RIVER

05/12/2024

River got a haircut and is all ready for the holiday season! Thanks Bethany Dawson! Now we can see his eyes )

26/11/2024

A few days ago my Mom had to go to the hospital for lab work. She took me and my little buddy, Lucy, with her in the car...we love car rides! While on our way into town my service dog trainer, Bethany, called Mom on the phone. She asked if she had forgotten that we had a training session and she was already late for it...she's rarely late! Mom had "shinned it on" and forgotten all about it! So Bethany said she'd meet us at the hospital and we'd have training right there.

I overheard the conversation...yipee!! I've never been in a hospital before. But, but, I don't have my red service dog vest, Mom, and that's my signal that we're going to work. Oh well, I'll do the best that I can without it.

A few more miles and there we were. We met Bethany and into the labratory we went. When we waited in the waiting room, I tucked myself safely under Mom's chair, just so I could see all the other people waiting too and also for safety. See, I didn't even need that red vest in order to do my job! They called our name and into the lab we went. Once again, I laid down at Mom's feet while they took her blood...ewe!

OK, all done...we walked out the door and found ourselves right by the elevator. Let's take a ride! So, we did. That was a weird room, the elevator. I could feel the vibration as we went to the next floor up. Then the strangest thing happened: that door that opened to let us out went straight into the wall! I peered into the dark space it had disappeared into...nothing there. Then Mom pushed a button, that door came sliding out and closed again...and we were off, heading down. I'm still trying to figure out where that door went!

It was a good day, a really good day. I tried hard to be a good boy with all the distractions and new adventures to learn about...but I think it's a little easier when I'm wearing my red vest. Most people know not to bother us when I'm working.

And then Lucy and I get to have the long drive back home...we love car rides!!

Have a great Thanksgiving everybody! Love, River

26/10/2024

River and I had our weekly training session, with Bethany from Oregon Dog Training Center, yesterday and we're learning lots of new things! We've stepped up our training to every week now since he's now 2+ yrs. and a perfect age for not only learning but retaining that info!

12/10/2024

These pads are made for "working!". I take good care of my Mom who has dangerous
balance problems. The Doc says it's Parkinsons...I just know she needs me to stand close to her in case she falls. It's fun taking care of somebody else, I feel needed for even more than my normal kisses and lovies - life is good!

Happy Fall everyone! It's Saturday...go and take your special human for a walk today!

13/07/2024

River's service dog training is really going very well. Now that he is a big 2 year old, he is settling out of his "puppiness". We went to a very busy huge grocery store today, that they are also remodeling so the distractions are at a VERY high level and he handled it all extremely well - I even got him to literally lie down on the floor for 20 minutes while all this craziness went on around him. Proud of you, River-Boy!

We're also getting measured and fit for his own custom made harness that will work just for me and him. All the details that have to be considered with a service dog are amazing...I never knew...I am learning so much, thank you Bethany Dawson and Beau Bushnell of So. Oregon Dog Training here in Grants Pass.

We'll get some photos together for our next post. River is proud of his training vest. When I get it out and we're ready to go, he just climbs into it and then he knows it's "working time"...and he loves to work!

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

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03/09/2023

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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!