Day 8

Today was a very special day in team training.  This morning we had brunch with our puppy raisers.  These are the people that raise the puppies from 8 weeks until they are placed around 2 years of age.  The puppies enter advanced training around 14-18 months old and then just go home to their raisers on weekends and holidays - like puppy college.  The raisers finally must say goodbye when the puppy is placed with a client and enters team training.  Kindle has two raisers - the raisers that had her from 8 weeks moved to London last spring, so Martha and Jim Knox, sitters of Kindle, gladly took over.  So we are lucky, we have 2 raisers!  Today, we were able to meet Martha and Jim.  Kindle was super excited to see them!  We got a special photo album of Kindle when she was little and her blankie from Annabelle and Timo (Kindle's first home).  When we gave her the blue blankie when we got home, she was so happy to have it, she raced around the house with this huge blanket in her mouth.  It was adorable!  It is now a permanent part of her doggie bed (when she is not carrying it around).  She took it to Emma and showed her proudly!
After brunch, we went back to the training center and practiced cues for the access test.  We worked on recalls, "leave it" as we walked by a huge pile of treats on the floor, and having Kindle walk beside Emma's stroller with her leash on the floor.  Kindle was a little distracted when we first got back to train and the head trainer explained to us that it is a big deal when the puppies see their raisers again.  The rest of our training sessions will be in all public locations.  Today was the last day at the training center.
Hello 1st grade!  Well, tomorrow is the last day with Mrs. McCarthy!  I hope that you have been very well-behaved for her.  I am sure that you have!  One week from tomorrow, I will be back!  It will also be Halloween!  I can't wait to see you!  I miss you all soooo much!  Until then, Mrs. Fulginiti will take over.  School pictures have come in!  I can't wait to see how our class picture turned out.  I hope we were all smiling and nobody blinked!!  Have a good final day with Mrs. McCarthy, and check in tomorrow night for more adventures with Kindle!!! Love, Mrs. Wenger :)

This is how our morning started.  I would say they have started to adjust to sleeping together.

                             Kindle greeting Mr. and Mrs. Knox, her puppy raiser since spring.

Keith was practicing walking next to the stroller without her leash being held.  This will be on the public access test.

Today we turned in all of our tickets for prizes.  Kindle got lots of great toys and Emma got some fun things too!  They were both excited!!