Pupdate: Fable phase zero

Posted on November 6, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

We got Fable on the puppy truck early Sunday morning without mishap. She was excited to go and started up the steps before it was our turn. Once in her assigned kennel on the truck she was more interested in saying high to the female lab across the aisle and male golden retriever next to her than in saying good-bye to us. No surprise there.

Me and Fable on the puppy truck

Our friend and fellow puppy raiser came to say good-bye to Fable on Sunday and took some beautiful photos of Fable just as the sun was coming up.

Fable – photo by Karen Fuller

Galaxy, Bill, Raelyn and Fable – photo by Karen Fuller

The big surprise that day was Galaxy’s reaction. She went with us to drop Fable off and we walked the beautiful trail by the hotel before hand. Galaxy seemed fine until we got home from church. When we got inside she stopped abruptly on the landing and just stood there like she didn’t know what to do with herself. She is adjusting and I’m learning that Fable did a great job of keeping Galaxy entertained. She has gotten herself into a bit of trouble in situations that she handled with ease while Fable was here.

Galaxy – photo by Karen Fuller

We got word that she arrived safely on the campus for Guide Dogs for the Blind in Boring, Oregon on Monday. Then we just had to wait for Thursday’s phase report to come out and hope that Fable’s name was on it. It was with the expected “0” in the phase column. Phase zero is all about adjusting to campus life and medical screenings. It can be a big adjustment to go from living in a puppy raisers home to the kennel environment. But GDB works hard to make them comfortable and happy. They get walks and play time with other dogs and kennel enrichment activities that could be anything from bubble machines to flavored ice and other tasty things.

Pupdate: Emma’s Recall

Posted on September 13, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

Me and Emma

I’m off in post schedule this week. I blame it all on these puppies. I’ve decided I don’t much like the two-day overlap. I’m sure it will be good but it is emotionally much harder. The key is to remember that next time I end up with 5 or 6 months with two dogs. I think two months would be perfect but with wanting a certain letter that makes it difficult to pull off. Maybe one of these times. Anyway, we put Emma on the puppy truck to San Rafael, California today. The way I was feeling this week I thought I might get really emotional when the time came to do it. But today, I came to terms with it and saw that some things would be easier in training Fable with just one dog in the house. We had a busy morning with other commitments but I got in a quick walk with Emma before we left to meet the truck. I think that helped too.

As expected Emma was super excited to be there and see the other dogs. There were a couple of dogs transferred from Colorado for the High School program and four dogs recalled for training, I think. By the luck of the draw Emma was the first one to go on the truck but she got the upper kennel right behind the driver’s seat. She will like that, because Emma will be able to see more of what is going on. Emma was more interested in the dog treats she got for being in the kennel than saying good-bye to us. She is off on her big adventure. I think they drive to Elko today and stop for the night. Then finish the trip to San Rafael tomorrow. They are probably picking up more recall dogs along I-80 as they go.

The house is quiet without her here. It is always that way when a puppy leaves. But she is close to my heart and I’m excited to see what path her life takes from here. We won’t hear anything until it is decided that she won’t be a breeder or that she has passed all the preliminary tests for breeding and they are awaiting final tests to decide. I’ll update here when we get some news on Emma.

Pupdate: Coming & Going

Posted on August 22, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

Just 20 days until our new “F” puppy comes. Here is the current list of names from the naming contest. It is an impressive list of names. But there is still time to add your suggestions. Additions don’t have to be unique. This is also about guessing what her name will be, so you can “vote” for a name already on the list. If I’ve failed to credit you for a suggestion let me know and I’ll add your name to a suggestion. I see a couple that I don’t have anyone down for suggesting (oops).

Faberge Karen (Lisbon)

Fabia Minh

Fabian Jan

Fabiana   Karen (Lisbon)

Fabianna   Karen (Lisbon)

Fabianne Karen (Lisbon)

Fabrica Kellie

Fabiola Minh

Fable Karen (Lisbon)

Fabray Karen (Lisbon)

Fabrice Karen (Lisbon)

Fabulous Karen (Lisbon)

Facet Tina

Fáelán Karen (Lisbon)

Fahari Janine

Fahrenheit Tara

Fairfax Karen (Lisbon)

Fairlane Kellie

Fairy   Karen (Lisbon), Minh

Fairytale Kellie

Faith Jo Ann, Louise, Kellie

Fajita Martha, Tara

Fala   Karen (Lisbon), Janine

Falafel Karen (Lisbon)

