Raising Ruby

It's Official! Ruby Is A Service Dog

2011-12-19T07:41:00.004-07:00

One afternoon in July 2009, baby Ruby took a rare break from making mayhem and I watched her sleep. She wiggled her licorice jellybean nose at some terrific mischief in her puppy dream, and I had a thought.

I imagined that someday this three-month-old puppy—the one howling in her crate like a deranged chimp; conquering toys and toes with a mouthful of machetes; my little ringleader who disrupted all the other puppies in puppy class—someday maybe this tiny firecracker could really become a service dog.

And if that was fate's chosen path for Ruby, this puppy who burrowed deep in my heart, I wanted her future partner to have all of her. Every moment of her fantastic, challenging, hilarious, beautiful puppyhood. So I started writing, and we followed her path, and those hundreds of blog posts led to this one.

Our puppy has found her partner. Ruby is David's service dog.

It seems serendipitous that the news of her partnership should come at this time of year. Knowing that Ruby will live each moment beside the person she loves most in the whole world is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.

Congratulations, David! And thank you for allowing all of us to share in these photographs of you and your partner. You and Ruby are an awesome team.

Raising Ruby, my first service puppy, was a remarkable journey for me and I'm so grateful for all the friends, old and new, who traveled the path with us. Thank you for joining me in a thousand smiles, a few tears, and then a thousand more smiles.

Ruby In Partnership Training!

2011-12-05T10:13:00.003-07:00

With my heart so proud of a little yellow service puppy who grew into a beautiful service dog in training, I can now reveal the next chapter: Ruby has entered into partnership training!

Ruby has been matched with David, a 31-year-old amateur graphic designer and MMA enthusiast who has a spinal cord injury. David kindly offered to share the news of his partnership with Ruby to help continue Raising Ruby's mission of raising awareness for service dogs.

David also gave me permission to post this photo. I think they're going to make an awesome pair!

Over the next few weeks, David and Ruby will practice and receive instruction at home and in public. Partnership training is rigorous and there are no guarantees, but it's essential to completely prepare the team and make sure they are well suited for one another.

Many thanks to David for sharing this stage of Ruby's journey with all of us. David, we wish you and Ruby all the best in your training!

Raising Ruby in Mile High Dog Magazine

2011-10-24T12:58:00.001-06:00

The October/November 2011 issue of Mile High Dog is out and anyone who is interested in service and assistance dogs will really enjoy it. Mile High Dog is stocked in many locations around Denver, but if you need more info on where to find it, just visit the MHD site and drop them a line.

Cover dog, Caitee, is a first responder with a local Colorado police department and she's got a pretty important job. She provides emotional support to victims of violent crimes, including children who must testify in court. As the article explains, dogs like Caitee can work magic on the psyche of a physically or emotionally wounded person.

I'm proud to have contributed a piece on my service puppy raising experience for this issue. If you'd like to know more about Ruby and me, and get a feel for the incredible journey it is to raise a service puppy, just click on the cover image or this link to read our story: Raising Ruby in Mile High Dog.

Photo Pupdate: Designated Driver

2011-09-30T11:02:00.002-06:00

Still feels like summer here in Colorado! Sunny, 80s, a good time for another round of golf.

Roo's friend is pouting because Ruby got a few pars and won the match!

Sue also let me know that Ruby will be finishing up her training in another location. Paws crossed that Ruby will be placed soon, and many thanks to Sue for keeping us up-to-date with all the wonderful photos of Ruby's advanced training over the past year.

We'll Just Have A Salad, Thanks

2011-09-06T12:23:00.000-06:00

Here's Ruby and friends just saying "no" to some tempting hot dog tidbits. Service dogs in training learn not to pick up stray morsels of food, so excellent work, you guys! Although when it comes to hot dogs, maybe the Roo Crew is just as tired of BBQ after a long holiday weekend as the rest of us!

Young Stud Makes Move On Creaky Cougar

2011-09-02T09:00:00.000-06:00

Hey! Is my boyfriend, service puppy William, trying to sneak a kiss on a Kiva? Aww, Kiva's not really into the mushy stuff, but she couldn't resist your charms, little guy. You got her frolicking a bit and loosening up those old bones, and that does her (and her mom's) heart a lot of good.

Smilin' Pups

2011-08-29T09:35:00.001-06:00

Puppy kisses, congratulations to all, and our great appreciation to everyone who voted for Raising Ruby in the Petties Awards — we may not have fetched the title this year, but our readers and friends always make us feel like winners! I am so thankful for all of your support in spreading the word about service dogs and the independence they can help bring to people with disabilities.

I'm also very grateful for your many kind comments and emails on my previous post about Kiva. I love reading about your experiences and sharing tips and suggestions on how we can provide the fullest lives possible for our senior dogs. If you have a question, a solution, or just feel like chatting about the precious old dog who shares your life and heart, feel free to contact me anytime!

Enjoy each day!

Old Dog

2011-08-18T12:45:00.009-06:00

People frequently tell me there's no way they could ever raise a service puppy, because it would be too hard to give them up. Each person knows what they are able to bear, so I completely understand the sentiment behind that statement. Having raised both service and pet dogs, though, I find it much easier to lose a dog to life than the inevitable alternative.

Ruby is my sweetheart. But Kiva is my soulmate. We met Kiva when she was six weeks old, took her home at eight weeks, and then, since her sixth birthday, I've had a kind of odd relationship with her aging process. I think that no matter how much we celebrate with cake and presents, no one really enjoys watching those canine birthdays rack up, because we unfortunately get so few of them. But I've come to love each birthday as a celebration of what she's had rather than a worry about what she'd have left.

When Kiva got cancer at six years old, I never thought I'd see her reach seven or eight. She did. And then she hit nine. Nine is the number I always really hated thinking about in a dog; to me, it's the age that signifies the official beginning of what a friend calls, "the worry years." But she had survived cancer and hit nine and I felt jubilant.

Ten? I was triumphant. Eleven, ecstatic. Twelve was the birthday where I absolutely rejoiced. She had lived six years past her sixth year. I had been given the remarkable gift of a second lifetime with her.

Now that Kiva is thirteen years old, it's the extra cherry on top of the cherry on top. As she so patiently taught me (while I agonized over her cancer diagnosis and she exhiliratingly lived her life despite it): "Dude. Put down the tissue box and enjoy each day." And I really do. But there are some realities about my old—and I can't tell you how grateful I am to be able to use that word, that she made it to old!—dog that I've recently had to face. The most challenging is what her veterinarians believe is a degenerative spinal disorder. It's been gradual but steady and it's difficult to watch the back half of your dog in terminal disagreement with her front half.

She's still eager, curious, and playful, though. And hungry. For chicken and cheese and life. We've changed her activities to match her capabilities, but we've never altered the fun. Old dogs still love fun as much as pups do! So maybe it's two short walks a day rather than one longer one. No more strenuous mountain hikes, but lots of good, brisk swims. She still wants to play catch, but I put her in a "down" and toss her soft line drives now, keeping all those paws safely on the ground.

And we've kept our tradition of shaking off the summertime blues with a roll in the snow. Last July, we took Ruby and Kiva to St. Mary's Glacier here in Colorado. It was a bit of a walk up to the snowfield, but at that time, Kiva could handle it.

This year, we took a weekend road trip up to the Snowy Range in Wyoming instead. We enjoyed easy access to crystal lakes, cool green meadows bursting with wildflowers, and frosty snowfields. Wyoming is delicious this time of year!

And not just for senior dogs. Here's Kiva's over-the-hill mom...well, trying to make it over the hill. Yep, that's me wiping out and about to land smack on my butt as gracefully as possible.

A great time was had by all. As long as Kiva still wants to have fun, we'll find it for her. It's just become time to discover it in different places and ways.

I want to thank two wonderful people who are helping me navigate the challenges of Kiva's senior years. Their advice and friendship have been invaluable to me.

Jenny Kachnic is service pup William's mom. Besides sharing the joy of her service puppy with me, she cares for my Kiva with gentle massages and is very knowledgeable about the issues and challenges facing dogs (and their owners) during the senior years. Her upcoming book, Your Dog's Golden Years, will contain chapters from 18 canine professionals with information and options to help senior dogs live longer, happier lives.

Chandra Conway writes the blog, Daley's Dog Years, a great resource for advice on senior dog health, and information on the topic of canine degenerative spinal issues. I'm grateful to Chandra for her warm encouragement and for sharing the knowledge she gained during her search for treatment and therapies for her chocolate Lab, Daley.

For information on how to help improve the lives of homeless senior dogs, please visit The Grey Muzzle Organization.

Pupdate: On The Lift

2011-08-08T11:37:00.003-06:00

When Ruby was a pup, we worked with the funny sensation of motion. At three months old, she rode an elevator for the first time. I took her to a swaying dock and for rides on trains and buses. I also made sure she walked on all kinds of surfaces including metal grates. Early exposure like this helps in her later education, because as a service dog for a person with a mobility-related disability, Ruby needs to be completely comfortable accessing a train, bus, or van on a motorized lift.

I just received these photos and it looks like Ruby is doing really well with this exercise in advanced training. Here she is with her twin, Racine, as they experience the van lift...

then Roo waits patiently on the van as her trainer gets situated.

A few years ago, I was assisting an advanced trainer as she placed a service dog with a gentleman who had quadriplegia. He was a big fellow, strong and determined, very active in sports prior to his injury. After our training session, he and I waited together for the bus to take him home. He told me how he was looking so forward to having a service dog by his side as he took public transportation, because it was one of the hardest things he had to do as a person living with a disability.

It wasn't the physical aspect of boarding the bus that was so difficult, he explained. It was because of the many stares and glares he would get as the other passengers had to wait for the ramp to lower and rise. He told me that people would also make rude comments about him, loudly, as if he couldn't hear them. Or maybe, he said, they knew he could hear them. He described his mortification—he didn't want to inconvenience people or make them wait—and told me very honestly that it often made him cry. He was devastated, daily, by the little cruelties he experienced simply from having to go through his day a little differently than most people.

Sometimes it does take a few extra seconds to wait. But in those few seconds, it's so easy to be kind.

Thank you to Sue and to Ruby's advanced trainer for the wonderful photos.

Just A Question...

2011-08-01T10:34:00.004-06:00

Anyone else's dog like to put their paws up on the ottoman while they watch TV?

Mine does.

We all love our cozy creature comforts...especially old gals like Kiva 'n me. Sometimes you just want to kick back and relax – even on a road trip – and this week, cool new travel blog Fathom chills out with us! Take a look: Dog Digs the Spa

True Blue Roo

2011-07-28T10:32:00.005-06:00

Just a couple of days left to vote for Raising Ruby in the Petties Awards! Regardless of who takes the prize, Ruby will always be a winner! She is a gold medal girl, raising awareness and touching lives.

A big smile for Sue who surprised me with the adorable shot of our blue ribbon Roo. Here are a few recent pix of Ruby demonstrating service dog skills for the public and working with her awesome advanced trainer.

Petties Update: The polls are now closed, thank you all for voting! Winners will be announced August 26th.

Friends

2011-07-20T10:03:00.009-06:00

Ahh, spending the dog days of summer with good friends. Can you guess who's Roo?

Hmm. Here's a little hint:

Ruby's friends are awesome, both canine and human. A big thanks to all our friends, old and new, who are helping us raise awareness for service dogs by posting about Raising Ruby. Through the Petties Awards, our account of Ruby's training is able to reach new readers...and hopefully lots of potential new volunteers for animal-related organizations including shelter/rescue!

Many thanks to these fantastic blogs:

Farley's World
The Serendipity Factory
Mogley, A Dog's Life
Khyra's Khorner
Stella's World
Brown Dog CBR

Our gratitude to Amanda at the wonderful Kind Over Matter for naming Raising Ruby one of her Friday's Lovelies!

Hey, have you read the Raising Ruby interview at Inspiration to Grow On? A big thanks to Darlene for her kindness and the opportunity to share Ruby's story.

A special thank you to our good friend Tamara at @AAHAHelpingPets for her unwavering support of service dogs, and of all animals.

As always, many thanks to sweet Sue for her phenomenal photos of Ruby in advanced training!

And to all those friends I've not met, but who have lent their support, I'm so grateful for all of your tweets, Facebook posts, emails and votes. Raising Ruby is just a small voice out here, but your support is helping our message grow — like Roo herself — by leaps and bounds!

Hugs,
Christine

P.S. Raising Ruby is now on Google+!
P.P.S. Have I missed your post? Please let me know!

Voting continues through July 29th in the 2011 Petties Awards, where Raising Ruby is proud to be nominated in two categories: Best Blog Post and Best Cause Related Blog. You can vote twice daily, in both categories, by clicking here: Petties Award Ballot. The prize in each category is a $1000 donation to the shelter/rescue of the winner's choice — that's a potential $2000 donation we could make! Ruby's a lucky dog, but some of her kin are not so fortunate. In honor of Ruby's retriever heritage, I've chosen Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies as the recipient.

