Check out this new GDB blog!

Hi guys, just wanted to share with you a new GDB puppy raiser blog. Silky's raiser, who is in my puppy club, has started blogging! Her blog is "Puppy Raising in Point Richmond". She also raised Maren, a female black lab who was career changed. So, go check it out and welcome them to the puppy-raising blogging world :) Their blog is awesome and photo-filled. Do you remember Silky? I puppysat her awhile ago and she is also Don's favorite puppy pal! She goes on many adventures, you can read about her latest outing to Cal.

(Silky when I puppysat her)

My Best Friend (by Don)

Everyone needs a best friend....

Someone to sniff grass with

and run and run and run

Someone who delights in chewing your jowls and doesn't mind when you pounce on them

and will roll in the dirt with you

and cool off with you

if you are lucky, they might rub your belly when you roll over

Someone who you can sneak attack and roll over on the ground,

and she will still be your friend

Someone who you can steal toys from!!

Someone who you can play chase with and will never, ever tire!

Thanks for being my best friend, Silky!! That was a fun playdate :)

pant, pant, pant... I guess I am sorta tired :)

Lauren: Don and I are busy getting ready for Fun Day! Only 1 more day- we can't wait! Tomorrow I get to do the follow the trainer, so that should be fun!

Almost forgot- I took this cute picture of Don in his cowboy gear.

He didn't like the hat though, so I won't make him wear it to fun day. It sure looked good on him, though! :)

Training at the Airport!

My brother was leaving for a trip yesterday, so I took Don so he could experience the sights and sounds of the airport. He did really well, walking through the airport and waiting in line while my brother checked in his luggage. I didn't think I'd get to go past security, but the lady gave my mom and I escort passes, so we could go with my brother. I was so happy that Don would get to experience security check! (Below, Don sits calmly as lots of people and suitcases go by)

In my excitement that Don would get to go through the beeping metal detector, I forget to take out my cell phone and bait bag. oops. The metal detector didn't phase Don- he walked right through- and then we waited in this little room for them to scan both of us (Don's collar had set off of the metal detector). Don waited patiently in a down while they checked me. I was actually glad I had left everything in my pockets because Don got to hear the beeping a lot which was good for him to experience.
Above, Don waits calmly next to a security officer. They checked Don next. Much to my dissapointment, they didn't scan him, but they padded him down. Don was great- he wagged his tail but stayed in the "stand" position, and was very happy about the attention he was getting.

Above, Don does a nice down stay inside the airport. I walked him through the terminal and he got to see a man pushing a ton of luggage carts, a couple rolling trashcans, and lots of people! He was a good boy :)

To end Don's visit to the airport, we stopped at the baggage claim so Don could watch some luggage go round and round. It was a great outing- and really tired him out :)

Don Visits the California Academy of Sciences

The other day, I took Don with me to spend the day at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. This is a really neat museum- it is in a giant, beautifully designed building with an eco friendly green roof. There is an aquarium, rainforest dome, planetarium, and more! My favorites are the Philippine Coral Reef and Elephant-Nosed Fish (no kidding- they have really long noises that look like an elephant's!). It was a great experience for Don with all the people, and he handled it like a pro! He stayed really focused the entire time, and did a great job of navigating the crowds. It's really nice having Don with me- the crowd seems to part when Don walks through :)

Understandably, Don was not allowed in the exotic bird/butterfly aviary, so Don and I walked around the exhibits while my family went inside. The staff there were really nice about having Don there- they were really sorry he couldn't come in and even offered to take him to their kennel facilities (but Don and I were fine with going to another exhibit). Above, Don is sitting underneath some giant prehistoric mammal (I think that's what it is...).

Don could definitely see the fish. He liked watching the staff feed these giant catfish.

Above, Don watches the waves in the Pacific Ocean sea life tank. Poor Don- he wanted to go for a swim!

Next we saw the albino alligator then walked downstairs to the aquarium. Don was great at the stairs!

Don with the Philippine Coral Reef in the background

Me holding Don in front of the fish tank.

They had this little tunnel you could walk through, so Don and I went in. On the other side, you are in this glass sphere, and you can look up and see all the tropical fish. Don was more interested in the air vent than the fish though.

What's that?? Don saws these two fish (I think they are Angel Fish) and it caught his attention. It was pretty cute :)

They had a bridge that went over the entry way of the museum, so I took Don and it didn't phase him. Later we went to the planetarium (again, they were really nice about Don and showed me where a seat was with extra room for him to stretch out). Don was pretty tired for the long day, and fell fast asleep while I watched the show Journey to the Stars. It was amazing- it actually felt like I was moving and you could see all the stars and planets in 3D.

