Last Chance Playtime

Just like Biggest Loser's Last Chance Workout, and Top Chef's Last Chance Kitchen, Smokey is getting his Last Chance Playtime before he makes the long trip back to Florida for IFT. Here's a gallery of recent snapshots. Enjoy!

Fun at the ball park

 burnin off some energy

 how bout running the bases with me, dad?

 Yessss.. that feels good dad!

 Hi mom!

 Life is goooooood.

 Puppy crazies...

 The sand and gravel is fun to run in

 Ease up buddy!

 Hey mom, where are the treats?

Easily entertained...

Smokey likes to watch these things flying around outside our back door at night...

 

They are attracted by the light. Greg calls them Gallinippers. 

Some people call them Mosquito Hawks, but they don't bite.

what do you mean they don't bite?

Staying warm on a cold winter's day

 Have snuggle wrap..will travel

 This blankie stayed on for several hours

 Snug as a bug.. or a Gallinipper.

Frolicking with dad

 Sometimes watching Golf can get a little boring... and dad falls asleep

 it's my job to wake him up to play!

My home away from home...

 the car!  It means I'm going somewhere fun and I love to GO!

Goofin around on Valentines Day:

 Won't you Be Mine?

I love my toys...

 

 I sleep with them..

 I play with them...I chew them...

 Hey mom, come play with me!

 Smokey frequently plops his toys up in the chair with me to summon me to play. Or, maybe in this case, he's just hinting around for a gnawhide ring refill for his Busy Buddy Bone? 

The best medicine ... puppy dog kisses!

Every month, volunteer puppy raisers for Southeastern Guide Dogs are expected to gather together with our pups-in-training for an outing in a public place. We are always looking for opportunities that will be good exposure for our puppies which will benefit their training to be successful guide dogs. 

In February, The Houston Puppy Raisers - south team - chose to visit a nursing home. The Colonnades at Reflection Bay, a skilled nursing home facility in Pearland, TX, welcomed us into their facility on Sunday, Feb 12th. This visit meant alot to us. It was a blessing to the residents we greeted and it was a good learning experience for our puppies.

Here are some photos from our outing.

 From left, Melissa and Greg with Smokey, Meredith and Michael with Tulip, Abby and Sharon with Suzette, Karen and Chris with Jane, Jenni with Lou-Lou, Bob and Carol with Hannah, and Gabby with Lou

 From Left: Jenni with Lou-Lou, Smokey (in foreground), Eileen

Roaming the halls, looking for new friends...

Karen and Chris with Jane (in background), Greg with Smokey (in foreground)

Members of The Colonnades Staff were impressed with the pup's good behavior.

Smokey and Jane

Eileen, Michael with Tulip, Jenni with Lou-Lou

 Abby & Sharon with Suzette, Gaby & Gloria with Lou, Carol with Hannah, Greg with Smokey

  Carol with Hannah, Greg with Smokey, Chris with Jane

It was very gratifying to see all the dogs so well-behaved, especially as we stood visiting in the foyer.

The dogs were especially good around all the "moving" wheel chairs.  Some pups were invited into a few patient rooms to visit bed-ridden patients so they could pet the pups.  Normally, pups-in-training are not allowed pets in jacket after 10 months of age. In this instance, we were allowed to treat all dogs regardless of age, as Ambassador Dogs, so patients could pet freely. What better medicine is there than puppy dog kisses?

 The facility is two story so we spent a bit of time working the puppies to "find" and ride in the elevator.

Going up, anyone?

This was the last outing for Smokey, Suzette, Lou-Lou and Hannah who go IFT on March 3.

We love you always and will miss you. Go forth and make us proud!

Great job puppies and handlers!

Thanks to the staff and residents of The Colonnades, for the warm welcome!

My Number One Doctor

I am getting ready to go back to Florida for final training. I need one more shot before I leave Texas. I am bummed at the thought of getting a shot, but happy to get one more chance to see my favorite vet - My Number One Doctor - Dr. Miller, owner of Veterinary Medical Center of the Gulf Coast.

Feb 2012

Mom took some photos to remember the moment, and we thought it would be fun to show you how much I've grown since I first went to see Dr.Miller in March 2011.

Feb 2012

March 2011

Below are some then and now photos taken at the front desk

Dad and me, Feb 2012

March 2011

These photos below show me waiting in the lobby with Dad

Feb 2012

March 2011

I moved from baby scales to big boy scales, as you can see in the photos below.

Feb 2012... 67.6 lbs

March 2011.....14 lbs

Aww, what a little baby I was! 

I remember being scared to sit on those baby scales.

Below, I'm waiting and watching....and trying to sit still. 

Hard to do sometimes, with all the distractions in a vet waiting room!

Feb 2012

March 2011

 Man, am I brave.

Getting a shot is no big deal, well, that's because I'm a big boy now.

It wasn't so easy when I was a baby.

Feb 2012...big boy shot

March 2011...baby boy

Below are photos taken with Dr. Miller.

I'm too big to hold now, huh, Doc?

Feb 2012..dad, me, and Dr. Miller

March 2011... me, Dr.Miller, and Vet Tech

I will report that this time I went to see Dr. Miller

 I noticed ONE BIG DIFFERENCE...

 yep, uh huh, sitting up there on that bench. 

I got to see the office pet, a cccccat. 

But the LAST time I visited Dr. Miller, I got a TREAT.

Hmmm... Cats are O.K., but if you ask me,

I'd rather have gotten the treat!

Hey, Mr. Cat, did you perhaps get my treat?

Thanks, Dr. Miller for taking good care of me during my puppy training year in Texas. I know that mom and dad's new puppy-to-train, Stross, will love you just as much as I do.

 

Be sure to visit Dr. Miller on Facebook (Veterinary Medical Center of the Gulf Coast) or visit his website at http://vetmedcenter.net/

Love

Smokey