Contest!

As Westin and I say, you can never have too many toys! So be sure to check out an awesome contest at the Domestic Diva's blog!

This is the awesome giveaway:

• A small Kong toy
• A package of small ziggies for the Kong
• A $10 Petsmart gift certificate
• A package of natural puppy treats that I have to buy at a speciality store, but Max LOVES them
• A paw picture tree
• A cute little toy
• A package of rawhides

First Disneyland Trip!

Hey all, Westin here! Sammy and I had a fun morning trip to Disneyland with Denise. 

We had a blast!

I met new friends like Chip and Dale

I went on some rides, but I had to be swapped on rides like Space Mountain.

I made best friends with Aladdin and Jasmine.

This train looked like fun, but I can't go on any of the "mountains"

Isn't autumn great?

Until next time!

Where'd you go?

Seems like it's been forever....

Westin's stuff (and mine too) on his first day of school

The big man is ready for school!

Yes, it's been a while since my last post! I apologize-the life of a high school student is extremely hectic, as many of you know.  Westin is doing well.  He has come to school with me and does quite well when he goes.  Tennis season is coming to an end, and hopefully classwork will slow down at least slightly (okay, it's unlikely c:), so I will be able to bring him more frequently.  Westin is well liked by most of my teachers and classmates, and many of them ask about him when he is not there.  Wishing all of you a happy early Halloween!  What will you and your puppies be? 

High Schooler

YES! Westin went to school, and he was great! He has since returned several times. 

 I haven't had much time to write, but I promise to do so in the near-ish future :)

School

Tomorrow will be Westin's first day at school.  Any advice, wishes, or stories are greatly appreciated!  There is also a puppy meeting tomorrow night.  It will be a speaker's workshop, which I am really looking forward to!

This picture is for Mitch and Meade, who are currently fighting for their right to ride the school bus together!

Cone of shame

Nootered is not fun.

-Westin

{A note from Westin}

Hi everyone, it's me, Westin! I am writing in this blog for my mom because she has been VERY busy!  Her school started on Tuesday, and classes are very intense!  I should be going to school with my mom very soon, maybe even next week!  

Eenywho, the real reason why I came on here was to tell you that I got a very special call today! I'm getting nootered, doesn't that sound like fun? I don't know what nootered is, but It's happening this coming week! 

Down by the bay (and he's baaaaaack!)

Back at the end of July, my family and I headed over to the Monterey Bay, San Francisco Bay, and Santa Barbara areas, and we were lucky enough to bring Westin with us.  There's a blab about his eval at the end of the post, but I know you all just want pictures :)

Westin enjoyed walking along the water and rocks

Posing by the research center

Westin did an AWESOME job during his first hotel stay. Sadly, it was not at the Westin!  That is a must-do before he goes IFT :)

Westin sometimes gets nervous around floors with unusual textures.  At first, he was afraid of the wooden pier flooring.  We did lots of practicing on it, and he eventually forgot it was there!

Here's Westin at Stanford University!

I can't wait to travel with my boy again! He and I get to board a plane (but not actually fly) with our group this Fall.  That should be exciting!

Westin is back from his evaluation, and I am SO happy that my guy is home. To top it all off, he got a good report!  The report basically indicated that he is doing really well for his age!  The evaluator also seemed to get the impression that he is a very "excited" dog :)  While Westin LOVES to play, especially with other dogs, I often get comments about how calm he is in public and even from other puppy raisers.  I think that he is just right.  Westin's brother Winter also got an awesome report!

Happy happy!

Happy 6 month day to Westin and his litter! 

puppy pick up

I remember when the little guy first came, he was so small! Since then, he and I have shared many amazing months. I look forward to our next year together, buddy!

awweeeeeee

As puppy raisers, we are so fortunate.  People often thank us for the role we play in enriching the lives of others, but I recognize how lucky I am to be able to immerse myself in such an amazing group of people and dogs.  Not to mention the fact that we can see teeny puppies whenever the heck we want to! :)

The "W" boys went in for their first evaluation today, so I'm going to be puppiless for the next few days! I miss my boy so much already!

Getting Ready

Westin's first evaluation will begin on August 25, which is his 6 month day!  That seems really early to me, but I have the utmost confidence in him :)  Not to worry, he should be back for more love, training, and socialization after just a few short days.  

