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?!?!?!?)