Second and Third Opinions

Bucky went to Puppy Camp for just over 2 weeks in May.

Puppy Camp's are great - they expose the puppies to another Puppy Raiser's family and habits. Their behaviour in someone else's home with other routines and distractions can be totally different from their behaviour at home. Puppy Camp's are also an opportunity for someone else to observe the puppy and help give an assessment of the puppy's strengths and weaknesses.

Bucky stayed with one Puppy Raiser for 2 days, and then another Puppy Raiser family for two weeks. So we were able to get second and third opinions.





Some highlights from his first Puppy Camp:
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"He is a nice dog ... Sweet, happy, and pleasant.  I found him to be an especially good walker, although he did the frog move a couple of times.

He is an active and happy "teenager." He likes to test you in that he knows his stuff, but maybe needs to see if you know it too.  He's good about sitting at doors and stairs, and switches well. He liked to be in the same room I was in, and once when I went upstairs, and he lost me, he needed to bark to let me know that he didn't know where I was.

I liked him, and we had a nice time.

You've done a good job with him."

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I'm not sure if you noticed the last line - so I will repeat and highlight it it just in case you overlooked it..... "You've done a good job with him." :-) 

:-)  :-) :-) :-)

At the second Puppy Camp, Bucky had two dog playmates. George is a 3 year old lab who was also a Guide Dog Puppy that came back to his Puppy Raiser family after he attended College. Their other dog, Shadow, is an 8 year old lab. They are an active family with 2 sons. So a totally different family than Bucky is used to. 

To be honest, I was a bit worried about how Bucky would do in an environment totally opposite to his spoiled status in our childless (both 2 and 4 legged) home. I also knew it would be a great experience for him. (But maybe not for his Puppy Camp family.) 

Some highlights from his second Puppy Raiser Camp:

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"Bucky and George play mock battles until they collapse and take a nap. The Shadow just watches. 


Every time we go out back Bucky does his 'Born Free' laps around the yard... Bucky dearly loves to run around the back yard and man is he quick!

We did visit a couple times with my parents so Bucky was around a couple of 75 and 78 year olds, including Mom's Wheelchair and Walker. He behaved admirably over the course of 7 hours while we played cards and dominoes. And he still slept all night! For such a truly active dog he does really well staying calm on leash for extended periods of time. 

I took him with me to the Doc. Bucky, who never met a stranger, did not want to greet the doc after he put on his gloves. He laid down and turned his head. We decided it was because it reminded him of the vet and shots! 

Bucky is a bit of a counter surfer so we have worked on that. (But he is such a sweetheart! and so loving!) The funniest was when I turned to put the lettuce back in the fridge and he stole the lettuce off my sandwich. 

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Lettuce!?!?!? Bucky, really!?!?!? If you are going to get into trouble, at least make it worth your while! What about cheese? Steak? Pate???? Lettuce - really!?!?!? And now, back to the conclusion of the comments....) 

Yall have done a great job teaching his commands. Kudoes on doing such a great job with Bucky."  


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Do I need to highlight that last line for you as well? 

Okay, okay, "Yall have done a great job teaching his commands. Kudoes on doing such a great job with Bucky." 

FEELING: Proud! 

(Except for the counter surfing - for lettuce! Still shaking my head over that one! LETTUCE?!?!?!?)

The Cavalry is on the way!

Part of our job as a Puppy Raiser is to gradually expose our dogs to as many new situations as possible while ensuring that the puppies are still in their comfort zone. This is to build the puppy's confidence so that they are comfortable with just about any new situation that they encounter. As a Guide Dog it is not recommended that s/he high tail it with their blind handler in-tow when they are exposed to a new situation that frightens them.

Once a month our group of Houston Puppy Raisers go on an outing together. Our May group exposure was to the equestrian and canine centre of the Houston Police Department.

Bucky was quick to check out his new friends.

Well, okay, actually, I should tell the whole story.... initially Bucky was more interested in his training treats. AND the treats we brought for the horses. He is a true Golden - taking care of his stomach is his first priority.

Bucky was exposed to horses, saddles, hats, barn stalls, bleacher stands, police and police cars.







I was very proud of Bucky and how calm and well behaved he was. And extra proud that Bucky did not eat or roll in horse apples. (Actually, another truth must be told - the place was immaculate and there were no surprises for Bucky to eat or roll in!)








And I am also happy to say that neither Bucky nor John got arrested. Whew!

John is getting smaller....

..... or Bucky is getting bigger!

Bucky weighs in at about 57 pounds now (before his morning walk...)

At 10 months old he's pretty much as tall as he will get.

But he can expect to fill out and get a bit wider - just like the rest of us!

Dogs get Spring Fever too

Bucky loves getting out and enjoying nature.

Currently his greatest joy is walking in the woods carrying a big stick - a true Golden habit! (Much better than his previous habit of eating worms - bbbbbllllggghhhh - SOOOO glad he gave that one up!)






With new spring smells of growing green grass and fragrant wildflowers, Bucky and John couldn't help themselves and were having tons of fun acting goofy.

 Now back to regular programming....

A Taste of Texas

Easter weekend we escaped to the Texas Hill Country for a fix of nature.

Now that little Bucky has mastered the art of getting in the car (because he has figured out that there are fun new adventures ahead) he was eager to get going. He did not want to be left behind, and got a head start by leaping into the back hatch of the car patiently waiting for us before we got the suitcases in and before we were even ready to go.

Springtime is a great time to live in Texas. It comes early (okay - that's from a Canadian perspective) and by April it is already "hot" (everything is relative.)









Its fun and beautiful as green leaves burst out and colourful wild flowers appear everywhere. The most prolific and prominent ones are the beautiful Texas Bluebonnets.

I am sure that anyone that has ever lived in Texas, or visited in the springtime, has at least one picture of Texas bluebonnets.

This is Bucky's first springtime in Texas. Well, actually, its Bucky's first springtime - PERIOD. So he needed some photos in the bluebonnets.

Its impossible to just take one photo. And with our little photogenic and handsome Bucky there are lots of great pictures to choose from.

He is getting good at posing and is
already perfecting the big Golden happy smile.

For his weekend Easter adventure, A Taste of Texas, Bucky also visited a winery (no wine tasting, he just enjoyed the ambiance, music and hoped to score an errant morsel of food), a lavender farm, the Gristmill Restaurant in Gruene and listened to music from afar from the infamous Gruene Hall. He also relaxed in the shade of Cypress Creek and went to a 30th Anniversary party in the great outdoors.

Everywhere we went, people oooohed and awwwwwed over Bucky. He is such a great conversation starter and a perfect way to meet new people.

One couple we talked to told us their daughter is blind and has a guide dog. They said their daughter's dog travels all over the world with her - their daughter is an elite athlete and competitive skier. In fact - she competed in the Sochi Paralympics earlier in the year! She skis down the hills at speeds up to 70 miles an hour. YIKES! (John's first question was "How does the dog keep ahead of her?" Sometimes John can really embarrass me.... but fortunately not toooooo often!) Her name is Danelle Umstead. http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/UM/Danelle-Umstead .

It was very interesting to speak to them and learn the positive things that a Guide Dog can contribute to their handler's life. And so happy to hear the amazing lives that Guide Dogs can lead.  

Having a Guide Dog, and raising a Guide Dog puppy, can open up all kinds of new opportunities and expose a whole new world for both the Puppy Raiser and the Handler/Guide Dog partner team.

Feeling: very privileged.... :-)