A Little Time, A Great Gift

2011-07-14T22:47:00.002-06:00

~Today's post is written as part of Blog the Change for Animals~

My dog, Kiva, holds a very important distinction: she's the best dog in the world. And she's in very good company, because there are a lot of best dogs in the world — at least one in every household where a dog is loved. Every dog...and cat, bird, reptile, fish, small mammal, insect, crustacean, amphibian who is loved by a human, is someone's best pet in the world.

There are millions more best pets in the world, too. But you wouldn't know them, because no one's ever given them the title.

I've been volunteering for service dog organizations for a long time. I've worked with puppies bred specifically for the purpose as well as shelter dogs who enter service dog training because they've shown an aptitude and personality that fits with service. Some of the dogs make it through the full program and some don't, but every organization I've volunteered with places all their dogs (graduates, change of career, and pets) into carefully screened homes with people who pledge to love and care for them.

I've also worked as a part-time photographer and copywriter for an animal shelter. Depending on the season, a dedicated group of volunteers and I might photograph and write bios for hundreds of animals every week. Hundreds. Every week.

For the dogs, I'd advise my volunteer staff to try to photograph them outside in the sunshine whenever possible. Help potential adopters imagine what the dog might look like on a walk in the park or in their own backyard. Photograph the cats on a colorful blanket or in a cozy corner. We'd make sure the bunnies, mice, and guinea pigs always had clean bedding and wiggly noses for the camera.

Sometimes, though — too often — their bodies spilled the secrets of a tragic past. So...we'd capture their spirit. Thousands of animals looked into my lens, and no matter how thin they were, or lonely, or confused, depressed, aged, patchy, damaged, or disfigured they may have been, each one genuinely had a sparkle. With some it was a roman candle, others just a tiny glimmer. But each one knew they were the best pet in the world. They just needed someone to give them the title.

Working with service dog organizations and animal shelters has shown me the extremes of human and animal tragedy and triumph. It's challenging and inspiring and, yes, often difficult. As a service puppy raiser, the question I'm asked most frequently is "How can you give them up?" As a shelter worker, it was, "How can you not adopt them all?" The answer to both questions is strangely the same. I can do my part to help the person who truly needs a service dog, just as I can do my part to help the millions of shelter animals who truly need their person. With both questions, the really important thing is simply the first word: "How?"

Volunteer. Just do what you can, when you can. There's no commitment too small. All the little efforts by every volunteer, every day, add up to one great BIG! You can volunteer with a service dog organization to help a person with a disability find greater independence. Or volunteer with a local shelter or rescue in any number of capacities. Either way, you'll be giving an animal the gift of being called the best in the world.

I Want to Volunteer with a Service Dog Organization

I Want to Volunteer with an Animal Shelter/Rescue

Go ahead. Click one of the links above to start your search. You'll be really glad you did.

My blog, Raising Ruby, is the chronicle of a little yellow service puppy as she journeys toward becoming a service dog for a person with a disability. Raising Ruby and BTC4A are both nominated for Best Cause Related Blog in the 2011 Petties Awards (Raising Ruby is also honored to be nominated for Best Blog Post). Whichever one of us you choose, please make sure to vote, because everyone involved in this competition is a winner! The Petties offers a $1000 donation in each category to the shelter/rescue of the winner's choice (I've chosen Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies), so vote today to show your support for these generous donations.

Vote twice daily: 2011 Petties Award Ballot

My deep respect and gratitude to all the shelter animals in this post who kindly and willingly let me take their photos.

Photo Pupdate: At The Wheel

2011-07-13T06:15:00.000-06:00

Part of Ruby's education includes getting comfortable as she keeps pace next to a wheelchair. I imagine for a service dog in training, it's kind of like learning how to drive.

She needs to be close to the wheel...but not too close. With the patience and experience of her advanced trainer, Ruby looks like she's nailing it. I'm sure she can parallel park much better than I can, too!

P.S. Don't forget to vote for Raising Ruby, Best Cause Related Blog and Best Blog Post. Help us raise awareness for service dogs along with the awesome chance to donate $2000 to golden retriever rescue. Just click here (you can submit a ballot twice daily): 2011 Petties Awards

As always, thanks to sweet Sue and Ruby's terrific advanced trainer for the photo.

Many Thanks To All, From Ruby's Raiser

2011-07-11T11:00:00.000-06:00

Last week, I was notified that Raising Ruby has been nominated for not one, but TWO categories in DogTime Media's 2011 Petties Awards. The saying, "It's an honor to be nominated," has never rung more true.

As Ruby's raiser, I'm just a small voice out here in the blogosphere among the pros and heavy hitters, but the voice of Ruby's readership is compelling and means more to me than I can express. The strength and kindness of your words in the entry process have brought Raising Ruby these two nominations, for which I am boundlessly grateful. Your support in this contest has helped me to introduce Ruby's story to an audience I would not otherwise have reached. For this, and for so many other kindnesses, I thank you.

Thank you for your tremendous loyalty over the past two years. Thank you for your awesome support. Thank you for helping me in my mission to raise awareness.

I write this blog in the hope that a friendly little yellow service puppy can help change society's perception of disability. Through my account of Ruby's journey and training, I've hoped to demystify some of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. With education we gain insight, and ultimately the issue of acceptance will cease to be an issue at all.

Raising Ruby
2011 Petties Award Nominee "Best Blog Post" and "Best Cause Related Blog"
Click here and vote twice daily until July 29: Enter the Petties

Winners of each category are honored with a $1,000 donation to the shelter/rescue of their choice. Our chosen organization is Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies. Many thanks to DogTime Media for this opportunity and their generosity.

Photo Pupdate: Flip Of The Switch

2011-07-06T08:48:00.001-06:00

Here's Ruby with her advanced trainer, working on the cue for "Light." Look at that concentration—beautiful, isn't it? Even in the earliest days, when she was a bouncy puppy, she was always gentle and deliberate while she was training.

Each day, each photo, brings great joy and admiration at the remarkable dog Ruby has become. I feel so lucky to be sharing this journey with her...and with all of you.

As always, many thanks to Sue for the photo and to Ruby's advanced trainer for the wonderful work she is doing with Roo.

Happy Weekend, Happy Birthday

2011-07-05T12:57:00.000-06:00

Hope everyone had a great holiday! A special someone had a birthday this weekend and wanted to celebrate with a stick and a swim. Senior ladies of a certain age aren't always up for the rocky streams of youth, though. The spirit may be racing towards the whitewater, but the body just wants to plop on a tube in a lazy river.

So, we needed a soft, sandy beach. In Colorado. With calm water. That was also dog-friendly.

Done!

Kiva turned 13 years old on July 3rd, and her daddy found a great sandy dog beach that was easy on her old bones. The minute her paws hit the sand, she remembered "the beach" from her east coast dog days, and gleefully swam out for the stick over and over. It was the best birthday present for all of us.

The old girl's still got it going on at 13—all the young boy dogs wanted to play with her. And she must have really been feeling her oats, because she tried to chase them all back! Good girl, such a flirt.

The icing on the day was an email letting me know that Kiva's mother, Zoe, was happily celebrating her own 15th year with a steak and homemade carrot cake cupcakes! The cherry on top was just being able to spend a beautiful day with my Kiva; diagnosed with cancer when she was 6 years old, each day since has been a precious gift.

Sweet William

2011-07-01T09:50:00.005-06:00

Well, there goes my heart again! Swiped by another little yellow service pup!

This gorgeous little boy isn't mine, though. William is a Canine Companions for Independence dog being raised by my friend, Jenny. He's the sixth service puppy Jenny has raised for CCI, and he's just about the sweetest, most affectionate, and lovable pup I've ever met. What a personality!

William is 6 months old and Jenny wanted him to gain a little experience being handled by someone other than herself. So the three of us met at the Denver Botanical Gardens (scene of previous awesome outing with my Roo), and Jenny handed me the leash. Wow, I can't tell you how great it felt to have another service pup by my side.

He's just a baby, but a dream to handle. He had a good heel, mostly hanging back in step with me and not much pulling. He's already getting the hang of automatically stopping when his trainer stops walking and he's very good about sitting while being introduced to other people. He's just a great dog. And he has the most fantastic mom.

Jenny Kachnic is the owner of Canine Wellness in Denver, CO. She specializes in canine rehabilitation, natural wellness, behavior training, and end of life decision making. She has a special interest in the health and wellness of senior dogs and is the editor and writer of an upcoming book, Your Dog's Golden Years—Manual for Senior Dog Care.

Jenny and I met through The Grey Muzzle Organization , whose mission is to improve the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries, and other nonprofit groups nationwide.

Many thanks to Jenny for sharing sweet William with me!

Photo Pupdate: Opening Doors

2011-06-20T10:52:00.000-06:00

Opening doors of various weight and tension is a valuable skill for service dogs paired with individuals with mobility-related disabilities. Where round doorknobs can present a problem because of turning, modified lever-type doorknobs may be installed so the dog's tugging-down pull motion opens the latch.

Ruby's skills will include closing the doors, too. Good job, Roo!

As always, big thanks to Sue for the photos.

Pupdate: Raven Is Placed!

2011-06-13T10:41:00.004-06:00

Remember Raven?

He's Ruby's devastatingly handsome brother and star of adventures such as "Devouring The Halloween Pumpkin," "Illegal Shopping Cart Activity," and "Dinosaur Bones Are Not A Snack," which is always good advice.

Ah, service puppies. Incorrigible! Until, of course, they become very, very, super-inspiringly corrigble.

Raven's puppy raiser, Barb, sent me some great news last week:

"Just wanted to let you know that Raven was partnered a few months ago with an Animal Assistance Therapist. He is going to school and helping kids with autism and Down syndrome learn about communication, personal space, and unconditional love. Because we all know Raven is all about the love."

Way to go Raven! A fantastic partnership for a love muffin of a dog who is going to touch the lives of kids with special needs in some extraordinary ways. Many congrats to raisers Barb and Tom.

***************************************

It's here, friends—the 2011 DogTime Pet Blog Awards contest is now taking nominations! I'd be honored if you'd nominate Raising Ruby for any category you wish, but especially for "Best Blog Post." Last October, I was nearing the final days of raising Roo and I shared these thoughts:

"What She Brings"

Service dogs truly touch all of our lives, and service puppy Ruby taught me as many lessons as she learned herself. I came to know the ever-present smiles of strangers; kindness makes a world of difference for all of us, and particularly for those with disabilities. I'd be very grateful for your help in spreading this message.

Nominee Information
Category: Best Blog Post (and you can nominate for more than one category)
Name: Raising Ruby
Nominee URL: http://servicepuppyruby.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-she-brings.html
Nominee Email: servicepuppyruby@gmail.com
...and just a line or two about why you think we should win.

Just click here to enter: 2011 Petties Awards

Winners in each category are honored with a $500 donation to the shelter/rescue of their choice. It's a great contest with generous contributions, so feel free to spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, email, etc. Thanks so much for your support!

UPDATE: Raising Ruby has been nominated for two categories in the 2011 Petties! Please vote and help us raise awareness and spread smiles!

Photo Pupdate: Laundroo

2011-06-10T08:10:00.001-06:00

You can imagine how excited I was to see this downy snoot in my inbox!

Hi, baby! What a good girl. The dryer opening is low and can be challenging to reach, so as a service dog in training to assist a person with a mobility-related disability, Ruby is learning to make tasks like laundry a little bit easier.

I adore this photo because Roo was always a big help with the laundry when she lived with me. Of course, her idea of help was mostly to poke around the hamper for a good, chewy sock.

But one time, well, make of this what you will. I was upstairs in the bedroom getting dressed for an evening out. Roo disappears, then comes prancing back in with a present: an undergarment of mine that she had snoodled out of a folded basket of clothes in the downstairs laundry room. She waited for me to take it from her, and I laughed and thanked her. Then she leaves again and a minute later I look down and there she is, wagging her tail, with a pair of pantyhose dangling from her muzzle.

I know. All just a complete coincidence...right?

Many thanks to the ever-thoughtful Sue for keeping us pupdated with photos and to Ruby's advanced trainer for the wonderful work she is doing with Ruby.

Pupdate: Congrats to Ruby's Sis, Rowena

2011-06-07T11:06:00.019-06:00

Just got a tweet from puppy raiser @KatieEGriffin letting me know that Ruby's sister, Rowena, finished advanced training and has been paired up with a partner! Congratulations to Rowena, her new partner, and Rowena's puppy raisers and trainers.

Rowena's the little yellow triplet on the right.

Thanks for the pupdate, Katie! You and your family raised an awesome dog!

6/16 - Very Special Pupdate! Rowena's new partner, Shannon, left some very kind words in the comments that truly touched my heart. Be sure to visit Shannon's blog, Living with a Service Dog, where she'll share stories of her and her family's life with service dog Rowena.

