September 6, 2011
Sorry, it has taken me so long to post. Jenny and I had a great time in New Orleans. The weather in New Orleans was so hot and humid that it kept us in more than I expected. We did get to see and visit with all my sisters and most of their families. Jenny had a really fun time with Duce, Corey's little dog. Duce has little dog aditude and the two were WILD together. They played so hard that they both looked exhausted with tongues hanging out and breathing hard after playing. We were all dumb founded and did not know if this was acceptable for Jenny or not. Anyway, needless to say they both slept really well that night. We also went to the casino and Jenny did great. I left a nice donation but we had a great time. It was wonderful to visit with my sisters and my good friends Karen and Bill.
After returning home Jenny and I have just been bonding. She is getting to know my ways and I am getting to know her better. She is wonderful company. This weekend college football started and Jenny discovered I like to scream at the TV and clap and act stupid. She was so cute she came up to me to see if I was alright or if I needed her. I loved it. I then tried to explained she had not seen me watch the Saints yet and that I would be acting alot worse. I don't know if she understood but the Saint's first game is this Thursday and she will know for sure then. Go Saints.
The weather today has a feel of autum and it is very pleasant. We have already been for a walk and hopefully will be going again.
I do have a cute story to tell you all about. I was sitting on the floor petting Jenny and flipping through the channels on the TV, when I came apon the animal channel. They were talking about wolves and bears. Jenny's ears went up when the animals started barking and making noise. She sat up looked at the TV for several minutes then went up to the TV and put her paws on the set. She was totally into the show, then she sat down and looked out the window. She had such a longing expression, like maybe she would see the same thing as on the TV. We had to have a little talk about the fact she would NEVER play with wolves or bears. It was a great moment.
Hope everyone is enjoying today take care and hopefully I will post again soon. nancy
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
6 weeks home
July 5, 2011
It has been 6 weeks since we got home and so many mew things have happen to us both. I have learned Jenny is well trained and I am NOT. The concept of having a service dog and not a pet is a very difficult thing to grasp. I have always had and have been around dogs all my life, so after admittting that I realized my Jenny was different. When she is in the harness and or on the leash, she is calm, working and thinking. but when she is off duty she is a funny dog/puppy. She loves everybody and wants to play. She loves to run and play in the water. I really think she needs to be off duty sometimes and just be a dog.
We went to the beach for a week. She loved the ocean and walking on the beach but it got to hot for her so we could only go in the mornings. We did go out to eat a few times and she did great. We also have played in the lake several times and after I finally calmed down she had a great time. It is really a continuous learning process.
Today, we went back to see the vet. A friend noticed she had a hot spot, so being a nervous nut we went to see the vet. Jenny's vet is wonderful and he fixed her up. She is own an antibiotic for 10 days and some kind of powder. Jenny and I are going to New Orleans in about two weeks, so I want everything to be well before we leave.
I must admit that we saw the vet the first week we came home and Jenny weighed 70 pounds. Jenny needed to lose a few pounds so we went back in a month and guess what she gained a pound. However, today when she got weighed she had loss a half a pound. YEA.
I really can not say just how wonderful Jenny relly is. She takes care of me she follows me from room to room and sleeps right by my bed. I love her so much and am so thankful for her.
Well, enough for today will post again after our trip to the Big Easy. nancy
It has been 6 weeks since we got home and so many mew things have happen to us both. I have learned Jenny is well trained and I am NOT. The concept of having a service dog and not a pet is a very difficult thing to grasp. I have always had and have been around dogs all my life, so after admittting that I realized my Jenny was different. When she is in the harness and or on the leash, she is calm, working and thinking. but when she is off duty she is a funny dog/puppy. She loves everybody and wants to play. She loves to run and play in the water. I really think she needs to be off duty sometimes and just be a dog.
We went to the beach for a week. She loved the ocean and walking on the beach but it got to hot for her so we could only go in the mornings. We did go out to eat a few times and she did great. We also have played in the lake several times and after I finally calmed down she had a great time. It is really a continuous learning process.
Today, we went back to see the vet. A friend noticed she had a hot spot, so being a nervous nut we went to see the vet. Jenny's vet is wonderful and he fixed her up. She is own an antibiotic for 10 days and some kind of powder. Jenny and I are going to New Orleans in about two weeks, so I want everything to be well before we leave.
I must admit that we saw the vet the first week we came home and Jenny weighed 70 pounds. Jenny needed to lose a few pounds so we went back in a month and guess what she gained a pound. However, today when she got weighed she had loss a half a pound. YEA.
I really can not say just how wonderful Jenny relly is. She takes care of me she follows me from room to room and sleeps right by my bed. I love her so much and am so thankful for her.
