RIVER

21/02/2024

Christi and Kayla from K9swim center ( Springfield, OR) gave me my 1st swim/safety lesson yesterday. Christi said that I did very well...I really had a good time; the pool is a warm 90 degrees. I slept all the way home...I was pooped. Mom and I went to bed early because we were both tired from such a big, exciting day! Can't wait for my next lesson.

14/11/2023

River's favorite hiding/observing post is under my humongous Japanese Maples in the yard. Strategically placed, he can sneak under their boughs and still see out the driveway to the main road...just in case someone is thinking of entering!

He came in the house yesterday...I forgot to get a quick photo of him, covered in all these light, whispy bright orange leaves. He'd had been spending the morning under the same Maple tree ~ but now, in the fall, they are this fabulous array of reds and oranges!

Happy Fall everyone!!

08/11/2023

If you are able, please donate today. ANY amount is a gift and extremely appreciated. You are what makes Wildlife continue it's work and mission. Southern Oregon is so fortunate to have this fantastic facility and staff right here in our valley. Their general outreach across the country is amazing!

Did you know Wildlife Images receives no funding from local, state or federal governments? We rely completely on the generosity of the public. Our mission is to Save Wildlife, and you are an influential piece of the puzzle to make this work. This consider Wildlife Images. Every little bit makes a difference.
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03/09/2023

Volunteers at Wildlife Images have amazing opportunities to work with wildlife big and small! Our volunteers help us with our animal care, maintenance, education programs, and more! We would love for you to become a volunteer for Wildlife!

https://wildlifeimages.org/get-involved/volunteers

07/07/2023

RIVER here:

Mom and I went to a friend's house for a play date. Wyatt is a fun guy (Golden Doodle) but in a way he's a little weird: he really doesn't know how to play with other dogs, even though his Mom has taken him to socializing events. He'd rather hide behind a human!

Here Mom has me practicing laying down beside her regardless of distractions. She said I did very well. I like pleasing my Mom because then she smiles really BIG!
Love, River

29/06/2023

River (now 13 months) is really doing extremely well on his service dog training. We have been to Pet Smart where he met a very unruly dog who started to lunge at him. He was laying down in the aisle and never moved until the lady took her dog away. Don't know why Pet Smart didn't ask her to leave with her dog as he was creating havoc everywhere he went in the store. Riv was a stellar boy; the distraction didn't bother him at all.

We have done working times at Home Depot and Joanne's Craft stores - he seems consistently now well able to handle any distractions: screaming kids, workmen making loud noises, etc. He is not a barker at all, so that is good. But he is a kisser and I'm working on fine-tuning that choice of his! It's hard because it's OK for him to kiss me but not strangers; lots of people don't like it. Working on teaching him the difference! He is a lover...as attested by his 2 day adventure of finding a baby bunny in our backyard the day before Easter (!) and gently playing with it, and the bunny playing with him too, for 2 whole days!

30/04/2023

RIVER is trying to get his cousin Nox, to get up and play: not happening! Cousin Nox is not a dog; he's a slug!
Love, RIVER

27/04/2023

RIVER Here...

Hey guys ~ I think spring finally arrived! Mom has been putting out fresh hummingbird feeders all around the yard and Lucy and I are sun bathing in the sun. She has also been putting all the lawn cushions out on the deck; that must mean it's going to be more "outside time".

It's really beautiful here in southern OR ~ 84 today, supposed to be hotter tomorrow. Tomorrow I have to go to the vets for a booster; Dr. Rebecca is SO good at giving shots I don't even feel them. YAY, Dr. Rebecca!! (Pacific Veterinary).

Gotta go now and enjoy the last rays before they go behind the pine trees. See Ya ~
Love, RIVER
PS: I did spend some time chasing grasshoppers today; now that's really fun! Except they seem to always win....so far, anyway.

06/04/2023

RIVER Here: I know something is going on here...my Mom is packing clothes in a suitcase, food in a basket, and she's looking at a map with a firm expression on her face. Hmmmm. I don't see my own little suitcase anywhere! Do you think maybe I don't get to go too??? I'm thinking that's what's happening.

Phone rings: I hear Mom talking to someone and she says she'll be leaving Sat. morning, driving to Idaho. I know that's where my Uncle Keith and his family are building their home for their retirement. OMGosh, does that mean she's not taking me?! NO FAIR! I don't get to go but my cousins, Milo and Tex do. Now what kind of sense does that make?

