Category Archives: Casey

Freedom Day

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Casey resting her head on Bill’s knee

Waffle resting her head on Casey

We got permission for Casey to be out and about one day early so she could attend a multi-club puppy meeting with our CFR today at the Career and Technology Center. It was so nice to be able to take booth girls out. Lindsey said that she needed to have a bath first to help her not smell so interesting to any intact males. Casey got to meet her brother Crosby after the meeting. As we were chatting with his raisers we found out that Crosby is an ear sucker just like Casey. Isn’t that funny. We talked to Barb about Waffles fear reactions and got permission to start her on food protocol. I’m so glad, I think this will help her immensely.

Casey Recall Reprieve

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Bill with Waffle and Casey

We got news today that Casey will not be returning to Guide Dogs for the Blind on the next truck. They have more dogs in Breeder Evaluations than they need and training needs more dogs. So since Casey was the youngest puppy scheduled to go on the truck and she is in consideration to be a breeder she will not be going back until the next puppy truck to Utah which is expected to be in October. I didn’t see this coming. Casey is ready to go back but we sure will enjoy having her longer. I think for Waffle it would have been better to have a month or so as an only dog before she is transferred but that is not to be. We have canceled Casey’s Farewell party to be rescheduled when we have a new recall date. Another good thing about the change in recall date is that Casey doesn’t have to go back just a few days after she is released from her confinement from being in season.

Casey Dog Day

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Casey on 12 August 2010

It was one year ago today that we first met our sweet Casey. It is hard to believe that it has been that long and that in just a fifteen days we will be putting her on the truck to return to Guide Dogs for the Blind. She has grown-up into such a good dog with way more confidence than we thought possible those first few weeks.

Casey on 11 August 2011

Casey Farewell Party

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Invite for Casey’s Farewell Party

You are invited to attend an open house in honor of Casey and her upcoming return to Guide Dogs for the Blind
on Sunday, August 21st from 3:oo to 6:00 p.m in the Webster home.

Upon her arrival in San Rafael, Casey will first be evaluated to become a breeder for Guide Dogs for the Blind. If she is not chosen as a breeder she will start her formal harness training to become a guide dog for a blind or visually impaired person.

Two Mile Stones – Banta & Casey

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Today is Banta’s 2nd birthday. I sent her a figure 8 tug toy because it was her favorite tug toy of all the ones we had and it held up pretty good. I got it sent off early and then waited a few days to send an email to Mark to let him know it was coming. Well I waited too long and the package got there before my email. Because he has no vision I didn’t send a note or anything with it. I just figure my email would take care of that. This is what he said:

Hi Raelyn and Bill

We got the box on Friday.  Thank you very much.  She loves it!  I was wondering where it was from, I have not had anyone over yet who could read the box to me to see who sent it.  Mystery solved.

Banta is doing very well.  We will be working with another trainer this Wed and Th.  I do not remember if I mentioned, I only agreed to the 2 week class if I had 1 week of at home training.  We do not have many working issues, just a few minor things that need to be worked through.

We had 12 straight days of thunder storms, some severe, and only 1 storm seemed to bother her.  We had 2 lightening strikes very close to our house.  We learned the next day there was some pool furniture hit by lightening about 50 feet outside our door.  I think that is when we both jumped.  Now we are getting very hot weather.  Since we have been back we have either had very hot weather or hot weather with high humidity.  I think this has caused Banta to be a little less energetic than when we were in training.

We had a very long day today.  I took the day off work and went to 3 Dr. apts. at 3 different hospitals.  She did really well.  We only had some difficulties for the last 20 minutes, I hope she just got tired.  I was really happy with how she worked almost all day.  I get so many comments about how well behaved she is and how beautiful she looks.

Mark and Banta 

The other mile stone was Casey went into season today. I knew it was coming so it was a relief in someways that it finally got here. She has had some behavior changes the last couple of weeks with destructive chewing and peeing on walks etc. She even started to swell up a bit the last day or two. Lisa wanted to get a chance to have her over for a couple of days before she goes back but she had to cut it short when Casey came into season. So 28 days and counting of house arrest for Casey. The bad part is she will only have a few days a freedom before she goes on the truck back to GDB. It reminds me so much of the timing that Banta had too.

