Happy Birthday Bentley Boy!

Bentley is Three!

This year we noticed a big difference in Bentley's ability to chill. He is very content to lay on his back and receive belly rubs (his favorite), sit at the front window and keep an eye on the neighbourhood or snooze on the couch. This year, he did destroy one Blackberry, chew one cell phone and disfigure a T.V. remote control but that was it for the year (I think). Our walks no longer feel like I am trying to keep up with him and I feel like we are walking together now. It has taken thirty four months of daily walks to reach this point, but well worth the gift of the bond it has created and the wealth of lessons he has taught me along the way. He is a special dog and I love my Bentley Boy very much! Happy Birthday Bentley!

Sunday Relaxing

A Puppy Moment

Bentley was eight months old the last time he did any significant damage to the house; he chewed through the baseboard and drywall on a corner of the wall. Breton was eighteen months the last time she did any damage. She turned eighteen months a couple of weeks ago.

You know those "puppy moments" when out of nowhere they get a sudden burst of energy and start running around in a frenzy of pure hyperactive wildness that only last seconds? When Breton has one of those moments, she tucks her tail nice and tight, her bum almost touches the floor and she guns it like a speed boat with its aft in the water and its nose in the air.

Breton had a puppy moment last week. She opened it up in the bedroom and made a mad run into the hallway where she did a tight 180 degree turn back into the bedroom and smacked her hip right in between two studs of the bedroom wall. That was her first lap, and it didn’t stop her. Greg and I were dumbfounded as she ran in and out of our room, Greg holding Bentley who watched on in awe, and me wondering if her hip was okay. Her hip was okay, the wall not so much; one for Breton, zero for the house. When we showed the wall to my seven-year-old Niece, she said, "If Breton hit it ten times harder, she would have fallen outside."

New Blog

http://puppyblossoms.blogspot.com/

I've changed Breton's Blog address because now that she is no longer working to become a service or assistance dog with Dogs with Wings, I would like to keep blogging about her life with me. I would also like to include stories about my Springer Spaniel, Bentley, and blog about other dogs in my life. This blog is no longer going to be just about Breton and so watch for more changes (and stories) to come!

Shannon, Breton & Bentley

New Blog Address...

I am going to change Breton's Blog address and hope that those who read my Blog will continue to do so. Breton's Blog link is going to be removed from the Dogs with Wings Website shortly, so if you would like to continue following, you may want to save the current address to your favorites. I will post the new Blog name and link in a few days.

Thanks!
Shannon & Breton

Amigo's

No Blonde's allowed!

King Bentley and his girl's

Glory Girl

Glory

Introducing our house guest, Glory! Glory is a sweet 6-month old Labrador Golden Retriever Cross who is in training with Dogs with Wings. She came to us on Thursday evening and is fitting right into our routine.

It's not hard to tell that Bentley is the oldest dog of the three as he is quite content to maintain his lazing about with not much interest in play time with Glory. Breton on the other hand has made me so proud as she is a good helper in showing Glory the ropes and is also a good play friend for her. Sometimes I wonder who the older dog is as Breton often initiates play time.

Yesterday, Breton, Glory and I went to the off-leash park together and Glory was Breton's shadow the entire time. When we arrived home, I got Bentley and then took all three dogs for a long walk around our neighbourhood. If the girl's weren't tired after the park, they were certainly tired after their walk. It's a pleasure having Glory in our home and I look forward to more postings during her stay!

Summer Vacation 2009

Mom and Dad took us to the Okanagan in B.C. this year for summer vacation. We found it very hot for us dogs the first three days we were there, but the last three were cooler and that was okay by us. We went swimming every day which was a dream come true for a water lover such as myself. Mom and Dad's friends from Vancouver joined us with their two Bernese Mountain dogs. I especially liked Mischa cause I think she's closer to my age. I tried many times to entice her into wrestling matches. At the beach, Paisley tried to play with me, but I was always more focused on my ball. Us four dogs were the talk of the campground. People would walk by our campsite just to see to see if there were really four of us in one site and when we went for our evening walks together, people would always come out of their campsite's to see us. I think it was probably Mischa and Paisley who drew people to us, but that's okay cause we would get scratches too. Speaking of scratches, was I ever itchy by the end of our trip. That confused Mom cause I was given preventative medicine to stop fleas from making me itchy. I got a flea bath anyways when we got home and that stopped the itching and I feel much better now.

I'm comfy in my space as we began our road trip.

Here we are at the Saskatchewan Crossing for pee break #2 (of many).

We arrived at the campsite at six o'clock (it took eleven hours to get there) and this is Bentley waiting patiently for Mom and Dad to set up camp.

This stake in the ground was my nemesis. This is my high alert look as a bicycle went by as Mom snapped the photo.

Mischa and Paisley arrived! Bentley met them last year and he was happy to share our site with them again this year. Paisley is enjoying a nice roll in the cool grass.

I think this is Paisley coming up behind me.

Every day when we came back from the beach, us dogs curled up on the grass and went to sleep. The humans sat with us to keep cool on the grass too.

