Pool Safety!

 Today we had a great pool safety meeting at second in command Stephanie's house.  AC Carolyn was on vacation so Stephanie hosted and ran the meeting, starting with a rundown of all the news that we needed to be updated on.

Stephanie and yellow lab Coastie. Stephanie is sitting in a chair and Coastie is lying on the ground next to her.

 We were a little concerned that the rain might be an unwelcome guest, but it only sprinkled a bit and actually provided for some nice overcast clouds and a cool breeze.

Puppy raisers from left to right Lois, Fred, Susan and Brian.  Lois has Babe on her left, Fred has Coach on his right, Susan is sitting next to Brian and puppy Liz is sitting on Brian's right.

 We all sat in a big circle on the deck out back and listened to the news.  Our next meeting will be broken into two spots: Up north in Palm Harbor with Sylvia and here in Clearwater at the white cane day with Cheryl on Oct. 6th.  Stephanie and Carolyn will be at the AC training day.

Sue and Katie and Bev and Tabina smile for the camera.  Katie is sitting between Sue's legs and Tabina is lying on the floor under Bev's chair.

Lois and Babe.  Babe is in the process of lying down on Lois's left. Lois is smiling and looking left.

Stephanie goes over the list of things we need to know.

Fred leans down to pat Coach's shoulders.

Susan is smiling as Brian gives Liz a hug.

We did have a visitor to our meeting, a guide dog user: Debbie and her guide dog Luke.  She got Luke, who is her first guide dog in May and will be speaking with us at our Nov. meeting.

Visitor Debbie and her guide dog Luke

Gail is staring at the pool waiting to jump in as Michele listens to the meeting.

We also heard some sad news from Bev about Tabina.  Seems Tabina has been diagnosed with bi-lateral hip dysplasia.  The final word and decision will come probably next week, but in all likelyhood she will be career-changed.

Bev gives Tabina a little kiss.

Bev places a kiss on top of Tabina's head.

 Tabina and Coach were the youngsters of the group, but starting today, Nancy will be picking up Ava.  Karen and Bob will be getting Liberty soon as well.  So Coach will just be one of the gang now!

Close-up of Coach looking back at the camera.

Stephanie announced that there was a closed Facebook users group for Southeastern puppy raisers that was run by Jen Gerrity, the trainer.  If you search on southeastern puppy raisers, you should be able to find it.  Just request access.  If you have any questions, let Stephanie know.

Michele and Gail.

 After the announcements, we did some obedience work and Stephanie showed us the turn command again.

The obedience circle.

 Then we did pool safety.  The object was to slowly introduce your dog to the pool, make sure they knew where the steps were and also that they didn't just jump into the pool. They need to only go in the pool when they are given permission to do so.  Jumping in on their own is not permitted.  So, if your puppy is currently doing that, you need to stop them and work on having them enter the pool on command.  It is a dangerous distraction if a guide dog jumps into bodies of water on their own.

Coach is on the edge of the pool steps, but won't get in on his own.

Brian and Liz show the group how swimming is really done.

Liz shakes off the water!

Finally, Gail gets to swim in the water and swims to Michele.

Everyone watches the experts in the pool.

Guide dog Luke wants to go in!

Gail and Luke, swimming and playing in the pool.

Stephanie helped Luke get his pool safety lessons.

Gail and Luke running loose after getting out of the pool.

Debbie and a very wet Luke!

Coastie and Tabina have a moment to play together.

Essie Takes the Stage!

On August 9, 2012, Susan and Essie walked on to the big stage at the Florida Chapter of the Meeting Planners International (MPI), the group who had sponsored and named Essie.

As you can see by the above photo, it is a very big stage, but Essie was very composed and sweet, as she normally is, which is why she has been chosen for the Southeastern Guide Dogs breeding program and will be staying with Brian and Susan has a breeder mom.

Susan said that  she has the opportunity to address the group at this year's SEC meeting and tell them how well there money had been spent.  

She also talked about how their investment didn't just change one life, but with Essie becoming a breeder will now have the ability to change countless lives as she brings more guide dogs into this world.

All we can say is if they are as gentle and lovely as Essie, they will all be a success!  Congratulations to Susan and Brian and to Southeastern!  And a big Thank You to the MPI for their support of Southeastern Guide Dogs and of Susan!

