I'm a slacker!

Ok, I've been a slacker and haven't updated you all on my adventures lately! Sorry about that - now mom says I gotta do it, so I'm on tie down until I complete at least one.

Since my last blog, my eye is all healed, I got my almost big dog shots and all sorts of other stuff.

I went to my first puppy meetings - they were fun! First, we had a guest speaker who told us all about life at guide dogs. It was fun to hear what college life is like, but I'm so not ready for that! At that meeting, I just had to be quiet - I didn't do the greatest job of it, but it was ok. Then we went out to dinner with the CWT that was there. That was cool!

That weekend was Mother's Day. The cats didn't tell me, so I was a bad puppy and didn't get my mom anything. :( Dad's family came over and we all went to a big garden place. It was real pretty, but I thought all those flowers were there for me to eat - mom thought differently. Bummer!


Then we went out to eat - it was my third time in a restaurant. I was a good boy - for the most part! Those people sure take a long time to eat! I could have downed all their dinners in about 5 minutes, tops!




OK - that's it for now - I gotta get my video editing skills, then I will post another update - exciting things have happened!

Love and Licks,
Accord

My Big Day!

Well, I had my first big trip out all by myself today. Before, I had Char there to go with me, but now its just me - which is kinda scarier! Mom, Dad and I were invited to speak at a luncheon that GDB put on for local Legacy Society members (those people who donate money to GDB). I got all spiffy - teeth brushed, combed and pet wiped, even got my first pedicure last night! Then, we were off! The lunch was at the Kendall Jackson Wine Center. For a moment, I thought they meant WHINE center, so I tried to oblige, but then mom told me to be quiet. Oh well.

There were some big dogs there - a guide dogs named Nino (MBL), Tamar (MBL) and Buzz (MYL) and a career change cross named Henley. It was SO hard to be good with those big dogs there! But, *I* stole the show! Who could resist this face?!? Sure, they pet the other guys, but they all oohed and awed over me. That's cause I'm darn cute!

The chef guy who made the people food was so cool - he made dog cookies for each of us dogs to take home. Yum! I can't wait for my after dinner treat!

Though it was fun to get lots of pets and hang out with the big dogs, I was the only puppy who got to play with the butterflies! AND a lizzard! When you are at a vineyard, there are lots of friends to play with - I thought the butterfly wanted to do labby loops. I tried, but mom made me stop - she said I was supposed to be doing my "business." The lizzard just happened to scurry almost under my foot as we walked back inside. How's a boy to resist trying to get it???

Mom says I was a very good boy. Mom and Dad had to do the puppy shuffle while eating (that's where one cuts all their food while the other holds my leash and keeps me being good, then they trade. They said something about it being hard to use both hands when I am around - whatever!)

Mom says she hopes the next outing goes as well as that one did!

Love and Licks,
Accord

Quiet around here!

I'm a bit perplexed by my current situation. I came home and was an only dog for a couple days. Then, Char came back to live with us. Then, a CC'd dog named Berlin came to stay with us for 5 days. I thought that was the life - so many friends, so little time! But, in just 2 days, all my friends have disappeared. Berlin left on Friday and they forgot to bring Char home from Guide Dogs today. I was kinda baffled by it, but they say she had to go to college. Whatever. Now I have no friends. The stinkin' nice cat got all grumpy with me when I tried to wrestle with him today. I thought, "hey, he's my size, this could be fun." But, Mr. Kitty didn't think so. Oh well.

Before we took Char to GDB, we had a busy day!
First, we had to wait patiently to eat.

Then, we had to work on stairs again. I'm getting good at going up, but still don't like thinking about coming down. Scary!!


Then, we went for some pictures. I didn't get to get out of my crate at the Golden Gate overlook, but Char got to take some pics and look at the bridge.


Then we went up the hill to where there are fewer people, no traffic and no dogs. I didn't get to touch the ground there, but I did get to come out of the crate to look at the bridge. I can't wait to see that thing up close!



One last pic of us all together



And one last car ride for Char


Then she was in the kennels - and wagging her tail so hard it is a blur!


Now it's just me, mom, dad, Mr. Kitty and Simba. Not sure what to do with myself - other than to convince those cats that I am a fun guy! Keep your paws crossed for me!

Love and Licks,
Accord

the quiz

Now it is my turn to fill out this quiz.

How many puppies have you raised?

I currently have # 15 and 16

Why did you start raising?

