmart my people and flee instead of returning to my kennel, I hide underneath my favorite chair in The Forbidden Living Room.  I always get caught, though.  I need to work on being stealthy!

Day 53

Although he looks like a squirrel in this photo, Muffin is a kitten and is my best friend.  We like to wrestle.  He slinks through the pet gate into the kitchen, and I pounce on him.  Eventually, he needs a break.  If he escapes back through the gate without human intervention, he scores a point.  If Abram or Mom need to intervene, I score a point.  We don't really keep track of the points, but I think we're pretty even.

Day 52

Last night was great - I got to play in the fluffy snow after my bedtime walk -- but the weather this morning is lousy, grey skies and slush everywhere.  Yuck!  I actually don't mind the slush so much, but my people do.  So, I chose this photo today, taken Saturday.  There's no better way to brighten the day than me + flowers!

Day 51

Last night, I had puppy class. I thought you'd like to meet my friends.  These are the BIG puppies, the upperclassmen - Frisbee above and Charles below.  They attend the class prior to mine.  I am in middle school and they are in high school, soon to return to the guide dog headquarters for IFT (In For Training).

 

 

Georgia (with her Mom, Visa) is the newest addition to my middle school puppy class. She is the smallest puppy in class -- I am WAY bigger than she is, and sometimes I scare her with my exuberance.   

 

I LOVE PUPPY CLASS!   First, me and Abram worked hard. (That's Nicole, my teacher, on the left.)

 

Then, I networked with potential puppy sitters.  Prashant (center) puppy sat Archer when my people vacationed.  Maybe he'll puppy sit me too!  It would be fun to spend some time in Manhattan.

 



Then, I played hard.  I love belly rubs!

Day 50

 

Eli and Mom took me on  my very first hike today, along the Hudson River.  I was pretty good - Eli rates my behavior a 9 out of 10.  I can't wait to go again!

 

Puppy love.

Day 49

Me, Christopher, and Eli.  Christopher is Eli's best human friend.  It's good to be loved!

Day 48

I do my best thinking while eating ice cubes.

Day 47

 

Here I am, practicing steps again.  Practice makes perfect!  Abram, Eli, and Mom are excited because they received a postcard from Archer.  He's doing great!

 



Day 46

Me at breakfast this morning.  Cute, no?

Day 45

 

Abram took this photo of me, Eli, and Mom at breakfast this morning.  It's amazing Mom is smiling because I woke her at 5:15 this morning.  I do not usually bark in my crate.  In fact, I generally get IGNORED when I bark so I tend to be a barkless dog.  But early this morning Muffy was playing soccer, using my crate as a goal post.  He's pretty good.  I was just being supportive, cheering him on.  Mom descended the stairs, took me outside because she thought I might need a bathroom break (I've experienced a bit of gastrointestinal distress the past couple days), but I really did not need to go out.  So, when we returned, Mom locked Muffy down the basement.  The culprit was jailed.

Day 44

Exercising in the backyard.  Bummer all the snow melted.  I wish winter would last forever!

Day 43

 

Me and Abram, on our Sunday walk.  Abram could not join the photo because he's the photographer!



Day 42

 

Abram had friends over for a barbeque Saturday, and I got to hang out with everyone!  Here's a photo of just the girls. 

We allowed the boys to join this photo!

 

Day 41

Snow!  AGAIN!  Lucky me from the front

And from the back.

Day 40

It's the 40th day I've been with my raiser family.  Have you noticed how big I am getting?  Abram, Mom and me practice every day.  I "sit" like a pro.  I am getting really good at "stand" and "down".  And I am learning "heel" and "close".  In this picture, Abram and I are doing "close" where I sit between my person's legs and face out.  I am supposed to be centered - need to work on that.  This way, when I am a guide dog and ride on a bus or train, I can sit between my person's legs, compact and within reach.  Also, when I ride on airplanes, my person can request a "down" from a "close" position and slide me under the seat like a carry-on bag.  If I become a guide dog, I will request a person who flys either First or Business Class so I can have more paw room.

Day 39

 

On Sunday, we learned "heel" and "close" in class.  I love to practice!  I have made so much progress in just 2 days!  I had difficulty understanding the "heel" command in class, but look Nicole - I've nailed it!  (PS- Nicole is my teacher.)

 

Yet another Archer update ... he had a short yet productive career as a stud!  These pups with mom Alia are 6 weeks old and just returned to the guide dog kennel from home litter care where they stayed with a volunteer family.  Dorothy and Declan are resting above.  Zonked out below is Dylan. 

 

 

Day 38

I love when Eli takes me out of my crate, even though that robe makes him look more cat than dog-like.  For a cat person, he's awesome!

Day 37

This morning, Eli had homemade pancakes for breakfast, Abram had cereal, and I had duck.

 

This just in ... go ahead, say it:  Awwww!  Archer's puppies, from left to right, Izzy, Imus, and Ink -- all future guide dogs extraordinaire, just like their dad. Archer begins harness training today, and Mom is so proud!  I know it may not seem possible, but I was even cuter when I was little. 



Day 36

Puppy class tonight was FUN!  I pay attention to Abram even though it's sometimes not easy!

Charlotte and Thimble. Thimble is a girl, just like me.

Mack and Scooter.  Scooter always sits funny.

We wore silly hats to celebrate Elizabeth's birthday (Scooter's Mom).  I tried to eat my hat, but other pups were more cooperative.  Charlotte and Hannah celebrate Thimble's success, with their proud parents in the background.

The best time of all - playtime!