Happy 2nd Birthday Focus!!

Today my 2nd Guide Dog puppy turned 2! Focus taught me the definition of exercise, and so much more. He was born into this world destined to be the eyes for a blind person, but he had other plans.

He now happily lives with some family friends nearby. He was being trained to be a hunting dog, but he refuses to pick up birds so that option is out of he question and I feel bad about that because that was the main reason his owner wanted him. I got to go over there today and say Happy Birthday and bring him a new bone. His owner said that even though he did not get a hunting dog out of him, he got a great companion who he loves and could not see his life without Focus in it.

I got to have Focus last week overnight which was awesome!! He got to come to our puppy meeting, and than got to sleep on the bed! I really do miss him, but when I dropped him off the next day seeing him walk into the house with Rob not looking back at me made it all worth it. Just knowing that Focus loves his home and is well loved and taken care of is all I wanted. Rob said now that hunting is out of the picture for Focus, he would love to do Dock Jumping (since Focus LOVES swimming) or possible Agility with him.

Focus as puppy

His 1st Birthday

His 2nd Birthday

I hope you have many more Happy Birthday's Focus, keep up the great work!

Katlynn & Ryder

Biggest Little City In The World & Lake Tahoe

I am a little late at posting this, but last weekend our club had its annual meeting up in Reno, where we ride the bus to downtown Reno, than walk around, and ride the bus back to the mall where we eat lunch and socialize our puppies. All of the puppies in our group are all over 6 months, so this was no big deal to them. They all did wonderful and our leaders were pleased.

Our Club in front of "The Biggest Little City" sign

We traded dogs a lot, so my leader ended up with Ryder one of the times.

Ryder looking at the Truckee River

Gordie, Ryder, & Keno on the bus.

Last Sunday, Emily, Kelsey, and my mom and sister, and I all went up to Lake Tahoe to let the puppies play and to enjoy the lake and pretty scenery. I was very happy that Ryder loved to swim, last year when I took him he would not even go in.

Ryder on a rock with the lake and Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background.

I love this photo of Ry, he looks so handsome.

Katlynn & Ryder

Nevada State Museum

Today we had our annual meeting at the Nevada State Museum. All the puppies were well behaved and Ryder got to work with some new people that are interested in raising one of their own, and he was very well behaved for the most part.

The compass photo, we started this picture last year when "Tahoe" took a picture here so it's kind of a tradition.

Ryder looking at one of the displays and doing well for the new person.

I got to work with Corona since Ryder was training the new people. Corona did very well and did not show any fear.

I think this is all our puppies in our club at the moment.

L-R: Jordie, Ryder, Corona, Gordie, Patch, & Keno, who you can hardly see.

Corona & Ryder

Ryder getting out of the elevator.

Ryder in front of the Museum.

Club Photo.

Katlynn & Ryder

9 Months & Walks

Believe it or not Mr. Ryder is 9 Months old! He is becoming quite a mature, well behaved dog. I still only work him on the flat collar, as he hardly needs any corrections.

Corona started coming to one high school class and so far he is doing great! Hopefully he can come all day soon and than go to middle school with my sister (his raiser). Corona is coming along very nicely and knows "sit" very well.

I have been taking them both on walks lately and they do great!

Just cause I was bored in Computer Lit Class, I took a picture of the handsome Ryder.

Katlynn & Ryder

Finally! Pictures!

In about a week Ryder will be 9 months! Yikes! So I decided that I should get off my butt and post some pictures of the boy.

As you can see he is SO horrible at school!

Ryder on of of the many shopping trips we do, and this particular trip he is in front of a Kleenex mountain!

Baby Corona, well not so baby anymore! He is 4 months old, and weighed 32lbs at his shots today! He is still very young and not real mature at all. He has a ways to go!

What is this post without my past dogs?! On Monday we have our weekly puppy meeting, and Focus' owner is so awesome and offered to let me take Focus! Focus was happy to see me of course but real happy to get back home. That makes me feel so happy that he is such a spoiled dog and loves his home. He was a STAR at the meeting and remembered everything. Notice how Ryder is on the seat and Focus is on the floor.

Katlynn & Ryder

8 Things At 8 Months

I can hardly believe it, but my little Ryder is 8 months old! At 8 months he is:

• Only being worked on a fat collar, and does great.
• He knows all of his commands perfectly for the most part.
• He loves to be by my side and explore the world.
• He has a funny personality, will brings his toys to you so you can play with him.
• He is a very soft dog, and just wants to please.
• He has pretty good house manners.
• Really likes his toys and to play with other dogs.
• Pretty much a perfect puppy. :)

I am slacking in the picture department, so there will is no pictures in this post, but I promise to update you all on photos of Ryder and Corona.