Falcon Janine, Louise

Falina Karen (Lisbon)

Faline Kellie

Falkland Karen (Lisbon)

Falla Tina

Fame Martha

Famous Karen (Lisbon)

Fancine Laurel

Fancy Holly, Randy, Karen (Lisbon), Brianne, Tara

Fandango Jan

Fanfare Janine

Fanny Karen (Lisbon), Laurel, Kellie

Fanta Karen (Lisbon)

Fantastic Karen (Lisbon)

Fantasy Karen (Lisbon), Tara, Kellie

Fantine Karen (Lisbon), Minh

Fanya Karen (Lisbon)

Fantasia Donna, Holly, Laurel

Fantine Kellie

Fara   Karen (Lisbon)

Farckle Tara

Faren   Karen (Lisbon)

Farewell Karen (Lisbon)

Fargo Toni

Farhana Laurel

Farica Janine

Farida Laurel

Farina   Karen (Lisbon)

Farissa   Karen (Lisbon)

Farley Minh

Faro Tina

Farrah Jo Ann, Tara, Karen (Lisbon), Toni

Farsi MInh, Linsay

Fascia Tina

Fashion   Karen (Lisbon), Laurel

Fate   Karen (Lisbon)

Fatima Karen (Lisbon)

Faun Tina

Fauna Karen (Lisbon), Minh

Fausta   Karen (Lisbon)

Faustine Karen (Lisbon)

Fava   Karen (Lisbon)

Favor   Karen (Lisbon)

Fawn Donna, Kellie, Karen (Lisbon), Janine

Fawna Kellie

Fax Karen (Lisbon), Jan

Fayda   Karen (Lisbon)

Faydra Kellie

Faye Louise, Karen (Lisbon), Minh

Fayette   Karen (Lisbon), Laurel

Fayla Karen (Lisbon)

Falin Kellie

Fayna Janine

Feather Jo Ann, Karen (Lisbon)

Febe Minh

February Louise

FedEx Jan

Fedora Karen (Lisbon), Jo Ann

Feisty Karen (Lisbon)

Felda Karen (Lisbon)

Felena Karen (Lisbon)

Felice Karen (Lisbon), Laurel, Janine

Felicia Kellie, Karen (Lisbon)

Felicidad Karen (Lisbon)

Felicity Karen (Lisbon), Minh, Kellie

Felipa Karen (Lisbon)

Felisha Karen (Lisbon)

Felita   Karen (Lisbon)

Felix Minh, Jan

Feliz Laurel

Fema Minh

Fender Marilyn

Fennel   Karen (Lisbon)

Ferdinand Minh

Fergie   Karen (Lisbon), Toni

Ferguson Toni

Fermata Jan

Fern Kellie, Bill, Karen (Lisbon), Janine

Fernanda Karen (Lisbon)

Ferrah Kellie

Ferrari Roxanne

Ferris Kellie

Festal Jan

Festival Tara, Karen (Lisbon), Laurel, Jan

Festive Donna, Karen (Lisbon), Laurel

Feta Martha

Fez Laurel

Fianna   Karen (Lisbon), Katie

Fiat   Karen (Lisbon)

Fiddle   Karen (Lisbon), Laurel, Janine, Tara

Fiddler Tara, Kellie

Fidel Tara

Fidela Janine

Fiera   Karen (Lisbon)

Fiero Minh

Fiery Karen (Lisbon)

Fiesta Tara, Karen (Lisbon). Laurel

Fifa Minh

Fife Tina

Fifer Kellie

Fifi   Karen (Lisbon), Laurel

Fig Karen (Lisbon)

Figaro Jan

Fiji Tara

Filamena Brianne

Filene   Karen (Lisbon), Minh, Tina

Filigree   Karen (Lisbon)

Filipa Karen (Lisbon)

Filippa Donna

Filly   Karen (Lisbon)

Film Tara

Filomena Minh

Fina   Karen (Lisbon), Meagan

Finaky Louise

Finale Janine, Jan

Finbar Tara

Finder   Karen (Lisbon)

Finesse Donna, Karen (Lisbon)

Finish Louise

Fink Tara

Finley Minh

Finn Minh

Finnian Jan

Finola Karen (Lisbon), Lindsay, Tara, Katie, Jo Ann

Fiona Jo Ann, Donna, Karen (Lisbon). Kellie

Fionna   Karen (Lisbon)

