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

Neutering

Dembre got neutered yesterday. He's recovering fine. He whined a lot yesterday, but he slept through the night fine. No throwing up, no diarrhea. He'll be down and won't go anywhere for about a week, gives me some down time too. Tomorrow Dembre turns 7 months. Can't believe that time has flown SO quickly.

~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!

Outlet Mall and Movie

Yesterday Dembre and I got to go to lunch and walk around for a couple of hours at the "Lodi Outlet Mall". At lunch Dembre did a perfect "Under" and was pretty good with not eating food off of the floor. Dembre got to see mannequins for the first time. He seemed pretty puzzled when they didn't move.         Happily trotting around at my side, Dembre also sat quietly to be petted by strangers and didn't try to lick. He got to visit a shoe outlet a "Toys'R'us". They even have a train ride there, so he got to hear train sounds and I let him watch it go by. I forgot my camera, which was really disappointing. I could have gotten some really cute pictures.

Tonight we are going to dinner and then we're going see Toy Story 3 in the theater. Of course Dembre is coming along. That should be a good first movie. I hope to go see "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" when in comes out in December.

I'll probably post some pictures tomorrow,

~Elijah & Dembre

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

Gone for the Weekend

I'm going to a conference this weekend so Dembre is staying back with the rest of my family. I'll probably post again on Monday or Tuesday with Dembre's 6 month photo shoot!!!!! I'm going to attempt to make this photo shoot really special and memorable :)

~Elijah & Dembre

Sunday Outing

Yesterday Dembre got attend Church, go to North Market for lunch, and Goodale Park afterward to take a walk. He did a perfect "Under" for the whole church service. At North Market he didn't try to eat any food while under the table and responded calmly to people who asked to pet him. At the park he did great ignoring other dogs. He did pull towards one chattering squirrel, but after getting promptly corrected he didn't attempt it again. After being out for most of the day he was really exhausted and when we got back to the car and fell asleep and didn't wake up until we arrived home.

My friend also brought her CCI pupy, Neo to Church, but after that Dembre was the only working dog in the same place at the same time. It still feels weird to have people stare and then whisper as we pass by. Oh well, I guess I'll get used to it :-)

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

Six for Six

Dembre turned 6 months yesterday! Wow, It's hard to believe he's already a half a year old. Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile. I've been really busy with school. Here are the six things:

1) Dembre can now officially go anywhere. For this last month I've tried to make his outings short and non-stressful. Now he can go to bigger, busier places.

2) Dembre will get neutered in a couple of weeks.

3) Dembre is coming along with his "up's", "jump's", and "under's".

4) I will continue to teach Dembre a variety of new skill's

5) I think it is time for Dembre to graduate his large blue Airline Crate for our giant breed wire crate.

6) I can't believe how fast he's growing up. Last fall I started thinking about the possibility
of raising a service dog puppy. I researched and thought and researched and thought. And then in April I asked my parents. They agreed and we put in an application at CCI. Before then I had considered raising a dog for Pilot Dogs Inc. or another organization, but my mind always went back to CCI. The Puppy Program Manager looked over our application and we set up a date for a phone interview. We had our interview on May 21st and at the end of that interview the Puppy Program Manager told us she'd love to have us as puppy raisers. We were shocked that she had just said "Yes" and then I heard the best part. "We have a puppy named Dembre, who is supposed to come in on the 28th are you up to getting a puppy that soon?" Our answer "YES" . And that's how it all began.