Celebrating 1 Year of Life

Hobart turned 1 YEAR OLD yesterday!!!!!! Oh my goodness he's GROWING UP!!! I'm actually kind of sad, because it just makes me feel even more like the time has slipped through my fingers... makes me feel like I haven't done as much as I should have!!!

I'm seriously just in awe of the fact that he's grown up so much.... I'm proud of him, though. For being a dog under a year he's done a  lot of awesome things, but he also is flawed. I hope that during my next few months with him I can do a good job finishing what I started so I can hopefully have another graduate!

So happy to have Hobart as part of my life :)


Elijah & Hobart II

Hobart's 5th (I think) weekend in public

Hobart and I attended our 3rd speech and debate tournament this year! The best part about this one is that I competed in two speech events with Hobart at my side :D Lots of people asked me what I'd do with him when I had to speak and I just said 'I'll bring him up there with me'. So I did!

Hobart is not perfect at commands but he does great in settings with lots of busy people and little kids. He doesn't get stressed out when he has lots of people gathered around petting him or when he is sleeping under a table or chair for a round! He's pretty relaxed and good natured in public. He just hangs out! he's good with commands overall, as well!

in between rounds

before one of my brother's debates

sleeping during a round

lunch break!

before speaking!

Hobart had an enormous fan club of little kids following him everywhere he went!

I'm so proud of that puppy ;D
~Elijah & Hobart II

Happy Belated B-day, Dembre

Dembre is 2 years old as of one week ago. Ooops! My bad. Here I am saying it now. I'm so amazed that he has grown up so quickly. 2 years ago this miracle was born and now he is living to serve :) I thought I'd share Imelda and Dembre's latest partnership vid with you all to show you what Dembre has learned in his last two years!

IT's amazing what I dedicated puppy can do! :D

~Elijah & Hobart II (with best wishes for Dembre)

Exciting News for Dembre!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday we got a call from CCI! No, it wasn't a release call. It was Dembre's final AT report via phone!

His trainer said that he's a really good dog and that he was very strong on his commands coming in to AT and that she really appreciated our effort. We were informed that this team training group consists of 6 facility dogs and 6 successor service dogs! "Successor teams" are SD teams with a handler (or human partner) who has had a CCI dog in the past. Most of them have a CCI service dog that is either retired or has passed away! 

Dembre's trainer told us that Dembre is currently (with nothing official) slotted for a service dog match!!!! It also sounded like his back up match was also as a service dog! She said that he could go either way, though. It's amazing to think that they already have a good idea of who he might go to!!!!

I'll say that I'm so excited that the first puppy that I raised is doing so well! I'm SO PROUD of him! I'm extremely happy that he's so close to graduation (unless he gets held over until may)!

I'm really excited to meet his new partner (hopefully in a few weeks)!!!!!!!!

I don't know if I really thought that Dembre would go this far when I put his cape on for the first time

~Elijah & Hobart II (with Dembre in our prayers)

Dembre's Progress Report

Yesterday we received Dembre's November Progress Report. Once again Adrena sent it a week early! That's fine with me :D

 Great news!!! As I said previously Dembre successfully passed all of his 1st Semester exams, which are fairly intense. CCI doesn't want to waste time and money training a dog that they don't think will graduate so most 2nd semster dogs pass. AND his main problem, mounting, is improving. According to Adrena, "Dembre is mounting other dogs less often in the exercise yard." He's improved!!!!!!!! Everything else stayed the same so his report was POSITIVE!!!!!!!!! I'm SO PROUD!!! There's nothing negative on this report :D

Flying towards his goal!!!

SERVICE DOG IN THE MAKING

 

~Elijah & Hobart II (With Dembre in our prayers)