Letting Her Lead

2011-04-21T11:15:00.007-06:00

The other day, my friend Tamara tweeted a touching little story that I was lucky enough to catch:

"Saw something special on my way to work this am...an elderly golden retriever walking with her mom. Mom was very patient with her slow walk. I thought now that is a lovely relationship. :o)"

The vignette made me smile and stayed with me. My friend's words inspired me to share a very important part of this journey I'd always meant to write about.

Two peas, a long time ago when we were both pups.

Kiva was 11 years old when I made the decision to raise a service puppy. I had debated for months about bringing a new dog into my one-senior-dog household. Kiva is tolerant, very well socialized, and she's met hundreds of other dogs in her lifetime without issue, but she had never shared her home with anyone. I wanted very much to be a service puppy raiser, but I worried if my gentle oldster could accept a toddler superball bouncing all over her space. If they did bond, would Kiva have trouble with the loss when it was time for the puppy to move on? Would she feel threatened or jealous of all the attention I'd need to devote to training a service puppy? Was I asking too much of my precious girl?

I worried constantly in the weeks leading up to the puppy’s arrival. I should have known that I didn’t have to. As soon as our service puppy, Ruby, arrived, Kiva accepted the puppy without reservation, scattering my shadowy doubts to the breeze like dandelions. She always turns my worries into wishes and makes them all come true.

Kiva nurtured Ruby, guiding with her gentle nature and the experience of age. She imparted a calmness into the puppy that only a dog can convey to another. Kiva’s invaluable lessons will serve Ruby well as she becomes a service dog whose actions are careful and deliberate. And, throughout that year and a half, Kiva gave me as many gifts as she gave Ruby. She accepted Ruby with a level of patience I can only ever try to live up to. She let me delight in the whole experience, enjoying it with me. And the morning after Ruby left us to move on to advanced training, Kiva glanced around the bedroom for a moment or two...then flipped a toy in the air and never questioned me.

These days, at nearly 13 years old, Kiva needs me to walk a little more slowly with her, too. But no matter how long it takes her to get me there, she still always leads me where I need to go.

Pupdate: That's My Girl

2011-04-12T14:22:00.007-06:00

If there's one talent Ruby's cultivated from day one, it would be her excellent behavior while shopping. The raiser who was at the other end of her leash loves to shop, so Roo did get a lot of practice in those days...

...and for us, it was always equal-opportunity shopping!

Where she really shined, though, was the supermarket. Aside from a very early puppy fascination with licking the wheels of the cart as they spun – which was REVOLTING and I put a stop to IMMEDIATELY – she was fantastic.

I wrote a post back in August 2009 about one of baby Roo's adventures in food shopping. She was fearful of big boxes, but we worked through it that day and never had a problem again.

Now that Ruby's moved on to advanced training, I'm lucky to have been receiving photos from Sue, a very thoughtful person whom I have never actually met. She has photographed some of Ruby's advanced sessions and outings, and I am grateful to Ruby's advanced trainer and to Sue for giving me this window into Roo's education.

The photos are always a surprise. I never know what Sue's going to send me and I've never requested a specific shot...except one. I asked Sue if there was ever the possibility to snap Ruby training in the market, it would mean the world to me.

It's funny. I took thousands of photos during the time I spent with Ruby, but grocery shopping was such a part of an ordinary day, I never even thought to shoot one of the hundreds of trips we made to the store as she grew older. Walking the aisles with Roo beside my cart plays like a movie in my memory, though, and there was something about the familiarity of our routine that made our market trips so special.

That's why I was thrilled to receive this photo:

I get choked up each time I look at it; the gentle beauty of her training and how far she's come.

I don't yet know if Ruby will go on to graduate and assist someone with everyday tasks such as shopping at the market. But if she does, I can only imagine the love and partnership the two will share, how comforting their routines together will be.

Photo Pupdate: A Skill She Was Born To Learn

2011-04-04T09:11:00.001-06:00

Service dogs in training learn to pick up their bowls to make the feeding routine easier for their partners with mobility issues. If I know my ravenous chowhound puppy, I'll bet she got the hang of this skill in about three seconds!

Adorable photo courtesy S.

Pupdate: Report From Advanced Training

2011-03-28T11:32:00.002-06:00

The other night, I had a dream about Ruby. She stood on a dock over a brilliant lake, eager for the water but timid to dive in. I encouraged her and she jumped, but then disappeared below the surface.

In the next image, I was watching her as if I were underwater too, but she couldn't see me. Her paws were still and she drifted straight down, her yellow coat fading against the darkening grey as she sunk. But she was more stunned than afraid, I thought. I wasn't able to call to her, yet I wasn't worried. I waited, then suddenly she found herself and paddled with all her little might, straight to the surface. Once she got there, she just kept on swimming.

The thin symbolism of the dream was no mystery, of course. But the timing of my subconscious was ironic – I received the first "official" email about Ruby from her organization, Canine Partners of the Rockies, the very next day.

So...how are you doing, little bathing beauty?

Making good progress! The notes said that Ruby loves to learn and she picks up new cues quickly. Her eye contact is great, she's very comfortable in public, always checks in with her handler, and her training on city buses went very well.

Our plucky Roo is holding longer down stays in meetings, great news! But she does need a little work on improving her chill skills.

She still has some issues with dog distraction (no surprise there); only time and maturity will tell. She also shares a litter trait with her crew – they all have some alarm/alert barking issues. I can't say that she was much of a barker when she was with us; she usually deferred to her big sister, Kiva, who always makes sure to have the first and last woof on strangers and bunnies.

What else... Oh, Ruby likes to get her toes done. Such a girl.

Most importantly, Ruby is ready to begin working on all cues while her trainer is using a wheelchair. Thanks to thoughtful Sue who often sends me Roo photos, I was able to get a glimpse of this training.

Whether Ruby ultimately becomes a service dog or she takes another path, this beautiful shot of her learning makes me so happy and proud of her. Will share more as I hear it!

Guest Post...From Roo (and Sue)!

2011-03-13T11:11:00.005-06:00

Hi Mom,
Happy Belated Birthday! I had an extra treat to celebrate your special day. I know you're not "over the hill" but that's the only birthday hat I could find. :)

I'm learning lots at Fido Beta Kappa college. You will be so proud of me! Sending oodles and oodles of doggie kisses.

Love you...Woof,
Roo

As you can imagine, finding this in my inbox was the best birthday present ever. Many thanks to wonderful Sue. And the hat speaks the truth – I had to put on my brand new reading glasses to read Roo's letter! —Christine

P.S. On the last post, Miss Roo is on the right.

Birthday Quiz: Who's Roo?

2011-03-07T14:33:00.003-07:00

Today is my birthday and I've been celebrating all week long with a bunch of wonderful Roo photos arriving from the lovely and talented S. This happy shot of Roo and her sister Racine fooled yours truly -- I guessed Roo as Race and Race as Roo! But Mr. Raiser got it right, of course! Can you?

Photo Pupdate: The Roo-kettes Take The Stage

2011-03-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of the wonderful S!

Pupdate: We Want To Pump...Roo Up!

2011-02-23T12:10:00.004-07:00

My, Ruby is looking pretty buff, dontcha think? Actually, the "weight" she's holding is really just a light plastic tool used to train her to hold things in her mouth and carry them around.

It's important for a service dog to be accustomed to the mouthfeel of different objects and materials. I'd introduced this concept to Roo as a puppy by letting her experience the sensation of things like keys, remote controls, utensils, a plastic cup, phones, etc. Now in advanced training, she's learning to take lots of items and hold on to them. It's a valuable skill many service dogs need when partnered with individuals with mobility-related disabilities.

And you never know what they might need to retrieve! I remember one night while Roo was living with us, I accidentally dropped half a lemon in the kitchen. Both dogs responded to "Leave It," but they were intrigued, so the whole thing turned into a practice session. First, I let Kiva pick it up. She spit it right out, then picked it up again very gingerly with just the tippy tips of her teeth, then spit it out again and made a PTOOEY! face. (Yep, dogs can, and it is hilarious!) Then I let Roo have the lemon, and she just held it like a ball — no problem with the taste — in fact, she seemed to like it!

As always, so many thanks to S for the photos.

Traveling With Your Pets

2011-02-17T09:12:00.006-07:00

I'm so glad to have been able to contribute a guest post to one of my favorite sites, GoPetFriendly.com. If you travel with your pets (or plan to) you won't want to miss this article, "Pet-Friendly Should Always Be Human-Friendly, Too!"

Having your dogs with you on vacation is awesome, and when it comes to accommodations, pet-friendly rooms should always be extremely clean and up to the standard of non-pet rooms. Even with many years of experience traveling with the canines, you still never know what you might encounter. So check out my tips to ensure your hotel stay is as much fun for the humans as it is for your pets!

A great pet-friendly hotel makes everyone feel welcome!

Photo Pupdate: Courtside

2011-02-07T15:16:00.001-07:00

I never did get the chance to take Ruby to an indoor sporting event. She behaved really well when I had her on the sidelines of outdoor sports like soccer, but the sights, sounds, echoes, and noise indoors can be a whole different ballgame for a service puppy in training.

Happily, I've heard that Roo attended her first indoor basketball game and behaved like a champ. Check out this concentration!

I understand that she loved all the action, and the hoopla (ha!) didn't faze her a bit. Attagirl Roo!

Thanks to S for this keen photo of our little yellow fangirl.

Pupdate! And A Small Rooquest

2011-01-16T21:26:00.004-07:00

Had a sweet little virtual snoot nudge (eSnudge? Cybersnoodge?) in my inbox this weekend. As Ruby works on her retrieve, she is also learning to "Hold." She seems to be excelling with all of her subjects, including Squirrel 101,

and Advanced Bowl.

The retrieve is fun for our dogs (and useful for us) at any time; I taught Kiva a formal retrieve when she was 11 years old. For service dogs, a key part of the retrieve is to securely, but gently, "hold" the retrieved item for an indefinite period. The service dog will pick up a dropped item and return the item quickly to her partner, but a person with a disability may need some extra time before he is able to take the item from his dog.

Lifting her bowl from the floor and bringing it to an accessible level is a valuable skill for Ruby, helping to facilitate her feeding routine with her future partner.

**************************************

Thank you all so much for helping us gain two nominations in this year's Petties Awards. Please vote often!

Raising Ruby
2011 Petties Award Nominee "Best Blog Post" and "Best Cause Related Blog"
Click here and vote twice daily until July 29: Enter the Petties

Winners of each category are honored with a $1,000 donation to the shelter/rescue of their choice. Our chosen organization is Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies. Many thanks to DogTime Media for this opportunity and their generosity.

Many thanks to S for capturing these wonderful photos and to Ruby's Advanced Trainer for her gentle and expert training.

Photo Pupdate: Two Roos!

2011-01-14T07:07:00.008-07:00

Guess who's joined Ruby in Advanced Training? Her sister Racine! Can you tell which is which?

I smiled twice as wide when I opened my email and saw this pic! Thank you, S!

Don't forget, ballots for the Eleventh Annual Weblog Awards (2011 Bloggies) are being accepted through Sunday 1/16. Please nominate Raising Ruby for "Best-Kept Secret Weblog" to help us in our mission to raise awareness. Many service dog organizations rely on the assistance of volunteers to keep their programs going, so let's make sure that's not a secret!

Looking to volunteer with an organization in your area? For a list of accredited members of Assistance Dogs International, please click here.

Welcome!

2011-01-06T18:46:00.022-07:00

Each day brings new friends who visit Raising Ruby for the first time; I'm glad you're here to share in the story of our journey. Ruby came to us at 10 weeks old when her tiny cape was barely the size of my hand...although the strap struggled to fit her big puppy belly!

As a service puppy in training, she has full public access and she definitely gets around – from the fitting room, to the firehouse, the car wash, and even the Kong factory!

So check out the sidebar, get to know baby Roo during those first few weeks, and have fun clicking around our blog. You'll find lots of puppy smiles as Ruby makes her way toward becoming a service dog for a person with a disability.

As I receive word on Ruby's progress in Advanced Training, I'll post updates, then archive them monthly in the "Pupdates!" area of the sidebar. If I'm also lucky enough to see photos of her peeking from my inbox, you'll find them here and on Twitter.

Many thanks to all of our friends, old and new. Enjoy your visit and be sure to add us to your blog readers – when I hear from news from Roo, you will too!

A Very Good Girl

2010-12-25T08:15:00.006-07:00

"Hi Santa! Oh, just a couple things this year...maybe a new bowl...and a bone...

...and a few bully sticks...and a squeaky ball...and a new blue octopus...and two wubbas...
a wiggly snake...some elk jerky...and a roast beef!"

Merry Christmas To All!

Thank you to our wonderful field photographer, S, for the merry shots!

