Spring & Summer 2010

Daisy's ADVENTURES!

Daisy passed the CGC exam in January 2010. We have continued advanced obedience classes weekly. We have been graciously included in a local service dog organization's field trips, where we have practiced her obedience skills in real life situations. In February she visited Bethany Manor, a nursing home for retired nuns. She made a BIG impression! So many of the Sisters said "I remember dogs like these..." She visited The Abundant Table, a place where anyone in need can go for a hot meal. She interacted with the guests and brought a lot of joy to those eating there that night. In June she went to Sturbridge Villiage, where she met people in costume, saw sheep/goats/chickens/draft horses and was bigger than a six week old calf! While there she went into a blacksmith shop (hot and NOISY!), a pottery shop, many antique houses, saw muskets being fired and went on a 20 minute boat ride. Over the summer she went to the beach a number of times (before the heat of the day), and walked around downtown Newport. We took some really fun group classes at Hopkinton State Park, where we practiced all of our basic obedience work on the boat ramp! She even did retrieves in the water, with lots of people, boats and dogs walking by. That amount of distraction was challenging to the whole class. The most fun class field trip was to Martha's Vineyard. We had to take a bus from the parking lot to the ferry. She walked on the bus as if we did it daily (it was her first time EVER and she walked on without hesitation, then laid quietly in the aisle!). Nothing phased her; the metal stairs on the ferry, the gangway, the loud ferry horn ~ all novel experiences. We also went to a restaurnt/bar with her training class and listened to live music (guitar & electric fiddle). She did a great UNDER the table while we ate and slept through the music... We have done field trips to the Bass Pro Shop, Patriot Place, and the Wrentham Outlet Mall. We even challenged ourselves to walking the stemware aisle at Williams Sonoma, where she did a great heel with no tail wagging. We have started rally-o this week, to sharpen our obedience in a fun atmosphere. She continues to amaze us with her zest for life and happy attitude. My daughter with autism describes her as her best friend. She is an integral member of our family; the most remarkable dog and friend ever.

December Update

Daisy is growing! Today she is two days shy of 8 months and she weighs 80lbs. We had our first "real" snowfall last night, and she loved it. She romped all over, snowplowing with her nose and throwing her head up, trying to catch the falling snow. It was pretty funny. She has been very busy, completing basic obedience, and now involved in advanced obedience. We go to training 2x/week. On Saturday mornings we train with a group of service dog puppies (NEADS of Princeton, MA). The service dogs in the class are all Labs, and Daisy is ENORMOUS in comparison! We have gone to Target, Whole Foods, the pet store, Blockbuster, Best Buy, my local bank, Open House at the fire station etc, all the while meeting new people, making new friends. We have had some unexpected socialization opportunities too; like three groups of 10 - 20 tap dancers auditioning at the local high school and having to wait while the floor cleaning zamboni mopped the lobby. She is the sweetest dog and super-smart. We are all crazy-in-love with our Daisy!

Playdate!

Daisy is now 56lbs and 21 weeks old. She had a playdate yesterday with the other two ISSR Shiloh's in my town, Shane and Fenway. Daisy had a BLAST. She finished her puppy K class, and we have started basic obedience. She is eager to learn and so smart. We continue to socialize her new experiences. Over Labor Day weekend we took her into downtown Newport, RI. She walked in heavy crowds through Bowen's Wharf and Bannister's Wharf, went up to a commercial fishing dock where they were unloading catch (very noisy!), stopped and sat at crosswalks, passed dropped food with a firm "Leave It", ignored other dogs who tried to engage her, walked on cement, pavement, wood, bricks and pavers, went into two "dog friendly" boutique stores, and met lots of people in a very busy, new environment. She watched as a fire truck raced by us while waiting to cross a street, but did not break her Sit/Stay. We were so proud of her.

While at my parent's home, she found a pair of my Dad's dirty socks. She picked them up, walked through the house with them, found my Dad shaving, then sat and waited for him to finish. She then dropped his socks next to him. It was so FUNNY! She continues to amaze us.

July 2009

It has been a busy month for our growing Daisy! She has been having a blast this summer. Some new things we did include: visited a CGC test prep class (walked with a squeaky shopping cart, a flatbed cart, ate treats off a vaccuum, met three new people and then those same people with their dogs - all handled with her usual aplomb!), for socialization we went to the LLBean store (met lots of new people, and two other dogs while there) and the most fun -- attended the Shiloh Shepherd of New England (SSONE) Event on July 18th. She met her littermate, Colton, who lives in Southern RI. The two bonded again, and were instant "best buddies". Everyone at the SSONE event was welcoming. Daisy has started a puppy K class this month too. So calm and gentle, her buddies there are a shy 4lb Westie puppy and a spaniel puppy. She is the quiet giant there (now at 37 lbs and 16 weeks), letting the other high energy pups run all over. She brings us so much JOY! Her big love now is the the kiddie pool, and continues to think it is the biggest dog bowl she has ever seen. The photo is of Daisy (head turned) and Colton (blue collar) at the SSONE event.

More Socialization

Daisy went to the Bass Pro Shop today with our wonderful dog trainer.  She met at least 100 people - of all ages and races,  one with a cane, one using a walker, a woman with a head scarf, people with hats, babies in strollers, toddlers with diapers, went up a down a huge stair case, rode the elevator (2x!), walked on cement floors, bricks, carpet, faux wood floors, real wood floors, mulch and grass.  She sat on the check out clerks counter and gave her puppy kisses...  It was a great day, and Daisy exceeded my every hope and expectation! 

daring Daisy!

Daisy is growing!  On 06/11/09 she weighed 17.2lbs, and today 06/29/09 she weighed 22lbs!   She is taller too!  This weekend she had a new adventure.  With socialization in mind, we joined a friend in a private agility class; just to go into a large training facility, walk on the rubber floor etc.  Daisy was a natural!  She learned to "tunnel", walked on the "teeter totter" and even did the dog walk!   Our trainer told us she was "confident and fearless"!   She liked the dog walk so much she did it three times after her initial walk on it! I only got one picture of her on the teeter totter -- I was worried she might fall off the dog walk so I just walked beside her.   

ears

My ears don't know which way to go! This week I have worn one up, one down.