Rocky received his very first birthday card in the mail today. Who better to be the first to wish him happy birthday than all the fabulous ladies in the puppy department at SEDGI! Rocky enjoyed helping open it by ripping off one of the corners of the envelope; he is such a good helper!
I had known that they were sending out cards back in the fall, but it was way cuter then I had thought. What made it even more special was that it has one of my treat recipes that I created on the inside cover. I guess that means that Rocky will want some treats for his birthday! I will have to see what I can whip up for him.
I can’t believe the little guy is going to be 1 on Saturday; he grew up way too fast!
Sorry for lack of posting, but is has been crazy around here and have not been able to get around to posting.
I was supposed to lead our local puppy meeting yesterday, but some misunderstanding caused it to be canceled. So what to do with an open gorgeous Saturday afternoon? Rocky said, “invite all of his friends over” and that is exactly what I did! There were 9 lovely labs that enjoyed playing with each other for around 2 hours. Three of Rocky’s siblings came, Spike, Duchess and Cassidy along with fellow pup in training Sparkie, career changed dogs Ely and Tillie and our neighbors Cole and Molly.
They all had so much fun playing together and chilling underneath the trees eating ice. Ely decided after he lead one lap around the yard that the mud spot on the far side of the yard was a good place to chill; he later watched from his throne (our big rock in our yard).
Rocky walked around with the biggest smile on his face the entire time. I guess it gave them a little taste of how it will be in a few more weeks when they get to play together at school.
I am guessing that I am the pack leader of the dogs that were here yesterday; they would not stop following me around. I felt like the dog whisperer for a moment! I had a very stable pack, with all those dogs; not one of them said anything not nice and they all played well together.
Let’s just say Rocky came in and crashed and still is recovering from his crazy weekend.
I love being able to set up a quick play date with the dogs that live so close to us; it is great for the dogs and gives the raisers some time to talk.
Fellow puppy raisers should understand by the title what this post is about. For the rest of our readers, I found out today that Rocky will be heading off to start a new adventure in his life April 12-15. It was a bit of a shock when I opened my e-mail, as I was not expecting him to go back so soon.
Rocky will be the first of my puppies to start this adventure so young at only 12 ½ months old. But as hard as it is for me to admit, Rocky is so ready to start the next step in his journey! I on the other hand not so ready to let him go, but I guess I will never be ready. Even though I will only have had Rocky for 10 ½ months, I know he will be super hard to give up. He has a great personality that allows him to have everyone wrapped around his paw.
I know that Rocky will have a blast at college, the dogs are truly spoiled down there. It helps a little having heard just over a week ago from some of the SEGDI trainers say how great Rocky is and how handsome he is. The head of the breeding department loved him, so that might help since he is a breeder eval. I personally think he would have gorgeous, smart puppies. If he does not make it as a breeder, he will make a great guide and if he decides that is not for him, he will do fabulous in any job he decides.
I have quite a few spies that have already said they would keep an eye on Rocky while he is down there and give him some extra loving from me. Rocky will enjoy his days playing with his new friends and roomies and going new places with the super cool trainers!
I know Rocky will continue to make me proud in his new journey, just as he has made me proud every minute of every day I have had him!
So I am a little late posting this, but it has been a crazy week! Anyways my little Rocky turned 11 months last Saturday the 27th. He is truly a wonderful pup and I love every second that I have him!
So in honor of Rocky turning 11 month. . .
11 of Rocky’s favorite things
1) His friends- Rocky loves his 2 and 4 legged friends. Everywhere we go they know Rocky by name!
2) Food-what lab doesn’t like eating!
3) His coat- boy does Rocky know what the coat means! He loves going anywhere and is fabulous wherever he goes!
4) ice- I have never met a dog that loved ice as much as he does!
5) walks- rain or shine, it does not matter to him.
6) attention- something Rocky can never get enough of! He knows when people are talking about him and he just sits down and wags his tail!
7) car rides- I guess he has figured out that he gets to go someplace when he gets in the car. He is a great rider!
8) his toys and bones- Rocky enjoys throwing his bones or kongs up in the air which is adorable! He enjoys his time chewing on his bone.