Holiday Pupdate

2010-12-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

Why, look who's pranced in for a pupdate!

It's Roo-dolph!

A character, as always. Each time a Roo pic pops up in my email, it totally makes my day!

Here's our little college co-ed, training with her big bro and sorority sistas.

Is it possible? Have those ears gotten even bigger? She must be listening very closely to her Advanced Trainer!

She's adapted to her new surroundings beautifully and things are going well. Her trainer let me know that Ruby has a nice formal retrieve developing and they've started working on some of the specialized tasks she'll need to perform as a service dog for a person with a mobility-related disability. They're also working on holding a long down/stay in restaurants and meetings. Lots of practice this holiday season with calmly greeting strangers at the door. And she's made great progress with her outdoor loose leash walking, while still having tons of fun in the snow!

Best of all, her trainer said that Ruby's a joy to work with. And we all know something about that, don't we! From the time Roo was a tiny pup, she's been a sunny, curious and enthusiastic girl. Coupled with her sharp focus, she's got a beautiful future ahead, whatever that future brings!

Happiest of holidays from the whole Roo Crew and our best wishes for a very joyful New Year!

Thank you, S, for the awesome pix and many thanks to Ruby's Advanced Trainer for the wonderful work she is doing and for sharing Ruby's progress with me.

The End Of The Beginning

2010-11-11T07:29:00.004-07:00

The bond between a service puppy and her raiser lasts a lifetime, but there is also a very clear beginning and end to their relationship. Ruby will always be a part of my heart, but my role in her life has now passed. During the sixteen months that she lived in our home, she was truly our girl; we loved her immeasurably and did our best to provide her with the most solid foundation possible. We were an essential stop on her journey, but her destination is ahead.

The week leading up to our last day together was emotional, but I knew she was ready and I was ready, too. I ached when the time came to pass the leash. Handing her over was painful, yet it was heartening; it was a tough and proud moment, powerful but very quiet.

Then it was done and and Ruby was off. And you know something? Letting her go felt very, very right.

I want to thank everyone, our friends, family, and so many who've reached across the miles and through the screen for your overwhelming support over these past few days. Your phone calls, hugs, texts, cards, comments, blogs, tweets, and emails flew straight to the place in my heart that needed filling and I am so very grateful. You made a difficult week so much easier.

Ruby's journey will remain online and even though it may be awhile, if I receive updates about her, you will too! So, be sure to keep us in your blog readers and check in with us on Twitter.

As my responsibility for raising Ruby ends, my commitment to raising awareness for service dogs grows stronger. Through the many years that I've been involved with service dog organizations, I've met hundreds of people who have asked about the lives of service puppies before they move on to partnership. If you've just found this blog and are curious about service puppies, think you might be interested in raising a service puppy in training, or have any questions about our experience, please feel free to send me an email.

It's been a few days now since turn-in, and everything is falling into place. Even though I miss her, I'm feeling very positive and I've had a kind note from her Advanced Trainer letting me know that Ruby is adjusting well. She's going to thrive in her new environment and I have confidence that her organization will ensure that wherever fate brings Roo, she'll be well cared for and loved.

So, let's tack some happy pix up here to finish this post!

To celebrate our final weekend with Ruby, Mr. Raiser and I took the dogs on a road trip to Aspen, CO. Aspen is very pet-friendly, and at this off-season time of year, very price-friendly, too. The weather was glorious, Kiva and Ruby were in rare form, and we have memories to last a lifetime.

I could watch this nature channel all day.

Clearly, I am but a Pez dispenser.

Just like last year, Roo snoopervises the Christmas Tree decorations.

Shaun's right. Dogs can look up.

One last giant thank you, to my husband, Jeff. Mr. Raiser, you are the most calm, cool, composed, imperturbably patient person who ever held dog or camera. Or both. Often at the same time. You took a zillion great photos and they rock and so do you.

Turn-In Day

2010-11-08T09:35:00.002-07:00

This afternoon, we'll load up the car with a precious passenger, drive for awhile, make our stop, then say goodbye to our girl. I'll pass the leash, and a new journey will begin for all of us.

She'll have a goodie bag of snacks-to-go and plenty of her usual food to help ease the transition. Her favorite toys are all packed and ready...it's their big adventure, too! The screechy monkey toy seems to be hiding (and I was kinda hoping he'd want to make the trip), but I think he's just being loyal to his Kiva. I'm sure I'll find him later tonight nestled in the toy basket with the rest of the home team.

I've just got to hunt down the last of Roo's medical records. I'll leave you for now with a shot of our little yellow co-pilot, taken this past weekend on a road trip in her honor, a celebration of her time with us.

These Last Few Days

2010-11-05T07:58:00.004-06:00

Very emotional, and sometimes it just comes out of nowhere. I'm driving down the road, singing a tune, and all of a sudden I realize I can't see through the windshield. I've had to wear sunglasses inside the supermarket at 6pm. Yesterday, a friend tweeted some kind words, we both got a little choked up, and I replied that I gave up wearing mascara a week ago. (Someone quickly tweeted me back a link for a free sample of Maybelline, which made me laugh, so thank you for that, unknown twitter person.)

As I was petting Ruby the other day, lost in my thoughts, the tears really started. I kissed her head as I sobbed and she gave me the oddest look. Then she began to wag her tail and pounce around...which is what she does when she's nervous. I collected myself so as not to upset her any further and the realization struck me like a bolt: "This dog is nervous because she's never seen me cry like this before." It's not that I hadn't experienced painful times over the past year, but she's been such an uplifting presence, that even on very dark days, her spirit alters my whole frame of mind.

I raised this little yellow service puppy for sixteen months and she has reinterpreted happiness for me. I can only dream of what she'll bring her future partner.

(Thank you to our dear friends, Dennis & Mickey, for traveling on this journey with us and for the beautiful photo.)

Fix

2010-11-03T08:32:00.003-06:00

One of the things I'll miss about Ruby (one of the everythings I'll miss about Ruby) is watching her respond to the word, "Fix." All dogs get caught up in the leash from time to time, and it can be challenging for a person with a disability to sort out a tangled leash. "Fix" cues the dog to untangle herself from the leash. Really helpful...and pretty cute.

Our service puppies are taught "Fix" very early on, Ruby picked it up quickly. Just position the leash behind the puppy's leg, then gently pull the leash toward you. The light pressure of the leash will cause the puppy to naturally lift her leg, and the leash slips back into place. I've gotten such a kick out of watching Ruby "Fix," I'll have to teach it to every pup I know, to get my own fix! There are few things more adorable than a puppy lifting her tiny paw to get that pesky leash where it should be.

Fun-Size Halloween Treat...Or Trick?

2010-10-31T21:22:00.004-06:00

Hey, this puppy CAN see ghosts...and they're very soothing.

Dr. Frankenstein And His Assistant

2010-10-30T19:30:00.004-06:00

THE OPERATING THEATER

SCALPEL! (It's ok, he has a Ph.D.)

RUBY'S NEW BROTHER

IT'S ALIVE!!!

Red Rocks, A Perfect Day

2010-10-29T10:47:00.006-06:00

About a week left with Ruby, not a moment to waste! I've never seen a more beautiful autumn than the one we've been having in Colorado. It's an open invitation to get outdoors and just enjoy the sunshine with our two best girls.

As our NY friend, Dennis, says... "Bark Diem!"

Every day spent with Kiva and Ruby is perfect, but there was just something extra-special about this one. We took a ride to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in Morrison, where there's a rambling, pretty trail that's easy on Kiva's old bones. Climbing a mountain with Ruby would be exciting, but right now it's challenging enough just to keep her snoot up and off the ground!

Mmmmm...dirt! And twigs! Bugs! Dust! Leaves!

As the trail winds along the rock formations and through meadows and valleys, we got in some good loose leash walking practice.

But really, we just wanted to savor the beauty of being together.

Of course, Mr. Raiser and I had to make sure the girls hit the stage – they're our rockstars! I had a great view from where I was sitting.

But the best seat in the house is right next to the ones you love.

Photos In The Shoebox

2010-10-27T18:08:00.003-06:00

Ruby's time with us now is so fleeting, I feel as though each moment with her is instantly dated from years past. Like those old snapshots of people you've loved.

We've gotten the date for her turn-in, November 8th. It's funny; until just now, I didn't know you could – very literally – experience every emotion at once.

Goodbye, And Best Wishes, To Brother Raven

2010-10-25T19:12:00.002-06:00

Many of you have come to know and love Raven (Ruby's brother) through the wonderful guest posts written by his raiser, Barb, for this blog. Earlier today, Barb let us know that Raven is ready to move on to the next level. He'll be leaving tomorrow to enter Advanced Training.

Baby Raven cultivating that famous patience for shopping

Raven holds a special place in my heart, side-by-side with our Ruby, and Mr. Raiser and I wish him and his Advanced Trainer the very best.

Carving an award-winning jack-o-lantern last fall

Barb and her husband, Tom, have given Raven the most wonderful foundation possible. A service puppy could not have had a better start, and could not have been more loved, than Raven has been.

New Year's Day Hike with Mom and Dad

Many thanks, Barb. For keeping us up-to-date on Raven's progress with your funny posts and great photos, for the invaluable advice you've given to me and the other puppy raisers at Canine Partners of the Rockies, and for all of the laughs we've shared, as well as the tears. I know that no matter what Raven's future holds, he'll be an extremely happy, well-adjusted, and phenomenal dog thanks to your very special love and care.

Cheap Date

2010-10-23T10:45:00.015-06:00

Ruby: Let's go to the movies!
Raiser: Good idea! But training you at the movies can get expensive...

The solution? Elvis! (But then again, isn't he always?)

Raiser: $2.50, now that's a deal even you can't shake a stick at!
Ruby: Mmm, sticks!

Ruby: One Jujubees please, and a two-pack of sticks. Pine flavor!

She wanted to see one of the animated flicks, but we were on time for "The Other Guys" so that's what I chose.

Ruby: "The Oth...WHAT?"

Sigh. I have to say she was right. "The Other Guys" was not the best movie I've ever chosen. Although she was pretty delighted to get 8 out of 10 on the trivia before the show, which I honestly thought was too good for a dog. They make those waaaay too easy.

We were early and the theater was pretty empty, so we did some training in a large space in front of the screen. We worked on long stays as well as some of the basics – sit, down, stand, etc.

Contextual learning is very interesting. Because she had never practiced in this space before, it felt unfamiliar and she had trouble with simple commands, like "down." She did pretty well on sit/stays, although if I traveled too far away and waited too long to return to her, she'd get antsy, break her "sit," and start tentatively walking toward me. To help her gain confidence, I decreased the distance between us and she'd hold her "sit" till I returned or gave her the "here" command.

Since the theater was so empty, I chose a seat in the companion seating section where the rows are set in from the main aisle. I wanted her to practice sitting quietly next to me as the movie played. But those seats were only about three rows from the front, and when the movie started, it was so loud, I was afraid it could harm her ears. So we moved to the last row in the back of the theater where the sound was much easier on both of us.

And there we sat...for about 40 minutes. It was all we could take. Ruby was right, we should have waited around for "Dogs and Cats: The Revenge of Kitty Galore!" Unfortunately, we had to give "The Other Guys" two dewclaws down. Great cast, I had high hopes, just...not that funny. However, it did have guns, explosions and yelling, and none of that fazed Ruby in the least. She never flinched, no fear at all. So, half a star for that, and 'cause we still like Will Ferrell, regardless.

Autumn in Colo-Roo-Do

2010-10-17T15:51:00.004-06:00

We Love Nordies

2010-10-15T09:58:00.003-06:00

If you're a future Service Puppy Raiser, here's a tip. When you train your puppy in the mall, if that mall has a Nordstrom, do yourself a favor and begin there. It's just so...pleasant.

Under the undies.

Cute pup...but really just an excuse to take a picture of THOSE BOOTS.

Going to stores with Ruby is one of the things I'll miss most. She's great company – calm, interested, patient, and fun. It's like shopping with a good friend.

I decided to celebrate my pal's retail success by taking her to lunch. Just us girls. Well, she really needs the practice. And Nordstrom's turkey & cranberry on multi-grain happens to be very delicious.

Going up!

Staying put under tables in restaurants for entire meals is not yet Ruby's strong suit – she's very nosy! I've seen a big change over the past few weeks, though, where I can tell she's really trying. She gets squirmy, but works hard to control herself and remain under...

...or at least close to...or at least in the vicinity of...the table.

Thanks to our friend, Lea, from Embrace Pet Community (who witnessed this squirrelly Roo behavior at the Petties Awards luncheon), I crack up every time Ruby assumes this position. Lea has christened it "Ruby's 'Tocks" – an instant classic!

Hide-A-Squirrel Winner

2010-10-12T08:01:00.001-06:00

Congrats to SweetSue and thanks to all who entered and celebrated our 200th post with us! I had a great time reading about all of your pets!