Well, now I'm thinking that someone has got to stay home and watch over Grampa. That's obviously me! So, I am going to take my job very seriously because I know my Mom would want me to since she's gone. I'll be extra good for him - I love sleeping on his bed when Mom is gone; i t's a kind size. I have to share it with Lucy, the Shih Tzu, but that's OK, she doesn't take up much room.

So, the traveling activities are taking place. 2 more days and Mom will be leaving ~ gotta have some fun before she leaves. She'll probably take me shopping with her tomorrow when she goes; I love riding in her car. She turns the window down just a little (even in the winter) and I love sticking my snout outside - it smells so good!

More later ! G.nite, Love, River

03/04/2023

RIVER Here: "Oh-Oh!!" Mom and Dad took me to the vets today 'cause I'm 1 year old now and we needed to check my health. Our vet, Dr. Rebecca (who I really like a lot) chuckled as she felt my sides and tummy and suggested that I could lose just a little around the middle. She said she could still feel my ribs b-u-t..... It's not my fault; I just eat what is put in my bowl. But my Dad spoils me big time...so he got the 'evil eye' and he was told to just give me a LEVEL scoop, not a heaping, food-running-over-the-sides scoop of dry! And, not to put that extra teaspoon+ of canned dog food in it just to give it more taste.

My own secret thoughts on this picture below: 'I'll take one of everything!' "

24/03/2023

"My cousin is here ~ my cousin is here! And he's going to live with me for the next 3 months!! Oh man, are we going to have fun!! This is Nox, he's a standard BernieDoodle, he's much older than I am - but he's a cool Dude!"

24/03/2023

RIVER here: I'm helping Mom decorate for Easter; she said I could!

13/03/2023

RIVER Here...just checking in on your March Sunday. "Spritzling" here (that's what my Mom calls it). It's not rain, it's not pouring, it's just enough of the wet stuff to get your coat just a little misty and soggy, and your paws wet enough to leave prints when you come back in the door!

I am SO excited: my cousin, Nox, (also a BernieDoodle but a standard size...he's huge in my eyes!) is moving down here to my house for 3 months so his Mom can do her internship in Zoology at Wildlife Images, a wonderful animal rehabilitation center right around the corner from our house. Now I'm going to have somebody to do my "zoomies" around the yard with; whoopee! He's a really cool cousin; mellow, gentle and lotsa fun.

So you'll probably be seeing more of us together in the near future. The photo below is of Nox, just so you can recognize him!

That's all for now...thankX for checking in with me. See you soon, I hope. Love, RIVER.

05/03/2023

RIVER here ~ I just found out that my big cousin, Nox, who lives in Eugene, OR, will be moving here in a few weeks! I am SO excited; we'll have so much fun together. Nox's Mom, Kayla, will live with Gramma and Papa for 3 months while she does her Zoology residency at Wildlife Images Animal Rehabilitation here in Grants Pass. Oh man, am I going to show Nox a bunch of great things to do around our house and yard! He's a really big guy compared to me as you can see from his picture.

28/02/2023

"So this is what they call a 'Snow Day?' That flat-topped bush in picture #2 is my fav place...I run as fast as I can and jump into the middle of it, rolling around until I fall off! It is SO much fun! I even found some toys buried under the white stuff that I had left outside yesterday, and I was so excited to see them again! I thought they were lost forever. WHEW! That little bridge was built by my CA cousin, Hunter ~ I love walking over it and when I get to the other side, I begin my Zooming Techniques around the house, front and back yards, no less than 3 round trips. It's what I do....because I can!"

25/02/2023

BACKGROUNDER:
Meet my cousins; Milo, Nox and Tex. They are all also BernieDoodles and they live in the Eugene, OR area. Nox is the oldest (6), Tex is around 1 year now and Milo is the family's newbie, about 5 months old now. They all come to visit me in Grants Pass. We tease them and tell them they are going to "Puppy Med" at Gramma's house. They are the reason Mama Dini got me...she fell in love with them.
#1: Kayla (granddaughter) and Tex
#2: Kayla and her dog, Nox
#3: More Tex
#4: Milo, Granddaughter Kendra's pup.

25/02/2023

Hi! Welcome to my new page. Mama Dini and I are working on it ~ it's purpose is mainly to bring you along on our own personal journey as we learn and train together for me to become her service dog. Mom has major balance/strength challenges due to her Parkinsons; I'm on board to assist her. We are both training together at Southern Oregon Dog Training.

C'mon along as we learn to totally trust each other, train together and share our personal adventures together with you. If you have any questions, etc., you can message us here on FB or email us at: [email protected]. Wish us luck!