Because my parents would never let me take our pet dog anywhere with us :) And I wanted to be a vet.

How long have I been a puppy raiser?

Almost 19 years

What is one thing you have learned in raising?

There are too many things to count!

What have your puppies taught you?

Patience and Consistency

What is the strangest thing someone has asked/said to you about your puppy?

My favorite happened in the drive through at Jack in the box. I was driving, PIT, in puppy coat, was on the floor of the passenger's side. Girl at window looks at the dog, reads his coat and says, "Oh my gosh! You are blind?!?!" I just say quietly cause I couldn't say anything that would be non-insulting.

Do you give your puppies real name out in public?

Yep

What is the most embarrassing moment you have had with your puppy?
there have been a lot of those too - hard to pick one! Probably the day that Granger (who turned 8 yesterday) peed a river in Macy's. He had just peed outside. This was the first sign that he had a bladder infection. 2 baby diapers, 2 travel packs and kleenex & we still needed help!

What is the proudest moment you have had with your puppy?

Probably my second graduation. It meant a lot more to me at 23 than it did at 16 (yes, I had a long break between graduates)

What advice do you have for new puppy raisers/owners?

Say it once and make them do it!

The pics you have been waiting for!

OK... here are the pics of my eye! It looks worse than I feel like it is - we still don't know what happened, but today it's oozing! Ick! 4 more days of antibiotics and warm compresses. It's back to the vet on Friday, if the swelling has not gone down by then (and so far, it hasn't changed!) Cross your paws!





Now, here's a happy picture - me and my big sister, Char!


Time to eat! (and take a pill - blech!)
Love and Licks,
Accord

Owie! Owie! Owie!

So, I had my first trip to the vet today. And it wasn't for shots - those aren't due yet. Yesterday, the whole family was at my aunt and uncle's house. No one knows what happened, but all of a sudden, I woke up in mom's lap and my eye was almost swollen shut! I'm gonna be a guide dog! I need to see out of that eye ball! Mom thought maybe I got a bug bite, so she gave me icky bendryl. But it didn't help. This morning, it was still big and ugly. Mom was scared there was a foxtail, so we rushed off to the vet. But, nope - no fox tail! Yeah! But, I have a puncture wound in my bottom eye lid. How crazy is that?!?! No one knows what poked me, but the vet gave me a shot and some feel good stuff and send me home with get-better pills. Oh - and he shaved my face. I'm not impressed. People talk about getting a black eye, so I thought I was all good & it would blend with my black fur. But, now I have a gray eye. When all the fur is gone, my skin is pretty light! I'll share pictures soon - if you are good ;)

Love and Licks,
Accord

My new home!

So, last Tuesday was a very exciting day for me! After a hard morning of playing with my sibs, this guy came to pick me up. My care takers said he was going to be my puppy raiser. Whatever - I just hoped he was fun! So, off we went on another adventure. After 20 minutes of howling like a banchee (they don't call me Accordian for nuttin!), I got to meet some new friends. A lady was there and I figured out that these people were gonna be my two-foot mom and dad. But, there were other friends there too!

This one didn't like me at all - they call it Simba - but I think Devil Cat is more fitting!















This one, they call Mr. Kitty - very dignified for a Pringle loving cat!



















This one doesn't have a name, nor is it any fun. Not sure why it exists.















These are NOT friends - don't even look at them - they get you in trouble! Not sure what a tomato is, but I sure don't wanna find out now!





















This one was fun! She's about the same size as my mom, Elsa, but she's not my mom. Her name is Char. She's a guide dog puppy too - I hear she's going to college soon. I haven't known her long, but I think I'm going to miss her (but not miss sharing these people!)


Ok - one last picture of me, just to hold you over until my next post! Then, it's off to bed! Time for a cat nap (that would be a nap with a cat if the big black one will let me!)




Love and Labbie Kisses,
Accord

Hello World!

Hi there! I'm new around here - just born 9 weeks ago on February 19th. My name is Accord and I am going to be a guide dog when I grow up! My mom's name is Elsa and my dad is Domingo. I spent my first few weeks of life with just mom and my brothers and sisters. When I got bigger, I moved into the puppy kennels with my siblings - mom was tired of all us rugrats & went home. I can't remember all my siblings names, but some of them are April, Anka, Alanda, Amalfi and me - Accord!

Here are some pictures of me and my sibs in the kennel at Guide Dogs



I'll post more soon - lots of growing to do!