We slept in Revelstoke on the way home and this is us posing outside of the hotel with Mom.

Breakfast and pee break (#1) in Golden the next morning. We weren't too sure if Mom and Dad were going to leave us behind here.

I'm told we have another long drive coming up to go visit Nan and Pop in Winnipeg. By the end of this summer, I'll have visited three Province's!

Good Luck Schooner!

Schooner is moving into the Adult program on Monday and tomorrow, he is leaving his puppy raiser family and moving in with his new adult raiser family. Schooner and Breton are good friends and loved spending time at the off-leash park together. Today, Leah and I took the dog's to the dog park for one last run.



Good luck in the adult program Schooner! Breton and I will miss you at the park. I know your destiny is big as you take another step forward, and we are proud of you (and your momma for the job she has done raising you).

Leah, Breton and I are always up for a walk at the park with you. I know she would love to hang out with you any time you are craving some canine companionship.

Pool Time

Oh, hi there! Yesterday I was hanging out in my wading pool. I was skeptical in the beginning of exactly what Mom wanted me to do with this pool thing. It wasn't like it was a pond or the river at the park, you know, something to swim after sticks in. This was just a small, cold little body of water that barely went over my elbows. I watched my brother go in and dig around in it, splashing the water all about. When he got out, I decided to test one paw and then two and then I found myself standing in it. I enjoyed dunking my face in it, but basically I discovered it was just a great thing to stand in.





Bentley, chillin' and supervising (but mostly chillin').

I think he felt the pool was too small for the two of us. More pool for me.

Ah, Mom! She caught me coming up for air here.

Stony Plain Farmer's Day Parade 2009

It was one year ago, almost to the day, that we participated in the Farmer's Day Parade in Stony Plain and on Saturday, we marched in the parade again. We had a very good turn out of volunteers and their dogs, and even had Caper and Elliott, two of our 2009 working Autism Service dogs and their families walk in the parade with us. It was very special to see the two dogs working with their families and to witness the joy in the children they were with as we walked in the parade together.

May 30, 2009 Farmer's Day Parade

June 1, 2008 Farmer's Day Parade

Clipper

Elliott - Working Autism Service Dog

Caper and Elliott with their families as we were about to turn left down the next street through Stony Plain

Leah gave me a ride back to my car at the end of the parade. This is Breton wrestling with Schooner, her brother, in the backseat on the way to dropping us off. Schooner is a true host by allowing her to beat him up in his car.

Love you Miss May

Here is a link to a touching story about our beautiful May and her boy, Brenan. She was placed as an autism service dog on May 3 in St. Albert and I have posted this link to share her success. I worked with May at the office for the last four months of her adult training and I am so proud of her!
http://www.stalbertgazette.com/news/2009/0523/scene.htm

Sandicast

Two months ago, when Breton was still in the Puppy Program with Dogs with Wings, we had a class at West Edmonton Mall and our instructor had us walk into a store with Sandicast sculptures to see if our dogs would have any reaction. Breton barked and put the breaks on at the entrance of the store and wouldn't go inside. She was scared of the sculptures at the entrance and in particular of the wolf sculpture that was in the front. When Breton was removed from the program, aside from having failed her hip exam, there were temperament challenges Breton had that were of concern to the head trainer. Dogs with Wings agreed to allow me to keep working with Breton to see if I might be able to help her over come some of her challenges so that hopefully she can still become a therapy dog. We have been practicing at an easy and relaxed pace since then.

Today, we went to the same store that caused her so much anxiety a couple of months ago, and had success. The wolf sculptures weren't there, so I'm still not sure how she would react to seeing those now, but there was a life size black lab who was in the front holding a sign that said "Welcome" (could that be anymore inviting). Breton sniffed it and the other dog sculptures while I clicked and treated and she stayed nice and relaxed.

She also has difficulty with fast moving objects, IE. electric wheel chairs and bicycles but we've had some positive experiences with bikes recently so hopefully I can continue to keep her moving forward around those anxious kind of triggers.

I am proud of her success today.

Morning Play Time

Hanging with her Bro's

Rigger (left), Breton (middle), Digby (right)

Looking Like a Puppy (but not)

Almost 15-Months Old

New and Old Friend's

On Sunday afternoon, Breton and I had the pleasure of hanging out at the park with Ros, Dudley, Robert, Amelia and Michener. This was Breton's boarding (fun) family when we needed a puppy sitter last year. December was the last time she was with them. When she caught sight (smell) of her home-away-from-home family, she quickly ran up to them and gave each person a warm greeting as an old friend would.

Breton and I were delighted to meet Michener (Mich), a two-year-old German Shepherd who is Dudley's guide and came to Edmonton in February '09 from a guide dog school in California. Mich is a big beautiful boy (29" at the shoulder) who reminded me of Everest - a real gentle giant.

Breton and Michener got along fine and Breton hopes to have another play date together with Mich again soon (she enjoyed stealing his stick away and of course being the gentleman, er, dog that Mich is, he obliged).