Well, enough for today will post again after our trip to the Big Easy. nancy
Friday, May 27, 2011
First week home
May 27, 2011
We have been home a week today. It has been an interesting week because we have been alone without a trainer right beside us to tell us what to do. Handling other dogs and people are a real interesting delimmer. I sort of remember what the commands are but when it happens my mind goes blank. Jenny is very similar to a child, in that she is going to push it to see how much she can get away with. Then there is me who wants her to be happy and love me and i do not want to be to hard on her. We are working on finding the right balance. I will have to let you know how things go. This is a constant work in progress.
We went to the vet and I was toldly exhausted after the experience. The vet was wonderful but Jenny had a hard time settling down with all the other dogs and all the smells. Then we went to the dog store and it was so exciting for Jenny, o boy new smells food people kids, o boy. Needless to say it was correction and sit many times.
Jenny met alot of new people and she loved everyone and thought they should love her too. So, once again it was alot of corrections and sitting. She is wonderful but we have alot of work to do. We did go to publix and she did great, very few corrections and no sitting.
Today, it is raining and of course the rain does not matter a hoot to Jenny. She loves it. However, then I have a wet dog and we have to dry off with towels and wait for her to dry.
So, I rate the first week with a solid B-. Will log later with more of our adventures. nancy
We have been home a week today. It has been an interesting week because we have been alone without a trainer right beside us to tell us what to do. Handling other dogs and people are a real interesting delimmer. I sort of remember what the commands are but when it happens my mind goes blank. Jenny is very similar to a child, in that she is going to push it to see how much she can get away with. Then there is me who wants her to be happy and love me and i do not want to be to hard on her. We are working on finding the right balance. I will have to let you know how things go. This is a constant work in progress.
We went to the vet and I was toldly exhausted after the experience. The vet was wonderful but Jenny had a hard time settling down with all the other dogs and all the smells. Then we went to the dog store and it was so exciting for Jenny, o boy new smells food people kids, o boy. Needless to say it was correction and sit many times.
Jenny met alot of new people and she loved everyone and thought they should love her too. So, once again it was alot of corrections and sitting. She is wonderful but we have alot of work to do. We did go to publix and she did great, very few corrections and no sitting.
Today, it is raining and of course the rain does not matter a hoot to Jenny. She loves it. However, then I have a wet dog and we have to dry off with towels and wait for her to dry.
So, I rate the first week with a solid B-. Will log later with more of our adventures. nancy
Sunday, May 22, 2011
WE ARE HOME
Sunday May 22, 2011
Jenny and I are home. It was quite an adventure coming home, first we traveled in a van for about a hour and a half. Then we got to the airport and found out our plane was delayed for at least an hour. The airport is an experience all in itself. OK, the first thing is going through security, the collar and harness are going to set off the alarms, so the dog is going to be patted down. That was alright with Jenny but the security person was unsure, so they had to call someone else to actually pat the dog down. Then there was the bathroon. I now know with out a doubt that we must wait for the big stall because there is no way we can both get in a normal stall and do any bisness because we can not turn around,.. Getting on the plane was a little trickey as we had to walk up the steps to the plane, they are just to darn narrow, but we managed. The plane ride was unadventful., it was Jenny's first time on a plane. So, we arrived in Greenville, SC and we found out that summer had arrived in the south.
Jenny was a little excited and we had to work on calming her down but again we managed. She likes the condo and seems to be adjusting to the heat. We are exploring the grounds around the condo. She has met several people and we are trying to follow the guide lines the school gave us. So far we have not met any dogs we have seen them but no contact has been made.
We are continuing to bond with each other. It is so wonderful , she is so great. I am so happy and conttented. Right now she is laying beside me sleeping and I can not stop smiling. I am so thankful she is the perfect guide dog.
I will continue logging about our new life together. Hope you all are having a great day too. nancy
Jenny and I are home. It was quite an adventure coming home, first we traveled in a van for about a hour and a half. Then we got to the airport and found out our plane was delayed for at least an hour. The airport is an experience all in itself. OK, the first thing is going through security, the collar and harness are going to set off the alarms, so the dog is going to be patted down. That was alright with Jenny but the security person was unsure, so they had to call someone else to actually pat the dog down. Then there was the bathroon. I now know with out a doubt that we must wait for the big stall because there is no way we can both get in a normal stall and do any bisness because we can not turn around,.. Getting on the plane was a little trickey as we had to walk up the steps to the plane, they are just to darn narrow, but we managed. The plane ride was unadventful., it was Jenny's first time on a plane. So, we arrived in Greenville, SC and we found out that summer had arrived in the south.