What She Brings

2010-10-06T05:34:00.022-06:00

Ruby is 17 months old and now that we're in the homestretch, I've been thinking a lot about our time together over the past year. I hold so much in my heart, but one thing above the rest.

I think any of us would say that when we're out alone or with friends – at restaurants, movies, or particularly when we're shopping – we don't interact much with the people around us. Why would we? Everyone is busy, preoccupied with their own errands and agenda. Not much eye contact or connecting with random strangers. All of these little worlds doing their best not to collide.

The scene is altered when you're out with a service puppy. I'd take Ruby out at 12 weeks old and I knew we'd have lots of attention because she was just so adorable. As she got older, I expected the public's curiosity. But without fail, wherever we are, people see us and smile. They invite eye contact. They start conversations, ask questions, or just say something kind.

I took her to the mall the other day for some training.

A few minutes after I took this shot, an older couple sat down in that seat and watched us work. Ruby and I were really concentrating, totally in the zone, practicing some difficult things with lots of distractions, and she was really nailing it. I knew the couple was watching, but I didn't make eye contact with them until we finished. Then I sat in the chair across from them, smiled, and saw them just beaming.

We started to chat about Ruby and her training. They told me about a person in their church who had also raised a service puppy. I told them about my Kiva. I learned about their precious dogs who had each lived to the exact same age and each passed away on the very same day, fifteen years apart. We talked about movies! We just...talked.

We got to know each other, even if only for a few minutes. I met these wonderful people, no longer strangers, over a smile.

That is what has struck me so deeply. People see us together, they respect us, recognize what we are doing, and they are happy. And that makes me indescribably happy in return.

We tend to think of service dogs for their physical assistance, but they bring just as much, or more, to their partners on an emotional level. One of the reasons I decided to raise a service puppy is because I am so aware of, and so grateful for, the joy that Kiva has brought to my life. Because of her, I wanted to give back, to help bring a unique joy and presence to someone else's life.

Yet raising this service puppy has brought so much to my life as well. To truly enjoy the company of strangers. To meet and know people I otherwise never would have. To have the opportunity to talk with so many people about her training.

To see smiles everywhere I look.

I reflect on the number of people we pass in a day and wonder how many hearts and minds my little service puppy has burrowed into. When someone who has encountered us sees a person with a disability, perhaps they'll think of Ruby. Maybe they'll remember what she was learning, and better understand the challenges that person faces. And rather than look away or stare, they'll smile.

Update: Let's share the message! Please cast your vote for Raising Ruby for "Best Blog Post" at the 2011 Petties Awards and help us spread the word that smiles, rather than stares, can make a world of difference for individuals with disabilities.

Just click here to vote: http://dogtime.com/petties

Guest Post: Raven Gets Ready For Homecoming

2010-10-03T13:06:00.003-06:00

Dear Sister Ruby –

I have been following your blog and you are right, we are big dogs now!

Last weekend was very exciting, while you went to a great brunch and learned lots of interesting stuff, I got to help my friend Laura get ready for her homecoming…

Here she is last year (notice that I am not ON the sofa)
They are so cute when they are little aren’t they?

Flash forward – Here I am Friday night shopping at Forever 21 with her. I was very interested in the first 100 dresses but after my mom went charging out after dress #101 (and it wasn’t even in spots) I decided that I would just practice my down with an implied stay and hope she didn’t forget me. Oh, the life of a highly trained Service Dog (in training) is tough but I am sooooo ready in case my potential partner is a teenage girl….

After all that excitement, Laura found a great dress, got ready in time with lots of help from Reina and me and had a fabulous time at the dance. I gave her some extra attention on her way out, just so she remembers that I am the dude who loves her best.

I can’t wait to hear what your next adventure is…

Raven

(Hey Bro, a boy with such patience in the fitting room? That's gotta be worth at least two Frosty Paws AND some elk jerky! Laura looks absolutely beautiful, and her blue dress with your black coat is stunning – you make a great pair! Love, Sis Roo)

200th Post And A Great Giveaway!

2010-09-29T07:35:00.006-06:00

Blogger tells me this is our 200th post, which I find astounding, and WOOHOO! I'm never one to turn down any reason to celebrate! Pop the champagne – it's Party Time here at Raising Ruby and you're all invited! Let's also raise a toast to our fantastic guest posters/photographers, Mr. Raiser, Barb and Raven, and D. Cheers to all!

Just for fun, go ahead and turn back the clock, scroll down the sidebar over there on the right, and enjoy some puppy posts from July and August 2009. Zombified by the 24-hr excitement of housebreaking, I posted that first shot, got the whole family involved in training, and assessed our progress. Even then, I knew this was going to be a fantastic ride, but I never could have imagined the friends we'd make along the way and the incredible support of our readers.

Thank you. For riding shotgun with us and for sending your love and encouragement from across town and across thousands of miles.

And it's not a party without presents, so here's ours to you: A Great Giveaway courtesy of Kyjen! I've been a fan of their products for many more years than I'm even gonna tell ya, and I bet they're some of your favorites too: Plush Puppies toys, Outward Hound gear, and lots more.

My two experts agree, the gift for our lucky Giveaway winner is a classic:

HIDE-A-SQUIRREL

"Best Toy Ever! Fun, Challenging, Mentally Stimulating!" – Kiva Dog

"Best Squirrels Ever! And I Do Know My Squirrels Inside And Out!" – Ruby Dog

To enter, just leave a comment telling me what your pet is an expert in! (I love to read about everyone's pets!) Or you can enter by email, just click here. Emails come straight to me and your address will only be used to let you know if you've won!

Good Luck!!!

Beaglese: Entries must be received by Sunday, October 10th. Winner will be announced Monday, October 11th or Tuesday, October 12th if I'm exhausted on Monday. Contest open to residents of the USA and Canada. Winner will be chosen at random from all comments/emails received. Drawing will be supervised by the Dog Firm of Kiva & Ruby and method may or may not be something like this.

Guest Post: Ruby And A B(r)unch Of Scientists

2010-09-26T20:27:00.008-06:00

This past Sunday, I attended brunch with some of my colleagues, accompanied by Ruby. It was Ruby's first brunch, and her first time among science geeks. Here is Ruby with my friend and grad school professor Jim, and two more friends, Emily and Ruth. Even though Ruby is wearing a cape, she is still studying for her Ph.Doggy.

Ruby was (fairly) well behaved while we all enjoyed a fantastic brunch. There was a lot of discussion about actinides, natural organic matter, and colloids (topics that make most non-scientists' eyes glaze over), but Ruby took it all in stride. Here is a photo of her in a very nice "down stay," worthy of a Nobel Prize:

Of great interest to Ruby during the course of our science brunch was the Law of Gravity. Wanting to make a contribution, she re-enacted a scene from the past, her tribute to Sir Isaac Newton and his great discovery:

This led Ruby to happen upon her own great discovery, also involving a fallen apple:

Thanks Jim, for a wonderful brunch. Ruby not only enjoyed learning about field-flow fractionation, and participating in a heated discussion about hematite colloids, she also found the plums in the back of your garden most intriguing!

– Mr. Raiser

Ode To Ruby's Long-Gone Puppy Bed

2010-09-21T07:33:00.007-06:00

(What can I say, I'm starting to get sentimental.)

O Puppy Bed, how well you served.
Our wee Roo loved your hugging curves.

You were her favorite spot, no doubt.
For curling up or hanging out.

The finest place for little Roo
to have a snack or just a chew.

She loved you, Bed; her turf, her space.
Your tenant with a tough-girl face.

But all were welcome in her lair,
She had so many parties there!

When fun was done, she'd go to sleeps,
while settled in with all her peeps.

'Til one bad day. Things went awry.
To Puppy Bed, we said goodbye.

We had no choice, you got the boot.
It started with a tiny poot.
Then all was lost. You were corroded,
when Ruby's little butt exploded.

Nipping That Right In The Bud

2010-09-17T09:20:00.003-06:00

The plan was to pose Ruby next to this sweet tiny rose, a nice Friday photo to kick off the weekend.

Of course, she had her own idea.

Ha! The rose is fine. Ruby's really good with her "Leave" command.

I never did get the shot, but initiative counts way more than a pretty picture. For hijacking the post, showing mercy on the rose, and giving me the giggles (with yawning supervision by Kiva), cheese was had by all!

National Cream Filled Donut Day II

2010-09-14T10:09:00.001-06:00

We don't get to celebrate many holidays twice with Roo; she'll be off to Advanced Training by the age of 18 months. So, we make the most of the holidays we do get to spend together, and this one's a tradition here at Raising Ruby – National Cream Filled Donut Day!

Ruby was just a 4-month-old puppy when we celebrated NCFDD '09:

Sigh. Look at that baby. Forget the donuts, I could just eat her up.

This year, Mr. Raiser took Ruby on the same outing. Official NCFDD '10 Report:

1. Store was packed. A little girl shrieked with excitement when Ruby walked in. Roo, unfazed, walked right by.

2. Ruby sat quietly at the counter as Mr. Raiser ordered a couple of coffees and four donuts. (Yes, two people, four donuts. What? It's a holiday!)

3. Floor-level donut crumbs were tempting, glanced at, but ignored.

4. Unable to carry two coffees, four donuts, and a leash from the counter to the milk station, Mr. Raiser walked Ruby to the milks, put her in a "Sit/Stay," dropped the leash, walked back through the crowd to the counter, then returned to milk station. Roo stayed put.

5. Roo continued to stay put throughout the whole milking hustle and bustle, Mr. Raiser bagged up all the loot, rustled up Ruby, and successfully exited the store.

6. Mr. Raiser and Ruby returned home, were greeted by Kiva, and all three presented a sleepy Mrs. Raiser with a much-needed coffee and sugar fix. A successful NCFDD '10 was toasted with two gigantic bavarian cream-filleds, and tasty, celebratory snacks for the pooches.

Happy National Cream Filled Donut Day To All!

Back From BlogPaws!

2010-09-12T08:32:00.007-06:00

Had a fun Thurs-Fri-Sat at BlogPaws here in Denver, it was a great event! I want to thank all of our friends and readers who brought us a nomination in the Petties Awards. The winners of "Best Cause Related Blog" were the dedicated bloggers at ILoveRescueAnimals.org – congratulations, Ashley and Nikki! Ruby and I were so happy to have met you and look forward to working with you on your mission!

We may only have finished as runners-up, but Ruby and I could not have felt more like winners! People from every aspect of this conference – session presenters, fellow bloggers and attendees, vendors, hotel and event staff – expressed incredible interest in Ruby and her training. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to answer some really excellent questions about service puppy raising and to meet some wonderful and caring people. Thank you to everyone who came up to us and spent some time learning about our journey and the role service dogs have in the lives of individuals with disabilities.

But most importantly, how did our Roo behave during her first conference? Well, all in all, I can definitely give her a solid "B." Was she marvelous? NOPE! Did she get restless and do things the likes of which I haven't seen since she was a baby? Ohhhh, yes.

Typo or eerily accurate prediction of a wriggly Roo?

During our first hour-long session, she expressed her displeasure by pawing and rubbing at her Gentle Leader, swimming (yes) across the floor, snuffling under a tablecloth like a pig on a truffle, and chewing on her leash, while giving me the "HAH! What are YOU going to do about it?" eyeballs.

A rare break in the action.

And some of those behaviors kept popping up throughout the three days. But I wasn't really worried. This was a weekend of firsts for her. Crowded rooms with large audiences and loud talking and applause and food and microphones and huge video screens and music and other dogs, cats, small animals and birds in attendance. And the expectation that she had to ignore all of these thousand distractions and just be quiet and still? A lot to ask.

But here's what happened over the three days: with a little help from me, she learned to calm herself. When we were seated and she'd start to go nuts, I'd quietly begin puppy pushups -- softly giving her the "Sit, Down, Stand" commands in rapid succession -- to help her channel that nervous energy and gain her focus. Once she locked in to me, I'd gently rub her snoot or her rump, her favorite places to be petted, so she'd feel that secure and familiar sensation in this unfamiliar place. As she relaxed, I'd put her in a down and make sure to treat her frequently as she gave me the desired behaviors.

Would she stay in that down? At first, no. She'd pop back up and we'd start the cycle again. But each time we went through it, her downs lasted longer. First it was a few seconds, then it was a few minutes. By the last day, during the long lunch and awards session, she started out fidgety (and a million thank yous to the awesome gals who sat on either side of me -- one whose legs got licked and another whose foot was used as a pillow) but Ruby wound up calming herself and eventually going to sleep.

As always, it's the constant repetition of the training that makes all the difference. And, on that note, I have to say how utterly bursting-at-the-seams proud I am of her when it came to interaction with the other dogs at the conference. No lunging, some curiosity and pulling and sniffing, but many times, she'd just out-and-out ignore 'em and walk right by. Can you believe it? She was so good, I put her in a sit next to an unfamiliar dog (with his owner's permission), and snapped a few pix. She couldn't care less. In most of the photos, she's not even looking at him.

