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)

What I've learned from Puppy Class

"I learn something new every single time I go to puppy class"~ Donna V. (raising puppy number 7)

It's so true! I attend CCI puppy class most weeks at the NC training center!  We work on commands and the trainers answer questions as well as giving us dog handling advice! We get corrected for not doing things correctly and are shown clearly how to train better! I just returned from a class where we worked with pool noodles to try to avoid touch sensitivity by touching the dogs on the backs and legs while working on commands! We also walk around a training room and practice command sequences where the dogs follow are instructions for up to about twenty commands in a row! Sometimes we use the class to discuss common problems in puppies or to work on one specific thing, but I'll say that every time I go there I learn so much! I get to be with other puppy raisers who help me feel better about my mistakes and correct me for them as well! It's always nice to have people that are there to support you as you try to make miracles possible!

I forgot my camera at class......

Elijah & Hobart II

Final Puppy Class

tennis ball test

Tosca

 

Jaunita

Dembre

Dembre and I attended our final puppy class! It was enjoyable and rather strange after the last year of classes together. Next time I'm at puppy class I'll have puppy 2. I got some fun pics :)

Puppy Class

Had a great puppy class at my friend's house this morning! There were about 20 dogs and about as many people! We worked with farm animal distractions and some obstacles. Then we had play time and a discussion about toy obsessive dogs. I think it was one of the best DITR classes yet!

Dembre licking his lips! Strange huh?

working the dogs

play time

Nashville III! SO cute

Dembre- all worn out!

Little Ms. Wish

Dogs galore!

And another picture of the dogs

Mr. Yaxley III poses for the camera

So Long So Soon

When I got Dembre he was a cute, calm, cuddly little puppy. Now he is a great big, excitable, but still cuddly dog.

When I got Dembre I thought that a year and a half was enough time with one puppy and that it would seem like a long time. Now I see that I only have a few short months left with my wonderful first puppy and that the time has flown by so quickly that I don't know where it went to.

When I got Dembre I thought that it would be such a wait until he could go out in public. Now I realize that I should have been less excited about the future and more content with the present.

The second and third things on the list are both newbie mistakes. I told a friend that next puppy I want to enjoy the little puppy stage and introduce each command and manner with patience and consistency. I don't want to rush the puppy and I want to enjoy each stage easy and tough.

I was at puppy class this evening with many other puppy raiser friends with dogs around Dembre's age that will be turning in their puppies in August with me. One of my good PR friends is turning-in her wonderful pup in the middle of next month. When I first came her puppy was young and had a long way to go. I realize now that I am starting to see dogs arrive as little puppies and will soon see them turn-in. So far all the dogs who have turned-in were already in training when I got Dembre. Since I started raising at least 7 or 8 new puppy raisers have joined and I'm not the only novice.

So long so soon. I look at Dembre and realize I can't just do some training and take him into public. I need to stay focused and passionate. Only too soon will he be gone. I am trying to live and love every moment with my puppy.

a blurry picture of Dembre

there I am a new PR with a fluffy puppy. I was SO excited on the day I got Dembre

Dembre and I now a happy trainer and dog.

The Celebration and More

We celebrated Dembre's birthday with extra play time and cake. Sadly the cake was a cake that he could not eat and I'm sure he didn't appreciate the thought either, but the cake tasted good :)
Today I went  to the PR led puppy class that is held in our Central Ohio area. We went to Worthington and walked around down town. I got to trade dogs with one of my friends and so Dembre got practice with a different handler. I forgot my camera, but a friend got some pictures of the whole class so I think I'll see if she'll allow me to post them :D

the cake turned out fine, though the writing was really hard to do.

~Elijah & Dembre

Fun

Tomorrow is my birthday. I got a Goughnut for my birthday and I was very happy. CCI recently approved Goughnuts for CCI dogs and I thought I like one. They're  guaranteed to last through tough chewers and will replace any damaged toys. Pretty nice :D

Else than that we ran errands, went out to lunch, and went to puppy class today. Just plain old life.

Dembre in the park!!!

I'm really looking forward to SPRING!!! Yes, SPRING! That word strikes joy into my heart. Long walks in the woods with Dembre, hiking, swimming, outdoor training sessions. Sounds GREAT! I love SPRING!

~Elijah & Dembre

BIG Update, Weigh In, Esc.

So since the last time I posted, which wasn't very long ago, Dembre went out to dinner, the movies, the CCI Halloween party, and Dembre is currently at the Vet getting neutered.

First things first. Our little movie going outing was "interesting". We went to Qdoba Mexican Grill for dinner and of course Dembre went with us. And next thing I know Dembre gets kicked out!!! Fun... NOT! Fortunately our van was near by and It wasn't too cold or too warm for him to put in the van. We quickly finished our dinner and left. The movie went great! Dembre laid quietly on the floor and waited. The movie was good and just about the right length for a puppy's first time.

Last night was the CCI Halloween Party. Though we don't celebrate Halloween, we went to introduce Dembre to Halloweenish stuff just in case. It really wasn't a party. It was a puppy class addressed to problems dogs meet during Halloween season. I got to meet a puppy raiser from New Jersey, who is attending OSU. Her parents are finishing raising her current dog and she said that she hopes to raise a puppy next year. A brand new puppy also joined the class. A female from Alondra and Paxton's "H" litter. Haiku III is an adorable Yellow Lab who's really confident. Her puppy raiser got her right out of the kennels after class and she went right off and played with the other dogs.

Lastly, Dembre is getting neutered. We dropped him off and he is the second appointment today. He'll probably be back right around 2:00. And for the weigh in! Dembre is: 56 lbs.

Miss Haiku playing with Hepburn

My little brother as a CCI puppy at the Halloween party

Dembre at CCI NC

Dembre at puppy class

Miss Haiku, what a cutie!

Cute Pose

So there were two chairs back to back at puppy class and I had Dembre do a "Jump" then randomly he did and "Up' onto the back of the chairs

Confession

I have come to realize that I need to up Dembre's expectancy level. Dembre is a little angel if I give him a command such as "Sit","Down",or "Here". He also consistently does "Up", "Jump", "Let's Go", "Hurry" and quite a few more. I thought he knew "Heel" and "Side"... until yesterday night at puppy class. I realize that Dembre is just following the leash to the side I want him at. If I had him of leash he'd be clueless about what to do when I cued him with either of those to commands. I have decided he needs to do those consistently before I teach him anything new.

Goal- Work with Dembre until he knows "Heel" and "Side" , anywhere, anytime, on the first command!!!!

~Elijah & Dembre

Then & Now

Dembre is 4 months in less than one week. WOW! He was 14lbs. when we got him exactly 2 months ago. Now he is 33lbs.. My little boy now knows these commands: Sit, Down, Shake, Let's go, Here, Kennel, Wait, and is learning: Visit, Up, Lap, Side, and Heel. How can it be that my little boy is growing up? Here are two pictures. (The first is from 2 months ago, the second was taken today)

Puppy Class Pictures :)

Dembre had puppy class last night and he did very well. He maintained a good down for about
a half hour. His sit was great and I cradled him for about 10 minutes, which was good for him. Sadly we had to go before puppy playtime. There are three other young puppies in the group, Dembre being the oldest. Juanita (YLGX), Jones (YLGX Juanita's sibling), and Heartman (YLGX). Jones and Juanita are just to cute! I got some pictures of Mr. Dembre at class.