Fir   Karen (Lisbon)

Fireball Tara

Firebird   Karen (Lisbon)

Firecracker Tara

Firefly   Karen (Lisbon), Laurel, Kellie

Firelight Laurel

Firework Tara

Firenze Karen (Lisbon)

Fisher Minh

Fisk Jan

Fix Tara

Fizz Tara, Laurel

Fjord Laurel

Flag Jan

Flagler Jan

Flake Kellie

Flair Jo Ann, Karen (Lisbon)

Flamingo Karen (Lisbon)

Flan Randy, Karen (Lisbon)

Flame Lindsay, Laurel, Tara

Flannel Karen (Lisbon)

Flare Randy, Tina

Flash Randy, Lindsay, Minh

Flavia Karen (Lisbon)

Flavor Laurel

Flax Tina

Fleece Laurel, Tara

Fleur Karen (Lisbon), Minh

Fletch Kellie

Fletcher Minh

Flick Kellie

Flicka   Karen (Lisbon), Marilyn, Katie, Kellie

Flicker Minh

Flickr Kellie

Flight Karen (Lisbon)

Flirt Jo Ann, Karen (Lisbon)

Flit Kellie

Flo Karen (Lisbon), Toni

Float Jan

Flora Jo Ann, Kellie. currentdescendent, Karen (Lisbon), Marilyn

Floral Jo Ann

Florella   Karen (Lisbon)

Florence   Karen (Lisbon)

Florencia   Karen (Lisbon). Laurel

Florentina Karen (Lisbon)

Florette Laurel

Florianne Karen (Lisbon)

Florida Karen (Viansa & Ballad), Donna, Karen (Lisbon), Laurel, Kellie

Floriah Marilyn

Florie   Karen (Lisbon)

Florinda Karen (Lisbon)

Florine Kellie

Flossie Kellie

Flouta Laurel

Flower Jo Ann, Louise, Karen (Lisbon)

Fluffy Karen (Lisbon), Laurel

Flurry Jo Ann, Kellie, Karen (Lisbon), Laurel

Flute   Karen (Lisbon), Marilyn, Jo Ann

Flutter Karen (Lisbon)

Flyer Jan, Loiuse

Foggy   Karen (Lisbon)

Folly   Karen (Lisbon)

Fonda Karen (Lisbon), Janine, Tina

Fondant Jo Ann

Fondue Jo Ann, Karen (Lisbon), Lindsay

Font Jan

Fontina Jan

Fontaine Laurel

Fontainot Laurel

Fontana Jo Ann, Karen (Lisbon)

Fontina Jo Ann, Kellie

Fordham Minh

Forest   Karen (Lisbon), Jan

Formosa   Karen (Lisbon)

Forsythia   Karen (Lisbon)

Forte Jan

Fortitude Minh

Fortissima   Karen (Lisbon)

Fortunata   Karen (Lisbon)

Fortuna Jan, Jo Ann

Fortune   Karen (Lisbon), Kellie, Jan, Loiuse

Fountain Tara, Laurel

Forward Craig

Fossey   Karen (Lisbon)

Fountain   Karen (Lisbon)

Foxy Karen (Lisbon), Marilyn

Fraline Donna, Laurel

France Karen (Lisbon), Marilyn, Lindsay

Frances Jan

Francesca Tara, Karen (Lisbon), Minh

Francisco Minh

Francine Tara, Randy, Karen (Lisbon), Kellie

Francis   Karen (Lisbon), Kellie, Jan, Toni

Francisca   Karen (Lisbon)

Francoise   Karen (Lisbon), Laurel

Franconia Jan

Frankenstein Karen (Lisbon)

Frankfort Minh

Frankie Lisa, cottonthemaltese

Franklin

Franklynn Katie

Franky Marilyn

Franna Karen (Lisbon)

Frannie Becky

Freckles   Karen (Viansa & Ballad)

Fred Toni

Freda Donna

Frederica Karen (Lisbon)

Frederick Minh

Fredrick’a Kellie

Freedom Holly, Tara, Karen (Lisbon)

Freetown Laurel

Freesia   Karen (Viansa & Ballad)

Freezee Louise

French Tara

Frenchie Randy

Frenchy Karen (Lisbon), Laurel

Fresca Crystal, Karen (Lisbon), Lindsay, Minh

Fresh Randy

Fresia Kellie

Frey Tina

Freya Joanie, Karen (Lisbon)

