Six Weeks

Over the last six weeks I have sat down to write on my little blog more than once.  Sometimes I got a few sentences in and erased it all; sometimes I couldn't bring up any words at all.  These past six weeks have brought a lot of change.  Some good, some hard, but all God's perfect plan. A post like this will never be how I envisioned chronicling these events, but life doesn't always play out how you envision it either.

Before turn in, Moray had one last adventure with my family.  We did some traveling which included a visit to New York City, and his first flight to Orlando:

November 7th was my last day holding Moray's leash as a puppy in program.  That afternoon, I gave my little buddy one last kiss goodbye as he entered Professional training.

Two-and-a-half short weeks later, on the day before Thanksgiving, our puppy program manager called with the news no puppy raiser wants to hear.  Moray's release from training was not a complete surprise, but much of what she had to say was hard to process.  Moray decided that being a service dog just was not for him, and has been adopted by my grandparents to live as a spoiled Change of Career pet.  

From when he was still a PIT

Moray, 

You were a joy, always.  The sixteen months that I was blessed enough to have you were some of the best in my life so far.  I don't know all that God has in plan for you or I, but I know it's going to be pretty amazing.  Thank you for loving so freely and always knowing how to make everyone around you laugh.  I will always be proud to have been your puppy raiser.  I love you forever.

Week of Lasts

Moray and I have had a busy, busy semester.  He has been on many an adventure lately, despite my lack of writing.  

Field trip to the Fire Station

We have been to a puppy raising workshop, group trips to the fire station and airport, we have done promotional events for Canine Companions, and many other training outings.  

Checking out the ambulance

Airport exposure 

Getting ready to go through security

The TSA were fantastic to help out Moray and Hardy in their training! This is hopefully the beginning of a long relationship with them and our Canine Companions puppies!

The Week of Lasts is always an emotional week.  Yesterday was Moray's last outing with his local Canine Companions friends.  Today was his last day of Community Bible Study, tomorrow will be his last day of class with me, as well as his last puppy class, Friday will be his last day of Awana...the list goes on.  

My chest tightens and my eyes fill as I think that next time I am at ____, there will be no bouncy black lab at my side.  My hand won't be nudged by a jovial puppy who knows I still carry the occasional treat for especially good boys like himself.

I can willingly go through the heartache of goodbyes a million times over because it means that I have gotten to share the last seventeen months with an amazing creature who has taught me more than I have taught him.

Excuse my dorky face, and know that we laugh together...a lot. And it makes me smile.

And there's something even better coming ahead.  This week of lasts is needed.  It's essential in order for Moray to make a new set of Firsts.  Firsts with his new trainer, Firsts with his forever human in whatever career he chooses.  And that is a beautiful thing.

Today

Today.

Today marks fifty days until Moray says goodbye to Tennessee.

Today marks fifty-eight days till I say goodbye to my best little buddy.

Today is the day that those first tears have slipped out from under my eyelids.  

When you pick these bouncy, rolley-polley puppies up at not-quite-eight weeks old, eighteen months seems like a lifetime away.  Before you know it, they finally can hold their bladders until you get them outside, they learn not to howl in their kennels, they "sit," "stand, " "heel," "jump," "roll," "under," and so much more with only the whisper of a word.  They prance next to you with that coveted "J" in their leash, not even tugging at that grown man whistling at them across the isle, rather, looking up at you as if to say "take that.  I'm so good, aren't I mom?"  All the while they are wiggling their way into the deepest parts of your heart.

And all too soon, you find yourself with an email glaring at you in your inbox entitled "November Matriculation is Approaching."  

No.

Just no.

I'm not ready for this.

But then you look down at the almost-seventeen month old puppy snoozing on your feet and you realize that he is ready.  

All his commands have been learned (more or less).

All your worries about his behavior in public have disappeared, and he can handle just about anything with confidence and ease.

But most importantly, he knows how to love.  He knows how to laugh.  He knows a simple game of fetch should be the highlight of your day.  He knows he can make friends wherever he is.  He knows mornings are greeted with wiggles and happy dances, and nights are ended with a kiss.  