Jenny was a little excited and we had to work on calming her down but again we managed. She likes the condo and seems to be adjusting to the heat. We are exploring the grounds around the condo. She has met several people and we are trying to follow the guide lines the school gave us. So far we have not met any dogs we have seen them but no contact has been made.
We are continuing to bond with each other. It is so wonderful , she is so great. I am so happy and conttented. Right now she is laying beside me sleeping and I can not stop smiling. I am so thankful she is the perfect guide dog.
I will continue logging about our new life together. Hope you all are having a great day too. nancy
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Going Home
May 19, 2011
Well, i signed the papers and my sweetie is mine and we are going home tomorrow. YEA. It has been a long journey and the first stage is complete, now the adventure will begin. I am packing and trying to make sure I get everything together and not forget anything. So, this is short and sweet. Thanks everyone for all your help talk to you all soon. nancy
Well, i signed the papers and my sweetie is mine and we are going home tomorrow. YEA. It has been a long journey and the first stage is complete, now the adventure will begin. I am packing and trying to make sure I get everything together and not forget anything. So, this is short and sweet. Thanks everyone for all your help talk to you all soon. nancy
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The puppy raisers
May 15, 2011
What a great day. I met my sweetie's family, who took care of her from the time she was 7 weeks old until they turned her over to the trainers. The family consist of a mom, dad and 3 daughters, can you believe it. Their oldest daughter is graduating this year and is planning on majoring in nursing, They have a 14 and 12 year old daughters We have so much in common. They are a wonderful family. They told me my sweetie was the first of a litter of 11. My sweetie is the first puppy they have raised for the guide dog program. They are raising another one now, which will be the second one for the guide dog program. You must understand they do this job for free. They are not paid for doing this, they do it because they want to help. Just unbelievable loving people. My sweetie was so happy to see them and we both enjoyed the visit.
The count down has started for us to go home. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have learned alot and we still have much more to learn, but we are getting ready to fly on our own. This wil be our last week and they will be keeping us really busy. There will be another night walk, a solo walk and an obsticle course. Should be interesting. Will try to keep you updated.
Until then take care and I will be thinking of you all. nancy
What a great day. I met my sweetie's family, who took care of her from the time she was 7 weeks old until they turned her over to the trainers. The family consist of a mom, dad and 3 daughters, can you believe it. Their oldest daughter is graduating this year and is planning on majoring in nursing, They have a 14 and 12 year old daughters We have so much in common. They are a wonderful family. They told me my sweetie was the first of a litter of 11. My sweetie is the first puppy they have raised for the guide dog program. They are raising another one now, which will be the second one for the guide dog program. You must understand they do this job for free. They are not paid for doing this, they do it because they want to help. Just unbelievable loving people. My sweetie was so happy to see them and we both enjoyed the visit.
The count down has started for us to go home. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have learned alot and we still have much more to learn, but we are getting ready to fly on our own. This wil be our last week and they will be keeping us really busy. There will be another night walk, a solo walk and an obsticle course. Should be interesting. Will try to keep you updated.
Until then take care and I will be thinking of you all. nancy
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Big City
May 11, 2011
Today, they loaded us up in the vans and took us into the city. My sweetie and I were not to sure about the big city. There were lots of people, cars, trucks, buses, sirens and airplanes. There was so much noise and movements, it was distracting for my sweetie and me. The smells were not fresh. In other words, I was so out of my comfort zone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My sweetie and I started our walk with our instructor and were faced with a mass of people. The sidewalk was full and it was hard avoiding running into everything. However, my sweetie did a great job, I did not. We had to walk into an area under construction and it crammed everyone closer together. It was scary and I did not like it at all. It was like being on a merry-go-round, with things flashing all around you but it really is just the people moving fast. We nade it back and said never again.
I absolutly know I need space and cleaner air. I am not a city girl. We will be going home a week from Friday and I am so ready. I miss my bed.
Later all I must go to bed as 6 comes to early. nancy
Today, they loaded us up in the vans and took us into the city. My sweetie and I were not to sure about the big city. There were lots of people, cars, trucks, buses, sirens and airplanes. There was so much noise and movements, it was distracting for my sweetie and me. The smells were not fresh. In other words, I was so out of my comfort zone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My sweetie and I started our walk with our instructor and were faced with a mass of people. The sidewalk was full and it was hard avoiding running into everything. However, my sweetie did a great job, I did not. We had to walk into an area under construction and it crammed everyone closer together. It was scary and I did not like it at all. It was like being on a merry-go-round, with things flashing all around you but it really is just the people moving fast. We nade it back and said never again.
I absolutly know I need space and cleaner air. I am not a city girl. We will be going home a week from Friday and I am so ready. I miss my bed.
Later all I must go to bed as 6 comes to early. nancy
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