Merry Christmas

From our house to yours.......we wish you good health, happiness and the love of family.

Fun trick

Our homework was to use the clicker to teach our puppy some trick and then demo it at the next class. It had to be something that they had never seen or done before. I have been trying to get Ebony to start using her paws more so I came up with a trick to get her to flip the laundry basket over twice, get on top and then jump off and hit the Staples 'easy' button.

Play date

Everest and Ebony
This past weekend Ebony met her big brother at the off-leash park for a play date. They had a ball. By the end of it she was so tired that I think she would have preferred if I carried her to the car. Everest is so much bigger, stronger and heavier than she is that she got a real workout.

We're back at Westmount Safeway

Westmount Safeway has once again picked Dogs with Wings as their charity for the next year. On Saturday we were there to help kick off the start of the fund raising and to welcome Santa. Here is Ebony and her Daddy Wally sitting in front of Santa's display.

Help keep our pets safe this Christmas

As we all know, Christmas is a time for family, joy and giving. But did you know that Christmas could be a dangerous time for your dog. Simple things like decorations, tinsel, chocolate and turkey bones are all potential hazards. Be sure to make this holiday season safe for the 4-legged members of your household by observing the following safety tips:

If you have a live Christmas tree, keep the water stand covered. Pinesap mixed with water makes a poisonous drink for your pet. Pick up any ornament hooks, tinsel, or ribbon that fall on the floor. Your pet could experience serious internal injuries if any of these items are ingested. Christmas tree lights and electrical cords can be fatal if chewed on. Remember to secure your tree to the wall or ceiling.

Ice-melting chemicals and salt placed across sidewalks and roads can cause severe burning to your dog's footpads. Whenever possible, avoid walking your dog through these substances, and wash off his pads when you return home.
Many indoor and outdoor plants are poisonous. Poinsettias, mistletoe berries, and other popular holiday flowers can cause serious stomach upset for pets. For a more detailed list of toxic trees and plants check out these links:

ASPCA Poison Plant List

About.Com - Poison Plant List

About.Com - Poison Flower List

Gulping down food and water, followed by running or vigorous activity and over-eating, combined with excitement or anxiety can cause bloat and torsion. Bloat and torsion are deadly gastric conditions that require immediate emergency medical treatment (Dog Owner's Guide to Bloat). Some foods that are perfectly safe for us can be poisonous to our dogs. Raisins, grapes and chocolate to name a few. Check out this link for more details: Deadly Treats for dogs
With a little care and planning, Christmas can be a wonderful time for all members of the family.

Dog or Cat???

When Ebony is tired she likes to take one of her stuff toys in her mouth, suck on it and knead like a cat. It is so sweet to watch. I have been trying to capture this on video since we got her in late September. Every time I get my camera she stops.

Dacro employees meet Ebony

Today we had the opportunity to meet the wonderful folks at Dacro Industries. Ebony is the second puppy they have sponsored. She showed them some of the many skills she has mastered and her Dad Wally did his best to flirt and charm anyone who would give him some attention. Ebony had her picture taken with Julie, the Dacro employee who picked her beautiful name.

Meet the rest of Ebony's family

Here is a link to the Dogs with Wings blog where you can see pictures and read a little bit about the rest of the E-Litter. Ebony has four big brothers, 2 yellow and 2 black. Click here.

Boycott Meadowlark Mall and their tenants

This morning we had some of the puppies at Meadowlark Mall for a training class. We picked this mall because it is very quiet and there are lots of customers with wheelchairs, walkers and canes.....perfect for training our puppies to be around new and strange objects and not be afraid. Unfortunately Mall Management came and told us that we can never come back there and train again. They claimed that some of their tenants called and complained. We tried to talk with them and explain that this type of training is critical for our dogs. This is exactly the type of environment they are going to have to work in when they graduate and get placed with a client. They didn't seem to care. I don't think I want to do business with anyone who discriminates against people with disabilities. I hope you feel the same. Contact Mall management and let them know how you feel. I think that if they had taken the time to explain to their tenants that these dogs were NOT pets and that they were training to be future guide and service dogs, I am sure that they would have understood. In fact, one of our puppy raisers regularly visits her Dr.'s office in this mall and they have always welcomed them both. They were shocked by how we were treated.

In the very near future, Alberta will have a law that will prohibit businesses, like Meadlowlark Mall, from denying assistance dogs access to their premises. It is sad that we have to use legislation to get people and businesses to act responsibly and compassionately towards people with disabilities when common sense should prevail.

