A little mall walking

Our July mid-month meeting focused on the many sights and sounds to be found at the mall.  While it may seem very routine, a mall is actually an important exposure that must be repeated.  Bright lights, high ceilings, crowds, children, food, and many other stimuli abound.

As always, some obedience outside.

Phi seems to be hoping that something treat-like is in that plastic bag!

Once inside, much cooler.  

BJ is fairly disinterested in the merry-go-round.

C-C checks out the fake swimming pool and the fake swimmer in the fake inner tube!  Please don't get any ideas...   ;-)

End of an era

We raisers tend to get attached to all of our group's dogs.  Rocky has been a dear from the start, and we've watched him mature into the confident, well-raised boy that he is.  So, as he leaves for Puppy College today, everyone is thinking about him and about his beloved raisers, Linda and Bill.

"The Rockster," revisited.

An only child.

Growing like crazy!

Day One -- the homecoming.

Everybody loves me already.   ;-)

Learning Monti's boundaries.

Greeting calmly at a puppy meeting.

Unimpressed with the ocean...

Helping to train a new puppy raiser at the mall.

Enjoying two great friends, Millie and Bonnie.

Serving in a public-relations capacity for a Lions Club event.

Learning the family passion!

Running in a relay race with Linda.

Soaking in some classical guitar music.

Hanging out with the neighbors at a block party.

Myth busting!   ;-)

Expanding his horizons while off at puppy camp.

  

Enjoying a moment of serenity with Mom at the river.

Sharing the most coveted space with his best pal.

Preparing for the massages he will receive regularly on campus.

Oozing maturity at his final puppy meeting. 

Today Rocky's past officially ends and his future begins.  Having experienced all of the puppy conditioning and exposures that prepared him for this moment, he is ready.

Upon arriving on campus, Rocky is greeted by a personalized sign featuring his six-week-old harness photo.

Striking a pose with the school van.

"Pawsing" at the rock with Mom & Dad.

Preparing for the handoff to his trainer.  (The standard turn-in song that is played as the dogs come up, one-by-one, is the theme from the movie "Rocky."  How fitting!)

You will be in exceptional hands, Rocky.  Study hard and make us all proud.

Perfect beach etiquette, Phi

The well-placed towel prevents most thoughts of digging -- a perpetual issue on sand.  Good boy, Phi!

Little fella -- you okay?

No, he wasn't, but Bonnie was suitably gentle.

Scavenging with Homer

The Tampa raisers tend to look forward to the annual scavenger hunt puppy meeting.  An excuse to be air conditioned can't be downplayed in Florida in July...  Having previously conducted hunts at Target and Lowe's, we hit the Home Depot this year.  (It needs to be a large retailer to absorb so many people and dogs!)

Awaiting their adventure --

Arthur loves dad!

Rocky's last meeting before College

Zelda advances to the harness

Announcements and discussion before "the main event."

The Hunt:

Each team has one recorder and one handler, though the roles switch from time to time.  A long list of tasks is provided.  To add interest and a fair amount of excitement, teams trade dogs when they come upon each other during the hunt.  (This is a challenge for the puppies.  At first, they get excited to be with a new person.  Moments later, they realize that "mom" or "dad" is walking away.  It is critical that our dogs listen to whomever holds the leash, as they must adjust to many new handlers once they begin their professional training.)

Lightning and Lee determine what two brands of ceiling fans are offered.

BJ checks off the directive to "take your puppy's photo with an area rug."

As does Bruelle.

And Rocky & Lightning in a "two-fer!"

Arthur reminds Larry that this is a timed contest...

Rocky and Linda ask directions from a cheerful employee.

Here we have a perfectly executed "switcheroo."  Warning:  Do not try this without consulting a puppy raiser.  ;-)

BJ and Julie determine whether Home Depot sells Seminole and Gator mailboxes.  (It doesn't.)

Julie records dutifully as Lee investigates product brands.

Linda and Brian peruse the racks for the needed sign, 

and Rocky cooperates for the photo.

The paint chip wall makes a colorful backdrop for Arthur and his young friend. 

Linda works patiently with young Bruelle to accomplish the task:  "Put your pup in a down/stay while you use a broom to sweep around it."

BJ's turn next.

Three people and two dogs put their heads together to answer a multiple-choice question about shop vacs.

Oblivious to the stalking photographer, Bruelle's team stays on task.

Rocky seems to have developed a severe starboard list...

Larry, Ross, and Logan devise what they hope will be the most efficient route through the store.

Bruelle captures the requisite photo with the step stool.

In addition to obtaining the photo, each dog had to execute a sit/stay while the noisy stool was opened.

Zelda adds a wheelchair exposure to her photo session with the appointed sign.

 Ross, Logan, and BJ pause between requirements.

A hazard of our profession...  Puppy raisers learn to deal quickly and calmly with accidents in public places.  Anonymous fastidious handler, in brown.  Anonymous chagrined pup, in blue.  (But seriously, passersby are more likely to appreciate a raiser's attention to thorough clean up than to be horrified by the accident.  They are puppies, after all.)

Rocky waits semi-patiently as Mary-Jo seeks advice.

Bruelle waits for a service vehicle with a pesky back-up beeper.

Lightning smiles broadly as he strolls along with his teammates.

 Zelda admires the songbird thermometer.

Bruelle takes full advantage of a pause in the action.

Buddies Zelda and Rocky, exhausted from the contest, demonstrate remarkable composure in the parking lot as we "grade" our checklists. 

To the uninitiated, this might look like two dogs in a parking lot.  Au contraire!  This is the pinnacle toward which we all strive diligently.  Dogs are social creatures, but we have to condition them to ignore that natural urge when "working" (in puppy coat or professional harness).  You two have your group's admiration!

Linda demonstrates superhuman composure as the group recites the farewell poem to patriarch Rocky.  Go with God, Rocky.  Bless you, too, Linda.  You have given him "your all."