feeding the ducks

Today I didn't have classes (i dont have classes monday and friday this semester) so my leader,Mary, picked Medford and I up to go to a park to feed some ducks. Medford has never seen ducks before so this was new for him. At first he was interested in trying to figure out what these weird creatures were, but then quickly lost interest in them. He sat perfectly calm as I fed the ducks. My leader's golden Preston did great to. Preston was more interested in the ducks then Medford was. It turned out to be a great day to go. We had great weather, and there were lots of people there.We did some obedience with the boys, and both acted like pros. After the park we stopped by a library to pick some books up the my leader had being held at the library. Both boys were on best behavior. From there we stopped by petsmart to weigh the boys since neither have been weighed in a while. They were little wiggly as expected so it was hard to get an accurate weight but it is estimated Preston at 10 months weighs 70ib and Medford at a year old is now 73-75ib. What big boys. Medford is worn out now.

Medford in front of duck pond

video of me attempting to get medford to look at the camera for a picture

meeting

Well today we had our weekly Saturday meeting, and this weeks meeting was at downtown Clovis. We all met up in a parking lot to work on obiedience. Medford did ok he was not his normal self today, which i admit got pretty frusterating since I know he is a very good dog. For some reason when we did down and were told to stand over him as soon as I would go to walk over him he would freak out and stand up and back away from me. Normally he just lays there with me over him with no issue. So I took him aside and worked with him on it giving him food reward when he did good about me being over him. After a while he was lot better about it. After doing obedience we all walked around to expose the dogs to traffic. Medford did good he was little pully but not to bad. After walking around we stopped at a ice cream store to eat I wasnt to hungry so I sat there and chatted with everyone. Medford was very wiggly and did not want to lay down for the longest time, however by the end he settled down. Looks like i'm going to have to work even more with him. Hopefully, it was just an off day. Fingers crossed, because besides his wiggle issue he doesnt really have any other issues, and if he gets over this phase he should have a good chance of graduating.
I am hopefully going to meet up with my leader on Monday afternoon to take our dogs to a park to see the ducks. Medford has seen many animals, but I don't think he has seen ducks before. Also next friday I might be going with another raiser and her puppy in training to the snow. So we have some exciting things ahead of us.

update

Well today Medford did a lot better about being good in class. He slept through both my first two classes (second class is a lecture hall and the way he was laying when hed stretch in his sleep his head would fall over into the next row. everyone who saw got a good giggle out of it). The third class of the day he didnt do as good as he normally does in that class but he still did good. We were in class for 2 strait hrs, and the last 20 or so min he got wiggly. I cant blame him 2hrs of sitting still and i was getting restless to even though i enjoyed the lecture.

also we got our phase report today
for my bakersfield group I found out Diablo (he was raised by a first time raiser named LeaAnn) is in phase 6 and Fanta ( a female yellow lab) has been tentatively pulled as a breeder. Congrats to both dogs and their raisers.
for my fresno group we have no dogs up in training right now so there is no news.

wiggly boy

Well today I only had one class (4-650pm) and Medford was somewhat wiggly. To start before we left for class I let him run around my appartment for over an hr hoping to burn his energy. We went to class and did the new thing where we take the gentle leader off before we go into class. He had done great yesterday and settled down. However tonight he wasnt the same and was wiggly. He slept the first bit of class but then he got wiggly. I normally feed Medford after this class, but since he keeps acting out next week I am going to try and feed him before class and see if that helps. Fingers crossed.

crazy day

Well today did not start out as planned thanks to my alarm clock not going off this morning. I have a 7 am class on tue and thur so i get up at 5am those days to get ready and take care of medford. Well since i didn't wake up till 6am things were rushed. As a result Medford had to stay home during my morning class(i did feed him before i left). After that my 7am class i came home and let Medford play then headed to my afternoon math class. Now I have been having some trouble with Medford settling down cause he is constantly trying to get the gentle leader off, so my leader is having me try something new. We walk to the building where class is with the gentle leader on, once we get to the building I take the gentle leader off of him until class is done and we are outside again. I am also rewarding him with his kibble when he is laying there like he is suppose to. It seems to work he settled right in and went to sleep. Fingers crossed he keeps it up. After that we had to go buy my parking pass for the school semester, and he did great waiting in the long line. Once we got home i let him rest for a bit then brought him out to work on his "go to bed command" he seems to get it, and also seems to enjoy this command. Its amazing how far he has come since I got him.