August Recall List

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Casey

Today we got the following email forwarded by our club leader:

Because the August puppy truck is scheduled to be later in the month than was previous thought…many dogs are going to training/campus for recall with raisers during Fun Day…this frees up the truck and as of today Casey and Radison are both on the breeder recall list for the late August truck, last i heard it was a San Rafael truck, but will know for sure before it comes. Below are the details from Barb…
The next puppy truck to UT/CO is now scheduled for:
Aug 25 UT puppy drop off
Aug 26 CO puppy drop and recall
Aug 27 UT recall
TR
Jacinda, Chiffon, Farley, Covey, Jaya
Breeder eval
Yoga, Jakota, Jorinda, Joilet, June, Tatum, Tonga, Radison, Razzle, Rhyme, Antiqua, Crosby, Casey
I do know there will be at least 2 more truck this year, maybe 3. This has hardly come together so please don’t ask me to guess Sept/Oct schedules, I just don’t know yet. J
Barb Deevers
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Canine Community Field Representative
Colorado and Utah

Chuckwagon Breakfast and ATV Rodeo

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Clifford and Waffle at the ATV Rodeo

This morning we went to the park for the annual Chuckwagon breakfast put on the city. The lines weren’t too long and we sat across from some policemen who were taking a break from working security for the festivities. Then we met my sister and her family on the other side of the park for the ATV Rodeo. Waffle drove me a bit nuts on the way over there because she kept messing with her head collar trying to rub it off on me or the ground. Silly girl! Clifford came with my sister too so it was fun to get to see him again. Jacob just loves Waffle. Of course he loves Clifford too. My nephews enjoyed seeing how the ATV Rodeo worked as their family recently purchased a couple of ATV’s and they boys are learning how do drive them.

A Walk in the Park

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Casey and Waffle happily enjoying a rest on the cool grass

Today Lisa and I took the girls for a relaxing walk in the park. It was pretty hot so we stuck to the shade as much as possible. We all enjoyed ourselves especially when we just hung out in the cool shade for awhile. Casey and Waffle are so cute together. I can’t help but remember when Banta was the grown-up dog and Casey was the little one.

11 Months Old

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Casey holding a GoughNuts stick and a Nylabone ring

Our sweet Casey is 11 months old today. She is growing up into a really good dog. We are amazed at how confident she has become since those early days. We went to Cabelas today and she actually paid attention to the taxidermy bear they have on display. She would stick her head through the railing to get as close a look as possible. Then she let out one of those deep low barks that means “don’t mess with me.” I gave her a correction for barking but it was rather funny. Since she is 11 months old lets see if I can come up with 11 things that I enjoy about Casey:

  1. Calm – she is still the calmest dog we have raised or even puppy sat
  2. Loves walks – I think all dogs love walks
  3. Belly Girl – she loves to lay on her back with her belly to the sky
  4. Chewer – since January she has become a very effective chewer (note the chewed off end of the GoughNuts stick in the photo)
  5. Double toys – she loves to pick up two toys at once (see photo)
  6. Chunky – we have been cutting back her food for several months now and I think she is finally slimming up a bit
  7. Social – she is great at giving people just the right look to get them to interact with her
  8. Gentle – she is amazing with little kids even babys
  9. Tug – she plays tug in her own unique way – I call it virtual tug because we take turns letting each other win
  10. Crazy – she has this wild and crazy side that she likes to show sometimes by tearing around the house – she especially likes to do this with Bill when he makes a little play faint at her
  11. Caring – she is a natural at being a therapy dog and is sensitive to those who need some comfort

We are really enjoying raising Casey and look forward to see how she will mature in the next few months that we have her here. There is a puppy truck coming on May 13th and puppy #4 might be on that truck. We should find out in the next couple of weeks. I sure hope we can continue the trend and get a “D” puppy.

Clifford Sleepover

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Clifford and Casey

Clifford came to stay at our house for a few days while his new family went to St. George. He has been to our house for sleepovers before while he was a puppy in training. It has been fun to have Clifford part of my extended family since my sister adopted him. Clifford was career changed from Guide Dogs for the Blind for cataracts. They are still searching to find the right training so Clifford can help her boys as much as possible with their challenges.

Casey and Clifford has lots of fun together. They are rather kindred spirits in that they are both rather calm laid back dogs. They can even go for walks together without any trouble. We really enjoyed having Clifford stay with us and it is so great to have another dog in the family, especially one as special as Clifford