There are just a few weeks left of summer, so be sure to hit the beach, soak up the sun, or just enjoy your time with friends! 

What is your favorite summer memory of your pup?

Mine has to be "the boat"...I have a photo that should explain everything, but it's not on this computer. Take a guess at what "the boat" is. I'll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with a natural body of water or a rudder.

P.S. 

The big man is officially in his big boy jacket :) It's kind of big, but oh well! I think he looks great!  It doesn't look like this any more...

School Days

Okay, school-age puppy raisers - that time of year is coming! There is only one month left of summer and then we are going to be back at school.  What are the plans for you and your pup at school? 

Puppy class and San Francisco

We had puppy class at GDA today! Westin got to see his brother, Winter and two of his sisters, Wiki and Wailea. It was a blast! There were a ton of puppies that were 8-12 weeks, they were so cute!  There was even a black and tan lab pup, a litter of GLX pups, and a chocolate australian labradoodle! (Is that a mouthful?) Like always, there were plenty of yellow and black labs as well.  Westin was fitted with a training collar today (my arms are greatful).

Today is Westin's five month day! Woohoo!

Westin, my family and I are going up to the bay area tomorrow! 

Is anyone a puppy raiser in the Monterey or San Francisco area? If so, let me know!

I know y'all hate these posts that don't have new pictures so I promise to bring my camera up :)

Puppies and LIFE :)

Okay, that's the name of an existing blog, but I figured it would be an appropriate title for this post.

I'm back in California, woohoo! I really enjoyed spending time with my family in Colorado and was thrilled when I met a puppy in training!  I LOVE being home with Westin, but boy has he grown!  He's sleeping by my feet right now.  It is hot so we might just have to have another "swimming lesson" :)

Westin is a sponsored puppy which means every few months, I write up a little report and send pictures to his sponsor.  While I was going through photos, I found a few which just made my heart melt! I'll tease you guys with one of them.

I have a puppy meeting at a restaurant tonight! Westin should be fabulous like always.

And YES, I am still working on the video! You can send in pictures for the next couple days! I promise, it will come!  Send them to beachysweets@yahoo.com

Colorado

It's my last night in Colorado so I get to get Westin back tomorrow. I miss him SO MUCH! 

I ran into a puppy raiser today at the Apple store in a Denver mall.  She had a gorgeous 5-ish month old male yellow lab named Pearson! Does anyone know him? Let me know if you do!

I....miss....my....puppy!!!!

2 Weeks

I am going to be in Colorado for two weeks starting tomorrow (Sunday, July 5).  Hopefully I will be able to get on here to check my blog a few times, but I won't have much to say because Westin will be hanging out with my parents and sister back at home!  

You still have time to send in pictures of your puppy for the PIT photo montage! Please send them as soon as possible!

Photos can be sent to beachysweets@yahoo.com 

You can also post them on your blog but be sure to alert me by commenting on this post!

Career changed puppies and working guides are also welcome! Unique photos are the best and remember to include your puppy's name(s) and the school!

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful summer and a had a fabulous independence day!

Just do it.

There is still time to send in pictures!

Please, please, please send them in!  Dogs that are now career changed or working are also welcome!   Thank you to everyone who has e-mailed me pictures or granted me permission to steal them from their blog! 

beachysweets@yahoo.com

Send in your pictures!

Do you have wild, funny, unique or just plain CUTE pictures or video clips of your current or past puppies?  Westin and I know that you do! 

{I know that you can beat this silly picture of Mikah. I lack cute photos! That's where you come in!}

Send them to me to be included in a fun video slide-show!  Send in as many pictures as you'd like and tell your blog followers and puppy raising friends! I want to include as many puppies-in-training as possible.

Pictures of fun poses, unique locations, funny props, and silly faces are all great! You can't go wrong with a picture of a puppy!

Pictures/video can be sent to me via e-mail or posted on your own blog (please leave a comment here to let me know that you posted!)

Along with the photos, be sure to include your puppy's name and the service/guide dog school that you are from!

Email - beachysweets@yahoo.com

Please, please, please participate and tell others! 

Thanks everyone :) This should be fun.

Happy Monthday "W" Pups!

