Above and beyond the call of duty

Finley climbs a killer spiral staircase without hesitation.  You go, Girl!!

 

 

Congratulations, Cianna!

At Cianna's Civil Air Patrol Florida Wing Summer Encampment Graduation.  We are so proud of you!

 

No issue here!

Finley seems pretty secure about her "coveted resource."   ;-)

 

 

"I define 'resource guarding' as behavior that discourages another to take, or get too close to, an object or valued area in a dog's possession."    

                          -- Patricia McConnell, behaviorist

 

Go for it!

Captain shows his fearless side on a downtown adventure.

A fit pup is a happy pup

Tonight we focus on our new Puppy Conditioning program.  Our veterinarians have developed a variety of activities that we can do with our puppies in order to challenge and strengthen different muscle groups.  Coupled with the conditioning they will do on campus as older dogs, we hope to increase stamina and produce better working dogs for their handlers. 

Before the meeting, a few of the dogs explore some of the equipment.  (Normally, conditioning will be done out of coat.)

Getting comfy and playing hide and seek are not part of the program.   ;-)

Callison

 

Corona

 

Several of the exercises center on what we call a lack of "hind-end awareness" in dogs.  Often, they're a little clueless about what their back ends are doing.  The boxes, 4X4s, hurdles, and ladder all encourage them to learn to pick up their back feet independently.

 

Bobby

 

 

 

Callison

 

Captain

 

 

Corona

 

 

Eve

 

 

Frankie

 

 

Kali

 

 

Luna

 

 

Paulie

 

Another exercise category involves luring the dogs with a treat in order to move their heads and necks in different directions to increase range of motion.  Patricia and Captain demonstrate a "cookie reach" in which Captain brings his nose over almost to his ribcage.  (Nice job!  Possibly the only shot we got of this.)

 

The apparatuses that encouraged dogs to step up provide an opportunity to use different muscles.  We will work up to doing the range-of-motion exercises while the dogs' forequarters are elevated, but since this was their first time with the equipment or the reaches, we weren't there yet.

 

Captain

 

 

 

Bobby

 

 

Paulie

 

A few cute shots of the dogs enjoying the equipment, even if not a specific exercise.

 

Captain, having a sit.

 

 

Frankie, owing the chaise cushion.

 

At her first puppy meeting, Kali discovers that being littlest means new-puppy presents!

 

 

Callison stays on task after getting home, helping her dad go up the attic ladder.   ;-)

 

 

Batter up!

Alfie enjoys softball practice while with Julie and Ross at Puppy Camp.

 

Soaking in WA summer

Finley strikes a pose at Pike's Place Fish Market in Seattle.

 

Soaking in FL summer

Captain enjoys a day at the park, deftly dodging gators!

 

Not to be outdone...

Luna submits her "broken-leg pose" photo to compete with Corona's and Callison's (see May 25)!

 

Not "unnecessary" in his mind

Having had his "unnecessary bits" removed, Corona faces the double indignity of the cone of shame.   :-(

 

Such willpower

Captain earns several gold stars for staying off the bed while his brother chews Captain's toy!!

 

Welcome, little girl!

George flashes his best "new-daddy smile" as he cradles his first Southeastern superhero.

 

Stay in the shallow end

Despite being retrievers, they don't all love the water!  Our annual pool safety meeting is the only chance that some of our pups will get to try out a pool.  Others, who live with pools, often become expert swimmers.

Learning to like to swim is not the goal.  Teaching the pups pool safety/etiquette is certainly a goal, as is having a fun day with a great group of people.

Andi may be little, but she sure is a champ.  (Some of the dogs spent a lot more time in front of the lens than others.  Apologies to raisers whose dogs are less extensively represented.)

 

 

 

 

 

Tiny Buffy gives it a shot!

 

 

Luna, already a swimmer, has a great day.

 

 

 

 

Buddy has a grand old time, as well.

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Buddy (our adult, professional guide dog) is the only one able to do "flying leaps" into the pool (strictly prohibited for program pups).  

 

 

Landlubber Callison wants no part of "the big wet." 

 

 

 

Captain's maritime moniker serves him well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cute little Paulie makes the most of his camera time.   ;-) 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

   

 

Frankie takes a quick turn.

 

 

Corona may or may not have spent any time in the water, but he surely looks good for the lens.

 

 

Back on deck, the fun continues.  Good food and good company.

 

  

 

 

 

Thanks to everyone who helped with plans, food, and swimming lessons today.  Special thanks to Debi and family -- as always -- for hosting us, and to Debi and George for volunteering to run a pup to the vet for ear meds.

 

You don't see it in our photos, but today was a painful day, as well.  As Southeastern breeds more and more dogs, it has to attract more and more puppy raisers.  From time to time, geographical boundaries realign to keep the regional nature of puppy groups.  All well and good, in theory.  But today we bid farewell to four families of raisers who will join the northern group in Tampa.  Some are veterans of our group; some are newer.  But all are deeply embedded in our hearts.  The years, the fun, the struggles that we have shared have built an extraordinary bond.  That we will now share the same mission from different places is difficult and distressing.  In the end, though, it's about raising these extraordinary puppies with the love and structure that they need to set them up for success in whatever fields they ultimately pursue. 

 

Until we meet again, dear friends.