Tundra

On the plane to Phoenix - Tundra's first flight with volunteer Puppies in Flight employee from US Airways.

Frog Boy

Last Wednesday, we had the joy of having Tundra in our home for three nights. She is a member of the H-litter, who all went to their puppy raising homes on the same day we brought Tundra home. Tundra's mama is Brooklyn, who is a DWW dog and her father is Fire, from a guide/assistance dog school in Pennsylvania. DWW agreed to give them a puppy in exchange for Fire's role in the creation of the six beautiful puppies that he sired.

Tundra had a chaperon from US Airways Puppies in Flight service fly to Edmonton to pick her up and take her back to Pennsylvania so that she didn't have to fly in a crate in the belly of the plane. They had a gruelling flight itinerary that was initially supposed to have them to their destination on Sunday, providing they made all of the flights (I think he was on stand-by as an employee). Anyway, when he met Elisa and I in the airport, he only had twenty minutes before his flight left. I found out on Monday that they didn't make their flight out because customs had closed before they got there! They ended up spending the night at the Nisku Inn and flew out on Sunday morning (pre or post snow fall, I'm not sure). From what I understood, they were staying at his home in Phoenix until today when they could make the final legs of their journey.

It was a real joy having Tundra and even after only three days with her, my stomach got knotted up and my eyes were teary when I said good-bye. It was the cutest thing when I turned back to watch them walk away, puppy under arm, with legs, tail and bum hanging freely as they headed toward the elevator to the departures level.

When Elisa forwarded me the picture of Tundra on the airplane seat, it made both Greg and I miss the little girl. Good luck Tundra!

Breton's Journey as a Future Guide/Assistance Dog Ends

On Monday we learned that the results from Breton's PennHip exam on Feb. 11 weren't good. I admire Dogs with Wings for their commitment to raising the very best of dogs who some day enter service and are healthy, even tempered, happy and well trained for their job. The standards they set are high as it is very important that the person who receives one of their dogs doesn't have to worry about things like possible health issues in the future. It wouldn't be fair to the client or the dog. Breton's test results show that she is at greater risk than they can accept for future hip degeneration or arthritis and therefore has been removed from the program.

We have lovingly welcomed Breton into our family as a permanent member. We will put her on a special diet, make sure she stays trim and gets lots of exercise in order to prevent possible problems from ever beginning with her hips.

I am looking around at other programs within the city where she can still be of service as she loves to work and has such valuable skills to offer.

As for me, I hadn't expected this to end so quickly, and now with two dogs in our small house, we have some serious decisions to make about raising another puppy in the future. For now, I have other projects on the go with Dogs with Wings, and so will still get a regular dose of puppies and dog training.

Puppy Blossoms

By Shannon Northcott

You were given a seedling for one year to foster and help grow. Most seed packets come with instructions, but instead they told you they would help cultivate the young life in your care and one year later, when it blossomed you would give it back. They were looking for an extraordinary flower and only that type could do. You knew the standards were high, but felt the odds were favourable.

Roses, Baby’s Breath and Forget-Me-Not's mean love, but wouldn’t do.

Marigolds are comforts of the heart, and Junipers symbolize protection.

Ivy represents friendship; Lilies and Orchids, beauty; and the Daisy innocence.

Although these flowers would bring joy and love to the lives they touched, they couldn't do the job.

You doted over the life in your care, nurtured and helped it to grow.

Just before it blossomed, they tested the flower that was going to open. They said you did your job well and that it wasn’t your fault.

Your flower belongs to the bouquet of love, comfort, friendship, beauty and innocence.

There is an entire bouquet of extraordinary flowers, and as much as you wanted your flower to belong there too, it just can’t.

Breton's Second Weekend in Banff

Bentley enjoying the view

The view!

Chasing snowballs on Lake Louise

Playing on Lake Louise

Breton is 13-Months Old Today!

Rigger (front), Clipper (middle), Breton

Clipper and Breton, sisters, chillin' out while I work with

the adult dogs. Can you tell who is who?

Clipper (front), Breton

Breton has had a busy month!

I have been helping at the office twice a week by working with and looking after the adult dogs and when I'm there, so is Miss Breton. She has done well fitting into the routine, and looks forward to her time there by heading to our door early in the morning on the days that we don't go to the office. Breton has been sleeping a bit more often and soundly this month and I am sure it has to do with her latest growth spurt. All of the girls in her litter are so similar that it is difficult to tell them apart. Up until now they have all been very close in size but when I see Breton with her sister, Clipper, Clipper seems so dainty to me beside Breton. Rigger, officially graduated into the adult program this month; the first from Breton's litter to move on.

I am feeling the motions of change within our Nova Scotia litter beginning to accelerate again. The last time it felt like there was a lot of change happening to them, it was when they were babies.

Afternoon After the Storm

The Famous Breton Stance

There has been conversation around the office as to how people are going to tell the Nova Scotia dogs apart from each other when they all move into the adult program, especially the girls. Does anyone else's dog stand with their feet pointed out like a duck?

"I'm not a duck."

I Spy with my Little Eye . . .

