Chillin

DeSoto 49N7 LAB M 7 No

No change. I am so proud of my boy for making it this far! Keep going.
It also looks like another one of the"D" pups made their way to the kennels this week!
Diamond 49N9 LAB F 1 Yes

Skipping By

DeSoto 49N7 LAB M 7 No

"Who needs to go through 6 anyway when you are as smart as I am?" I am very happy and shocked that in one week he accomplished the requirements for 5 and 6, which were not easy. In the next phases DeSoto will be going to San Francisco and improving his guiding skills. I am so happy DeSoto, thank you for making it this far and hopefully farther!

Katlynn & Focus

P.S. Though I wish DeSoto was here at my house playing ball, it would make me very happy to see him in harness doing the job he is supposed to do.

Outing at Scheel`s

Today since I had no school, my family and I headed on up to Scheel`s. Scheel`s is a sporting good store and has everything you could possibly want for sports! Though I am not a real sports person I found that store very fun! My favorite was probably the Ferris wheel! Of course Focus did not ride! We made are way upstairs and ran into this NASCAR simulator, where you get in a replica car and it feels like you are actually there. Focus was well behaved and was very curious about all the talking presidents scattered around the store. After Scheel`s we headed home where we met Emily and Kelsey. We were all going up to Virginia City to have an old time photo taken with us and our dogs. It turned out very cute and the dogs cooperated very well. Since all our faces are in it I can`t post it, sorry! But none the less here are some pictures of Focus at Scheel`s.

By some bears

By Thomas Jefferson

The Ferris Wheel.

Focus by the fish tank. "wow these things actually move!"

Katlynn & Focus

Fall Photos and Focus Update

I know, I know I have not done an update on Focus in quite a while. So I will start with our CFR coming to town.

About 2 weeks ago our CFR came to town and she taught use the new command 'go to bed' and the marker word 'nice' which we are aloud to use treats for. There were 2 groups one in the morning and an afternoon group with a picnic in between with everyone. Focus and I were the morning group. Focus was probably the worst and picking up the requirements in order to get the treat, he rather just jump at you and get it himself. :) Some of the other puppies picked it up very quick and were doing awesome! After everyone and there pup got to go, we had lunch. After lunch I talked with Celeste and explained all the issues Focus has been having (growling at you when he does not want to stay still it`s not a mean growl it`s kinda like no I am not going to do this, eating everything off the floor, barking for food, having bad tie down manners) and she suggested we use treats for everything for a month and than she would like to evaluate him. I was happy to hear that because Focus is quite food motivated. He basically knows all his command pretty well except stand we are working on that. His growling has improved so much that all I have to do know is give him a correction and say "nice" and he stops and waits for me to give him a treat.

Focus has also been staying with my mom every day while I go to school because of the growling thing, so maybe after Celeste evaluates him he will be able to go again. He has been going lots of places with my mom during the day: our shop, grocery stores, malls, restaurants and walking up in the hills. So hopefully he`ll be able to get a lot of experiences while not at school which is great!

He also has had a yeast and bacterial infection in his ears for about two weeks and is on medication. Also, since about 3 other puppies in our groups have bacterial infections and is causing dierreah, Focus decided to have it too! We took him in yesterday after him having dierreah all night and they were not able to test his stool sample because they did not have the right staff to do it. So maybe by the end of the week we`ll know. But for know he is on medication to help clear up the dierreah and a chicken and rice diet. They also looked at his ears and said there is still bacteria in there so he is still on medication for his ears.

He acts normal for the most part, sleeps a little more than usual. I hope he will be up for out club`s annual trip to Virginia City. Hopefully if we go I will post sometime this weekend!





And yes it is Thursday, we all know what that means!
DeSoto 49N7 LAB M 5 No
Yeah he moved up! Go DeSoto you are 50% done keep up the good work!
In phase 5 DeSoto is doing some guide work in San Rafael. He instructor is blindfolded for about 14 blocks while being spotted by another instructor. His instructor will be able to tell where is strengths and weakness lie. He will have many opportunities to pass the test. But we all know you can do it the 1st time! :) He will also be having some more medical tests.

Katlynn & Focus

Still There :)

DeSoto 49N7 LAB M 4 No

Did not move up, but at least he is still there. :)

Katlynn & Focus

Phase Report

Well it is Thursday! After reading other people`s blogs and hearing about all the Career Changes, I am just so happy to see that his name is still there every week!

DeSoto 49N7 LAB M 4 No
Diva 400N LAB F 1 No
Orwell 45N7 LAB M 1 No
Sherwood 46M3 LAB M 7 No

Keep up the good work Soto!

Katlynn & Focus