working dog
by swampr0se
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Yes, it's me, swamprose.
After our family dog, Annie died, I spent about six months enjoying not walking a dog in subzero temperatures. But I like dogs, and I missed that click of nails on my floor, and getting out into the world on a regular basis. I became a foster parent of future guide dogs. My first pup was Russo, who is now working as a border patrol dog at Niagara Falls. She wasn't cut out for the Guide Dog program. She was a really high maintenance girl, full of joy and exhuberance which is now being channeled. She lives with her handler at home and has a really good life. Frizzle is in training now at the Dog Guide centre in Oakville, Ontario. All the news about her is good, and we will wait to see what exact kind of dog guide she is. Russo's great friend, Pell, is a working dog in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a vision dog for a lovely young university student. Nikkita flunked. We think she may be the smartest of them all. She belongs to Jeff Groves, but as he is at school, Nikkita is around here all week.
I am travelling this year, so I can't take on a new dog. Dog Guides has agreed to send me any dogs that need help or a place to stay for a few weeks.
The Puppy's Revenge
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Frizz is a seeing eye dog. Her person, Sandra and I both cried. Sandra is terrific, has a great family. Her husband is a chef and they are all going to be traveling a lot before Sandra loses all her sight. Frizz is going on a cruise in December for starters. It was just so cool watching Frizz do her job. End of this chapter. All good.
13th May 2011, 13:14
comments (2)
23rd Jun 2010, 04:44
comments (0)
For the last ten days, Frizz has been really sick. She ate something seriously bad on one of our native plant photography hikes. She has been unable to keep food in her, and has lost a lot of weight. She has not been herself--curled up, sleeping, no energy, just pathetically quiet. I am very happy to report that as of this morning, she's back. She woke me up with her cold wet nose, and she's dancing around looking for a walk and a run.
9th May 2010, 13:52
comments (3)
I tried my backpack on Frizz. She let me know how she felt about it by going into her crate and staying there. Maybe when she gets out into the forest she'll feel differently or maybe I'll just have to wear the back pack.
Dog Guides phoned and asked if I wanted the Frizzle back for two months. Her training course (to be a vision dog) doesn't start until early July so we have lots of good times ahead. She is going to be on my training course--how to be a photographer dog in the woods--maybe SHE can carry my back pack.
Jade is a future guide dog. She is 4 months old and after a day with her, I am so happy. I have her for a week, while her family is on vacation! I have learned a lot about training dogs, and I can't tell you how much fun it is to try things out on different dogs.
She's terrific, but I am not used to white dog hair yet. She thinks she is a cat, which is interesting. I hope to catch a photo of her walking along the back of the sofa. She will be getting so dirty next week as I continue my swamp travels. Nothing better than tramping around with a dog.
and we are loving it. the olympics have left us exhausted, but with a new kind of 'true north strong and free'. This is Nikkita, a failed dog guide. We figure she was just smart enough to manage it so she could spend weekends with Jeff, and the rest of the week with Maggie and Pete. This means I have a black lab to fool around with. I taught her to roll. And I am so happy to have the door bell ring and have a dog come in with a flag on it.
1st Mar 2010, 03:56
comments (6)
Amy and I returned Frizzle to the training facility for guide dogs. She met her brother there. They definitely knew each other and there was a very enthusiastic reunion. Frizz is the best dog I have known. I am sure she is going to do great things.
