Update on Burke!

Well training with Burke is a lot of fun - and very challenging! Our first hurdles were potty training and downs. He insisted on sitting and for weeks we c/t random downs. Luring finally worked with the couch behind his butt so that he couldn't back up any further! This week we're working on the opposite of loose leash walking. It is literally reversed. He lags behind and PLANTS his feet refusing to go ANYWHERE. We're doing a ton of treating to prevent the behavior and VERY short training sessions. Alright, here are two new pictures to end with!

Playing in the snow with Liberty



What is this stuff?!

Photos of Burke

These are back posted photos of Burke growing up! All of them are off of my cell phone since my camera was being repaired for his tiny months!

Those eyes still melt me!



FAT PUPPY!



Gail and lots of SSDS!



First ride to puppy class!

New Foster Puppy! (SSD Burke)

Torino is now with a family and apparently doing very well. We have missed Torino greatly and are ecstatic that our new puppy, SSD Burke, is from a litter of the same parents our Rino!

SSD Burke was donated to SSD from Guiding Eyes on September 22nd. I had the honor of driving to NY to pick him up. He weighed a mere 7.6 lbs and was only 7wks old!

He is named after the honorabled Dr. Preston Burke of Grey's Anatomy.

Burke is almost 9 weeks old and is probably the most light hearted silly puppy we have ever had. He bounces like a rabbit and follows us around like a shadow.

My camera is broken or else I would post plenty of photos for you all. Stay tuned for more info as Burke grows!

A change of future plans!

SSD Torino was diagnosed with mild hip dysplacia and will be discharged from our puppy program. Unfortunately we have our hands full and cannot adopt him. My little eager to free shape black lab will be adopted into a family from our waiting list next week.

7 months

Torino is almost 7 months old! He is growing up to be a very well mannered dog. He is by far our best with not jumping on people!



Rumor has it that SSD is thinking of using Torino as a stud dog - if his health checks out! Wow!

Rainy Sunday Morning

Well it's been raining here for about three days...UGH..With three labs out in the "stuff"... Torino has a bit of energy to use up.... But Uncle Wiston as I write is doing wonderfull job playing with him... Uncle Winston (aka SSD Winston) teaches all the young pups the rules of the playing in the house... Winston actually prefers playing in on the Day Care carpet, but Torino still hasn't figured out dog toy- day care toy... So they are playing on the soft sofa/// No hard wood floors for Winston...
We were at the SSD Partners Day yesterday... Winston got a new squeeky toy... So I of course asked for one for Torino.... I am spoiled by SSD staff.... So Torino loves his new toy... SSD partners Day was filled with lots of new and old info... All just to help us treat our dogs with the love and respect they deserve...
Torino's in his crate now for His AM nap... He was in to say Hi to Aunt Linzey... He hears her voice jumps up to see her in her bed, then right to a down stay..He knows that gets him a treat from her every time... I thank God that Linzey was as stubborn about getting a service dog as she is about training them "RIGHT"... Or I would never be experencing all that I do with SSD and the LABS.... Oh gez... Way to gushy for this early in the AM... Now that all the dogs are fed and Quiet I think I'll go climb back into my bed....

Torino does up now too

I was told by some one that I am to post on a regular basis.... We went to a foster parent class last night...Most of the time it is puppy class on Mondays.... But this was for us raisers to learn some thing new... After the class I think I will be trying an over the shoulder leash... I think Torino will do really well with it...
Torino was doing up for Linzey today... We were hanging out on the deck.. And up he would go with his front paws onto the bench... Linz also walked up for Maddie with him..She said he did better than last time walking on her chair... It is amazing how fast he learns... He is so focused on what we want from him....
He has no time for chasing a ball though..We'll need to work on that one... Plus he really doesn't do a cuddle very well either... Much to worried about his next sit or down , for any kisses or hugs... So that is some thing I want to work on....
I love the weather and the fact we can be out and about.... Some one should be happy now....