Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... quiet please

Not only am I getting Bucky out to explore his new world, but a side benefit is that HE is also getting ME out exploring MY world.

I have to admit, I can't remember the last time I visited the local library. But with little Bucky in tow, we now browse the aisles practicing LEFT, RIGHT and Leave It. Then we sit still and read.

Bucky is very good and quietly observes. We sit by the children's section and sometimes the kids will come over to look and fuss with Bucky. Since we don't have kids it is a great experience for him. Last visit to the library a brother and sister practiced their reading skills with Bucky. He was very non-judgemental and never criticized or corrected them, which is perfect for kids to build confidence reading out loud.

One of the generic drawback to taking Bucky to public places is that he finds things that I don't necessarily want him to find. For instance, do you have any idea how often people take their chewing gum out of their mouth and stick it to the underside of tables and chairs?!?!?!? bbbbbllllggggghhhhh!!!! That is disgusting!!!! And even more disgusting is that I have to fish it out of his mouth.... and then have to DO something with it!?!?!?!? Bbbbllllgggghhhhhh.

Note the offending fished out piece of gum to the left in the photo - with Bucky intently wanting to re-retrieve it. Bbbbbllllggghhhh.

I guess the upside is he learns "LEAVE IT!"

I also took Bucky to a lecture at Houston Historical Society in Sam Houston Park. We listened to a lecture and saw photos of all the County Courthouses in Texas. Bucky impresses everyone with his ability to sit quietly and not get into trouble. They are even more impressed when they learn he is only 9 months old! I am very proud of what a good little boy he is.




Note to BUCKY: It is not good form to snore and Puppy Dream while everyone is supposed to be quiet!

Note to SELF: It is not good form to snore and Puppy Dream while everyone is supposed to be quiet!

Over before it began.....

Another letter came in the mail...... this one was to inform us that Bucky's presence was requested at the neuter clinic. Unfortunately, his career in the Breeding Colony was over before it began. 

Bucky is, or I should say, WAS, cryptorchidism. I won't embarrass Bucky by saying too much, but I did spell it correctly so you can google it and check it out yourself. We've been monitoring it since November, and alas, it never dropped.

Bucky's surgery was a bit more complicated, but, he came through like a trooper. He's none the worse for wear, and still just as handsome and sweet as ever.

He has been sporting a nice new "Elizabethan Collar". He works the pathetic look very well. Fortunately, he's been really good about not licking his surgery, so he hasn't had to wear the cone too much. 

I've told Bucky its really not a big deal. John says that's easy for me to say - since I'm not a guy and can not relate. Guys tend to be sensitive about these things.... 

But had Bucky been part of the Breeding Colony he would not have picked his own dates anyway - they would have all been computer matches looking for specific genetic traits. 

So on the bright side.... Bucky has been spared the horrors of computer dating!

Another letter in the mail....

Bucky got another letter in the mail.....

Bucky will be going IFT (In For Training) on Saturday September 20th.

YIKES! CRIKEY! REALITY!

He is obviously soooooo looking forward to going to College and living in the Frat Dorms.

Our little Bucky will be a Frat Boy.....

I am already starting to worry about the other dogs being a bad influence on our little Bucky.... leading him astray..... YIKES!

Sigh.... they grow up so fast...........

Boys Weekend......

I was in NOLA last week for Mardi Gras. Bucky (and John) met me at the airport when I came back. Bucky waited patiently for me at the baggage carousel - watching everyone come and go. When I arrived he greeted me with enthusiasm - squiggling his skinny little body around and rubbing up to me. (Every golden loves to deposit as much hair as possible on as many people as possible! It is a mandatory requisite in order to belong to the Golden Club!) It was a very endearing and rewarding greeting.

While I was gone John and Bucky had a Boys Weekend. I have had a few of their secrets revealed to me - and one is that they watched the Trail Riders enroute to the rodeo parade. It is always fun to watch the riders, horses and wagons go down Memorial Drive along Spots Park behind our place. I am sorry that I missed the parade - and Bucky's first exposure to wagons and horses. John said that Bucky barked a couple of times at the horses, and then settled down and found better things to amuse himself with. (Probably leaf chasing - since that is always a default diversion for him! We must work hard on that nasty habit! Its not a good thing for a Guide Dog to have a Leaf Chasing hobby.)

I have also heard that The Boys went to Galveston and enjoyed some beach time. I am not sure who has the bigger grin in this photo? 

He came home exhausted, wet, happy and smelly. And Bucky had a great time too!

To digress for a moment, when we brought Bucky back from Florida he literally spent 2 days in the car. He was such a good little dog sleeping on my lap and never making a fuss for over 1,000 mile/1600km journey. 

Then for some reason, he developed a distaste for getting in the car. He would Frog Dog (go flat as a pancake) anytime he knew we were heading to the car! He would do it in parking lots, ANY parking lot. He just did not want to get in the car. We really can't understand why, since we have made a nice little Bachelor Pad in the back of our small SUV.

Fortunately, after about 3 months of this, he now happily jumps into the back of the car, eager to go new places and have some fun.

Now that he has developed an appreciation for "wheels" he has made a request for his own mode of transportation. Hmmmmm.....

It looks like John and Bucky had fun on their Boys Weekend....