Bonita
We planned on taking a half-year break after Kia went to college, but that break only lasted two months. Guide Dogs had a Parvo breakout on the breeding campus and A led to B led to C led to D led to Gwen and Anna raising a puppy earlier than planned.
Bonita went to college
- Created on Monday, 11 February 2013 04:08
- Last Updated on Monday, 11 February 2013 04:28
Bonita left us on the evening of Wednesday, February 6, 2013. That sounds like she died, but she didn't She left for college.
At the end of December/beginning of January, Leon and I were talking and we agreed that Bonita was ready for college. She seemed a bit bored with us and had learned just about everything I could teach her. So, I wasn't surprised when my Guide Dog leader called in early January and said they were getting ready to recall Bonita.
We got a date for Bonita to return, and we got a date for the new puppy to come. There was going to be about a week of overlap. Just a week.
A guide dog dinner without a guide dog
- Created on Tuesday, 24 July 2012 06:06
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 July 2012 06:06
I didn't want to go, but I did anyway, and I went to my first Guide Dog Puppy Raising Dinner tonight (held annually).
Bonita couldn't come. She went into season about two weeks ago, and she's still bleeding strong. Some of the puppies are year-old, uncut males. Boni has been sequestered for a while and she appears depressed and stir crazy. I wish she could have come. She would have loved it. At one point, at least a dozen of the older pups chased each other and played hard. The pups were clearly enjoying life and that big backyard.
Bonita has a slumber party
- Created on Friday, 15 June 2012 23:36
- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 04:54
Miss Bonita has been enjoying an extended slumber party with her friend Dora. Dora is also a Guide Dog Puppy in training. Dora's a bit older than Boni, and is likely to be recalled to college soon.
My Experience at the Blind Café
- Created on Tuesday, 08 May 2012 01:44
- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 04:57
Every so often an event called The Blind Café comes to town. My puppy club tries to send several pups to each event in Boulder for several reasons. The organizers of the event ask us to. The Blind Café donates some of the proceeds to our club, and it brings awareness to people. Guide Dogs do not spring forth fully formed and trained from Zeus’ head like Athena.
A successful outing with Bonita and the kids
- Created on Sunday, 11 March 2012 05:45
- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 04:53
I took Bonita and the kids to the Denver Museum of Science and Nature on Thursday. The last time we went, we took Kia and saw the animatronic dinosaurs. This time we saw live snakes and lizards.
Star Fest 2012: A Puppy's Perspective
- Created on Wednesday, 25 April 2012 21:51
- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 04:59
The humans took me to this thing they called Star Fest. I'm not exactly sure why they wanted to go, but I LOVED it. Star Fest was great. For one thing, I got TONS of treats. The humans said it was because there were so many distractions. I liked that I got to go with them everwhere for three whole days, and mom was always petting me and telling me I was a good girl. All the kids at the convention tried to pet me too, but as you all know, adults are the worst at copping feels. Luckily I'm a puppy and I like it when people cop feels.
Mommy also learned that I am brilliant about doing my business on leash on all surfaces on command.
Bonita is 4 months old
- Created on Thursday, 23 February 2012 21:10
- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 04:54
Beautiful Bonita (how's that for redundant?) has reached her four-month birthday anniversary.
My little princess is about thirty pounds now. According to the rule of thumb, she'll be about 60 pounds when she reaches her adult size. She looks like a miniature labrador, but at thirty pounds, she's hit medium size dog-ness.
We're still working on potty training
- Created on Friday, 27 January 2012 03:21
- Last Updated on Saturday, 28 January 2012 04:30
Bonita seems to be over her overly-cautious attitude when we first picked her up. She's played tug with a ferret, made a quick trip around the grocery store, spent three hours in human school (mostly in a kennel), went to the hand doctor with me, and attended two puppy school meetings.
Bonita - our new Guide Dog Puppy
- Created on Monday, 16 January 2012 04:40
- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 04:54
Kia is in "college" in Oregon learning to be a guide dog. At last report, she was in Phase 5, which means she can walk a sighted person, who's wearing a blindfold, around about ten blocks.