a few more weeks

Hobart only has less than a month left with me... I feel kind of lost to be honest.
Time has gone so quickly that I don't feel like it's even started yet!
I feel privileged to have been able to raise Hobart and see him grow up so quickly!

though, I will be taking a break from puppy raising over the winter... I'll still make sure
to check in on updates about when the next puppy is coming and other details!

Thank you all for being so faithful in following me on my journey thus far! You've
all encouraged me so much... I look forward to puppy #3 and getting to read more
about all of your pups!

I'll be getting some new pics of Hobart and I before turn-in so we can remember him
even better!

God Bless,
~Elijah & Hobart II

A Long Awaited Post

First let me apologize for not blogging for SO long! I have been so busy with school and traveling that I just haven't had chance to sit down and write down my thoughts for you all!

I spent the month of August on the road, visiting 13 states and seeing numerous amazing things! For that month of travel Hobart went off to spend some time with my friend, and veteran puppy raiser, Marty. Unfortunately, his not as pleasant side was revealed and well, things don't look positive for him passing. I can't say I'm surprised. Hobart loves to play and be a dog.

Hobart is still an amazing dog! We considered having him evaluated for early release, but it was decided that it would be better for us to just hold off a few more months (until November) for Hobart to turn-in normally. I'm disappointed for sure, but not all dogs have the same future. We'll see what happens then!

He continues to be my boy and I love him to death!

In regards to the next pup... I'm really busy over the winter since I've chosen to do an intense speech and debate program and we decided it would be better to hold off on getting another pup until I have a little more time on my hands! Around New Year I'm hopefully going to start on puppy #3 and co-raise with my friend, Marty! I'm looking forward to that very much!

Hobart is now 15 months old and is just so grown up! Though, he might not hold up as a Service pup he'll make someone very , very happy!

I'm so sorry for not posting in so long! I'll be back with more soon :)

Hobart and Hobart

one arena for a very cute puppy!

Nebraska

big horn sheep in Utah

Bryce Canyon- Utah

Flagstaff, Arizona!

me (arches- Utah)

utah

Grand Canyon -Arizona

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado

best wishes and blessings!
~Elijah & Hobart II

Maintaining Inspiration

I've been thinking a lot about the maintenance of inspiration... You know sometimes puppy raising isn't easy. I realize "Wow" it would be so much easier if I didn't have a puppy, but then I remember WHY I'm here. I WANT to puppy raise... I want to change lives, and I want to make a positive difference! Some days I'll work with Hobart and I just get fed up with how he's acting or because he's not listening well or because I'd rather be doing something else and then I remember handing over Dembre and remember that because of what I put into Dembre, Imelda is now a happier person and Dembre is a happier dog!

It's not really about always having fun.... it's about changing lives one at a time and making sacrifices to make that possible!!!

I'm going to keep on puppy raising as long as I can so that I can keep on working with amazing dogs and amazing people!

~Elijah & Hobart II

New Camera/ New Photos

 My family just purchased a Canon EOS Rebel T3! I'm totally thrilled to be able to work with the new DSLR!!!!! I was shooting some pictures to test out the camera. So, of course, I got some pictures of Hobart. Fortunately, Hobart hasn't realized that it's a camera yet and poses for it quite nicely :D

Absolutely crystal clear... a picture perfect pup :)

Some interesting lighting.... It should be titled "Hobart Goes to a Scary Movie"...

Here's a shot that I got using a full manual focus. I'm really excited about being able to get creative macro shots like this one.

~Elijah & Hobart II

Good Times

Hey Everyone,
Sorry that it's been awhile since I've posted... I've been very busy :D

Mark, Hobart, and I

I recently had the pleasure of hanging out with our wonderful friend Mark, Carver and Ansel's puppy raiser, from Kansas. It was an absolutely wonderful time. I hope that we can get together again soon... and also Congrats to Mark and Deb on the graduation of their wonderful puppy Ansel.

I was thinking recently... It's two days until Hobart turns 11 months old and six days until I celebrate two years of puppy raising. Those are some fairly large marks...
It amazes me how fast time goes... It doesn't seem like I have much time left with my second wonderful puppy! So much to do... so much to work on...

Also... I'll get some new pics up soon.

~Elijah & Hobart II

Remember when......

Time slips away quietly. It sneaks past us all and suddenly we think... Where has the time gone?

this is a precious moment :)

I find myself asking that now! I'm excited that friends Mark and Deb get to watch their first puppy, Ansel, who turned in with Dembre graduate! This gives me a reality check. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were talking about turn-in and graduation... the bright future. The thing that is strange is that I talk about the future, but so easily forget how fast the time flies... soaring away before I even know it's there.

Two things sunk in recently... Dembre is actually fulfilling his purpose, and no matter how many times I said it, it seemed strange until now... somehow surreal. and secondly that Hobart is now 10 months old and not so far from turn-in. I'll be traveling for a lot of the summer, which means I'll be apart from Hobart and before I know it.... BOOM it'll be turn-in.