Two more things really encouraged me. First, she responded very well to the "Heel" command, like, almost military style. Second, she made some great progress with "Under." She's not got it fully down pat yet, so instead of adding another challenge to the already challenging conference rooms (and to give her a break from all the din), I kept taking her into the bathroom to practice. We were in and out of there so often, people must think I had some sort of near-fatal bladder issue, but who cares! Look at my girl! Settled under and stayed while I'd wash my hands, walk around the room, freshen the make-up, chat with other gals in the ladies' room...she didn't move a muscle till I released her.

Oh, and how 'bout this? "Sit/Stay" with dropped leash while waiting in a busy line. Didn't budge.

It really was a win-win – we met some great people and had our most unique and challenging training experience yet!

Preparing For BlogPaws

2010-09-08T19:33:00.002-06:00

Teenagers. She wanted to go to BlogPaws as a brunette.

I reminded her how much fun she's had so far as a beautiful blonde; she couldn't argue with me!

So, as Ruby and I get ready to attend the BlogPaws 2010 West Conference here in Denver, I am thinking about this word, "Conference." I don't know where I've been, but it has just dawned on me that I am bringing Ruby to her first conference. Conferences are fun places where one chats and mingles and socializes, but one also needs to sit quietly and still for very long periods of time. And...AND...at this particular conference, there will be many other dogs attending the sessions.

Hmm.

"Quietly," "Still," "Many Other Dogs," and "Very Long Periods of Time" are words I haven't yet put together in one place in the course of Ruby's training. Well, we have to start somewhere, right? This is going to be...interesting! A fantastic training opportunity! Oh my dog, what am I in for?!! As always, you'll be with us – see you there!

Hidden Treasure

2010-09-07T08:40:00.010-06:00

It always happens, right? You're looking for one thing and you invariably get lost in something else. I was going through some files this weekend and found a tiny, brightly-colored packet of construction paper notes in a stack of completely unrelated papers...hmm, now what was it that I looking for...oh, who remembers...

This is one of the little thank you notes that smiled up at me. I had received it after a presentation Ruby and I made to a group of children last fall. Ruby was just a youngster herself at the time, but she did very well, responding to all the cues she knew, working the room, charming everyone. This note from a little girl in the class was so sweet, I just had to share it. It's a great drawing of Miss Roo, the ears are just right and her paws are perfect! I love the heart at the end of the arrow, too. All the kids in this class were awesome; I remember they had a lot of excellent questions and comments, and really kept me on my toes!

On a separate and serious note, a significant fire has hit Boulder, CO this weekend. As we try to get specifics on the extent of the fire, our thoughts are with all of our friends in Boulder. We are hoping everyone is safe and our hearts are with all who have had to evacuate and who have suffered losses.

Always Entertaining, Everywhere She Goes

2010-09-04T10:27:00.013-06:00

"...so then the bartender says to the horse, 'Any friend of yours is a palomino!'"

"Hey Trout, why did the whale cross the road?" "I don't know, Dog, why did the whale cross the road?" "To get to the other tide!"

"Thankya ladies and gentlemen, I'll be here all week! And let's hear it for my band, The Roo-Tones!"

Versatile Blogger Award

2010-08-30T08:52:00.008-06:00

Everyone loves a surprise and I've received a really nice one from Deborah Flick at Boulder Dog – the Most Versatile Blogger Award! Deborah is a fellow Colorado blogger, but we've never met, although I hope to remedy that at BlogPaws West. If you haven't read Boulder Dog yet, definitely click on over. It's very entertaining and full of great insight regarding fearful dogs, gained through her experiences with her sweet girl, Sadie.

Many thanks to Deborah for this award, for her kind words about Raising Ruby, and for helping spread awareness about service dogs.

So let's see. The rules for this award are to share seven things about yourself and then paw the award forward to others. OK, instead of seven, I'm going to share ten things...my Top Ten Favorite Muppets and Why I Love Them!

Cookie Monster – He lives for cookies and I do too!
Kermit – It just takes one small critter to begin something extraordinary.
Beaker – What can I say, I have a thing for scientists. :)
Count Von Count – Well, I hate math but I love bats!
Guy Smiley – He's America's Favorite Game Show Host!
Sam The Eagle – Looks exactly like a nice nun I had in grammar school.
Grover – Like all of us, he makes a lot of mistakes, and that's totally OK.
Oscar – Because sometimes it's just really fun to be really grumpy.
Rowlf – He's a Muppet Dog, so...of course!
The Yip Yips – Stars of my most favorite Muppet skit ever:

Deborah is also a 2010 Petties Award nominee, so to paw this award forward, here's a shout out to all of the blogs in the running this year. If you haven't visited some of them yet, you'll be in for a treat!

Boulder Dog
Fido Friendly
Champion Of My Heart
Fur By J Mikel
Pawcurious
Thoughts Fur Paws
Petiquette
Life With Dogs
The Conscious Cat
Catladyland
My Cat Goma
Sparkle Cat
Conservation Club
Covered In Cat Hair
I Love Rescue Animals

Pawscoop also has some nice interviews with 2010 Petties Nominees (including yours truly) – check 'em out! Just click here.

Land Shark

2010-08-28T11:50:00.001-06:00

A little refreshment for the doggie days of summer. Hey, remember puppy Ruby's first fun with the hose? Ahh, puppies...click here.

Dropping The Leash

2010-08-24T07:55:00.001-06:00

Part of working on a reliable stay with Ruby means I need to be able to drop her leash in public. It's possible that she could become accidentally separated from her partner when she is working, so I want to familiarize her with the feeling of being untethered in a public place without her breaking the implied stay of a "sit" or "down" command.

As far as how comfortable I am with dropping her leash in public, it feels like handing the car keys over to a teenager learning how to drive – you just have to let the trust outweigh the terror!

When I'm with her in a store and I want to practice, I just don't make it a big deal. Ruby's not really interested in adults or children passing by, so I feel pretty confident (I think...) that she's not going to take off. We're strolling along, I stop to see something and put her in a "sit" or "down," drop the leash, and walk ahead a few paces. Then I walk back, treat her for staying put, pick up the leash, and we move on for awhile and do it again.

If I feel she's in a good, relaxed state, I'll keep increasing the distance between us. She was doing very well at this shoe store, so I dropped the leash and walked past the aisle to the mirror. I think she was able to see me when I turned the corner, even though there were about three seconds when I couldn't see her. I'll admit, in those three seconds, I had visions of a gleeful Roo flying down the aisle with a boot dangling out of her mouth, losing her in this shoe maze, and eventually finding her devouring the heel of some $200 pump! But, of course, she hadn't moved an inch.

All in all, it was a pretty controlled environment, the store wasn't very crowded and had few distractions. So Mr. Raiser and I took her to Target and chose a noisy spot at checkout.

To start, I walked out about six feet while still holding the leash. She was mildly interested in a cart going by, but she didn't show any sign of getting up.

She was calm, so I tossed the leash and we practiced in different areas, just to change the context. She was great all around.

I've mentioned that service puppy raisers live and train by a philosophy of "Set Your Dog Up For Success." The dog's triumphs are even more striking when you realize that she has reached the point of also setting YOU up for success; what an amazing feeling it is when a nervous raiser can drop the leash and draw assurance from the confidence within her dog!

"Excuse Me, But Have You Swallowed The Dark-Haired Girl?"

2010-08-23T18:38:00.002-06:00

I've been out-of-town for a few days, but I'll be back with updates soon!

Puppy Training Class: Progress

2010-08-16T08:08:00.004-06:00

The sun is blazing out here in the Front Range, so we had Puppy Training Class inside the mall this past weekend. Nice and cool for the doggies, with plenty of added distraction. Makes for great training opportunities.

Upon arrival, my dog, The Mayor (first-born of the litter and official pot-stirrer), feels it's her duty to greet every pup. Nope, sorry Ruby, it's class time! I corralled my little bronco in our place at the end of the line, behind the cell phone sign.

We reviewed some of the basics, such as "Leave," and the dogs did fantastically well. Here's Ruby's sister, Reese, responding to "Leave" and completely ignoring the treat on the floor. (Doesn't she look just like our Roo?)

I've been asked why our cue is "Leave" rather than "Leave it." When we are with our dogs in public, some people take offense to the pronoun "it" when used in regard to interaction with humans. For this reason, we train our dogs to respond to the simple word, "leave" in order not to offend any person by the word, "it."

When Canine Partners of the Rockies' dogs have moved on from their puppy raisers and successfully complete Advanced Training, they will need to pass a Public Access Test prior to graduation. Passing this test grants the dog full public access in partnership with a mobility-limited individual. In class this week, we practiced some of the commands/behaviors expected of our dogs in order to pass the test. Our dogs need to be calm, cool, and collected in any situation while they are out in public, so part of the test is for the dog to lie still while a stranger steps over her/him. Ruby and her brother, Romeo, demonstrate:

We also need our dogs to have a very reliable recall in public. A busy mall is the perfect place to practice this important skill. In this exercise, we walk them to the middle of the aisle, drop the leash, we return to the wall alone, and call them. Can you pick out Roo? Hint: I'm the guy behind the sign!

Ruby did really well on this one, but not quite as well on a later exercise where I had to turn my back on her. But we're working on it!

The thing that made this class a benchmark for me was Ruby's progress with her greatest challenge: ignoring other dogs. After that initial excitement over her brothers and sisters, she gained her focus pretty quickly and ultimately behaved extremely well in an exercise that's very difficult for her, weaving among the other dogs on a loose leash walk. Her eye contact with me was excellent, she only gave away a few glances, and she didn't try to out-and-out mix it up with her pals as she always has in the past.

I know we have a way to go before this is a reliable behavior, a lot of practice ahead, but we've worked so diligently to get to this point, it was really encouraging. I witnessed a new confidence and maturity in her, a conscious effort to make the calm choice. She saw the temptation, but knew what she had to do.

As a puppy raiser, my progress with Ruby may be incremental, but each step is so gratifying.

Smart Kitty's Pram Scam

2010-08-12T12:30:00.001-06:00

King Tut

2010-08-10T05:50:00.000-06:00

Our wonderful friends, D&M, invited us (and Ruby, of course!) to join them at the King Tut exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. Cameras weren't permitted in the rooms, so I don't have photos to show, but that's kind of fitting. Because this post really isn't about an outing.

The exhibit was crowded, it was dark, and it was in a smaller space than maybe it should have been, but I found it intimate and fascinating. I studied the intricacies of tiny painted figures, followed the paths of detailed carvings, and marveled at the fibers of the perfectly preserved bed. I read every placard, lingered over mysterious boxes, imagined the weight of impossibly heavy earrings.

And as I got lost in these treasures, I forgot Ruby was there.

She was beside me all the while, at the other end of the leash, right where she's been since she was ten weeks old. But for the first time in our year-long journey, I unwittingly concentrated more on my surroundings than I did on her. That, for me, is monumental.

When you're a service puppy raiser and have a bouncy pup tethered to you for most of your waking moments, you pretty much catch about 20% of what's going on around you. At lunch, you miss entire conversations; in stores, you ask questions, yet still buy the wrong item. You don't mean to ignore anyone, but your attention is focused on one thing, and one thing only: that little yellow (or black, or chocolate, or tan) ball of fur and where her inquisitive snoot is pointing next.

The King Tut exhibit was the very first time I started to understand the feeling of what it might be like to have an assistance dog by your side. I went at my pace and did what I wanted rather than gauge my time to her tolerance level. She was silent and still as I stopped to examine each artifact and when I was ready to move on, I'd look down and she'd look up – each of us reassuring the other – and together we'd navigate around the crowd to our next stop. Having her by my side as I enjoyed the show was one of the most comfortable feelings I've ever experienced.

Our fellow blogger and service puppy raiser, Beth, of Alfie's World, compared a service dog' s education to stitching a quilt; it struck me as a very lovely and apt comparison. There is such repetition in the process of raising a service puppy that it almost came as a surprise on this ordinary outing, no different, really, than so many outings before, when I realized that the thousands of stitches and scraps and bits and pieces had taken on form and shape. What Ruby and I are creating, the potential of what she may someday become, is so very beautiful.

You've Come A Long Way, Baby!

2010-08-06T07:02:00.000-06:00

Here's a little gem unearthed from the far reaches of the vault. Baby Ruby at 12 weeks old dining al fresco with her stepsister, Service Puppy Peyton.

See that gaze? Ruby just adores her big sister. She's overcome with awe.

Until she decides she wants a piece of her. Straight for the throat!

And Peyton's right back at 'er with a solid rear paw to the gut!

It's like Extreme Cage Fighting...only better! With puppies!

Pinned! Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a winner.