Thirteen dogs at NAIT's Animal Health Department early on a sunny Sunday morning. Seven Nova Scotia's and six F-Litter's awake and spry while the animal health technologist put drops into their eyes. Four at a time and one by herself, they were led into the examination room and onto the table, while puppy raiser's and Elisa stood by their side. The lights were turned off and the room was all dark, except for the white light used to peer into their eyes. When the doctor was finished and all had complied, each pup and their raiser's walked out of the office and towards the blue sky, marking this another step forward, eye exams all over and bye-bye!

Corona LRT Station

Today we joined Debbie's puppy class and met at Corona (indoor) LRT station downtown where we practiced a variety of obedience work, rode the LRT to a couple of other stations and went on an escalator. I am blogging today's class because today was the first day that Breton rode on an escalator! She has been an eager and happy puppy to hang out on the escalator platform for a couple of months now, but with a little nudge to her bum and encouragement, today she found herself leaving the platform behind. Breton earned lots of praise, yummy treats and bum scratches for a job well done and in typical Breton character, she returned the affection with tail wags and wiggles. I know we have more work to do to keep her comfortable and confident at going up them, but today was a big step! I have been waiting patiently for Breton to take the first step on her own as I know that without an experienced Dogs with Wings trainer to help guide us, that I would not have taken her up without Debbie being there to assist us with getting on and off. It is very important that Dogs with Wings show us when and how to introduce the escalator to our puppy and that we not take them on before we have been shown how. Thanks so much Debbie for your help and encouragement in getting Breton on and off of the escalator and for having us in your class today!

Morning Kisses

S-p-r-i-n-g

We seem to have a reoccurring pattern that has developed with Breton. As mentioned in previous blog postings, we have always encouraged the motto "four on the floor" with her. The only time it is okay for four to leave the floor is when we give her the queue "raise." There aren't a lot of rules that DWW asks us to abide by, but one of them is that dogs are not allowed on the furniture. Even when Breton was the tiniest baby we never even held her on our lap on the furniture, _ever_.

Now, in the morning while I am still sleeping, Breton springs up on to the bed and lands perfectly, right between Greg and I and starts licking and nibbling my ear while her tail wags at a joyous speed. I've sort of become used to this ritual in that my heart doesn't stop with fear when I feel her land beside me anymore, but my heart does ache when I concentrate on remaining boring and apathetic so she doesn't think it is fun to stay on the bed, all the while saying "off" so that she will get down.

I'm not sure when this behaviour will subside but I will remain steadfast in encouraging that she remain on the floor and will continue to ensure that she leaves the bed promptly. Allow me to say, this is not easy for me because it just feels so darn good having her sweet face so close to me first thing in the morning (Greg, you know I love you too).

I hope I am not the only one who will appreciate ear kisses from this poo eating dog?

Birthday Fun

Birthday treatsie


Morning run in the field with Bentley

Afternoon run at the off leash park

On Feb. 12, I spent the day with Breton doing most of her favorite things. I gave her a new tug rope for her and Bentley to play with in the backyard, but that was shredded before I had a chance to get a picture of them with it. We had a great day and she slept soundly that night. My biggest birthday wish for her is to have many happy, healthy years with lots of happy birthdays ahead.

Breton is 1-Year Old Today! Could Have Been a Better Birthday...

Breton spent her first Birthday under anesthetic at the Crestwood Vetrinary Clinic. Today she had her PennHIP X-ray to assess the quality of her hips. PennHIP stands for University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program. Before she can become a service/assistance dog, her hips need to be in good health and this is what the x-ray will tell us. This form of x-ray is an accurate way of predicting the onset canine hip displaysia.

I dropped her off at the vetrinary office early this morning, and picked her up at three o'clock. The anesthetic left her groggy and a bit confused. She whimpered and paced for the first three hours after I brought her home, but after a small dinner, she settled down and now is only crying occasionally. As I type this she is laying behind me sound asleep (passing gas).

We will have a fun day together tomorrow. Happy Birthday Breton! We love you.

PS - She weighs 55 lbs. now

Gotta Trust my Dog

On Friday night's class at Waggin' Tails, Maria asked how our dogs are doing at loose leash walking without their Halti's on. I said Breton still pulls without her Halti and realized that meant we had home work to do. After class, I was thinking and just assumed she would pull without it and that I haven't really given her much of a chance to show me otherwise. Yesterday and this morning, we went to Southgate Shopping Center and walked with out the Halti. Breton did very well , and thanks to Andrew's tip (Rigger's dad) we practice the "watch me" cue as we walked. We spent time walking in the busy part of the mall with only a couple of minor distractions. By the end of our outing yesterday, I had her clipped on to my belt and walking beside me through the mall and out to the van with a coffee in my hand, and Breton's eyes focused on me. Way to go Breton!

Skill

On Sunday morning, we went to Home Depot to have a look at area rugs. Who knew it would be so difficult to determine what kind of area rug to buy because of our two mover and shaker dogs. Not too light, not too much money, not too cheap, not one that encourages digging...we're still looking. Breton was very cool as you can see.