Something inside me screams, "Stop! This can't be happening. What happened to that little puppy? Those perfect summer days playing in the yard?" but another voice speaks softly. "This is what is supposed to happen... it's destiny and this is your chance to change a life."

was that almost two years ago already?

I'm embracing the second one... no matter how fast the time moves or how much I forget that it's going... I, no all of us, need to concentrate on what really matters. We can so easily make life into a routine without any joy to it... any picture perfect moments, but I urge you to take time to live NOW and to make memories. There's only so much time and it's ours to use wisely! Today is a gift from God!

~Elijah & Hobart II

10 Months Old

Hobart turned 10 months old on Tuesday! He's growing up so fast! This month I'm sick of saying things that always are just reworded versions of the last months "month for month" post. So I'm going to briefly give 10 things that Hobart needs to improve on!

1. long stay commands... Hobart prefers to be free... but if he's at my feet then he won't budge.
2. less excitement when coming... Hobart loves to come bounding up when called to me... not always a good thing! 
3. elevators... Hobart recently decided that he's not a fan.
4. jump.... Hobart isn't thrilled to have to jump onto things... but he's getting better.
5. side... Hobart isn't great about switching to the "side" command.
6. calmer off leash greetings
7. better unders... he's good, but not perfect.
8. posing for pictures... it's pretty dumb, but amusing. When a camera comes out... his head goes down!
9. leash perfection... never pulling or getting tangled up.
10. I can't think of a tenth one.... he's too good!

~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

Hobart photoshoot (Spring 2012)

little pine cones

our ornamental plants begin to come back

I smell something good!

really?

hey ;)

I got out and got a couple good shots of Hobart today! I also got a couple shots of the Ohio plants that are coming to life!

~Elijah & Hobart II

9 for 9

OOOOps! Forgot that it was Hobart's 9 month day on Saturday, because it was also my little brother's birthday!!!

1. Hobart is awesome! He has something about him that you can't help but love him
2. Hobart is so smart! He picks up on commands quickly, though he doesn't always choose to maintain his speed on commands after he has learned them. He is still quite brilliant!
3. Hobart is handsome! you can't help but love his face! He is so cute for being 9 months old!
4. Hobart is comforting! He is always there by your side when you're upset or in need of a friend! He'll lean up and against you and wag his tail when you look at him, which is so cute!
5. Hobart is good in public! He is! Every time he goes out, he continues to show me how mature he is!
6. Hobart is energetic! Sometimes that's bad and sometimes it's good! He can get out of control and begin zooming around the house or yard, or he can just be springy and ready to go! 
7. Hobart is quirky! That's negative and positive. He loves anything of comfort (a sleeping bag, a blanket, a bed, or a rug). He also likes to test how much he can get away with, without being corrected out right! 
8. Hobart is such a fun puppy! I get frustrated with Hobart at least once a day, since he's slightly pushy and a little bit troublesome from time to time, but he's still such an amazing pup. He has lots of personality and makes my life interesting!
9. Hobart is AMAZING! That's kind of cliche and doesn't necessarily mean much ,but it does to me! He's so outgoing and loves life! I'm not sure that I'd like to be raising any other puppy!

sleepy pup :D

 ~Elijah & Hobart II

Thoughts on Dembre's Graduation

Most of you probably saw my last post about Dembre graduating! I thought I'd come back and touch more on the emotional end of the graduation experience.

Until the moment I met Imelda the fact that Dembre was a service dog was hard to get a handle on. I had imagined that day for so long. The day that I picked up that cute little ball of fur (May 28th, 2010) I told him that I was going to try to make him graduate. I did and I guess it payed off. It's so amazing to be surrounded by your supportive friends and be holding the leash of the puppy that you spent the last 15 months loving and caring for and then getting to say, "Dembre is yours!"

I am so proud and thankful that I get to be part of such and amazing program as CCI

The thing that I love most about puppy raising from the eyes of someone who has had a puppy graduate is that instead of spending time and energy to better the lives of hundreds or thousands of people I get to put my life into raising one puppy who will drastically change the life of one person. I didn't get to watch Dembre do much for Imelda, but from what she's told me he provides a lot of independence. I love that I get to impact the world one team at a time. A lot of people are concerned about the numbers reached. For a puppy raiser the best possible feeling you could ever get is getting to watch the one puppy you raised become the "best friend" of one person.

It's amazing, especially watching Dembre, to watch the emotion in dogs that so many people cannot see

You might believe that now that I've seen puppy number one graduate and am only ten months away from saying goodbye to number two that I'm done, because I've gotten to see one life changed. I don't only want to change one life, but I want to change one life at a time. It's a personal thing (thankfully CCI sees it that way) and CCI allows us to become part of our puppy's partner's life.

