Holiday cheer

Our annual holiday puppy meeting has moved to Hyde Park Village, where the pups can explore crowds, music, and decorations, all in the dark.

Bruno

Wishing a blessed holiday season to our Tampa Area Puppy Raisers, past and present.  You are a special group, to be sure.  

Quite a workout this morning

On a beautiful winter day, raisers and dogs took part in a wide range of exercises in conditioning, novelty, and skills practice.

First, a conditioning exercise.  Stepping into/through boxes encourages the dogs to pick up their back feet as well as improves their "hind-end awareness."

Cocoa

Sparks

Bruno

Rosie

Julia

Snaking through close cones helps exercise the muscles used in lateral motion.

Julia

Coast

Julia

A pine cone provided a distraction during passbys.

Cocoa and Wookee

Bruno

Bubbles are very hard to photograph, but they're fun!  A novel experience for many of the dogs.

Cocoa, Suba, Wookee

Jen and Bruno demonstrate a long-line recall.

Tic-tac-toe -- the "sits" vs the "downs."

Dog distraction work -- one dog circles the rest of the group while everybody tries to retain composure.

Close-proximity stays.

The close-proximity stays for small groups of dogs were just the lead up to one of our group's favorite (and certainly most challenging) exercises -- "the star."  All of the dogs have to maintain a sit-stay with their fannies touching (or nearly so).  Then, all are called to return to their handlers at once, leading to a starburst effect.

Thank you, everyone, for your hard work today.  I think we all deserve a good nap -- in a sunpuddle or otherwise.

Great American Teach In

This annual event in the public school systems is always a treat.  Teachers bring in guest speakers for the entire day to talk about professions, hobbies, volunteerism, etc.  Brooke borrowed Bruno from Sue to go out and spread the word about puppy raising for Southeastern.

Exploring Beall's

One of the easiest and best ways to expose our pups to the world is to take them out and about into various stores.  Tonight, after some skills and greeting practice, we spent some time snooping through Beall's.  

Bruno

Julia

Triplets enjoy their weekend together

It may be the home of Buc and Coast, but with Specs as a visitor, who can tell who's who?

Offering his respect

Bruno honors our first responders from 9/11.

Saddle up, pups

This morning we had a fun new opportunity to explore Quantum Leap Farm, an equine-assisted therapy facility in Odessa.  Thanks to raiser Patricia and the QLF staff and animals, we were able to learn about their mission and give our city pups some exciting exposures.

Patricia explains her association with QLF and its impact in her life.

CEO Lee Behensky and Founder Edie Dopking inspire our group.

You've got to love how some of the pups lean in to experience such big animals

This trio is also coincidentally celebrating National Love Your Red Hair Day!

The resident billy goat posed so nicely -- who could resist?