Frida currentdescendent

Friday Louise, Karen (Lisbon), Laurel

Frieda Karen (Lisbon), Jan

Friend Tara, Kellie

Friendship Laurel

Frieze Tara

Fringe Tara

Frisbee Tara, Karen (Lisbon)

Frisco Randy, Toni

Friska Brianne

Frisky Randy

Fritter Jan, Kellie

Fritos Tara

Fritter   Karen (Lisbon)

Fritz   Karen (Lisbon), Tara, Minh

Fritzi Karen (Lisbon), Janine

Fizz Donna

Frizzle Tara

Frolic Janinie, Karen (Lisbon), Holly

Frost   Karen (Lisbon), Kellie

Frosty Minh, Jen

Frozen   Karen (Lisbon), Tara

Fruit Karen (Lisbon), Tara

Fuchsia Kellie, Karen (Lisbon)

Fudge Louise, Karen (Lisbon)

Fugue Tina

Fulani Laurel

Fun Randy, Karen (Lisbon)

Funky Karen (Lisbon)

Fusion Laurel

Futura   Karen (Lisbon), Jan

Future Karen (Lisbon), Laurel, Jan

Fuzz Tara

Fuzzy Donna

Fye

Fynn Minh

Fyodor Minh

Emma had her official eval today. It was planned for Liberty Park but the rain moved it to PetSmart. She has a hard time with pet stores so she wasn’t on her best behavior. She was super sniffy and some distracted. But she did fine anyway and she is on the September recall. So she will be leaving in 22 days for San Rafael, California. Our pups usually go to Boring, Oregon but for some reason this recall is for San Rafael. Banta was our only other pup to be recalled to San Rafael. While I’m excited to see what Emma decides to do with her life, I was hoping that she would be around for a few weeks to mentor miss “F”. But she is ready, more ready than Dune or Zodiac where. So there will be just two days of overlap between the new puppy and Emma, the time it takes for the puppy truck to go to Colorado and drop off baby puppies and then return picking up grown-up recall dogs.

I need to take lots more photos of Emma over the next 3 weeks and see if I can get her puppyhood book done to send a digital copy along with her on the puppy truck. Oh my, there is always so much to get done. Yikes! I’m sure they would like her end of project report asap too. Most of all we are going to miss that sweet little girl. I’ll just have to enjoying everyone of the next 22 days.

Good-bye to Yakira

Posted on October 18, 2012 by tellingfamilytales

last group photo with me, Zodiac and Yakira

We got up at 5 a.m. on Monday morning to get Yakira to the puppy truck on time. The drop off spot is about an hour from our home and they leave the first thing in the morning, after breakfast and walking the dogs already in their care. We like to get there early enough to help the puppy truck drivers walk the dogs. It seems to help make the process of sending off a puppy a little easier. There is a nice little walking path by the hotel where the puppy truck stops for the night.

Bill saying his last good-bye to Yakira

After all the dogs were walked it was time for all the new recall dogs to get on the truck. There were three dogs that morning and we went first. The puppy truck has two tiers of kennels and Yakira ended up on the top row. She got a large dog biscuit upon getting in to help make the kennel a more positive place. We said our last good-byes and took the last photos. The puppy truck drivers patient all the raisers. No one is rushed but no one takes unfair advantage of the situation either.

The puppy truck stopped Monday evening in Meridian, Idaho and finished the trip to Boring, Oregon and the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus there on Tuesday. We don’t expect to have any news on Yakira for a while. I think at this stage if we get news too quickly it probably won’t be good. Casey was dropped from breeder evals in just a couple of weeks. Banta was in breeder evals for months. We got some news after about a month and a half that she was in the last stages of breeder evaluations.

We all miss our sweet and gentle Yakira. But Zodiac is taking it harder than I expected. We are puppy sitting a four-month old yellow lab named Tim. I thought that would be enough to keep Zodiac from being too sad but it has worked. There is a sadness in his eyes and he doesn’t have much interest in many of the things that usually attract his attention. It seems the bond between Yakira and Zodiac was even stronger than we knew.

Lasts

Posted on October 13, 2012 by tellingfamilytales

Yakira – photo by Lisa Thompson

This week has been one of lasts. The last walk around the neighborhood with Yakira. The last puppy class. The last time to the local grocery store. The last time to work with Bill. The last time to go to church. Last sleepover. Last time having a lunch date with Bill.Then there are all the lasts that I didn’t realize were lasts when we did them. She has been so many places with us over the last year. Tomorrow marks one year since we first saw Yakira.

