Aiobe

Happy 2009

2009-01-05T19:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Aiobe,
We all hope you're doing well in your new life as a working dog.
Good luck in 2009
xoxo,
your puppy family

Prematched

2008-06-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

I got a call on Wednesday--Aiobe has been prematched for this month's hearing dog class!
Of course a prematch isn't official, but keep your fingers crossed--if all goes well she could be graduating on FRIDAY, June 27th. I'll post more when I know more.

In the meantime, here's a picture of Leif lounging at a park in Olympia earlier this spring.
I didn't know he was such an art-history hound, but surely the resemblance to Ingre's Grande Odalisque can't be coincidental (I can tell you that it had absolutely nothing to do with me).

Aiobe the double-major

2008-04-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

Aiobe continues to hang in there in advanced training. According to her latest report she's excelling with her hearing dog training and is also keeping up all her other skills. Good job puppy! Meanwhile, here in Seattle the spring is springing. Sometimes it's two steps forward and one step back--we've had dustings of snow twice this month(!)--but Leif did enjoy our 80-degree day two weeks ago.

More Career Options

2008-03-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

This month's report brings news that Aiobe has been branching out in her training. She rotated through the February class without making a match and is continuing in advanced training, but is now doing soundwork. She's been learning to nudge her handler with her nose to get his attention, as well as locating and finding specific sounds. Her report says that she is doing well.

Leif would like to point out that the accompanying picture is not Aiobe's ear. It is Leif's ear, and is for illustrative purposes only. He would also like to point out that his ear bears only a superficial resemblance to Aiobe's ear. His ear is shorter and rounder.

Leif would also like you to admire his other excellent attributes. Here is his nose. His nose is also good at nudging people, but he is a self-taught nudger.

I hope that everyone is having a good March.

No match for Aiobe

2008-02-26T11:19:00.000-08:00

There was no match for Aiobe in this month's graduating class, but she's being held over for the May. Here are some of the comments from her January report.

Aiobe has completed her 2^nd semester of advanced training. In that time she has learned to do a lot of amazing things. She retrieves items from underneath a wheelchair, tugs open heavy doors, turns on and off lights, and pushes drawers closed.

We have gone on many field trips. the last one was to an adult activity center for people with developmmental disablities. She was a little taken aback with the environment and not very comfortable with the noise and activity of the place.

It sounds like she's doing well, and I really hope we'll be watching her graduate in three months. I'm glad CCI is so careful about making sure that their graduate teams are well matched, and I hope that Aiobe will find her match in the next round. Good luck to all who graduated last weekend!

Cross your fingers...

2008-02-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

...Aiobe is one of 20 dogs rotating through team training this month. There will be 11 students in the class, which graduates February 23rd.

Think, Aiobe, Think

2008-01-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

Comment from the most recent training report:

"Aiobe is an enthusiastic worker. She sometimes gets a little too excited to perform a skill and ends up getting confused. This is particularly true with the Light command right now. As she gets more familiar with the skill her confusion decreases and the skill becomes more consistent."

Trainer: Aiobe, Light!
Aiobe: Quizzical look.
Aiobe: Pause
Aiobe: Sits
Aiobe: Rolls Over
Aiobe: Speaks, Downs, Heels, Shakes, Rolls, Stands, Jumps, Spinsincirclesputspawsovernosedoesahandstandturnsincirclesgrinsrollsagainpaddlespawsinair...

As a puppy she used to lose her head at times and perform commands at random when she got tired or confused. Once she got started the confusion only seemed to grow, but even in the midst of it what she most wanted was to please.

Most of the rest of the report was very much like last month's. Her December field trip was to the shopping mall. A December shopping mall trip--that must have been full of excitements and distractions!

According to her trainer, Aiobe has a moderate response to correction, high response to motivation and a high learning rate. Yep, he's describing the puppy I've known.

