Soccer season is almost here!

My family are soccer fans. (yes, we were disappointed with the women's world cup game. No, we don't need to discuss it :) Specifically my brother, dad and myself.

My brother plays for a local organization called AYSO. My dad coaches my brother's team, I ref the 4-6 year olds, mom is the registrar and my sister is the lawn chair holder-downer. :)

I have brought my pups with me to almost every single game... since pup #1. People get upset if I "didn't bring the puppy". Returning players always ask about my "last puppy", wondering what ever came about with their fabulous careers. Many people were surprised to find out I'm raising a boy this time around! And many love his name.

I've found a wonderful way to introduce my pups to the new soccer players (since I'm busy reffing on soccer days) is I bring Dave with me to help me pass out uniforms on registration day. That way when soccer starts, everyone knows that Dave is working and cannot be played with.

Dave did really well today! I'm so proud on my little man :)

Birthday Boy

No. Not Dave. My dad. 

Today for Dad's birthday, Dave helped protect Dad's birthday presents.

If Dad came too close...

Dave would bombard him with kisses...

Good boy Dave.

P.s. If you want to see what was under the green table cloth, check out our families blog in a few days.

Dave in Ybor

Well, I would have posted this much sooner, but my family has been getting over the flu. Fun stuff. Through our sick time, we have found Dave makes an excellent napping buddy :)

Last Saturday, we had a meeting in Ybor. Specifically to ride the tram. But there was plenty of other things to look at and sniff! Including roosters. (for whatever reason the picture is super duper tiny... and I don't have the energy to figure out why!) There where two roosters, 6 or more hens and even some chicks... since we have six chickens of our own at home in a pen, this wasn't a new sight to Dave, but these were obviously very free-range hens. Walking wherever and on whatever they wanted. Only in Ybor!

Everyone (meaning every puppy) did fantastic on the Tram. Nobody (puppy) freaked. It was super hot outside so we were sure to keep out pups hydrated. Thankfully the Tram was cool.

Dave did great. But I must say, if he gets any bigger, he's going to have to really suck it in to fit in between the seats! :) 
This is Sarah... a puppy who was being camped for a few days. She was really sweet :)

This little chocolate guy is Bentley. We were sitting across from them in the tram and he was just too cute to pass up... hopefully when Bentley is a little older, Dave will go with Bentley's raisers and I will get Bentley for puppy camp. My first time with a chocolate... and handling a pup with the same name as my sweet Eve's brother!

After the Tram, we went into an arcade. Dave wasn't fazed a bit. I think it comes from having two younger siblings who play all sorts of crazy sounding games on the wii.

We then went to "fresh mouth" for lunch. Pretty good sandwiches... and very guide dog puppy friendly.

 

This coming week Dave will be staying with the Mihulkas.... Joey's raisers. If they can handle "Big Joe" then they can certainly handle my "Dave-Man". Take good care of my boy! :)

      Meagan

Boy dogs can dress up too...

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 

(even though it's really the fifth today :)

Love,

    Dave

Puppy Meeting, STRAZ Style....

Today our puppy group went to the STRAZ center for preforming arts in Tampa. Talk about a boat-load of exposures. We did not have the privilege of seeing a performance, but almost even better, we got to walk all over the largest theater at the STRAZ center. One of the puppy raisers in our group works at the STRAZ center, so he gave us a lot of neat info!
We went on an elevator, tons and tons and TONS of stairs, we went inside the theater to sit in the seats and do a "down-under", we went on the actual stage to walk up to the edge to see the dogs reactions, we went inside a dressing room, walked the back-stage halls and then went up MORE stairs to go up into the very top of the theaters seats. I have no problem saying I'm afraid of heights, but there would be no way in the world I could sit and watch a play at that height. Seeing it once was great, good exposure. Unfortunately, the pictures I took inside of the theater are pretty dark, so I've lightened them up a bit... which means in order for you to see the true beauty of the theater, you'll just have to visit it in person! But at least you get to see some of what we saw.

Before we went inside the theater, we walked around by the water...

 

 

 

Then we went inside to try out some theater seats...

^Dave really would have liked to taste that jelly-bean, but he never did try to eat it^

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^On the stage with Dave's glowing eyes.... he looks like something out of a Star Trek movie...^

 

^In the dressing room^

 

^The height.... ekkk^

^Made me^

^Feel kinda^

^Nauseous^

 

Then we went outside to discuss our agenda and say goodbye to everyone...

^Dave told me he wants to see Annie one day... I asked him why and he said because of the dog!^

 

 

Thanks Sue Croley and Lorrin Shepard for working this meeting out... it was great!

A special Thank You

Every couple months, a trainer at SEGDI will host an Obedience class once a week for dogs in the general area. (One of the many perks of living close to SEGDI :) This trainer's name is Karen. SEGDI has a whole "string" (hee hee) of amazing trainers, some of which I have had the pleasure to meet. Karen, being one of them :) Everyone is astounded by how many little tips for raising guide dog puppies she has!

Thank you so much Karen, for all your help these past few weeks!

^As you can see, we only love her a little bit :) ^

 

And of course, I have to throw in a picture of good ol' Dave-man in front of the SEGDI stone :)

6 months old... say what?!?!?!?

HAPPY SIX MONTH BIRTHDAY

to

MEG AND SPIRIT'S LITTER!

I cannot believe Dave is already 6 months old. I was shocked when our AC emailed me and said I needed to fill out Dave's six month evals. Wasn't it just yesterday I picked up this sweet bundle of joy?

I mean come on! How can this tiny little guy...

Have already gained enough weight for the scale to say 65 pounds, wear a choker collar, and be learning some of the "big dog" commands?!?!?!?

I don't know.

Six things about Dave...

Dave is such a handsome guy. Since I don't have a "special someone" in my life yet, I like to call him "my man".

Dave likes to help with laundry. He really likes it when we bring all the dirty clothes out to sort them in their correct color piles. Dave prefers to sniff, dig around and lay on the whites and lights... lots of socks, wash clothes and yes, even underwear.

Dave's current favorite commands are "Forward", "In", "Take-a-Break", "Switch" and "Heel". Switch is his most favorite though. Thanks to his first "long-time-away-from-mommy" sitters, he has "Switch" mastered!

Dave's nicknames would be "Dave-Man" (thanks to the vet :), "Booboo", and "Little Man". He is "David" or "David Kelly" when he is in trouble... :)

Dave has learned what the word "carrot" means. Dave LOVES to roll the carrot around the house, find the perfect spot to shred it and then eat the tiny shredded pieces.

Dave is probably the best dog I've raised that will conform to any schedule. Most mornings, now that I'm working a part-time job, I get up around 6 and he is ready to go. Other mornings, (like on the weekends) I won't get up until 8 or 9. (what else are weekends for but sleeping in!?!?)

Happy six months Dave-man.