Distractions, Distractions, Distractions!

Saturday was our Southeastern Guide Dog puppy raiser monthly meeting and we had it at the clubhouse at Waterchase.  AC Carolyn brought along a host of noisy and innovative distractions with which to subject our puppies and we also used the public.

Children walk by our puppies and serve as distractions as the puppies try to maintain a down stay.

A mom and her two children were just coming out of the pool, so Carolyn had them walk by the puppies a couple of times to see if any of them would break their down stays.  The kids seemed to enjoy being the center of attention and the dogs really liked them as well.

Gail sitting up and staring at the red and black broom making its way toward her.

Carolyn also brought a broom and swept up the sidewalk.  Some pups were curious, like Gail in the above photo.  Some didn't care (like Coach).

Carolyn also used silk flowers which she flapped together in front of the dogs.  Here she is in front of Gail, but Gail didn't break.

 Carolyn also used silk flowers and a very small red wagon.  It was interesting to note which items the dogs reacted to.  Gail had no reaction to the flowers. Coach went to smell them.  Coach didn't have any interest in the wagon, but Gail was fearful of it.

Gail runs behind Michele when the wagon comes her way.  She did come out and go sniff the wagon  though!

 These distractions also give Carolyn a good idea of what needs to be worked on with each puppy raiser's dog and she can then give helpful advice to the puppy raiser about what can be done if any of the dogs exhibit any fear reactions.  In Gail's case, they were pretty easily able to get her to go sniff the wagon.

Orchid, a yellow goldadore, sniffs at the wagon, but doesn't break her sit stay.

Babe, a yellow lab, gets some loving by Tim, a new puppy raiser waiting on a puppy.

Then we all went on a walk that included a wooden bridge that went over a river/creek.  Coach did a nifty poo on the move, which was interesting.  This was despite my pulling over a couple of times and giving him the opportunity to poo.  Sigh.

Puppies laid out on the tic tac toe board on the shady parking lot.  All  are in a down stay but one in the far corner.

Then we played a couple of games of puppy tic tac toe and took off for our air-conditioned cars and home!

Coastie Takes Us to the Coast Guard!

Thursday, our meeting took place at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station near the Clearwater-St. Petersburg Airport. It was an amazing meeting for several reasons:

Group shot with hanger in the distance. We are waiting for meeting to start. Photo by Jeremiah Khokhar.

• The Coast Guard!
• The planes and helicopters!
• The film crew! (oh yeah!)

Since there were so many photographers at the meeting, I did not take all of these photographs.  The ones not credited are mine. One photographer in particular needs a special mention as he has been following Coastie since he was a little baby: Jeremiah Khokhar.  He has done all of his baby puppy photos and he came out to the meeting just for Coastie.  The best photos are his and there are links back to his facebook site or his website.

Coast Guard Commander kneeling beside a sitting Coastie who has his coat on.  Coastie seems to be smiling and looking up. Stephanie is standing behind Coastie.  The helicopter is behind all of them and has both of its orange doors open. Photo by Jeremiah Khokar.

When we first got there we walked through a gate to a large hanger which was beside a ginormous plane that was testing all four of its engines and was VERY LOUD.  So loud that the very littlest of our group (Coach and Tabina, four months old) really didn't want to hang around.  So Steve and I left early with the little guys and gradually the big pups followed us.

Coast Guard Commander with Stephanie and Coastie and the four engined plane with the props turning in the background.  Photo by Roger Reese.

Then we went to another plane (and here is where I wish I had asked the commander for the specific name of each type of aircraft!) that had a drop down panel in the back, which the dogs where able to jump up on and walk through and then out the front of the plane down the stairs.  The entire interior of the plane was metal and a very different surface for their feet, which was a very good exposure for them.

Yellow lab Coastie waiting his turn at the plane. Photo by Jeremiah Khokhar.

Stephanie and Coastie prepare to walk up the ramp into the airplane where about 5 Coast Guard airmen wait. Photo by Roger Reese.

Our last aircraft was a helicopter.  They were going out to do a training flight on some new software and equipment they had installed.  We were able to let the dogs jump up into the cabin and then meet the coast guardsman sitting inside (it was a she!).

Brian stands outside the helicopter as Liz explores inside.