Behind The Velvet Rope

2010-08-04T20:32:00.005-06:00

Ooh, I always wondered what went on back there in the VIP section!

(Ruby and friends at the Denver Art Museum; photo by our pal, D.)

We're Finalists, It's Time To Vote!

2010-08-03T06:17:00.007-06:00

With so many thanks to all of our amazing friends and followers, Raising Ruby is proud to announce we've been nominated for DogTime's Pet Blog Award, the 2010 Petties!

Now it's time to vote! Please click the button in this post (or on our sidebar), or click this link and vote for Service Puppy Ruby in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category.

First prize is a $500 donation to shelter/rescue to help our neediest furry friends, which makes us all winners!

Voting ends on August 20, 2010. We thank you all!

www.dogtime.com/petties

Bark And Bluegrass

2010-08-01T13:26:00.008-06:00

If it's called "Bark and Bluegrass," you know the Roo Crew is going to be there!

We spent a fun couple of hours enjoying the fiddlin', with the proceeds of the festival supporting local animal welfare organizations. Since all dogs were welcome at this event, we knew it would be a great opportunity in our efforts to help Ruby learn to be calm and relaxed around other dogs.

I'm happy to report that she did very well! At first, she was kind of pull-y with all the dogs walking around, but really, she wasn't even all that nuts.

Seeing all of the dogs in one place was understandably a little overwhelming for her, but she got that excitement out of the way in the first 5-10 minutes. She was pretty well-behaved as we visited the vendor booths, maybe sniffing a dog as she passed by, but when I told her to "leave" (our command for "leave it"), she absolutely did.

Since it was a dog-friendly event, all of the booths had bowls of water and yummy treats – it was doggie heaven! One booth was promoting agility and my picture-perfect girl had her photo taken for a local newspaper.

We tried our luck at a bean-bag toss and won a neat little Otter Box, the perfect size to store our mini point-and-shoot camera!

Of course, there was tasty refreshment for humans as well as doggies. But notice that little path behind us? Dogs, kids, everyone, a steady stream of folks walking by and Roo did not get up to investigate once. She just watched and hung out, and for us, that is REAL progress! Here's to my two good girls...cheers!

Denver Botanic Gardens

2010-07-30T07:37:00.001-06:00

On a brilliant, not-too-hot Sunday morning, we took our out-of-town guests on a visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens.

When we arrived, we were greeted warmly by the staff who were all smiles upon seeing Ruby. (Any puppy raiser can tell you, we SO appreciate when that happens!) They even had dog biscuits behind the counter – an unexpected treat!

We've spent the summer really working on Ruby's outdoor loose-leash walking (with varied success) and I wasn't sure how she'd do in this Magical Land of a Thousand Smells. Because we had guests, I was a little worried as I didn't want anyone to feel rushed or uncomfortable if things didn't go smoothly. But, as always, the doggies are gonna surprise you – oh my girl, you did me so proud, better than I ever could have expected.

She was fascinated by this fountain as the water raised and lowered, but she never broke her "sit."

She was very patient with me when I would pause,

and of course, from time to time as we strolled, I would let her explore the sights and scents too!

I had really been looking forward to seeing the Henry Moore exhibit, Moore In The Gardens. His monumental sculptures have been installed throughout the gardens and seeing them in this setting was sensational....

and nearly as impressive as Ruby's focus!

While in the Japanese gardens, she had an interesting sensory experience on the stone path. At first she walked tentatively, it felt very strange on her paws! But she checked it out and quickly became accustomed to it.

You know, it was funny; we were strolling through the Japanese gardens, calm, cool, quiet. Then she spied this little structure and it was the only time she pulled me – she wasn't seeking shade, she didn't want to sniff anything, she just wanted to be inside it. Was it zen, good karma, Ruby showing her spiritual side? I don't know, but it was just where she wanted to be. So sweet, one of those moments I'll always remember.

A nice break for cool drinks and some lovin'...

and a little while longer to answer some questions,

take in a few more blooms,

and just enjoy each others' company.

To top off a perfect day, we stopped in the gift shop and continued our tradition of amusing Ruby with funny hats!

Today's outing was made possible by the letters "G" and "L," without which you cannot spell "Gentle Leader," without which I really believe we would not have been so successful!

Just Ducky

2010-07-28T08:46:00.002-06:00

Guest Post: Raven At The Natural History Museum

2010-07-27T08:26:00.005-06:00

I really, really don't want to look behind me...

because I do, I do, I do believe in ghosts!

Ha, they don't scare me at all!

Help Win A $500 Donation For Our Neediest Friends!

2010-07-22T18:44:00.007-06:00

Here's a contest we can all really get excited about! DogTime is sponsoring The 2010 Petties, an award contest celebrating pet bloggers. First Prize is a $500 donation to the shelter/rescue of the winner's choosing!

We'd be so grateful if our readers would nominate our blog, Raising Ruby, for this award so we can help assist all animals who desperately need warm, safe homes.

As always, our service pup and our shelter pup, Ruby and Kiva, want to make it more interesting! If we win, Raising Ruby will make a matching donation to Canine Partners of the Rockies in appreciation of the support of all the wonderful Raising Ruby readers who are following our journey.

For the nomination form, please click here.

Nominee Info
Name: Raising Ruby
URL: http://servicepuppyruby.blogspot.com/
(Nominee email is optional)

Category: Best Cause Related Blog

Please spread the word (email, facebook, twitter, etc.) to help Raising Ruby get as many nominations as possible – the four blogs with the most nominations will move on to the voting stage of the contest!

Nominations close on July 30, 2010. Roo and her crew thank you!

http://dogtime.com/petties

Where Were We A Year Ago?

2010-07-20T08:04:00.002-06:00

Spendin' a lot of time in the basement,

learnin' about piddlin'.

Ice Pups

2010-07-18T15:36:00.005-06:00

Heat wave in Denver? Dogs in dire need of some glacial refreshment? Their wish is our command!

Glacial lake,

and the snowfield. Frosty goodness!

OK, first a quick dip,

then, hit the slopes!

Ahhhh, nothing like snow in July!

Sure it was fun, but can we count this as a training experience? You bet! Her recall was fantastic, even with these Disneyland for Dogs kinds of distractions. Go Roo!

A Cautionary Tale

2010-07-15T07:58:00.002-06:00

If you are raising a service puppy and blogging about it, and your husband asks you if he should bring the service puppy on a visit to New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, but he sounds somewhat unenthused about bringing said service puppy because he'd prefer to sample his fresh Belgian brew unencumbered, and you say "hey no worries, she'll stay with me," here is my advice: Rather than acquiesce, tell him he must never, ever leave the service puppy at home, because he may wind up having a beer with Jacques Cousteau's granddaughter and wow what a good blog post THAT would have been!

L–R: Mr. Raiser, Alexandra Cousteau, Sister Raiser

Furthermore, if your sister is visiting from out-of-town and she and your good friend are accompanying your husband to said brewery while you hang out at home with another good friend and your dogs and their cat, EVERYONE INCLUDING THE CAT must always URGE your husband to BRING THE SERVICE PUPPY.

L–R: Raiser Friend Extraordinaire, Alexandra Cousteau, Sister Raiser

Finally, if you attend Alexandra Cousteau's talk later that day with aforementioned service puppy, do make sure to feed the service puppy dinner first (even if she has been snarfing down treats all day long) or else she will impatiently pop up every 30 seconds and give you "let's go" eyes, causing you to have to leave the talk extremely prematurely, i.e., before it even begins.

Heed my words and avoid these rookie raiser errors!

It was such a pleasure to meet Alexandra Cousteau and we thank her for her great commitment to environmental concerns. To find out more about Blue Legacy, her initiative to raise awareness about the world's water issues, please click here and here.

Where In The World Is Ruby?

2010-07-12T13:46:00.023-06:00

Hmm. The snoot is pointing due south/southeast...

in the vicinity of an indoor Everest...

have to make sure we're properly outfitted...

for the long hike back down...

where we finally reach base camp.

Whew, that was some trek! It's enough to make anydog hungry...

and tire-d.

Stealing A Kiss

2010-07-11T11:39:00.002-06:00

It Takes A Village

2010-07-07T07:45:00.002-06:00

As a service puppy raiser, I want to give my dog the most well-rounded education I can. I take Ruby everywhere and expose her to tons of different situations, but it's also good practice for her to take cues from, and listen to, people who are not "Mom."

Whenever Ruby is around our family or friends, I hand over the leash and have them work with her. They'll start with basic stuff such as sit, down, and stand, then move on from there.

Here's Ruby and her Grrrandma working on "Lap" and "Off" and a beautiful execution it is!

Another good opportunity presented itself recently during a walk. Ruby got all jumpy and overly excited when she approached a kid who wasn't familiar to her, but she needs to learn to sit calmly while people (especially children) interact with her. I knew I could just put Ruby in a sit and let the girl (I'll call her Ann and she's probably about 11 years old) pet her, but I thought it would be a good spontaneous lesson for Ruby to have to listen to Ann instead.

With her family looking on, I handed Ann the clicker and a pocketful of treats and let her work through Ruby's rambunctiousness. At first when Ann said, "sit," Ruby kept trying to jump on her, but as soon as Ruby sat, Ann clicked and treated her. Then, while Ruby sat, Ann tried to pet her and Ruby jumped up again. Ann stayed calm (great kid), backed off, and tried again. After a few tries, Ruby sat still with four paws on the ground while Ann patted her head. Click, treat. Awesome lesson. Unfamiliar trainer in unfamiliar surroundings, but our girl went from being a crazy kangaRoo to a chill pup, all under Ann's direction.

One more. Last week, my friend came over with her two young children. As we all sat down to a scrumptious lunch of Mexican delights, Ruby started taking liberties of the begging variety with the kids that she would never try with us. So, I told the kids to tell her to "Down." They did...and she did!

Happy Birthday, My Kiva

2010-07-03T08:53:00.010-06:00

Today our sweet Kiva is 12 years old. We met her at six weeks...

and took her home at eight weeks old in a cat carrier.

As a puppy, she liked to eat toes,

and socks.

Now, I can't say she's had the same level of training as Ruby, but she's had her share!

Right from a pup, she was very clever with such a sense of humor. She is totally attuned to us and utterly perfect for us. It's funny; someone once told me that when you dream of your perfect dog, you need to be realistic and adjust your expectations. I have to laugh because this black and tan dog so vastly exceeded any expectations we ever could have had.

When Kiva was six years old, she got cancer. To say we were devastated is an understatement. We found a compassionate vet who was familiar with her type of cancer and we asked him what we could expect. We were given a good one-year chance for survival, a not-so-good two-year chance, and he could not even discuss a three-year chance.

She had her surgery and for the first month or so, I wanted nothing but to care for her. As she healed I began to worry about recurrence. For the two years following her surgery, she recovered while I waited for the other shoe to drop.

There are so many lessons to learn from dogs if you just let them teach you.

On her eighth birthday, I finally accepted what she had been trying to show me for the past two years. She was enjoying her life while I was agonizing with worry over when it would end. She taught me the most important lesson I will learn in my lifetime: Live in the moment.

Of course, it's a much easier thing to say than do and as a world-class worrier, it took me two years (and 30 years prior to that) to understand. But she showed me. She showed me.

From her eighth birthday on, I stopped worrying about how many days, or months, or years we had left together and just enjoyed every single second. And while we lived in the moment, we received the remarkable gift of a whole second lifetime with her.

Happy twelfth birthday my precious girl. Your patience, grace, and spirit constantly inspire me. Together we share all our silly secrets, we tackle our troubles, and you have brought me more laughter and happiness than I ever could have dreamed.

Treats

2010-07-02T08:04:00.002-06:00

We've had a lot of visitors and house guests recently, which is a treat for us. It's also a treat for some lucky dogs.

I'm sure you'll wonder why I'm telling this story, but...

In her later years, my grandmother rented an upstairs apartment in the house of a young couple who lived on the main floor. One day, I arrived for a visit and found my grandmother inside the vestibule sorting the mail. There were two piles – one pile with a copy of the Victoria's Secret catalog on top, the other stack was topped with an AARP magazine. I asked Grandma whose pile was whose. I remember how she started to laugh, she just got a kick out of the thought.

This pic brought me right back to that moment.

Thank you to Kiva and Ruby's Grrrandma and Grrrandpa for the yummy treats...and for the memory of my own Grandma from so many years ago!

Mr. Raiser, Ruby, And The Conference Call

2010-06-23T07:40:00.000-06:00

Last week, Ruby accompanied me (Mr. Raiser) to work. It's always great having her with me; everyone in the office is interested in her progress, and she did very well, staying under my desk most of the day. At noon I had a conference call and while I was on the phone, Ruby discovered there was a fly in my office. She was extremely interested in the fly, and while she is excellent with, and would have responded to, the command "leave it," I really could not "give it" since I was leading the call. Ruby chased the fly around my office, creating a small (big) ruckus and I was quickly hitting mute in between sentences to try to silence the crashes. Eventually the situation resolved itself when the fly met an unfortunate demise.