9) water- Rocky adores water, baths or a swim it does not matter. I personally think it is kind of funny when he blows bubbles in his water bowl.
10) His bed- Rocky will sleep anywhere, but seems to enjoy sleeping on his bed or in one of his favorite spots in the house.
11) for everyone being together- Rocky’s motto is never leave a man behind, he likes everyone to be together and will check to make sure everyone is coming.
Rocky is a great puppy! Whatever career he chooses and whoever gets him will truly be blessed!
Rocky and I are heading out for a fun filled weekend in Florida for Southeastern’s annual walkathon. Rocky is very excited to see some familiar faces and meet new ones. I think he was just happy that I made treats for the trip! Ely gets to stay home and be a only dog for the weekend, but I think he will enjoy some extra spoiling.Rocky and I hope everyone has a great weekend!
P.S. from Ely: Rocky, you took all the good stuff! The good leash, the good treats, the good bowl, the good girl! Bring them back!!!! And you left me at home to entertain the old folks! Maybe the blizzard conditions will let up in the mountains so I can go play in the snow...
As a puppy raiser the number one question that I get asked, is surprising, not “can I pet your dog?” or “what is his name?” The question that I get asked on a daily basis and most of the time several times during the day is “isn’t hard to give them up?”
I have been asked this question more than normal recently and decided to share my feelings are why I go through such a heartache every 14-18 months.
My short answer to this question is: of course it is!
My thought behind the answer:
I believe that God created every person and dog for a reason and that God created certain dogs for a specific person. I love how one puppy raiser puts it “If I am the person that God has created this puppy for, then I am happy, if he created him to change someone’s life then I am happy too.”
Of course that does not help when you are feeling the pain and loss of not having your puppy by your side. I can remember every detail of every one of my puppies in their last moments as being their puppy raisers like it was yesterday. Every in for training day got easier in some ways and in other ways harder to let go off that leash for the last time. If you don’t have the pain of letting them go, you can’t have the enormous reward of seeing that once tiny puppy succeeding in their destiny.
Nothing that you have not given away can ever be really yours. ~C. S. Lewis~
I have been asked by many, “how do you not get attached to them?” You can’t, you can try your hardest to say that you are not going to let this puppy have a part of your heart, but the joy and love that that puppy shows opens the door to your heart. As that puppy grows, the spot in your heart grows too for the pride and love that you have for that puppy. When they leave they take that part of your heart with them, but leave just a little for the love that you will always have for them.
Alexander, Colt, Ely, Sherman and Rocky have all helped me grow to be the person who I am meant to be. They have all taught me extraordinary lessons quickly and remind me everyday to be the person I am supposes to be.
“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” ~Helen Keller~
It does not matter if they become guide dogs or not, just like every kid can’t be a doctor, not every puppy in training will be a guide dog. Whatever career they choose to have, is the right career for them. I have seen the impact of what a career changed dog can have on the community, a family and even a child with autism. It is remarkable how each dog finds just the right job for them! Ely loves being a pet doing therapy work on the side. He enjoys his mornings to sleep in (of course after eating breakfast) instead of going out places all day long. He has a job that he loves!
The summary behind this question is that even though it is extremely hard to give them up, it grows you and makes you that much stronger. When you see that once little puppy who you had good times and some more challenging times with as it was growing up being with someone who needs them is a feeling that you cannot experience without the pain of having to let go.
“You were always my to love, but never mine to keep.” ~a puppy raiser~( can’t remember where I heard this)
After saying all this does it mean that I am not going to cry when Rocky goes IFT? NO, I don’t think you can be human if you don’t. It would have been a lot harder without the support of my family, puppy raising family and my one of my best friends, Chelsea (who just so happens is a former puppy raiser, just not so much fun when both of our pups go IFT at the same time. I am so thankful that God let our paths crossed twice!)
“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.”
~Unknown ~(the quote I include in all my puppies scrapbook for their new owners)
I don’t regret one moment of being a puppy raiser, even around IFT. Each of my puppies has changed my life and taught me all that I could learn from them. You have to learn to let them go so that they can change someone else’s life. I am told it takes a special person to be a puppy raiser, while that might me true, it takes a special puppy to create a puppy raiser.