Don and I both had a fun time!! We'll be back again.

Sleepyhead :)

Jelly Belly Fun Day and Amici!

Don and I woke up early yesterday (...well, 7:30— early for summer) and headed off to Fairfield for the Solano County Puppy Raiser's Fun Day at Jelly Belly. I've been looking forward to this for quite a while- would could be better than Guide Dogs and candy? It was so much fun! If you haven't been to the Jelly Belly factory, you should go! It's a pretty cool building, with giant Jelly Bellys hanging from the ceiling and free factory tours.

Don was really tired in the car on the way there. He's used to waking up a 10, and wasn't too happy about his sleep being interrupted.

He rested his big head on the floor, then on the chair, but couldn't seem to get really comfy. After awhile he made this really cute grunting noise and curled up into a ball.

We got there- checked in- and I got a little booklet that you put stamps in after going to a station. The first station was a man playing a trumpet- Don was pretty interested in this. He wasn't scared though, just curious like hey, what's that? Above is a picture of Don next to the surface station, which I thought was really cool. Don had no problem with that. He seemed to like the POP of the bubble wrap. There was also a kiddie pool, which Don went in and did NOT want to get out. There was a toys station too. Don was really good with all the balls, though he was sort of interested in this one that had a toy ferret on it and moved by itself.

Next- inside for some pictures! Here Don is, sitting on the big Jelly Belly sign.

Don did not want to look at the camera today. See the giant Jelly Belly's on the ceiling? Aren't they cool? :)

Here is Don with the cherry flavored Jelly Belly mascot in the background and a Jelly Belly mural of Ronald Reagan. They said he was a really big fan of Jelly Bellys and had all this memorabilia from him.

These pictures where taken when I had just arrived, pretty early in the morning. There weren't many people then, but it got SO crowded!! It was great for Don, with all the young kids running around and eating. Lots of people pet Don and he stayed really calm. I made the mistake of not taking the tour first thing (the GD activities looked really cool, so I did them first...) An hour later the place was packed- the line went out the doors and even outside! I'd been on the tour before (it was awesome!) so I didn't go :( ...but I got to say hi to all the other GD pups instead.

Don with Mr. Jelly Belly! Of course, he is looking in the complete opposite direction of the camera.

Next, we climbed the candy-pattertermed stairs to the Berry Blue room- where the Guide Dogs event was.

Here's Don with all the Jelly Bellys behind him.

I helped make a fleece puppy tug toy, that are going to be donated to the GDB kennels. Above, Don watches all the other dogs go by as I make a rope toy. Next, Don had his eval with the CFR. Don did really well, looking up at my CFR when he walked Don past the other dogs.

Lunch time at Jelly Belly's cafe! They have these really cool jelly belly shaped pizzas. I was going to take a picture... but, I forget and ate it first. oops.

Don sounds asleep as I eat lunch.

Afterwards, I took Don to the designated dog walking area. How nice of them to have a spot just for relieving your dogs, and there was a water bowl, too!! ... You know you're a puppy raiser when you get excited about designated doggy relieving areas- and take pictures of them :)

Look at all those different flavors! That's the sample bar.

Here's Don in the shop- he was a really good boy!

Though he was a bit distracted by this other puppy in training. I believe her name is Tika.

Don in the shop- waiting patiently as I get some orange sherbet Jelly Bellys :)

Belly Flops are the "reject" jelly beans- they're too big or stuck together and they sell them in bulk half off.

Mr. Jelly Belly!

We were taking Amici back to the kennels for the Puppies with a Plan Club. When we met up with the club leader to pick him up, I met Erin and Rocco!!! Her blog is My Time As A GDB Puppy Raiser. Rocco is such a handsome, sweet boy. Don enjoyed saying hi to him.

It was really good for Don (with his dog distraction issues) to have to settle in the car while there was another dog. He did a really good job. Amici was such a sweet boy. It was nice to have a cuddly puppy :) Amici was so calm, too! And he had a blast playing with Don's nylabone wishbone.

Here they are sniffing each other in the car ride back to the GDB kennels.

I think Don got a little jealous- here he is resting his head on my seat.

Don and Amici.

Not only was Amici so sweet and cuddly- he smiles for the camera!! I like this dog a lot!

It was a fun car ride with the two pups. We got sort of lost, and Don accidentally knocked over the bag of Jelly Bellys- but we made it :) I dropped Amici off at the kennels- he seemed pretty excited- and then I looked at all the adorable 7 wk or younger puppies. There was a golden retriever litter there (it was Pebble's litter)- they are beautiful and so fluffy!!

Don and I had great time! It's less than a week till FUN DAY!! YES!