He's ready.  

You just need to catch up.

Short, Sweet, and...Fun!

I have been writing on this little blog for over two-and-a-half years.  Not only has it been a place for recording and remembering my journey of puppy raising, but it has also been a means by which I have "met" many wonderful people from across the country who also are hooked on this volunteer gig.  Over the last year especially, there have been several people who I originally met because of this blog that I now consider dear friends.

My parents, Moray, and I recently headed up to Missouri to visit a college.  While we were there, we had the privilege of meeting up with Lisa and her Canine Companions puppy in training Liza!  They live a couple hours away from where we were going, but graciously agreed to meet up with us!

We first met up at a castle that touts to being haunted.  It was a fun place to work both pups together!  Liza is a complete sweetie!  She is so beautiful and dainty, and she and Moray hit it off instantly and were completely in love.  When Moray meets new dogs, he usually just tries to play with them.  Not these two.  They worked very well together, but just wanted to be together and would lean over and steal kisses every chance they got!

They not only fell in love in one day...

Uh oh!

...but also got married...

...and honeymooned! ;)

We went up stairs...

...and down stairs.

We worked on various commands like "up"...

...and jump.

And although no ghosts were seen, it was soon time to head out!

Pretty Liza!

"Let's go!"

We headed to downtown Springfield to walk around some more, but also got to spend time talking to people all about Canine Companions!  Of course Liza and Moray were excellent representatives!

Soon it was time for a water break!  Its good to have polite puppies who don't mind sharing!

After some dinner where these two smooched under the table...

...We switched puppies and worked through some basic and advanced commands and obedience!

"Jump!"

"Jump" and "under" and more kisses!

Liza does a "let's go!"

Handsome boy if I do say so myself!

"Down" of different surfaces.

Liza mid "heel"

They even practiced holding "downs" and "stands" with major distractions -- each other!

Another stop for rest for the pups and some dessert for the humans, and we had to make our goodbyes.

Lisa with Moray and Liza and I

Moray was out cold on the way to our hotel that night, and I would put money on the fact that his good behavior the whole next day was due to the pure fun and excitement he had!

Sleepy head!

It was such a fun day spent with dear friends, and I know I can speak for Moray when I say he was exhausted all the way home!

**Most photos here were taken on Lisa's camera by herself of my mom**

Shaping Up

One of the most important things when training a puppy is consistency.  This applies to every aspect of everything you ever do with your pup: consistently doing body handling, consistently giving them their required 6+ hours of kennel time per day, consistently having the same expectations for good behavior.  

I have had a busy, busy couple weeks, and Moray has not been getting public outings as consistently as he is used to.  I took him out for the first time in a little while the other day, and realized he was rather sloppy in his public behavior.  That is no fault of his own; it's just the way life is sometimes.  So today we headed out for some "get your act together" work.  ;)  

Target is usually our go-to for a low distraction outing where we can practice various skills.

 We started out just walking around and making sure Moray could keep a nice "heel" position no matter how fast or slow I walked.  He prefers to trot wherever he goes, so this has been one area that we have had to work hard on through his whole life.  Because I do have to keep on him for heeling, loose leash walking has never been a skill that seems effortless with him.  But he does well as long as I keep 100% focused on him, so I'll take it!

We did some distraction work by walking back and forth down the dog food isle without sniffing anything!

Moray got to practice commands including "up" on different surfaces!

 We also practiced distractions with balls.  Poor Moray was such a good sport while I bounced them around and over him, and rolled them past and into him (gently!).

I pulled out a hula hoop, and Moray was a little unsure of it, but with the help of some treats, he performed some commands in it, walked through it, and walked next to me while I carried it.  It is important for a future service dog to be comfortable while their human carries anything from grocery bags, to bulkier items too!

"Down" in the hula hoop!

 We had a little fun with a skate board too!  

While this smiling boy is super cute, as many fellow shopper pointed out, its not all fun and games as all of these seemingly common exposures are super important for his training to make him a confident and well-rounded pup who isn't afraid of anything!