We all need to stand up strong with a loud voice. Call them and let them know how you feel. (780) 489-7748

Hanging out at the off-leash park

This past weekend, Ebony went to the off-leash park with out her four-legged housemates. She was a little scared at first. We spotted this group of black puppies at the end of the field and we knew that was the group for us. It turns out that most of them were Labrador/Golden retriever crosses like Ebony. There were two brothers that were having a play date together. They could have been Ebony's brothers....in fact they were just a few weeks older than her. She took a liking to Hugo. They played like they were best buddies. I managed to catch a few fleeting moments of the game.....they were moving so fast that I couldn't keep them in frame.

Steaming good time

When we are in the hot tub the dogs like to come and visit. I use this time to train the skill 'raise'. Labs and Goldens are so food oriented (ok....lets be honest...they are big oinks when it comes to food) that I never want to train them to raise up on a kitchen counter or they may think that counter surfing is ok. Here is Ebony learning to raise up on the edge of the hot tub. Her Dad Wally and playmate Tango are assisting in the training session.

Loving sisters

Every time Ebony gets together with her big sister Charly my heart just melts. They are so darn cute together. They can play gently for hours. Here is a short video of Ebony sprawled across Charly's belly while Charly patiently holds a bone in her mouth for Ebony to chew on. I know it is hard to tell which body part belongs to which dog but the video was so cute that I thought I would post it anyway. I've extracted a still image to help you figure out how each dog is oriented...it may help you to appreciate the video.

Remembering.......

Ebony goes to school

Today Ebony had the honour of being a guest in Mrs. Gerdes' grade 5 class at Pine Street School in Sherwood Park. One of Mrs. Gerdes' students, Desiree, read the book "Forward, Shakespeare" written by Jean Little. It is a story about Seeing-eye puppy, Shakespeare, who is about to be matched up with a blind boy and begin his working life. Little, a well known author of children's books, is blind and working with her third guide dog.

Earlier in the day, Desiree did an oral presentation to fellow students on her thoughts of the book. She surprised her classmates by having Ebony drop in just before lunch. Ebony showed them how she can pick up dropped items, open and close doors, and remain focused on her job even with lots of distractions. The students were very interested and asked many wonderful questions.

Her first taste of snow....literally

We woke up Sunday morning to discover that we had our first real snow fall. Ebony immediately discovered that it was great for eating. Unfortunately, she has decided that she can no longer relieve herself in the "poop pen" because this funny white stuff is covering the grass. Not so good. Time to get the clicker out and see if we can convince her that the white stuff really doesn't matter.

She's a smarty pants!!!

Tomorrow Ebony will be 3 months old. I am still so amazed at how quickly she is learning. Compared to the previous 4 puppies I have fostered, Ebony is far more advanced at this age. She not only knows more skills but she has a much more thorough understanding of each skill. I don't think she is any smarter than my other foster 'kids'....in fact she scored the lowest or second lowest in her litter. The big difference has been the clicker. It teaches them to think, to experiment and it really motivates them. I also think another reason she is doing so well is that we started using a clicker right from the moment I got her at 7 weeks old. In their first few months, puppies are like sponges and they learn things very quickly. As they get older it seems to take longer to teach each new skill. Here she is showing some of the skills she has perfected as well as some that we are currently shaping.

E-Litter Reunited

Thursday night 4 of the 5 puppies from the E-Litter were reunited for the first time since they started leaving home at 7 weeks old. It has been 6 weeks since they have seen each other but you would never know. The poor little black puppy on the bottom of the pile is Ebony.

Ebony's first Halloween

We have a skelton decoration set up in our office and every time we walk by Ebony tries to steal one of the bones. Here she is grabbing a leg bone and making a run for it.

Some assorted Halloween pictures

Practicing "leave-it"

Wally, Tango and Ebony on the deck practicing the "leave-it" command with a little coaching from Ming.

Another busy weekend

Saturday was a very challenging day for Ebony. First she spent 3 hours greeting people at the Edmonton Autism Conference. Dogs with Wings had a booth set up to let parents know that they are now training service dogs to assist children with Autism.

Saturday night was extra special. First we attended the 2007 graduation where they unveiled the new name, logo and expanded service dogs program for Dogs with Wings. Three of Ebony's siblings from the C-litter (Champion, Chase and Cessco) where among the graduates. Following the grad we attended the first annual Dogs-with-a-Cause Charity Auction and Gala Dinner. We were so busy taking pictures of the graduates and their puppy raisers that we forgot to take pictures of Ebony. Thank goodness Bill and Wynne shared a picture that they took.

Puppies gone wild......

