Graduation Day ~

Time passes way to quickly. It seems like just yesterday that “my” little Shyla was going potty on the kitchen floor, chewing the sofa and everything else within reach. I can smell her puppy breath and feel the softness of little puppy paws. Those which hadn’t yet walked on pavement, toughing them up.

Today she graduated from her formal harness training and will soon be guiding a blind man or women. She will be helping them to gain independence and the freedom to travel about in ways many of us take for granted. Today she became a Seeing Eye Dog.

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~ one step closer to being a guide ~

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It is amazing how quite the house has become with one less dog. I am not certain Murf and Willow understand as they are very subdued and seem a bit depressed, spending lots of time sleeping and looking about wondering what happened to their sister.  Where did she go?

B and I have a complete understanding but that doesn’t stop us from missing Shyla ♥ already.  It's funny the things we miss, her mischievousness and her passion to chew up undergarments.

I asked B, if he thought it would help if I grabbed his boxers and ran around the house. :-)

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Bags are packed, final report is completed, now we just sit and wait for the doorbell to ring . . .

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Enjoying our last day with "our" precious little girl, Shyla ♥.

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Once we receive official notice stating it is “recall time” for our puppy, we are emailed a lengthy report which is required to be filled out and submitted on the day of return. The form asks numerous questions in the hopes of giving the handlers and trainers at The Seeing Eye some insight into the puppy’s wants, needs and habits.

We are asked about the food, wet or dry, has the puppy had any recurring medical issues, do they empty on or off leash, what are their favorite toys and chew items, have they lived with other dogs, cats, or animals, were there children in the home, how do they react to heavy traffic and strangers? The questions circumference all areas of the puppy’s life.

With my prior 12 puppies, I have completed this questionnaire well in advance of the pick-up date. But for some reason, I find I am having a difficult time even opening this email containing Shyla’s final report. The Seeing Eye representative will be here Monday morning at 8:00 a.m.

Back when I was in high school a teacher gave his students, what I have found to be good advise. I don't remember much about his class but I do remember him saying, “ when a daunting task lays ahead and you don’t want to tackle it, just remember, once you have started it, you are half finished.” Perhaps it is time for me to open the email.

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This was waiting in my inbox this afternoon ~

"Dear Puppy Raisers,

It is never easy to get the email or call that your puppy is on the training list. A huge “thank you” goes out to you for all the time, patience, nurturing, exposure, dedication, and most of all, the love you have given to your pup as you helped it to develop into a confident, mature dog with a solid foundation.

I will start scheduling pups to come in for formal training beginning September 12. I have a few weeks to bring in all the pups in my area. It is preferred that the pup come in as soon as possible. I would like to schedule the following pups to come in together on the same day. Please see pairs below;

Rex & Roz
Robin & Shyla
Tootsie & Tori

Your pup will be picked up in the morning, Monday thru Thursday, no holidays.

I extend my heartfelt thanks for taking this special visitor into your home and your heart. Your kind act enables us to continue to accomplish The Seeing Eye’s mission: to assist people who are blind by enhancing their dignity, confidence, and independence through the use of a Seeing Eye dog, and giving them the ability to live their daily lives with a greater sense of freedom, mobility, and connection to the world around them."

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Really, what can I say!

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Most photos I post of Shyla are that of her during her off time. During which, she can just be the fun loving young party girl she is. But it is part of my job, as a puppy raiser, to teach her what behavior is appropriate for the current situation and surroundings. Much like children need to learn their loud outside voice and running around at the playground behavior is not proper while in class at school, what is appropriate at the soccer field is not appropriate in church. Shyla has plenty of time playing, swimming and ball chasing, but as a potential Seeing Eye dog she must learn the difference between work and play.

Last evening my group of raisers met at a local ice cream parlor. We walked to the boardwalk and down into the amusement ride area. It was terrific exposure for the puppies. The crowds of people, both young and old, lights and noise, the smell of the ocean and all the boardwalk food can be overwhelming and learning to ignore the hands reaching out to pet her is most difficult. She did wonderful.

I was hoping to get a blog worthy photo of Shyla in her working jacket and admittedly I did get several nice photos.  I preferred this one of her watching as a group of teens enjoy a ride on the twisty turny scrambler.

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It's all fun and games until someone eats the dead fish, then it's leash on!

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B and I took "the girls" to the bay for a swim.

Shyla could not get enough of the water or the stick.

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 ♥ ahhhh, it's the two headed monster!! ♥

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Someone is always ready to bite your head off!

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As my sweet girl approaches 15 months, I know our days together are few.

 I expect Shyla to return, for formal harness training, in a month or two.

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Shyla ♥ celebrated her 13th month birthday on the 21st. She will only be with us for a few more months before returning for her evaluation and harness training.

At the bimonthly meeting on Wednesday evening, I put in a request for my next Seeing Eye puppy, my 14th. I did not request a certain breed. I only asked for a female. So when the newest little "baby girl" arrives I will be surprised as to the breed and B ... well, he's just be surprised! :-)

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~ the joy of a mud puddle ~

hop on over to camera critters to see other great critters!

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Secure the socks and shoes! Our little thief, Shyla ♥ is back!!

While she was away, she celebrated her first birthday.  Reaching this milestone means, she will remain with us for an additional four to six months before returning to The Seeing Eye for her formal harness training.

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With Murf on the injured list and Shyla on a Seeing Eye outing, Willow is lost. All she can find to do is rest her head on my lap.

ISO 500, f/4, 1/60





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  I can get her to bring them to me, now if I could just get her to give them to me.

ISO 800, f/3.2, 1/40 

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On this cold January afternoon, I turned the electic blanket on earlier than usual. It's warmth was to difficult to resist and I found myself drawn to it's electric heat. It drew me in as if it were a magnet and the thought of a enjoying a midday nap crept into mind. The "girls" must have felt the same pull and joined me. Willow understood exactly what I had in mind, Shyla, true to form, had to sniff, lick and otherwise be the little adorable investigator, she is.

ISO 800, f/5.3, 1/40

I was finding it difficult to get the correct settings, I didn't know if I should adjust for the white walls and sweater or on the puppies. Decision was to desatutate and lighten it up in Photoshop. I like the way it softened the colors creating a blending. However, I would have liked Willow and Shyla's adorable faces to be a little more defined. Any suggestions?