Belated Update

2008-01-03T10:50:00.000-08:00

Hi,
Greetings from the far side of the holidays. I got Aiobe's November report but never got around to making an entry about it. She's doing well. Everything looked good except for her licking and lack of calmness (no surprises on either of those). She's working on lots of commands now--Hold, Get, Tug/Drop, Push, Light, and Switch. There are a couple boxes checked whose meanings I don't know. What does "Interactive" mean? Does anybody know? There's also a box checked that says Other: step. It's in the same section as the boxes which say "Ambulatory" and "Wheelchair"--she's working on all her commands in both those positions.

In November Aiobe had a field trip to the hardware store. She's also been polishing her retrieving skills.

I'm looking forward to her next report, which should be coming very soon. I'll be sure to let you know what it says in a more timely fashion.

The trip to Santa Rosa feels like it happened a long time ago.

I hope everybody had a happy holiday season.
Best wishes for the new year!

Without...

2007-11-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

Life just isn't the same without Aiobe. Leif says it's a little upside down, and that it's difficult to fill the roles of two dogs all by himself. Still, he does his best. The word from Santa Rosa is that Aiobe is doing fine. In her first report she was anxious, but she's settling in now and working on new commands including one of Leif's favorites, "push."
We'll be looking forward to seeing what her report says next month.

Family Reunion

2007-09-12T09:49:00.000-07:00

CCI put on a wonderful turn-in and graduation ceremony August 25th. Aiobe reunited with her mother, Niobe, and sister Angelina after the ceremony. After enjoying her 'Frosty Paws' treat in the warm California sunshine, Aiobe posed with her mother and sister outside the auditorium. (That's Aiobe on the left)

Aiobe is turned in

2007-09-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

I took Aiobe to Santa Rosa for turn-in. The house feels empty without her. Now I'm going through the photos I took in California. Here's one to get started--Aiobe just before leaving for school. Doesn't she look ready?

We have a date...

2007-04-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

...And it's August 25th, 2007 in Santa Rosa. Aiobe and I received our letter a few weeks ago and promptly lost it. Does that mean I don't have to send her back? Hmm. I guess not. Aiobe's getting practice at a lot of things these days--walking beside a shopping cart is old hat, as is groaning in lectures, snoozing under desks, and accepting the fond attentions of the many admirers she meets whenever she goes out in public.

In addition to socializing Aiobe I've been working with my released dog, Leif, so that we can become a Delta Society pet partners team and do a program called 'Reading with Rover.' He misses all the outings he had as a CCI puppy and will really appreciate being able to get out more.

Argh!

2007-03-02T00:46:00.000-08:00

Almost every time I try to upload a photo I lose my connection to Blogger. Often when this happens I lose patience with technology and decide to forget about the post altogether rather than spend time recreating it, knowing that I'll most likely just lose the work all over again. The most frustrating thing about sinking time into cyberspace is that there's so often nothing to show for it...

Mind Reading

2007-03-02T00:42:00.000-08:00

If I could read Aiobe's mind I would have such an advantage... Here she is, about to do something.

Mischief

2007-02-12T15:52:00.000-08:00

Here's Aiobe contemplating trouble. A few minutes later she started a rapid dig to China in the rain-softened soil under our picnic table. Oops! This Sunday was a lovely day for a picnic and a walk. We saw many walkers, joggers, and dogs of all sorts enjoying the fine weather.

Favorite Things

2007-01-25T14:32:00.001-08:00

Aiobe is a real chewer--Nylabones don't last long in this house. The donut and ball are two of Leif's favorite toys. Aiobe's interest in them is due solely to his. When she's not chewing on them Aiobe likes to carry her bones around--especially if she's running. She also enjoys collecting her toys into a heap and laying down in the middle of them.

One year ago...

2007-01-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

...she looked like this?!?

Aiobe looks like an actual dog these days. For her birthday we went for a walk through the snowy park. A recent windstorm left large tree trunks toppled over the paths, and she took great pleasure in leaping over and crawling under them. If she wasn't busy being a CCI puppy, she'd be a natural for Agility.

