Happy 4th!

We've been celebrating Independence day for the last two days around here!  Yesterday Dante and Moray got tons of play time, running, and playing in the kiddie pool.  One thing that has not changed in the last year is Moray's sheer joy whenever he gets wet!

July 4th, 2013 - 11 weeks old

July 3rd, 2014 - 14.5 months old

Hehe!

Gardening buddy!

 It's hard to believe how much has changed in the last year:

2013

2014

Happy Independence Day!

Hey look, a real blog post!  Didn't know I was capable of it -- and on a Monday night to boot!  But, in all seriousness, Moray has had a busy week, months, and year so far!  

One of Moray's most exciting things of the last few weeks has been a road trip with my family.  We traveled 12 hours in the car each way, and he was a fantastic traveler and sidekick.

Hanging on his pillow.

 

Pit stop and water-drinking.

This was his first big trip, and actually his only one besides a trip for our CCI puppy raiser workshop last summer when he was only 14 weeks old!  It really stretched him as he had a lot more "working time" than he is used to, and every single place we went to was new for him.  

"Hotels are fun!"

Moray got to visit with several of our friends' dogs and have play time with them.  Although, making sure he had enough play time and down time was definitely a challenge since the weather did not always cooperate.  We got creative!

Like running between my mom and I up and down 3 stories of stairs in the hotel!

And Fetch in the room!

A friend's dog, Lola, and Moray.

We did have one set back for the week.  Moray had been running with a friend's dog in their yard, which is partly concrete.  We are always careful, and he seemed fine when he was running and even when we left to go to lunch.  Once we got back to our hotel, however, we were noticing blood all over the carpet.  Moray plays hard, so hard that I haven't had to cut his back nails for months becasue he wears them down himself.  It turned out that he had worn four of them down so far they started bleeding uncontrollably.  Thankfully, the hotel was fantastic about it, and even though they were not a pet-friendly place, they were so nice and felt so bad for Moray.  Some styptic powder and "new skin" for slightly scraped paws, and he was fine.

Moray thinks "Dancing with the Stars" is a good way to unwind!

One of the things that was so funny was Moray's complete and utter LOVE for my brother in law.  Moray is always friendly and happy to meet people, but I have never seen him take to someone like he did Curtis.  He was so cute (and a little naughty!) following him around, and trying to figure out what his beard was! It was so instant, and so precious!

The rest of our week there was filled with visiting at friends' houses, going to restaurants, stores, and even the mall.  Moray was very good the whole time!  This was by far his biggest challenge.  While he is confident, he is also pretty laid back, and doesn't necessarily need -- or want -- to be "working" all the time.  He was so good on all his outings, and showed he is capable, and becoming much more reliable in his good behavior. Yay Moray!  I will admit I was kind of nervous to see how you would do, but you really proved yourself!  he is well on his way to becoming an amazing assistance dog!

"Look how small and out-of-the-way I can stay!"

We also got to do some educating on service dogs and laws that give them public access.  Yay for open business who want to learn, and a perfect little ambassador in Moray!

Sleepy head after a loooooooong day!

"Where we headed next?"

AWESOME job in a crowded coffee shop.

Cutie Patootie at the mall!

"Under!"

"Up!

So stinkin' cute!

Nice loose leash, Mor!

Bowling is boring!

So focused and good!

SO sleepy on the way home!

Wordless Wednesday: Spring!