Here is a video of the gang playing a wild game of tag in the back yard

ATCO welcomes Ebony

This morning ATCO employees (from the 112 ST/105 AV office) welcomed Ebony to their staff meeting. Elisa spoke about the Society and what they can do for children and adults with disabilities and Ebony dazzled everyone by showing some of the skills that she has learned. After the presentation several ATCO employees had their pictures taken with her.

She's ba-a-a-ck!

When we picked her up on Sunday, we hadn't seen Ebony in 12 days. We were shocked by how much she had grown. I would not have recognized her if I passed her on the street. She has gotten quite a bit taller and longer. She is also quite skinny. I was concerned that she may have forgotten some of the skills she had learned before I left but I was pleased to discover that she remembered everything. She did teach herself a few new bad habits however. She likes to jump up on people, counter surf (steal things off of table tops and counters) and she has discovered that she can bark. I will have to put my new training to work to see if we can discourage her new undesirable skills.
The SPIRIT conference was amazing. I learned so much about clicker training and shaping. It was wonderful to be able to share ideas and training methodologies with a diverse group of trainers from across North America.

I'm getting some much needed training

WGADS is sending me to a Service Dog conference so there won't be any new posts for a week or two. Coincidentally, the focus of the conference is early puppy development so I am really looking forward to learning new techniques and improving my clicker skills. I would have loved to have taken Ebony along but she is just too young to bring on a plane and expect her to sit quietly for 4 hours. Rob, a long time WGADS volunteer, is going to be taken care of her and bringing her to work with him. She is going to grow so much while I am gone that I'm sure I am going to have a shock when I pick her up. This will be the first time that I have taken a trip and left Wally and Tango at home. Between missing Ebony and leaving my 'kids', I am going to be experiencing severe puppy withdrawal and lonesomeness.

Family portrait

Now that Ebony knows what down and stay means I am finally able to get a good 'family' picture. Here she is with her Golden Retriever Daddy Wally and her step sister and playmate Tango (a former foster puppy and a WGADS flunky but we love her dearly).

Long weekends are exhausting

Poor Ebony has just survived her first long weekend. She is used to coming with me to work and sleeping all day but this past long weekend changed everything. I was off for 5 days straight so she didn't get as much beauty rest as she is used to. Finally she couldn't take it any more so she passed out on the step leading down into our family room.

Anime Festival at Bellerose

This is the second year in a row that WGADS have been invited to the Anime Festival at Bellerose Composite High School in St. Albert. Ebony and her Dad Wally spent a couple of hours this afternoon visiting with the kids. The students love meeting the dogs and they generously donate proceeds from the festival to WGADS.

My assistant trainer

On my days off, I am helping WGADS by taking out some of the adult dogs and working with them. Today I took Dino and Diesel for some training at Westmount Mall. Ebony came along to act as my assitant. Here are a few pictures of Dino and Ebony as they were practicing their sit and down commands.

Now she is a TV star!

This morning, Seanna Collins did the Global News remote broadcast from the offices of Western Guide and Assistance Dog Society. They were announcing their new program for Autistic children and showcasing the amazing things that our Guide and Service dogs can do for their clients. Ebony got to see 3 of her brothers for the first time since she left the litter two weeks ago to move in with us. They had a wonderful time playing together and a good time was had by everyone. I think she is probably going to sleep for about 5 hours straight. Bonus! She also got the opportunity to try on a puppy-size graduation cap.....hopefully in 18 months she will be wearing the real thing and working closely with someone whose life can be enriched by their partnership.

The sisters finally meet

Ebony got to meet her big sister Charly today. They played together so nicely. Not only is Charly Ebony's big sister (they were born 18 months apart to the same parents) but Charly was also my last foster puppy. She is close to completing her training as a Service Dog and should be placed with a client within the next month or so. Saying goodbye to Charly was very hard but I am so proud of her.

First Dental Assistant now Chiropractor?

I had an appointment with my Chiropractor Dr. Renae Rogers. She and Dixie always graciously welcome my foster puppies. If I ever show up for an appointment and don't bring my dog they are so sad and disappointed. Sometimes I wonder if I will be refused service if I dare show up alone. They are always telling their other clients about the puppies and how wonderful they are. Dr. Rogers' Mom was so enchanted with my last foster puppy Charly that she bought her some stuffed toys. As you can see by the pictures, Ebony definitely made herself at home in the treatment office.

Ebony meets the teacher

Today Ebony and I met with WGADS certified instructor (and clicker expert) Maria so that she could see how we are progressing with clicker training. We walked around Zellers at Westmount Mall and practiced recalls, sit and down. I think Ebony passed the test but I definitely need more practice.

She is learning quickly!