For the past six months, we've battled the crowds at Super Store on a weekly basis together. Actually, we cheat and go during the weekday so it's a lot easier than going on the weekend. Grocery shopping with a puppy added an entirely new dimension to the regular grocery shop routine. In the beginning, it took a lot more time than I was used to because of the distractions, objections and challenges. Now it seems the only work to our weekly grocery shop outing is the actual grocery shopping. Here are some of the challenges we have over come:

• We were stopped by the door greeter every week for the first month we started going together so the door greeter lady could page the "manager" to make sure it was okay that I bring Breton into the store and of course, it always was. On one occasion, she even came looking for us in the store while we were shopping because a customer told her there was a "dog" in the store. After the fourth visit, she started remembering us and now greets us with a wide grin and asks me every time, "still training 'ey? How is she? She's a good dog?" I always smile and say, "yes, she's a very good dog."
• The first four months down the produce isle was always the most challenging part. There was always torn pieces of lettuce, smooshed grapes and pistachio nut shells on the floor for me to anticipate and correct Breton from helping herself to. While maneuvering my cart, and watching the floor I was also watching for people who used their carts to "push" Breton out of their way. That's right, it happened, a lady pushed her cart right into Breton as if to shuffle her along! Thankfully there was no harm done, Breton didn't really notice and I was too caught off guard to say anything. Keeping her tail tucked in when she is sitting so that it doesn't get run over by a cart is another skill I've learned to watch for. These days, Breton can down-stay in the produce isle while staying focused on me as I casually shop from counter to counter. She no longer dives for pieces of food on the floor like she used to and instead just stares at it. She stays close to my leg and follows every cue (almost).
• Unloading the groceries from the cart at the check out stand has gotten a lot easier too. There is often pieces of candy or other food on the floor that Breton used to get on her belly and try to crawl towards, or twist and pull me around for. I was always the "slow" one at check out, unloading my groceries with one hand, and holding Breton's leash in the other. At Super Store, you have to pack your own groceries, so as soon as we had everything unloaded and scanned, I would be re-loading one handed again. Yes, I was the "slow lady" at the grocery store line up that people cringed at getting caught behind. Not anymore though! I put Breton in a down-stay, I unload, load and pay and am no longer holding up the line up (except when I forget my purse in the van and the cashier tells me to "run" while she waits for me. That happened yesterday).

Yesterday we had class with Breton's sibblings, Schooner and Digby. We went to West Edmonton Mall where Maria had us practice off leash walking in the mall! We went to a safe quiet area, just in case anyone decided to bolt, but no one did. Breton did very good and stayed with me while I did left circles, walked backwards, zig-zagged and changed pace. She only left me twice to go visit her brother's who were watching from the side.

Breton has a Slide Show

Check out the bottom of Breton's Blog to watch her slide show. It's still a work in progress as I sort through photos to catch it up to present time but so far it's complete up to July. Check back often to watch it (or "her,") as it (she) grows.

Breton is 11 Months Old Today!

I can't believe we have only one more month before Breton is a year old. I was standing in the backyard last night with her, and the temperature, the silence and the snow around me felt so similar to the first night I brought her home from the airport and we were in the backyard together. Time goes fast. Her face seems to look different when she looks up at me while we are walking together lately, more mature or something. She is a strong, healthy girl and is doing very well. Her "watch me" cue is very good. We are working on her excitability and the barking that comes with that and I'm sure we will get that taken care of. As she is getting older, it's getting harder to put it out of my mind that her time with us is drawing closer to the end and I keep finding myself wondering about the next puppy we might raise. Breton is getting so mature, she's not my baby anymore, but definitely my girl. I just know that she is meant to go on to bigger things when she leaves us. It will be so sad for us when she leaves, but I can feel in my heart that she is meant to have a future partner to love and take care of. I am cherishing every moment with her for now and not taking anything for granted (even when she comes in the house with poo breath). I want her to be happy and enjoy every one of her moments with me as well, so I try to focus on that for her. In the mean time, there will be lots of runs in the park, walks, Jolly ball playing and wrestling in the backyard with her Bentley. Her favorite things. Next time, it's her 12-month update and I've heard there might be a party involved?

A Doggy Winter

(Greg has become quite smitten with his Breton).

We took advantage of the perfect snow conditions today and brought the dogs out to the farmer's field behind our house for some good old fashion snowball chasing. When Greg comes along, he can throw snowball's much better than I can, so Bentley was in for a treat because chasing snowball's is his favorite winter time sport. Breton just loves to chase her Bentley (and the odd snowball) and so they both played hard! Gotta love the January Thaw!

Laurier Park

Check it out, Breton is playing with an English Sheep dog. This was her first encounter with a Sheep dog since she was attacked by a different one at Terwillegar Park in the Fall. As you can see, she had no problem. In fact, she didn't show any signs of being nervous around any bigger dogs that we encountered. I had to get this on video, even though my bare fingers were subjected to the fridgid temperature and cold metal camera. I was happy to see her be herself. I love how dogs live in the moment. Way to go Breton!

Christmas Gifts

There are no boundaries as to whose hedge hog is whose.