I have helped people in other ways, but there is none that seems more amazing than this. I am now officially "addicted to puppy raising" or as I've heard it said, "Puppy raising is like eating potato chips. You can never just have one." 

Now more than ever I look forward to turning in Hobart and picking up pup #3, raising puppy #3 and then picking up puppy #4. It's a beautiful thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Elijah & Hobart II (so many dreams fulfilled)

Dembre (Advanced Training Day 2) Hobart (update)

It's Thursday. That means that Dembre is beginning day two of AT today! Tomorrow we'll know if he makes a match! I'm praying and hoping that he does. I'm very, very nervous/ excited. He's so close. It's only 8 days until he should be graduating. *heart pounding*. Wow! I never thought it would sneak up on me like this! I'm just imagining the people he's working with and the stuff that he's doing! It's simply amazing that I might be handing the puppy that I raised over to his new handler in a matter of a week.

August 17th, 2011

Hobart has been sick! Poor guy! He's been feeling really bad. Thankfully he is getting back to normal and is now eating again. I was scared that something was really wrong, but he seems to be returning to his healthy state of being.

Sooooooo Tired

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

6 for 6

It's Christmas Eve and it's also Hobart's 6 month day. I  seriously can't believe that I've had him for more than four months. This is where I pretty much start taking him everywhere with me, which I'm really looking forward to :D

1. Hobart is such a smart dog! I'm not kidding when I say that. He may be a little stubborn, but he's definitely a super smart cookie.
2. Confidence comes naturally for Hobart! Sometimes that's bad and sometimes it's good. He does well out in public, because he's not scared.
3. Hobart is also sensitive. Now sometimes at home he gets wound up and goes a little crazy, but he's pretty good at being calm when I want him to be calm and playful when it's time to play.
4. I love Hobart's personality!!! There are moments where I wish he had a little less personality, but I also really love his personality,too. Sometimes he's serious, and others he's goofy. Sometimes he's independent and sometimes he's right there with you. 
5. Hobart enjoys life! He does. Every once in a while he could be a little bit more serious, but he's just happy and affectionate, which is a great service dog trait!
6. Finally, I am enjoying raising Hobart, a lot! There have been some obvious ups and downs and sometimes he's not the easiest dog to work with, but most of the time he's a wonderful blessing in my life. I'm really excited about taking him out in public full swing!!!! It's been weird these last four months not having random people stop and talk to me, because of the dog who's with me. I'm VERY excited!!!

 Merry Christmas!!!!!
 ~Elijah & Hobart II

Christmas Caroling and Photo Shoot

On Sunday Hobart and I went caroling with a large group of friends. We went to a retirement home and went from room caroling. Quite a few people were thrilled to see a dog and didn't want him to leave. Hobart, being the good dog that he is, was very sweet and calm and didn't get excited. I was happy, since that was his first "real" outing, though he's been to a lot more stressful places.

Hobart sleeping at the retirement home

I also did a final photo shoot before the snow comes. I'll get pics then too, but until then here they are.

What?

So adorable

He LOOKED at the camera :D

Picture perfect

Mr. Handsome

He was GOOD for all of these pics

Puppy Blur

 

 

Merry Almost Christmas, Everyone!

~Elijah & Hobart II

Dembre News, Hobart's Puppy Class, Weigh-in, etc...

I have a lot to say :D

We got Dembre's FINAL WRITTEN report!!!! At the end of next month we will get his final report via the phone (as long as he has not been released by that time).

His report was really good!!!!! He is officially working on all of his commands with his handler on foot and in a wheelchair. According to the report, "Dembre is responsive to commands and responds to correction for distractions." Once again he has mounted other dogs in the play yard, but it has decreased and is not a concern. If Dembre graduates he will graduate on Friday, February, 17th. That's not very far away!!!!

I also got to say "hi" to Dembre at class today! His kennel mate switched.... again, so he is with Gallaghar II. It took me a minute to tell the two apart, but one of the dogs was more excited to see me and came to Dembre's name so I figured it out which dog he was. I got to give him a hug and tell him that I'm so very proud of him. I can't wait to see him.... if it's God's will... GRADUATE AS A SERVICE DOG!!!!!!

I turned in Mr. Dembre in August and now four months later he's SO close to graduation

I also went to class at CCI today (for the first time in five weeks) and picked up Hobart from his puppy sitter. Connie, who puppy sat him for me, said that she liked him and thought he was a "good dog" in CCI terms. That's good for me to hear, because it's been hard for me to see Hobart as a good dog. I'm really excited that a puppy raiser on number 21 can say that my 2nd pup is doing fine!

It was really nice to have class and catch up with my CCI friends! I enjoyed encouragement from other puppy raisers and lots of good training tips! I've really missed not being able to get a reality check from other, more experienced raisers.

now..... last and definitely least..... Hobart now ways 50 lbs. !!!!!

Hobart on day one (2 months)

Hobart last week (5 months)

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