We have had Ebony for one week and she is now 8 weeks old. We are going through clicker training together.....but I think Ebony is learning much faster than I am. The clicker is amazing because it makes the puppy think. She will keep trying things and offering behaviors until she hears that magical click and knows that she is going to get a treat. It is very helpful to have a puppy that is a piggy and loves to eat. In just one week she has learned so many things. She knows her name, she comes when called and sits in front of me, she knows sit and down and we are working on retrieving a set of keys. Here is a video of Ebony showing the skills that she has learned in her first week of training.

She slept through the night...YIPPEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

We have reached a major milestone. We've gone from getting up 3-4 times a night to our first night that she didn't wake us up. Coincidentally, it is my birthday so it was an extra special gift. I'm not delusional enough to think that this is going to happen every night from now on but I'm thrilled to get a "potty-free" night whenever they occur.

Dr. Banks' new Dental Assistant

Lets face it, not many of us like going to the Dentist. But, when they have a Dental Assistant like Ebony....it just gets a whole lot easier. Over the years, Dr. Banks and his staff have allowed me to bring all of my foster puppies to my appointments. It is so helpful when businesses welcome puppies in training and recognize how important and beneficial these experiences are.

Northern Lights Rotary Club

Ebony and her big brother Champion were guests at the Northern Lights Rotary Club breakfast meeting this morning. Elisa gave a wonderful speech talking about the history of WGADS and their new name Dogs with Wings. The Rotary members were very welcoming and the puppies were a big hit. This is the first time that Champ and Ebony have met but as you can see from the pictures and video, they definitely enjoyed each others company.

Father and Daughter playing

Wally is slowly warming up to Ebony. This is the first time he has played with her and he was very gentle compared to his daughter.

First day at work

As you can see by the picture, Ebony had a real tough day at the office today. There was a steady stream of people coming by to meet her. Every time I took her out for a potty break I would have company. She is definitely a hit! We made it through our first day at work without any "accidents".

Day 1 and training has begun

Took Ebony with me today while I ran some errands. By the time we got to Rona she was pooped. I bought some large, round plastic trays to go under plants pots but Ebony found a much better use for them.

Reality has hit home

It doesn't matter how many puppies we have fostered...each time we have to be reminded just how much work a little 7 week old puppy really is. She woke us (or should I say me) up 4 times to go outside and to let us know that she was bored with the "sleeping thing". I'm so glad I took a few days off of work because I am pooped. The good news is that if you aren't sleeping you can manage to accomplish a lot of chores around the house. Night one...I have a sparkling clean fridge and several interesting science experiments found a new home in the compost bin. A few more nights and I could make a real dent in my to-do list.

I am also reminded why puppies, kittens and babies are so darn cute. It doesn't matter how sleep deprived or frustrated you are, one look at that face and your heart melts and nothing else matters.

Welcome to your new home

I picked up Ebony this afternoon. The drive home was very loud. She wasn't happy about being put in a kennel on the floor behind my seat. She kept barking and howling. I had to pull over and put the kennel in the front passenger seat. She still wasn't very happy but she was much less vocal. When we got home she had fun exploring the backyard and managed to get her two front paws in the pond before I grabbed her and pull her out.

4 more sleeps and then she is ours!!

Our little girl is now 6 weeks old and almost ready to leave the litter. On Thursday afternoon I will pick her up and bring her home to spend the next 12-14 months with us. We are really looking forward to our new addition. We are starting to puppy-proof the house and bring out the "spot-bot" so that we are ready to clean up any accidents. I'm watching clicker training videos and I am going to work with one of the trainers (Maria) to develop my click skills. I have heard some amazing stories about the effectiveness of using a clicker so I am really looking forward to see how Ebony progresses with this new training methodology.

Could she be a future Service Dog??

I introduced the puppies to a set of keys and Ebony immediately picked them up and carried them around. Could she be a future service dog, like her big sister Charly from the C-Litter?

Unbelieveably cute!!

From E-Litter 4-1/...

Is this not the cutest face you have ever seen? EBONY is not just cute but she is also well on her way to being house-trained and she is only 4-1/2 weeks old. I even got to see a real life demo of this newly acquired skill. Very impressive! Sherry is doing such an amazing job with these puppies that it is going to make our job of puppy raiser a breeze.

Ebony is 4 weeks old

I haven't seen my little foster daughter in a week and I was shocked by how much she has changed. Her eyes are clearer and more focused and she is walking better. Sherry says she is almost as vocal as green now. Not a good trait for a dog that is going to be coming to work with me everyday.