Yakira – October 13, 2011

Sometimes I get very sentimental and a bit sad but at the same time I’m excited to see what Yakira’s future will bring. We are having a farewell party for her on Sunday evening. Then we put her on the truck early Monday morning. This is all part of the puppy raising process. The good and the bad. So proud of the dog she has grown up to be. But also seeing her weaknesses and hoping that the change of environment and stress of this transition doesn’t bring out those weaknesses and make them a deal breaker. But also knowing that if they do, then being a breeder or a guide dog isn’t what is best for her future. So that is the last of the sappy stuff about Yakira being recalled to Guide Dogs for the Blind.

50 for 50 #19 – A New Puppy

Posted on May 6, 2012 by tellingfamilytales

All four of us on Zodiac’s puppy day – photo by Lisa Monson

My plan was to get a new puppy in August but when the opportunity came to get a “Z” boy this past Friday I somehow couldn’t say no. So the 19th thing that I did to celebrate turning 50 years old is getting a new puppy.

Zodiac is a fun mix of stubbornness and adventurer, with a bit of unexpected caution thrown in. He is happiest when he gets some freedom to explore his surroundings. Most of his complaining has been about being kept from learning about his surroundings. I told you about his stubbornness in last Friday’s post introducing Zodiac. Then there is his fear of his food bowl. It is stainless steel and when Zodiac is about 3/4 of the way through eating he has a tendency to step on the edge of the bowl, which flips it. This scares him so he backs off from the bowl. It is funny to watch him. He wants to go back to his food but he doesn’t trust the bowl to stay put. It helps to understand that in the puppy kennels they eat from a doughnut-shaped dish that they can step into. If you we hold the bowl he comes back to finish his meal. Such a silly boy.

puppies from the Tito/Denisha litter – Guide Dogs for the Blind flickr site

The first few days with a new puppy are the hardest. The whole relieving outside is new to them and puppies don’t have a clue what you are trying to teach them. But it gets better quickly once they start to catch on. In the meantime, I am getting up several times a night and making lots of trips out during the day. And there are still more accidents to clean-up than it seems possible.

A really bright spot is how well Yakira and Zodiac are getting along. She is being a good mentor and learning to play to his level. They are so very cute together. What a fun way to celebrate turning 50!

Late-breaking Puppy News

Posted on May 1, 2012 by tellingfamilytales

Last night I got a call from our puppy club leader telling me they had a puppy for us if we wanted it. The plan was to wait until August but this black lab male became available at the last-minute. We had until this morning to decide and the answer is yes, we will take a puppy now!

The puppy truck comes on Friday! I thought she said a “V” puppy and this morning I found out he is actually a “Z” puppy. I’m so excited. I was hoping for a “Z” puppy to continue the pattern: A (Apex), B (Banta), C (Casey) – then we skip to the end – W (Waffle), no X – GDB has never had an X litter, Y (Yakira) and now Z! I know that it is silly but it makes me giddy with delight.

Here is a short video from a couple of years ago of the puppy truck getting loaded up in San Rafael, California. I think tomorrow they will be loading up our little Z-boy. One thing that has changed is that they pups are micro-chipped now instead of having tattoos in their ears. So as they load them on the truck tomorrow they will us a hand-held scanner to see which pup is which instead of checking the tatoo.

Any guesses about what his name will be? For those who are new to this, each litter has a letter for all the names to begin with. The other complication is that the name can’t duplicate any working dog from GDB or current puppy in training or breeder dog. That group is about 3,000 dogs. That means the names sometimes get very creative.

Here is a list of Z names for babies.

Some of the guesses so far are:

Zee
Zachary
Zach
Zane
Zebra
Zaire
Zorro
Zale
Zesty
Zip
Zoomer
Zeke
Zanto

Good-bye Casey

Posted on October 16, 2011 by tellingfamilytales

Yakira and Casey snuggled together in the back of the car

We got up super early this morning to take Casey to Ogden to put her on the truck. We could have dropped her off last night but I just didn’t see how spending another night on the truck was going to be of any benefit for her. We got there on time (7:00 a.m.) despite the fact that the alarm clock didn’t go off (it was set for p.m. instead of a.m.) and we had to hustle out the door as fast as we could. We had a bit of a wait once we got there because the drivers where still having breakfast. We could hear one of the pups on the truck making a bit of racket as we were waiting. We had Yakira with us in her kennel and I took her out and she relieved like a pro. So then she got to be loose in the back of the car with Casey. They were very cute together and Yakira snuggled up with Casey. Today is Yakira 2 month birthday so I put the birthday bandana on her and I put the celebration bandana on Casey for recall day.

