Cancer Sucks

 

A few weeks ago my family attended the birthday party of our good canine friend Aislin . . .

The tough part about this party was that it was also her "going away party".

You see Ms. Aislin had cancer. And while she was still spry at 13 the tumor was just getting too big to be comfortable.

 

Since Aislin's favorite place was the beach,

she and her friends decided to hang out there for one last evening.

(Look at all those people and dogs that love her!)

 

She dug holes!

 Played with tennis balls!

Ran down the beach with the one child she never had a desire to eat . . .

 Of course had some special alone time with her special person!

 And just enjoyed some super fun time in her favorite place with her favorite friends

 We all took some time to enjoy the moment with a girl that we became so close to. We threw balls, scratched her head, and snuggled with the "Coug". (There was even birthday cake later!)

 

As we left the beach Aislin found a red tennis ball. She carried it all the way to the parking lot and then gently set it on the concrete barrier. I'd like to think she was trying to tell us something. Something along the lines of "It's okay, I'll just leave this here for the next guy. I'm ready to go."  

Cancer sucks. Hug your pups tonight. I know I'm going too!

                                    - Sheila

They got rid of it!!!

 

They got rid of it!!!!

(By "IT" I mean that annoying brat Avery)

 I don't know if they gave it away....

 Or it ran away....

(doubtful...the people are too responsible for that)

 But it's gone!

 No more dorky faces...

 That lie in wait...

 

Only to bite your ankles when you least suspect it!

  

I've never had a bigger smile on my face!!!

 I think the people miss it though.... 

(Even if they won't admit it)

Since they got rid of this one really quick that means they won't get another....

Right???

SIGH.....

I hope not!

-Remmy

Editor's note: We did not actually "get rid" of Avery. We had received Avery as a starter pup (a pup to raise until they were 4 months old and then pass on to a new raiser who doesn't have baby puppy raising time or capabilities). We were only supposed to have her until she was 4 months old. She is happily in her new (very grateful) raisers home now. We miss her but are excited to see what adventures the next one takes us on. (Ssssshhhhh don't tell Remmy)

Phanniman Report!

Phantom is in Phase 2
No movement this week.   Too much partying I bet!!!

Phase 2—In town
The dog gets to go in town. By now, the dog is comfortable with his harness and has adjusted to the kennel. The dog is taken on a planned distraction route. Remember watching the movie Up? The dog needs to be able to walk and not scream SQUIRREL. The dog also gets to see the obstacle course.

The BIG DOG

 

Today I met this HUGE dog!!!!

I think it head was bigger than my WHOLE body!!

 

He is kinda cool though. I think we could be friends....

 

Friends share their food right?

 

He moved the bucket away.... I guess he doesn't want to be friends with me...

SIGH...NO ONE LOVES ME!!!

 

That's ok! I'll just go find something else on the ground to eat!

 

After meeting the big dog we went and got ice cream.  I was a really good girl but the people wouldn't share either.....

Woe is me!

   

But at least I got a belly rub out of the day....

 - Avery 

 Phanniman Report!

Phantom is in Phase2

Phase 2—In town

The dog gets to go in town. By now, the dog is comfortable with his harness and has adjusted to the kennel. The dog is taken on a planned distraction route. Remember watching the movie Up? The dog needs to be able to walk and not scream SQUIRREL. The dog also gets to see the obstacle course.

Revenge will be mine!

 

This morning I jumped on the bed and the people said 

"Man Isaac you STINK"

I should have run for the hills.... 

 

Cause you see when the people think I stink... 

That means I get a bath...

(I personally think I smell amazing....but as I'm reminded a lot, 

I don't have a job so I don't make the rules....grrrr)

 

At least I got revenge and got to shake on them a few times!

(Evil Laugh...)

I think that might be why they sprayed water on my head though....sigh....

(don't worry, I'll get revenge on them and get an ear infection! I'm a golden retriever after all!)

 

At least Cujo got tortured too...

 Of course the King just watched and laughed from his throne inside....

 Woe is me....I will get revenge.... I will fart tonight while they are eating dinner!!! HAHAHAHAHAHHA

-Isaac Newty Pants

Phantom Report!

