A Visit to Big Boy School

This was a fun and exhausting week for Jethro. He took a trip to Guide Dogs of Texas' training center. He spent the day getting used all the different things at the training center that all the "big boys" learn when they graduate.

He spent time in each of the offices, as you can see we all have puppy gates built into our office doors, its a very user friendly office for dogs. Annie the office manager gets dog visitors all the time. She has the patience of a saint!

Jethro had to get used to the potty pens that the big dogs use, it similar to people using public bathrooms, some dogs cope really well going "busy" away from home, and others really have some issues. The different textures of the pea gravel and the different doggy smells made for some interesting challenges. He didn't participate in that process very well, he was quite happy to get home :)

he spent some time in the puppy managers office, where he finally laid down and took a nap instead of getting into everything. He did all kinds of naughty things that all the puppies do in a new situation.

he then got to go out to the kennel and hop up on the grooming table and learn to lay there for grooming and nail triming. he was not real excited about the whole stay on the table, thing but he sure liked the cookies he got for being a good boy!

then off to the scale for a weekly weigh in. 68.8 pounds. hes a BIG boy for only 6 1/2 months. His work is really nice, and he's learning really well. he is hitting adolescents, which is not so fun for the humans in his life. he is testing all the rules at the house like any teenage boy! YUCK! but he'll get over it and we will like him again! but let's not mention the black paint on the beige carpet ok!

the next 10 days Jethro is spending out at the Dominguez State Jail as part of the Pawsitive Approach Program. We like to expose all the dogs to all the environments!

www.guidedogsoftexas.org/pawsitive-approach.htm

stay tuned!

FORE!!

Its that time of year when Guide Dogs of Texas has their charity golf tournament. This past Friday we spent the day in the rain at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort and Golf Course. It is a BEAUTIFUL facility and even in the pouring rain we had so much fun! Jethro got to spend some time out on the 11th hole checking the closest to the pin contest. He hung out with one of our volunteers while I worked back at the registration table.

Jethro even got to run out to the hole on a golf cart. Not as easy as it sounds when your a 65 pound puppy between he feet of a guy who is 6'4"

Now that its cooled off a little bit training has been really nice. Although he has a LOT more energy when its not so hot. That has been interesting to work with. he can walk longer and play longer too! He is teething also and wants to on everything from a water bottle to your hand. Ruby is still his favorite chew toy, much to her dismay. I think she keeps waiting to see when he wont come back from one of his adventures. When we get back from a training walk she looks like, dang it, you brought him home again!! :)

His work is really starting to progress nicely and he has learned to find doors, counters and the girls room. Which came in very helpful at the golf course because I had no idea where it was!!

hes not so good with trash cans, and buttons yet but we are working on it.

Here's to a good cool work week!

Catching up!

Hi all, I'm sorry its been so long since and update. I've been out of town a lot, which means Jethro goes to a sitter! being at a sitter is a really good thing for guide dogs in training. they learn to cope with transition, they learn that rules are the same wherever they go and they learn that there is a whole other scary world out there to cope with. Jethro can use all of that! he just turned 6 months old and is starting adolescence. I hate teen age boys!!

Jethro went to visit a puppy raiser in Austin who has some great experience not only with guide dogs, she is raising her 4th, but also with German Shepherds. She also has a crazy menagerie of all kinds of critters, including a cat named Buddy, who shall we say is "special". Jethro LOVES Buddy! he loves Phantom, http://phantomstales.blogspot.com/ their guide dog in training and Floyd, their therapy dog, and he even probably likes Lila the dachshund (although she barely tolerates him). There is Cassidy, the shepherd too. not too mention the giant turtle and all the other cats and a huge bird! Jethro didn't know what he was in for!! By the time i picked him up, he was used to all of it and happy as a clam. Even if he Sharon was ready to kill him for throwing a hissy fit in her office!! bad puppy!! no bark!!

After the first round of puppy sitting we had Jethro home long enough to take care of some necessary business. we had him neutered! He was pretty good about the whole thing, he whined some, and was a little groggy from the anesthesia but overall he bounced back pretty good. And even though he was required to wear the cone of shame (SQUIRREL) because he refused to leave his stitches alone, he flew around the house like nothing was the matter. he didn't care that he pounded the back of our legs with the evil cone, or knocked stuff off the coffee table, or moved furniture or sliced the back of my ankle. he was perfectly happy with the cone!

Right at the end of his confinement we sent him back to Austins so i could go on another trip. He loves going to Sharon's and he got to swim in the baby pool, he really thinks hes a lab, and check in with all his pals and Buddy his favorite cat. He really doesn't understand why the cat at home doesn't like him as much as Buddy does!

We are all back to normal now and he is fully recovered and we are back to training all over town. his work is really coming along nicely even though he is still so young. its really hard to think of him as a young pup. last week he weighed 64 whopping pounds!! he now is the biggest dog in our house, and the youngest! he's a full 2 inches taller then ruby!!

The hard work begins now. we need to start teaching some of the finer work, so off we go for a new adventure!