Busy Dave... no, not the command busy...

Dave has been a pretty busy pup! These past couple weeks have been, in a way, life changing for him.

We had a very good Thanksgiving. Dave usually hangs out in my room, with a baby gate up so he can still watch the groups of people come and go while we eat dinner. Our friends are great about not feeding our dogs table food, but it's a tight squeeze sometimes depending on how many people come! Once the humans are full and on the verge of exploding, Dave comes out, goes busy outside and gets to have playtime with whoever (meaning everybody) will play with his toys.

(Dave poses with a Thanksgiving headband on)

My mom's grandma lives in an assisted living facility about 1 1/2 hours away from us. We happened to be in her area for a doctors appointment and so we stopped in to see her. I'm always amazed at how much impact a dog can have on people either in hospitals, nursing homes or in rehab facilities. Dave made the residents day so much brighter with just his sweet and happy face! Dave even met a manager of the assisted living facility whose name happens to be Dave as well.

(Dave, Meagan, her siblings and their great-grandmother pose for a picture)

Dave is always making us laugh with his silly antics!

(Dave lays on his back, feet in the air with his favorite no-stuffing fox by his head)

Our puppy group had a meeting at a local park. The park had a nice walkway and perfect sitting area for a meeting. This was a milestone meeting for Dave... he got to try the harness on for the first time!

(prior to the meeting, Meagan and Dave sit beside the trail and smile for the camera)

(Sue, our Area Coordinator, shows Dave the harness to let Dave smell it)

(Sue helps Meagan put the harness over Dave's head and get it clip on. I think Dave was more interested in licking Sue!)

(Dave lays quietly beside Meagan while wearing the harness)

(mmmm.... Dave looks so handsome in leather!)

(The pups work on some down stays for obedience)

(Leslie and Bentley work with Meagan and Dave on dog distractions... They are improving on the recalls Jen Garrity! :)

Christmas is coming quickly (just 10 days away people!) so we got the decorations out and put our tree(s) up. Once Christmas is over, the house always looks so empty and boring!

(Dave wears a green, red and gold wreath around his neck while sitting in front of our fully decorated tree)

We attended the annual Christmas Boat Parade. Our friend has a dock and the boats go in their canal. It was really fun this year! Dave did great... even with the had-no-idea-it-was-coming, pee-your-pants-it-was-so-loud, firework that went off on the dock next to us! I think Dave attracts the loud, unexpected noises.

(Dave and Meagan on the dock while a beautifully decorated boat passes behind)

(Dave watches one of the 33 boats that passes during the parade)

 Now for some, exciting, tear jerking news we received in the mail.

(Dave's In For Training notice for January 14th arrived in the mail this past Saturday)

We are excited that Dave is ready for college. He is so smart and loves to get his blue coat on to "go with me" and work. His favorite command (other then take-a-break for his meals) is "find the door" with a crisp and upbeat "switch" at the switch doors. Dave also really LOVES stairs. Like really loves them. I think it's like kids who don't have stairs of their own, so they love to go to peoples houses just to climb their stairs. I'm anxious to see what Dave thinks of escalators!

The big question I get is "Will you raise again?". Well, that is a question I've answered 4 times before and said "We're going to take a break for a while" and that breaks only ends up being about a month long. I'm not saying no, or yes. Let's just say, I'm keeping a tight grip on my puppy manual for a while longer :)