EBONY is now the smallest puppy. She started out almost 100 grams larger than the runt of the litter (ORANGE) but he has now outgrown her. She can still manage to hold her own with her much bigger brothers. Here is a video of EBONY playing with a few of her sibblings...

And her name is.....?

This afternoon Dacro employees got together and picked a name for their sponsorship puppy. Pink's official name is EBONY. She is the first puppy in the E-Litter to have not only a Corporate sponsor but an official "E" name. Thanks to everyone at Dacro Industries!

She's three weeks old

From Dog Gone Ange...

She is growing cuter by the minute. She can now hear and her eyesight is starting to improve. They are all starting to interact with one another and their surroundings. They have moments of running and playing and then all of a sudden they get into a huddle and all fall asleep. They are so cute to watch that I could spend 24 hours a day staring into the whelping box. Below is a video of her trying to play with her very big brother Purple. There is a moment where Purple does a body slam and poor Pink is pinned under his enormous belly. It is probably not a good idea to try and play with the biggest puppy when you are one of the smallest. Our girl has spunk!! Don't forget to check YouTube for more video's featuring Pink or her personal photo album (the links on the right hand side of the blog)

She's two weeks old

I can't believe how much she has matured in the three days since I last saw her. I took over 200 pictures of the litter this morning. I found this stuffed animal with big shiny wings and a pink pillow that says 'L'il Angel' and I just knew that I had to buy it.

From Dog Gone Ange...

She has a Corporate Sponsor!

We are thrilled to announce that PINK is the first puppy in the E-litter to have a corporate sponsor. Once again, Dacro Industries Inc. has stepped up to the plate to sponsor one of Western Guide and Assistance Dog Society's puppies. This is the second puppy that Dacro has generously sponsored (D-litter's Dino was their first). Rumor has it that PINK should have a real name by the end of the month.

She is a week old!

From Dog Gone Ange...

Pink has made it through the critical first week of life. Although she hasn't gained as much weight as we would like her to, she is doing well. She loves to sleep on top of her brothers, especially Blue. She was quite the talker/complainer when I visited today. She wanted to nurse but just couldn't seem to latch on to a nipple. Later today, when her big brothers are snoozing, Sherry is going to give her some special one-on-one time with Libby with hopes that she will get a good meal and put on some weight.

What kind of a name is pink?

It looks like PINK may have a real name in the not too distant future. Generally the puppies don't get named until after they have had their aptitude tests at 6-7 weeks old. The idea is that the Society lets the corporate sponsors name the puppies that look like they will be the most likely to succeed as future guide or service dogs. We are just waiting to see if a sponsor wants to name a female puppy, and if not, we may have the privilege of picking her name. Since we are the foster parents of WGADS stud dog Wally, we have already had the honor of naming a puppy in both the 'B' and 'C' litters. Either way, we are just thrilled to know that PINK will be our foster puppy for the next 12-14 months.

She's growing

PINK is now two and a half days old. She and her brother Orange need a little extra loving care because they are not as large or as strong as the first three puppies that were born. She only gained 19g her first day, far below the 50-60g that her big brothers gained. Yesterday Sherry started putting Pink and Orange on Libby's tummy when the big guys were sleeping. That strategy paid off nicely. She gained about 60g in the last 24 hours.

I have added a new link to access all of Pink's videos on YouTube.

She's an angel

Meet "Pink", at least that is her name for now. She is the only girl in Western Guide and Assistance Dog Society's much anticipated E-litter. She and her brother 'Orange" were born on August 4th, 2007. Her other brothers , "Blue", "Green" and "Purple", where born on August 3rd.

From Dog Gone Ange...

Here is a video of her nursing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LiBgm49cDE

Welcome the E-Litter

From Dog Gone Ange...

We have been volunteer puppy raisers for WGADS since 2001. Our first puppy was Wally, a beautiful Golden Retriever, who coincidentally is the father of the E-litter. We have been lucky enough to have Wally as part of our family for the last 6 years. Very early on in his career as a guide-dog-in-training, it became clear that he was a very special boy. WGADS decided that he might be the perfect candidate to become the first stud in their new breeding program. As the saying goes, the rest is history. Of the 5 litters that have been born so far, Wally is the father of the "B", "C" and "E" litters and the grandfather of "D" (35 puppies in total). We have been anxiously awaiting the birth of this litter not just because Wally is the Sire, but because we have committed to raising another puppy for WGADS (our 5th). The only problem is that we can only foster female puppies. Intact males sometimes have issues with bringing another male into the house and they can start marking territory (urinating) inside the home or become aggressive towards the puppy. Here is a link to a post on the WGADS blog talking about the breeding for the E-Litter.