Thank you, Ruby, for performing a great service and preventing the fly from interrupting the workflow for the rest of the day and perhaps the next day also.

Two Liver Brownies, Please. With Liver Sauce And A Side Of Liver.

2010-06-21T08:16:00.001-06:00

Special Delivery

2010-06-18T09:23:00.002-06:00

Ruby received her first mail the other day! A sweet little package arrived with an even sweeter gift inside:

This adorable charm is from the folks at Fetching Tags. It does look very fetching on our girl, doesn't it? It's just her style.

Many thanks to Jen at Fetching Tags for a dear gift that I will someday string on a silver chain. It will forever keep little Roo close to my heart and remind me of all the wonderful friends we've made along our journey.

A Little Pupdate

2010-06-15T08:30:00.004-06:00

Well, hello there!

It's me, Kiva. I figured it was time to pick up the slack and post a quick update on the Squirt.

But as long as I've got the keyboard, first things first. This is important. Somebody, please. Where can a dog can get a good mini-bagel in this state? Back east, they always used to bring me a special mini-bagel on Sunday mornings – crisp and chewy, warm and fresh. Ahh, I could smell it as soon as they pulled in the driveway. I love Colorado, but boy do I miss that mini-bagel. Any ideas, please email me. I could really use a little nosh.

Now about our Roo. She's just a little guy but pretty strong for her size. She's still young and gets herself all kinds of excited about being outside.

So Ma and Pa Raiser (now that I live in the country, I can use the vernacular) got her this odd little snoot-loop called a "Gentle Leader."

HA HA! Ahem. Just kiddin'!

If they had tried to loop my snoot like that when I was a pup, I would have bucked like a bronco and refused to wear it! But Roo took to it like a duck to water...or like me to water! So far, she doesn't balk when they put it on her, and it's made a huge difference on our walks.

You know, I'm staring down 12, a bit of a mature lady, not quite so energetic as I used to be. When all four of us go for a walk, Pa and I had to keep stopping every few seconds when Roo would pull and Ma had to redirect her. Start stop start stop...it was very exhausting for an old gal like me. I've got a touch of the arthritis plus I'm missing some of my original parts. But now Roo hardly pulls at all! The Snoot Loop is awesome! Two dewclaws up!!!

Like Ma says, "Good Girl, Roo!" And from one very good girl to another, you've earned it, pal!

Guest Post: Riding The Shuttle (Part 2)

2010-06-13T10:45:00.005-06:00

An outing about town with a service puppy in training is generally an always an adventure; this is what makes it fun. It is also always a learning experience for the puppy and the trainer. After the previous trip downtown, the following weekend Mr. Raiser (me) and Ruby suited up for another trek into the big city. This time we were to join up with 11 of Ruby’s classmates. Did I hear someone say challenging?

That’s Ruby, patiently sitting on a bus, riding down the 16th street mall, with 11 other dogs on the bus! She did pretty well with all the distractions: dogs and flip-flopped feet!

Ruby’s got a thing for her own kind…she’ll walk right past humans eager to pet her or distract her from her work, but the four-legged hairy creatures always get her attention. We’re working on it, and in the end, the day downtown with her classmates was a good experience. You have to give a puppy credit for trying really hard to focus, especially when tied to a rail with all of her buddies in a row:

We finished the day with a visit to the Platte River. Another successful outing under most challenging circumstances!

Asleep On The Job

2010-06-04T08:37:00.001-06:00

We know we've done a disappearing act lately, but her young paws and my old eyes have been taking a much-needed break from the keyboard and the screen. (Well, except for this, we're eagerly following the hunt!) Miss you all and be back soon!

Riding The Shuttle (Part 1)

2010-05-27T09:27:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago, we took Ruby to downtown Denver to get some experience riding the 16th Street Mall Shuttle. We didn't realize that the following weekend, her puppy class was to take the very same outing. It was interesting to see the contrast of how she behaved on her own and in the company of her puppy cronies. I'll take this one; Mr. Raiser will tell you about the group trip in a second post.

16th Street Mall is a popular downtown Denver tourist destination. It's a traffic-free, pedestrian-friendly strip with 16 blocks of shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. Since cars aren't allowed to drive down the Mall, free shuttle buses run continuously, making stops at every intersection. It's a great training area for a young service pup.

While we waited at the shuttle stop, we practiced adding some "distance" to the "sit" command – I would walk to the length of the leash in different directions, then return without her breaking the sit. She did extremely well.

Shuttles come very frequently so we weren't waiting long.

I had her sit until the doors opened and she boarded really politely, no problem at all.

The shuttle was pretty busy since people got on and off at every block, so I had her practice both "down" and "sit" as space afforded it.

I was really pleased at her focus, because there was a lot going on – constant movement, noise, people talking, shifting places, etc.

Taking public transportation with a service puppy in training guarantees you an audience – people are constantly asking questions. I encourage these dialogues, because I believe that service puppies are in public to educate as well as be educated. I was especially happy that Ruby did not break her position even if I was talking with someone, because she sometimes takes that liberty. It's as if she's thinking, "Hey, Mom made a friend, that must mean it's my friend now too, so I better go over and say hi!" But not this time. She was an awesome little ambassador.

We disembarked and set off for a little loose leash walking, which, as you all know, is not her strong suit in the great outdoors. But she must have been in the zone, because she walked nicely, with minimal pulling. Who was this dog?

So, surprisingly, she was much more focused and calm that day than I thought she would be. We had fun wandering along, you never know who you'll encounter walking down the street.

Really. You never know.

2 kangaRoos

2010-05-24T19:50:00.000-06:00

Having A Heart-To-Heart

2010-05-21T07:05:00.000-06:00

Ruby, now that you're a year old, the time has come to discuss the birds and the bees. We understand the temptation. But please stop chasing them. Especially the bees. We know you think they're your friends, but trust us. They're really not.

Ruby's First Hotel Room

2010-05-19T17:40:00.002-06:00

Ever since Kiva came into our lives nearly 12 years ago, all our vacations have been dog-centered. She's traveled with us to 21 states, criss-crossed the country a few times, and has frolicked everywhere from mountain meadows covered in wildflowers to cool, coastal beaches.

Kiva n' Me, Outer Banks of North Carolina, 1999

Kiva's an excellent traveler – I always say that of the three of us in the car, she's definitely the most well-behaved!

We wanted to make sure Ruby is at ease on long car rides and staying in unfamiliar places, so we planned a weekend getaway to Steamboat Springs, CO. May is my favorite month to travel with dogs because most destinations are still off-season. No crowds, cool enough for dogs to hike and walk around comfortably, and very easy to find pet-friendly places to stay at reasonable prices.

Cabins are great fun and would've been our first choice, but for this trip we wanted Ruby to experience a regular room, so we chose one of the typical chains.

We definitely had a lot of practice having Ruby wait to enter/exit through doors,

and calmly walk down hallways.

Ah, that exciting moment before you first open the door to your room. Will we have a good view? What kind of amenities will be provided? Maybe there's a shower cap!

Ruby dashed in and immediately rubbed against the bed, I guess to mark her territory,

and Kiva claimed her spot.

Years of road trips with a dog means you don't expect the super-deluxe room. For the most part, you get what they give you. We had called and booked something a bit larger (they knew we were traveling with two dogs) but when we arrived, they said pets were not allowed in the room we booked. That's fine. When you're with the pooches, you just roll with it.

If you've ever traveled with a dog, you know that in this setting, their keen sense of smell is both hilarious and frightening. They find certain spots to be very...intriguing. 'Nuff said. We don't even want to know.

Kiva is particularly concerned with hygiene when we travel. She felt the bathroom might've been somewhat suspect. And there's Ruby finding another...spot.

The "view" was of the pool, which, being May, was thankfully deserted. But when we arrived, she did see some kids splash around. We couldn't believe it, because we thought it was pretty chilly, but I guess kids don't care. If there's a pool, they're in it!

All in all, it was totally fine for our purposes and both Kiva and Ruby made themselves at home right away. I would have liked the larger room because we always eat meals in our room with our dogs, we never leave them alone. But that's ok, we were all pretty cozy.

The Results Of Our Eye Test?

2010-05-16T08:47:00.002-06:00

We passed!!! Well, Ruby passed. The doctor confirmed that her eyes are perfectly healthy. If she had failed her tests, she would have been released from the program, so we're very thankful that everything went well.

We went to lunch afterward to celebrate. And celebrate we did, until someone spied another little celebration happening outside the restaurant, and was not at all happy that she couldn't join their party.

In the spirit of this post, let's take a closer look.

I couldn't argue with her, they were having a great time out there. She, however, argued with me. Loudly. This is only the second time she's barked inside a public place (here's the first), and it's absolutely not funny. But it is kind of funny. So as I mortifyingly cringegiggled, I managed to divert her attention away from the dogs and quiet her down.

She was in, they were out, life's not fair.

Many treats were awarded for this indignant resignation. But I can only imagine the kind of dog swears going on behind those big, beautiful brown eyes.

Raindrops Plant Freckle Seeds

2010-05-15T18:28:00.003-06:00

Ruby Discovers The Art Of Upper Management

2010-05-13T08:18:00.003-06:00

But the worker bee doesn't mind at all – her favorite thing ever is to go for a swim!

When You Really, REALLY Have To Go

2010-05-11T08:10:00.000-06:00

Furry Scurry

2010-05-05T09:22:00.001-06:00

Every year, our local shelter, Dumb Friends League, holds a fundraising event called the Furry Scurry. It's really a sight – thousands of people and dogs walking together through the park. Thousands. Of dogs.

As you know, one of Ruby's biggest challenges is learning how to control herself around other dogs. I'll be honest with you, I was of two minds when I thought about bringing her to this event: 1) It's going to be a disaster. 2) It'll be so overwhelming, she'll just go with the flow.

Either way, it would be a valuable (and unique) training opportunity, so we decided to go.

When we arrived, she could see, smell, and hear all the hubbub in the distance, so I thought it would be good to do a little basic training before we hit the big time.

And she was great, she listened, she was her awesome Ruby self. Then we made our way to the route and the closer we got, the more excited she became. Of course, the second she spied all the dogs, she made a break for it – no pix, but I do have the leash burn to prove it.

How to describe her level of exuberance? Not a politician on the campaign trail...that's apathetic in comparison...

Ah! It was the canine equivalent of big dinners at my grandmother's house when I was a kid. In order to get to the meatballs, you had to make your way through the gauntlet of love – your own grandparents, other people's grandparents, your aunts, uncles and cousins – kissing, hugging, and embracing everyone along the way. Ruby was like my entire gigantic, affectionate Italian family rolled up into one exhilarated yellow puppy, rushing around, pinching all the other puppies' chubby cheeks.

So, yes, lots of this. I could have been wearing a bacon suit with a cheese hat, she couldn't have cared less about me.

Undeterred, I persisted. The crowd thinned for a moment; this was my chance to get her attention.

Bingo. I had her.

And then? Check this out:

Look at that droopy leash. Droopy leash! With two long-lost cousins just inches away! Unbelievable. I know it may not look like much to you, but the utter joy, excitement, and encouragement I get from this photo – seeing her glance at the dog but making the choice to just walk right by him – is indescribable.

Already feeling triumphant, we approached the starting line. A look ahead,

and a look behind. This was my first Furry Scurry and the amount of people and dogs is really unbelievable.

Ruby actually wound up being pretty good as we walked with the masses. Occasionally somedog or another would strike her fancy, but for the most part, she stayed the course.

I walked Kiva for most of the route. She was my perfect girl, as always.

A shot with both of my girls. The little imp turned around, of course.

I'm really glad we decided to go. I'm working hard on getting her used to being around other dogs without going crazy and I feel we made some progress here. And it was just so much fun being around all the dogs.

A few more shots of the day...

A volunteer was handing out poop bags at the finish line. Very cute.

Happy First Birthday, Sweet Girl

2010-05-03T08:35:00.000-06:00

I wasn't sure what to expect when Baby Roo arrived on our doorstep last year.

I really only had one worry, if my precious 11-year-old dog would adapt well to having a nutty puppy in the house. My angel, Kiva, calmed my fears right away (she always has) and taught me what patience really means.

With that settled, Team Ruby was on its way!

We went to school,

socialized,

met some very important people,

made new friends.

And with all these experiences, we started to grow.

We're learning so much about the world. Some lessons are smooth,

some challenging,

some are sorrowful,

and some are subtle,

but all are memorable and held deep in my heart.

And sure, we may make a few mistakes along the way,

but whatever happens, it always ends in smiles and laughter!

So, happy first birthday, my sweet baby, Ruby. It's the only birthday you'll spend with us, and the gifts I hope to give you are but a fraction of all the gifts you have already given me.