Eventually the drivers came and I took Casey for one last walk. The hotel they stay in has a really nice walking path with a pond and lots of grass. When I was done I was going to put Casey back in the car so we could put her on the truck later after we helped walk dogs but she didn’t want anything to do with getting back in the car. So I was going to wait until Bill got back from walking the first dog he took out. But one of the drivers said it was fine to put Casey on and then we could come back after walking the dogs and say our final good-byes. She was on the upper level of kennels so I let the driver lift her up there.

Panera enjoying her walk

Then it was time for me to help walk dogs. The first dog I noticed was Panera. Her raiser is on a Yahoo list for guide dog users and puppy raisers and others who are associated with Guide Dogs for the Blind. I had told her that I’d try to walk Panera and get photos of her if I could. Panera got on the truck in Colorado on Friday. She is a big black lab at 73 pounds and not fat. And boy was she ready for a walk. I wasn’t completely prepared for her energy and I got a good shoulder yank the first time she ran to the end of the retractable. I kept a close eye on her after that and we did much better. We completed the circuit and did another half circuit to try to burn off a bit more of her energy.

Bill and Casey in her kennel with a wish bone toy

By the time I got back all the dogs were being taken care of so when Bill got back we gave some last loves to Casey. There was a wish bone shaped nylabone in Casey’s kennel, which is her favorite chew toy. Then all the puppies got two bone shaped doggy treats. And they were happily chewing away. I said by to Kasha who was right across the isle from Casey and Radison who was on the same side as Kasha but closer to the front. I gave Yakira another potty break which she did great on. She said high to one of the truck drivers before we got back in the car. He said the Yakira’s sister Yuma was given to a young, first time raiser in Colorado. By the time we were pulling out of the parking lot is was 8:30 a.m. So much for being on time for church this morning. Oh well, I wouldn’t change anything. It was a good morning even though we don’t know when we will see Casey again. There is always the possibility that we won’t get the chance to see her again. Not very likely but it is possible. Tonight she should be sleeping somewhere in the western part of Oregon and will arrive on campus in Boring tomorrow. We probably won’t hear anything about her for about a month.

Welcome Yakira

Posted on October 13, 2011 by tellingfamilytales

Yakira being handed to Raelyn off the puppy truck

We got puppy #5 off the puppy truck today. He name is Yakira, which I think is very cute. She is also very cute. Yakira is tiny at just 8 weeks and two days. But she isn’t at all skinny she is rather sturdy and boxy in her build. She is full of spunk and bouncy. She likes to bite my ankles. The really funny part is that we were told she was going to be a yellow lab and she is actually black. What makes this even more funny is the exact same thing happened when we got Casey a little over a year ago. Boy are we going to have fun over the next few days.

Cute little Yakira fresh off the truck

Two Years Ago Today

Posted on September 23, 2011 by tellingfamilytales

Beautiful Banta on the fresh green grass

It was two years ago today that we first met Banta. She came off the puppy truck with lots of attitude, ready to go out and explore the whole world. Though she was a challenge at times, there was a moment in those first couple of weeks that I saw a glimpse of the dog she could grow up to be. We so enjoyed her wonderful spirit and we know that you do to. Just wanted to let you know that we are thinking about the two of you especially on this day. I sent an email to her handler in honor of this day and here is some of what he said about Banta:

She still has the attitude that she probably had coming of the puppy truck. Boy, I am finding out how stubborn she can be. Now most of our challenges have to do with her stubbornness, and what I call retaliation for going where she may not want to go. For example, if she does not want to walk to the grocery store, she will make it a long, slow, and miserable walk. When she wants to work she is a star. She is very destination oriented, which is good and bad. If we are somewhere new she targets every door she sees. She still makes me laugh when she is happy and jumps off the curb and I can feel her bouncing up and down as she walks. She is a lot of fun to play with, but again only how and when she wants.

It is fun to get news of how she is doing. He really understands that sweet and spicy girl. I’m so glad for the good match they are for each other. They have been working together for about four months now. Time sure goes by fast these days.