SSDPuppyRaiser

Update on Burke!

2007-02-14T08:48:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-10T08:28:00.000-08:00

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)

2006-10-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

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!

2006-08-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

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

2006-07-22T05:44:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-23T04:22:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

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....

Vet - First Bath - Play Time!

2006-04-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

Torino has been doing wonderful lately! He weighs 26 lbs as of 3-31-06! At the vet we met his sister Olympia!

Torino settled very quickly and we didn't have any barking!

His loose leash walking is going wonderfully!

On the way home we stopped at our friends and he was pretty well behaved! No accidents or barking. He did bite Matt's mom's foot pretty hard though! I felt terrible!! Thankfully that was the last time he's bit any of us!

He got lots of play time with Owen in!

That weekend Torino had his first bath!!! He absolutely loved it!!

What else, what else? He and Winston are glued together, playing TONS and tons!

Lecture Class tonight so he has to stay home! I'll update again later!

First Walk (beside wheelchair)

2006-03-29T18:21:00.000-08:00

Today SSD Torino and I went to the bus stop and back to pick up one of Gail's Day Care children. This is a big deal because it was his first time walking on a leash beside a wheelchair. Lots and lots to learn for this little pup but over all it went well. We took 27 minutes to get to the top. Clicking every second he maintained acceptable position meant a very very slow walk. He did great not panicking when the leash got tangled under his paw. We would simply stop, I would call him up on my lap, and by tossing the rewarding for coming "Up" in the right direction, he would untangle himself! The walk down the hill was much better, only got tangled twice! We plan on loose leash training every day that the weather permits us walking to the bus stop! I am very pleased to also note some other things about the walk. Torino did not bite my feet once (we've been struggling with this - he is breaking skin when he bites!) nor did he have his terrible sharky tendencies. Treat taking isn't perfectly gentlemen like but getting better. He also showed very few stress signals. Panting and tail down were the only two noted.

He is getting very tall! We go to the vet on friday for shots and then we'll be stopping by Matt and SSD Owen's. I'll try to get some pictures then since my mom will be there to handle the puppy I should be able to take some!

Torino Goes to Super Pets

2006-03-14T17:25:00.000-08:00

Well Torino rode to the pet store on the front passenger seat.... Being treated the whole way down 501... It is about a 15 mint. ride... He actually was doing his downs by the time we got there.... He pranced into the store.... I tried him in the shopping cart...He wanted no parts of that..he was a big boy and wanted to walk... Well he was just like that lab on the Super Pet ad... He acted like he owned the place.... I of course bought him a new squeeky toy... I am sure his big pals will destroy once they find it...Uncle Winston stole it the second we came home...Any ways back to our first pet store... He sniffed all the treat bins, but came and sat every time I called him..Lots of treating going on through that area... He sat the whole time I paid... Out the door into the wind... He was a very happy puppy.... Oh and no accidents in the store... On the way home he barked a few times but settled down about five mints. into his ride.... All in all it's fantastic to have such a brillant Lab puppy... He is now sound asleep in his crate I am sure dreaming of the place that has all the treats a puppy could imagine....

Barking

2006-03-13T13:39:00.000-08:00

Just thought i'd note that our only "problem" with Torino has been his barking. He insists on trying a nice hardy "bark" before sitting or laying down. If none of those work to get our attention he is jumping up. All of these issues are to get NO attention what so ever from us. We do not want these things to become a habbit.

2006-03-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

Torino learned down today!

Working with him is such a treat. He is incredibly eager and so sweet! He has been offering his "sit" all the time and rarely takes being asked twice for it. We practiced in the parking lot at Paws Abilities as well as outside and in the house. So, I decided that it was about time to start the next command. I began by clicking him for every natural "down". In a span of 10 minutes he did it twice. HUGE party with lots of treats. Then it was potty and crate/rest time for awhile during dinner. Afterwards he was ready for another fun training session. We worked again for a maximum of 10 minutes and by the end of them he was offering "downs" on his own left and right! We got out a ton of toys and brought the other dogs out for some play time after the training session, when to my surprise the little guy was insisting on laying beside me intently watching me waiting for his reward!

2006-03-11T16:33:00.000-08:00

Today SSD Torino went to Paws Abilities to be a part of their Puppy Petting Zoo! His crate fell apart half way there, and surprisingly enough he was an angel the entire 1 hr ride! He curled up and slept the whole way. He'll be back tomorrow for another full day of petting!

We've been focusing our time mainly on recalls and attention. So far, everything is going wonderfully!

He got to see his first puppy raiser this morning. She was delighted to hold him as we talked about how great of a pup he is!

2006-03-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

SSD Torino was born December 27th, 2005

He was donated to Susquehanna Service Dogs by Guiding Eyes For The Blind.

Torino is my mom and I's fifth puppy from Susquehanna Service Dogs. We have raised three other labradors and one "Boodle" A poodle/Boiver mix. Our first labrador was discharged (and is now our pet) because of EIC. Our second is a therapy dog, and the Boodle was discharged because of aggression. He is now living happily with a wonderful family. Our last puppy was only with us for a short period (about four months). He was surrendered by his first family, claiming he was "out of control". SSD Bond is now in his final stages of training and will be placed as a Hearing Dog.

This blog is going to be updated by my mother and I about SSD Torino's training progression! It will also feature all of his freaking cute as anything pictures.