Phantom is in Phase 1

Phase 1—Formal training begins

Formal training begins and the dog re-discovers food rewards and learns about clickers. Sit, down, and stay is reintroduced in a very precise way. Dogs learn to refuse offers of hamburgers from strangers and to not pick up strange food off the floor. Dogs are introduced to the harness, get their teeth and ears cleaned, and get petted and massaged. The dogs learn to walk on a treadmill. They learn the commands forward, halt, and hop-up. The dogs tend to LOVE the treadmill.  

Miss you buddy! Work Hard!! No Partying!!!

I could never do that...

When you are a puppy raiser you hear it at least once a week. 

"How can you possibly give your puppy up? I could never do that?"

And of course I have my answers that I give people....

"It's hard, but you get to go to graduation and see what a difference the puppy makes 

 and it makes it all worth it."

It's an answer I've given forever. And I've actually been told before that I must not love animals if I was capable of giving my dog away.  Because they (the person I was talking to) could NEVER do it.... Because they LOVE their dogs!
So as I was struggling with Phantom's recall a few weeks ago I really started to really think about that answer.

Anyone that knows me knows that I love animals. And not in the sense of yeah she "loves" her  animals but they really are the center of my life. Rembrandt was in my wedding and my husband was aware when we were married that that dog would always outrank him.
(He's not sure where he stands with the horse. )

So how is a girl, that loves her animals so much, more capable than random guy at the grocery store of giving away a puppy she's put so much love and effort into? 

 

These goofy dogs that she's spent quite literally ALL of her time with for a year. 

Taken them through all the naughty stages and finally made them good dogs.... 

 

And then I opened my e-mail... 

And I had an e-mail from Ocho. A puppy I raised a few years ago

(His person always e-mails in his voice)

He told me what he'd been up to and my favorite line was this

"I am such a great work dog.  Mom totally trusts me and loves me to pieces.  I have her wrapped around my big paws."

My Ocho! She loves him and trusts him! I helped with that!

 

That's Ocho with his new Mom! She loves him! 

 And I realized.... as puppy raisers we don't love our puppies less because we give them up.
Rather we love them more.
We are willing to pour all we have into them and then send them on to do amazing things. 

 Giving up a puppy is hard.... But what these dogs can do is amazing!
Which is why my answer is right and I will continue to give it every time someone asks the question.
Even if I can't actually explain it well to someone who's never been through it..

And also why I will continue to pick up a new puppy to start training every time I do the hard part. Even if my heart is still in a million pieces....




Phantom Report
Phantom is in Phase 0
Phase 0 consists of medical checks and acclimation to the kennel. If he passes all of those he will get assigned an instructor and start training soon! Go Phannie!

He's off!!!

 At the end of July it was time for me to go to college! WHOOO HOOO ! Trading this green coat in for a harness! (What is a harness?)

 So I said goodbye to my brothers....

 Went on one last breakfast outing with the people.... 

(I wanted some of their bacon as a goodbye gift but they said no...so mean)

 We filled up for the road trip!

 I was a good supervisor of the fill up!

(Don't worry, I put my head back in and the window went up when the car started. 

You are all a bunch of buzz kills!)

 And then we drove to COLLEGE!!

 Look they even had a welcome sign for me!

Mom said the photos had to stop here because she was getting too sad. But my dorm room is pretty cool. I hope I get an awesome roommate that loves to play! 

The people will keep you updated with my progress at I go through college.

I promise to try my hardest!

See you at graduation!

-Phantom

I'm a Fatty..

Hi! "Don't Eat That" here! 

 Last week we went to this place called the "vet" for "shots". 

I don't know what either of those things are...but...

 Ever since, the people have been calling me "Fatty McPuppy"..... 

I guess the big black mat thing said I weighed 22.7lbs!

(I'm only 12 weeks!)

I'm just a growing girl! They are sooooo mean! I'm telling Rembrandt!




Phantom is in Phase 0
 Phase 0 consists of medical checks and acclimation to the kennel. If he passes all of those he will get assigned an instructor and start training soon! Go Phannie!