Michele and goldadore Gail look out from inside the helicopter. Photo by Roger Reese.

 Some dogs made the leap, most, had to be helped as it was a pretty sizable jump.

Stephanie and Southeastern Guide Dog puppy Coastie are at the front of the helicopter with photographer Jeremiah Khokhar and a Coast Guard member.

Then, we walked some distance away and watched as it taxi'ed down the strip and out to a take-off point.

Far shot of the helicopter as it starts up.

 Most of the dogs thought the noise from the helicopter was pretty manageable.  The first plane was the doozey!

The film crew for Coast Guard: Florida is up against the fence filming us as we watch the helicopter taxi away.

 And we had a film crew follow us.  Well, not us exactly.  They were there filming the Coast Guard and we just happened to make good copy.  So they filmed us visiting the Coast Guard.

The sound guy is watching the video guy as they film us for reality show Coast Guard: Florida.

 After all, who doesn't love puppies?

Group shot of us watching the helicopter.  Most pups are unconcerned. Some are lying down.  Some are standing and looking the other way.

Bobby, a big chocolate lab, has decided he doesn't care and turned his back on the helicopter.

Orchid, a yellow goldadore, lies unconcerned on the asphalt, while nearby, Babe, a yellow lab stands and looks at the ground.

Brian is giving black lab Liz a kiss while Gail, a golden retriever,  has decided she is quite close enough and won't come any closer, thank you very much! Fellow golden Katie is fine with the noise of the helicopter.

A photo of the whole group, puppy raisers and their puppies with the helicopter in the background. Photo by Roger Reese.

Leepa-Rattner Museum

We spent our Saturday meeting at the Leepa-Rattner Museum on the St. Pete College Campus in Tarpon Springs. This museum was wonderful and we highly recommend it for their dog friendliness in addition to their amazing collection and changing exhibitions.  When we went they had an Andy Warhol exhibition, which quite frankly, I was surprised to see in such a small library.  It was outstanding.  I highly recommend you get a chance to go up and see it.  You may never again get a chance to see so many original Warhol works of art in one place again.  Certainly not in the Tampa Bay area.

We started the meeting with obedience on the shady grass outside and then we went into the museum.

AC Carolyn starts the meeting sharing some Southeastern information.

Brian and black lab Liz, sitting, wait for a command from AC Carolyn.

Tabina, a yellow lab, is sitting pretty as another yellow lab stands off to the left in an attempt to say hello.

All the pups are lined up and in a sit.

All the pups are in a down stay and the puppy raisers are at the end of the leashes waiting to give the come command.

All the pups are in a down stay and the puppy raisers are at the end of the leashes waiting to give the come command.

Another view of the entire group of puppies in a down stay.

Our AC Carolyn hard at work.

AC Carolyn demonstrating the sit-come-heel command string.

Sunny, AC Carolyn's puppy and a yellow lab, on the recall.

Sunny does a good heel and ends up sitting next to AC Carolyn and gets some praise.

After obedience, we busied the dogs and went into the museum where we found a plethora of exposures for them.  From life-size statues to strange sculpture, stairs, vivid colors in paintings, you name it, the museum had it.

The group inside the Leepa-Rattnor Museum.

We had some prospective puppy raisers there.  Tim was trying out Babe, a yellow lab whom Karen and Bob had been babysitting.

Susan and Brian took advantage of the seating to have Liz do a down stay.

There were all sorts of strange things like life size statues at the museum.  A great exposure for the dogs!

Jam was doing his weird asthmatic wheeze, so everyone always knew where he was.  We also call him Goose because of his honking.  The museum was not a quiet place that day.

Here Denny and puppy raiser Sylvia approach a life size cut out of Andy Warhol.

Prospective puppy raiser Tim and his kids try Babe out at the Warhol statue.

Puppy raiser Sue and her goldadore Katy have tried the stairs and are now sitting on the benches.

Tabina and her puppy raiser Blake find a quiet moment in main lobby.

Tabina, finally tuckered out, lies flat out on the floor with no intention of getting up anytime soon.

All in all it was a very good meeting.  Not one accident in the museum!  There were several puppies who ran straight to the grass as soon as we left the museum (Jam included!), but not a one had a pee-saster in the museum.  Good job!