Snow!

2006-12-06T10:29:00.000-08:00

We got snow! It's gone now, but while it lasted the dogs had a fine time.

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T22:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween! Leif and Aiobe spent a quiet evening at the house with me while I carved my pumpkin. They still like to share the dogbed, though it's getting more and more crowded in there.

Keeping Warm

2006-10-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

Here are Leif and Aiobe cuddling up to Sprint to keep him warm. I like to think that's what they're doing--of course they might just like his blankets. Sprint himself prefers cold, hard surfaces. He has to be coaxed to use any sort of bedding. Leif and Aiobe have no such reservations.

Dog days of summer

2006-09-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month Aiobe took advantage of a sunny day to walk in the Arboretum on the shores of Lake Washington. Other dogs were enjoying swimming in the water, but she was perfectly happy to walk along the edge. I've tried to entice her into the water on other occasions, but with little success. Her friend Leif loves the water; maybe she'll develop more of a taste for it as she gets older.

Finally, a new photo

2006-09-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

Considering how frequently they're curled up on top of each other, it's surprisingly difficult to photograph Leif and Aiobe together. I keep putting off updating the blog because I keep missing the shot.

New Bed

2006-07-27T01:52:00.000-07:00

Leif, the puppy I raised before Aiobe, came home a week ago today. When I knew he was coming back I went out and bought him a welcome home present--a new dogbed. Aiobe found it immediately. Leif prefers to sleep in the crate. The two of them get along great. They love to play together, and I frequently find them napping in a heap. Leif didn't seem a bit disturbed to come home and find a strange new puppy in his house.

Outings

2006-07-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of puppy raising is making people smile. I did errands today with Aiobe. In just a couple of hours we hit three grocery stores and Target. At every one people smiled as we got out of the car in the parking lot, as we wandered the aisles, and as we stood in line at the cash register. I'm not usually comfortable talking to people I don't know, but everything's different when there's a puppy involved. People are constantly asking about Aiobe, CCI and the puppy-raising program. The most frequent comment is "wow, she's so good--my lab could never be so calm." I tell them that I have an excellent trainer, and that we go to class every week. "Oh," said a man in the hardware store last week, "I guess that would make a difference." The other comment I hear constantly is "I really admire what you're doing. Keep up the great work." Meeting--even briefly--so many encouraging people is a great privilege for me as a puppy raiser. It reminds me how warm, friendly, and curious people can be when they're given a chance ... Tickler, Cobbler, Carson, Sprint, Zenda, Leif II, and Aiobe, thank you for being such good ambassadors, and for reaching out to and opening conversations with so many people.

63 days

2006-07-12T00:33:00.000-07:00

...That's how long it took Aiobe to eat forty pounds of kibble. Here she is outside the feed store where we bought a fresh bag.

Vacuumed

2006-06-30T00:39:00.000-07:00

Like every other puppy I've had, Aiobe thinks the vacuum cleaner is something she should keep under very close observation. Like several other dogs I've know, she actually enjoys being vacuumed herself. Maybe it feels like a massage. What sets this puppy apart is that she gets so relaxed when she's being vacuumed that she actually falls asleep. I'd have taken a picture of it, but I couldn't figure out how to juggle the camera, snoring dog, and vacuum cleaner all at the same time. You'll just have to use your imagination.

In the garden again

2006-06-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

Aiobe and I have been spending quite a bit of time in the garden. We both like being outside, and when the weather is fine it seems like a good idea to take advantage of it. A couple days ago I thought it would be fun to see what would happen if I put Aiobe in the big wheelbarrow. She was very good and even seemed to enjoy being rolled around the yard.

A new toy!

2006-06-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

Aiobe found a new toy today. She was very proud of herself when she brought it to me.