Ryder is with Emily right now, because I was asked by my mom to work with Corona a little bit as he has some little issues, and Ryder really needed to be traded, as he is really attached to me. I am sure he will be fine and it is just a short trade, I will get him back tomorrow sometime.

Katlynn & Corona

This and That

January has brought a "new" to everything. I turned 15, Ryder got even older (hard to imagine) and Focus has been in his new home for over a month. Ryder continues to mature every day and I can't imagine him getting any "better" as he already is amazing. He attends school daily and does awesome, the busy/crazy high school atmosphere does not phase him one bit and he has lots of friends that love him dearly and are disappointed when he does not come (which is very rare). He gets along with Corona fairly well he does not like to share his toys even though he has a huge bucket full.

Ryder shopping at our outdoor mall over my birthday weekend.

Ryder at school with one of "his friends" errr my friend!

Ryder went to borders with me this week and of course got compliments and was very well behaved.

And this weekend would pry have to be the best weekend in January for me! I have been in contact with Focus' new owner since he got him and he just loves him! We both wanted to wait a few week before I went to see him, just so they could establish dominance and he could adjust to his new house. My mom has seen Focus twice since he went to his home but I had not seen him at all. So today my mom mentioned to me that Rob (his owner) said that he would love for me to come see him soon! So with out hesitating I sent him a text message and I was over there within the hour. Focus was thrilled to see me!! I loved seeing him and he looked to happy and healthy! He did tend to stay near Rob, which was a great sign! Rob said that he went out hunting yesterday and he did good besides he doesn't like to pick up the geese, and he mentioned that Focus has an amazing recall (thanks GDB)! So overall Focus is in a great loving home and I could not be happier. I do get to see pics of Focus almost weekly as my friend is real good friends with Rob and his family so he send pics to me, so that is always a great day when I get those.

Ryder is on the left and Focus is on the right, laying by Rob.

Katlynn & Ryder

Surprise Surprise!!

On Friday my leaders called and said although we were really hoping for a cross, would we be willing to take a lab. We said sure! They called back and said we could pick up a MBL with the letter "C" on Friday. So my mom, sister, me, and Ryder drove the 4 hour drive to San Rafael to pick up the "C" baby. So although we were really crossing are fingers for a cross my CFR knows I have been waiting about 2 years for a cross a golden that she will make sure that when Ryder goes back I will get a cross a golden.

Welcome Corona! He is a Damon/Salina puppy born on 11/8/09.

Dosn't Rye look huge?!

Katlynn & Ryder

Happy Half Birthday Rye Boy!

This is a little late but it`s better late then never, and I felt that I have been lacking in the picture department so this post has got that covered!

Ryder has been a dream puppy pretty much since the day he was placed in my arms. He did have his puppy problems, relieving in the crate when he was 4 months, barking, and the usual puppy things.

Ryder at 2 months! He was such a cute boy!

3 Months

4 Months

5 Months

6 Months.

Ryder is a very easy puppy to take out into public. He does not need a halti, he is very good at loose leash walking, only needs corrections for eating garbage off the ground. I always get compliments on how well behaved he is and in restaurants "I never even knew he was there" comments. Those are always great comments. He does excellent at school, goes on a flat collar and receives maybe 3 corrections through the entire day. All my teachers and friends love him and are very disappointed when he does not come. Ryder has grown up way TOO fast and before I know it I will be taking him back down to San Rafael for advanced training. This is going to be a very hard good bye, I can already tell!

Katlynn & Ryder

Evaluations

Today Ryder had his evaluation with my CFR, Celeste. I really was not nervous about them because really Ryder is a perfect puppy minus a few minor issues. She was thoroughly impressed with how well he walks on a flat collar, 95% of the time the leash is in the "J" shape and he rarely pulls and how well he knows and obeys his commands, minus GTB (go to bed) and stand. She really liked that he watches you while your walking trying to see what you are going to ask him to do next.

Overall it was a great evaluation and she just loved him, pretty much said he was a perfect puppy! I also put in my application for a golden which hopefully I will get after Ryder is recalled! My sister also put in an application for her own puppy for her and my mom to raise and she will be getting one in February or March! She does not care about the breed but Celeste said it could be possible to get a cross and they are "R" pups! I doubt she will get a cross, but who knows! Celeste said there will be about 85 pups to place in March so we will surely get one then! Her puppy will show up on this blog occasionally but it`ll mostly by Ryder and my future dogs!

Katlynn & Ryder