Today, Westin and his siblings are FOUR months old! Wow, I have had this little guy for more than half of his life :) He is amazing and continues to impress me most every day!

In other news, there's a new puppy in the blog-o-sphere and his name is.....

WINTER! That's right, Westin's own brother has started a blog! We saw Winter at Open House and he was looking great! I hope that you will follow Winter's blog at 

http://winterswonderlands.blogspot.com/

Park

Westin and I went to the {not dog} park today and had a picnic with my family. It was pretty enjoyable and he enjoyed a nice walk around a little lake.  While I forgot my camera, I will be sure to bring it next time.  I am toying around with the header thanks to the website that Mitch (and Meade) sent me!  

Arboretum

One weekend when I was out of town, Westin got to go out and about with my family.  One place that he got to visit was the Arboretum.  Here are some pictures that my sister gave me:

He's a BRANIAC!

Westin is a very smart puppy! He already knows how to sit, lie down, and stay on command.  I was very lucky that he was very willing to learn "down" because it tends to be a difficult command to teach.  The only problem is that Westin does not like to "perform" his commands in front of others. We will work on that!

School is out and I can't believe that I only have two years left of high school! Westin will be accompanying me in my classes next year.  I will have tennis the last period, so we are going to have to figure that one out - he will have lots of practice ignoring tennis balls this summer because once Westin is physically larger I will bring him to practices with me. 

How large was your pup when he/she fit into their "big boy/girl jacket?"

Westin playing with Jake

The big guy himself

Open House 2009

As expected, Open House was a blast!  It included everything from "puppy trials" with  llamas to a puppy kissing booth!  We had a wonderful time and Westin did a great job with the crowds.

Westin was looking pretty spiffy in his clean jacket and appropriately themed bandana. 

(thanks Denise for this awesome picture)

GDA Stadium

Puppy trials

A few of the puppies from our group

Westin got fourth place for his age in the puppy trials! We had an awesome time and encourage everyone to come next year.  We saw/met countless people, a ton of puppies in training and many graduates with their guides.  

I have a GDA group meeting tomorrow night which I am excited about because a graduate is speaking! There is also a Disneyland trip (with a puppy of course) in the works. 

GDA Open House

GDA Open House is coming up this Saturday! If you'll be in the area, I hope y'all will come :) It is going to be amazing!

The following has been taken from the GDA website:

"22 Annual GDA Open House
(Sports Day) on June 13th

For more than 60 years Guide Dogs of America has offered blind and visually impaired people independence, confidence, and companionship in the form of a furry best friend- for free.

Once a year, visitors are invited to tour the 7.5 acre GDA facility, see a guide dog demonstration, and observe puppies-in-training as they maneuver through and obstacle course of distractions.

Admission and parking are free!

Puppy Trials: 11:30 - 2pm
Guide Dog Demonstration: 1pm
Silent Auction Closes at 2:30pm
Tours (every 30 min), Raffles, Food, Merchandise
All proceeds go to GDA.

Come early so as not to miss any events and please leave your personal pets at home. Gates open at 10:45am to 4pm. Main events will wind down be around 2:30pm.

GDA is located at: 13445 Glenoaks Blvd Sylmar, CA 91342.
For more information: (818) 362-5834"

GDA Obedience

Some of the many things I love about GDA are the free monthly obedience classes that they host and  encourage all the pups to go to.  Although I was unable to attend, my mom stepped in and took Westin to the class.   After a little bit of obedience and advice from the trainers, the pups got to play with their siblings!!!!!  Westin was THRILLED to play with three of his siblings who came - Wiki, Winter and Wheely! There was a baby pool, play equipment and plenty of toys to go around. Of course, he was tired after the class.

Puppy Meeting

Yesterday we had a fun-filled and educational puppy meeting! I absolutely LOVE my group, they are an awesome group of people!

This was the first meeting that I have been to without Parker (MGR) or Savannah (MBL)! They are two sweeties and I wish them the best of luck in formal training.  It was also the first meeting with Hercules, an ADORABLE 8 week old male black lab.  He has the sweetest face and he is a pretty big boy!

We had a wonderful guest at our meeting.  He is the director of programs at GDA.  He has an awesome story and actually used to be at GDB and CCI!

He worked with Westin:

And he also treated me like a dog!