Waiting for class

bored in math class

tired of waiting in a long line

meeting/Home Alone

Well today was a big day for Medford. To start my fresno guide dog group rode the bus from Manchester mall to Fresno state. This was the second time Medford had been on a bus, and he did great. He was little fussy at first because he wanted the gentle leader off, but soon realized that it was not coming off so he settled in under the seat. Once we got to Fresno State the group walked around some and did some obedience. Half-way through I let another raiser work Medford just so he gets use to someone other then me working him. He did pretty good. After that we went into the school library where we worked stairs and elevators and got starbucks to drink. Then it was back to the bus to go back to the mall. Once back Medford and I stayed for the baby puppy meeting (so we could see baby puppy Pelham and so Medford could work in the mall). He did good had few distractions that we will need to work on (aka loud kid toys). After the meeting we went home and I gave him dinner, since me and my roomate were going to run errands. Since he had a long day I decided to leave him home, and decided to try a first for him. I decided to leave him loose in my room with his bones and his bed. Now he has been left alone in my room loose for short periods, and loose in the kitchen when i am in Bakersfield for long periods. However he has never been left in my room for a long period. I was a little worried and moved things he shouldn't have out of his reach. I was very nervous. However, when I got back after 5HRS! I found he had been perfect no accidents and nothing chewed up. I am very proud of him. Next up working on being loose and left alone in the living room.

lots of firsts

Well this week has been very eventful and filled with some firsts for Medford. To start this was his first full week of back to school, since last week we didn't start till Wednesday. I think Medford likes this semester's schedule since we only go to school tue., wed., and thur. He has been a really good boy so far, and all the teachers and students love him (no shock there). Along with this being the first week of school last night was Medford's first night sleeping on a tie down in about a month. I had started working with him on sleeping on a tie down before winter break, but between me recovering from my car accident and having stuff out for my israel trip it was easier to just have him sleep in a crate during break. Anyways he did great he slept through the night in his bed on a tie down. Today was also our first time back to cheesecake factory in a long time. He was a good boy though he did get up a couple times , but as soon as he got corrected and told to down he went back to sleep. Since the table was small and it was just me I let him take up little more room under the table then I normally let him. All in all it has been a great week. Both of us are counting down to Feb 9th when 4 raisers in my Bakersfield group and 1 in my fresno froup get their new puppies.

First snow trip

Well this past weekend was a blast. To start friday medford and I took my roomate to see the movie country strong for her birthday. Medford did great. He tried to eat some stuff on the floor at first but after a few corrections settled in and went to sleep. The next day we got up early and drove to bakersfield where we met up with my dad and drove to the mountains. We were excited to see there was still snow, since we had heard it had all melted. Medford had a blast playing in it, and even ate some. He was in doggy heaven. We put him on a retractable leash so he could run around easier. By the end Medford was worn out and slept the whole way home. I hope to be able to take him again some time.

checking out snow

king of the mountain

enjoying the snow

best looking boy
yummmm snow!

back to school/ happy birthday

Well winter break is over, and it's back to school. I have already had one class this week, and medford did great in it. He just laid under the chair and went to sleep. Everyone at school has been happy to see him again. Also today (1-20) is medfords birthday. He turns the big 1 years old. It is hard to believe seems like just yesterday i was getting a call to see if i wanted him, and drove to pick him up. I can say it has been awsome so far getting to raise him. He is very much a lovebug, but also likes to work. I can tell whatever path he chooses whether it be becoming a breeder or guide dog or just getting cc'd and coming home to me he will be great at what he will do. Love you Medford.
Baby Medford


Grown up Medford

Medford is back

I am happy that Medford is back home with me. After I was in a bad accident sunday (no medford was not in the car) he went to stay with my leader so I could rest and try to recover. I was told medford had a great time with my leader's puppy in training golden Preston. As much as I needed and enjoyed the short break it is nice to have my boy back. As soon as he saw me he gave me lots of kisses, and he got lots of hugs and kisses.

Happy belated birthday

Yesterday November 30,2010 was Wilbur my first puppy I raised birthday. He turned 8 years old. Happy Birthday Wilbur I miss you!