Aiobe and Sprint

2006-06-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

Aiobe would like to play with Sprint all day long. At 14 1/2 years old he prefers things quiet. I raised Sprint for Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. of San Rafael California, and he was a working dog for many years. I kept in touch during that time, and when he retired four years ago he came to live with me. Aiobe is the third CCI puppy he's helped raise.

Garden Dog

2006-05-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

Last weekend the forget-me-nots and dandelions were blooming together, and I thought I'd take some pictures of Aiobe in a sea of blue and yellow flowers. I did't get around to it until yesterday, and all the dandelions had gone to seed. Aiobe thoroughly enjoyed racing through and rolling in the tall grass, doing her part to spread dandelion seeds far and wide.

Today I dropped Aiobe off at another puppy raiser's house, where she'll be spending the next week learning about cats, horses, chickens, and small children while I'm out of town. I'm sure she'll have a great time, but I'll miss 'my' puppy.

How many kibble to the gallon?

2006-05-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

You've surely noticed the price of gas recently--at the station nearest my house it's above $3.20/gallon. Aiobe and I have been trying to figure out how to reduce our consumption...

Stalking the wild dinner dish

2006-04-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

Some dogs dream of chasing rabbits, but Aiobe's greatest thrill is hunting the dinner dish. It's a vigorous pursuit, and one at which she excels.

It's amazing how quickly a puppy grows. Aiobe's crate, so roomy a month ago, is a cramped den today. I have a bigger one ready, but for now she prefers her familiar quarters, however tight. She likes to sleep on her back, bent into a 'U' with her head twisted around by her rear. It doesn't look comfortable to me, but I'm not a puppy so what do I know? She also sleeps curled on her stomach, with her blanked bunched up under her chin like a pillow.

Of course Aiobe's size isn't the only thing that's changing. She's getting much more reliable with her commands, and her leash manners make her much more fun to walk than she was at first. And knock on wood for us--if we get through the rest of today, we'll have had a whole week free of accidents in the house. Aiobe will be four months old on Saturday.

Sleeping arrangements

2006-04-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

She snores. Aiobe is my third CCI puppy, and they have all snored. Do all CCI dogs snore? I always hope they'll grow out of this, but it hasn't happened yet.

At rest and play

2006-04-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

Aiobe has two settings; on and off. Right now she's resting after a vigorous afternoon romp. It's easier to photograph her at rest, but more representative to show her running. I don't remember my last puppies having quite so much energy. Sure, they liked to run and play, but not quite like this. Even though she's sleeping now--alternately snoring, twitching her feet, and woofing--she'll be up and ready for more as soon as I make a move.

Aiobe Comes Home

2006-03-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

Little Aiobe is settling in to her new home. She's a champion passenger, and rode happily in her puppy crate all the way from Santa Rosa, California to Washington State. What a trooper. For her great start in life I can thank Mo and Stephanie, breeder-caretakers for Aiobe's mother, NiobeII, as well as her foster puppyraiser, Cindy.

Here are a couple photos of Aiobe with her littermates half her lifetime ago, when she was just six weeks old. She's the blue-collar puppy. The father of this brood of pups is Hemet.

Aiobe and I are in CCI's northwest region. She's the third puppy I've raised for CCI with the Puget Sound Champions, where our contract trainer is the incomparable Terri Smith. We'll be attending our first class together this evening. Thanks to the work of Mo, Steph, and Cindy, we've got a head start--Aiobe already knows her name, sit, hurry, speak, here, kennel, off, and OK. My previous two puppies arrived at eight weeks old--a 13-week-old puppy with a start on her training and socialization is a real treat.

Of course, as you can see from the picture to the right, Aiobe is still a very little puppy who likes her nap-time as much as anything.

Who is Aiobe?

2006-03-10T19:17:00.000-08:00

Aiobe is a puppy I'm going to be raising for Canine Companions for Independence.
www.caninecompanions.org
I'll be picking her up March 24 and documenting her adventures as she grows up.