The meeting aside, guess what? Since Westin is a sponsored puppy, his big boy jacket is embroidered.  It came the other day......

But maybe.....

...jst maybe we should stick with his baby bib.....

...especially because poor 6 month old Mandy doesn't have her big girl jacket!

At our meeting we also got to go through an obstacle course to practice for open house! Unfortunately it was outdoors and too dark to take pictures.

This is Westin with the camera at eye-level.

A Mother's Day Graduation

Congratulations to all of the graduating teams today!  Everyone looked oh so happy and all of the speeches were really thoughtful.

I really enjoyed talking to a bunch of puppy raisers today.  It was good seeing all of you!

And happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! I hope your four-legged (and two-legged if you have them) children treat you well :) I personally was given many puppy kisses.

Survey

#1 What is your current obsession?
Guide/Service dogs and their schools :), suspenseful movies, swimming/jacuzzing, and moon tanning! (laying out on a towel at night with friends)

#2 Who was the last person you hugged?
Westin

#3 What’s your favorite dinner?
It depends on the weather, but I ALWAYS like whole food's sourdough bread!

#4 What was the last movie you saw in the Theatres?
I don't remember....

#5 What was the last thing you bought? (to wear)
I just got a bunch of new clothes from forever 21!

#6 What is your most challenging goal right now?
Surviving the school year...I was one step closer yesterday by taking 2 hard tests in one day.

#7 What is your weirdest obsession?
Is this weird...psychology?

#8 Why did you start a blog?
When I first considered puppy raising, I read a ton of blogs. Blogs passed the time while I waited for my puppy. How could I possibly not start my own?

#9 What's your blog about (give me the 2-3 sentence elevator pitch)
Raising a puppy for GDA , of course!

#10 Which blogs are you obsessed with at the moment?
Blogs related to puppy raising and post secret!

#11 What is your dream job? (realistic or unrealistic)
This is a toughie...I think that it would be fun to be a service dog trainer :) or get paid to go on adventures!

#12 If you could change professions or careers, what would you like to try?
I'm currently a student.....so N/A

#13 Who is your favorite designer at the moment?
It's not designer, but I love my forever 21!

#14 What are you listening to right now?
The sound of my pet dog, Jake, licking the floor....?

#15 What is your favorite weather?
Varying weather by season. I want leaves in fall, snow in winter, flowers in spring and the beach in the summer :) Is that too much to ask?

#16 Say something to the person who tagged you.
I didn't get tagged, but I stole this from Elizabeth and Peyton

#17 Tea or Coffee?
Tea

#18 What did you want to become as a child?
At first an author, and then a psychologist, and then a pediatrician...now I'm unsure.

#19 If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Probably somewhere in Europe or Australia

#20 Who do you want to meet in person?
All of you fabulous bloggers!

#21 What's your favorite brand of jeans?
I buy my jeans mostly at forever 21...

#22 One thing that you would snitch out of someone's closet, with no regrets.
A really cute puppy raising shirt!

#23 What designer piece of clothing would you most like to own?
I don't know.

P.S.
You get to meet a new puppy tonight...I'm swapping pups for 3 days

Circle Tail Wagging?

Westin sometimes wags his tail in a circle.  It is super cute and I hope to get it on video :) I took a picture, but my friend won't let me post it because she thought it was "puppy porn".... however, I thought it was super adorable. I guess that's the puppy raiser in me?

 Does anyone else's dog exhibit this amazingly cute behavior?

Growing like a weed

Sorry for the lack of updates; Westin is just busy GROWING!

New Blogging Friend

Hi, everyone! I just wanted to tell you that my friend, Diana, who is raising her first puppy in my puppy raising group, started a new blog! She is awesome and her puppy, Viigo, is a super cute male yellow lab!

The link to her blog is:

http://mylillove.blogspot.com/

It is HOT

The weather here is so warm, too hot for right now! It is 95 outside and all of us humans and canines are burning up!!! I feel bad for Westin because it is so warm.

Swimming!

Today it is a beautiful day - nice and sunny!! Westin loves to play outside on the grass.  It has been hot lately so we decided to let Westin play in the water!!! 

The hose is a no-no, and I think that a full-sized, chlorinated pool is too much for a teeny puppy, we decided to go with a little baby pool.