Milliken Makes Mary Kate...HAPPY!

It's amazing how quickly my daughter with autism and developmental delay has become best friends with Milliken! He's teaching her so much. As soon as she gets home from SOAR, which is a school for kids with special needs, she wants to see "the pup peeee" as she calls him. He comforts her and encourages her when she's bathing or using the bathroom, and since she is still learning to go potty, he encourages her to try just by his mere presence...and he's not even fully trained, yet! Milliken seems to be in tune with her needs. If he's with me and hears her yell or cry, he'll run to her to comfort her. We are fostering Milliken as a puppy, and love having him in our home. He's going to make a special child a great service dog one day. I see so much potential in him.

My husband and I went to PETCO last night to look for a Samsa bed for Milliken, but, they didn't have any. We've got several commands for Milliken that we're working on..namely, "Place" (hence the need for the bed), "Here", which he's doing GREAT at, "let's go" (walking on a leash-still kinda not doing too well on that one-he's stubborn sometimes!) I'm glad that we're learning a few commands at a time at puppy class. I think that's good not only for me but for Milliken, too.

By the way, did I mention how much we love Milliken? Dogs for Autism is such a blessing to the community. There's such a need for this program, and I'd like to thank the volunteers and all of the people involved with Dogs for Autism, especially Julie Nye. Thank you!!!!

Poopcicles…

Lucy has found a new favorite treat when she goes outside. She comes back in licking her lips and I have a pretty good idea what she has been up to. She seems to enjoy it more lately since it’s been below freezing and more like a Poopcicle.

I know the best thing to do is keep the feces picked up all the time. The problem is I have 4 dogs at the house including Lucy so that is nearly impossible. Every two days the back yard looks like a minefield.

My boxer mix (Sydney) had the same problem when she was a couple years younger. It just took time to correct the behavior. I got all kinds of suggestions then of things to make the feces less enjoyable. I never tried it, but they include, red pepper, bitter apple spray, hot sauce etc.

All I can think of to do is keep the yard picked up, and keep an eye on Lucy when she is outside. If I can catch her in the act a few times and correct the behavior hopefully it will stop. Any other suggestions or ideas?

McIver Goes to Work

McIver has spent the past 2 afternoons with me at work. He has behaved exceptionally well. He has also won the hearts of all of my co-workers. I have explained to so many people what his future holds and they are so impressed with him, the program and everything. He walks the halls with me and citizens initiate conversations and ask questions. Dogs for Autism is definitely on parade at the Pickens County Administration building. My boss, the county administrator also wants to do an article about McIver and the program in our annual newsletter to citizens so hopefully we can make that happen. Iam thinking the exposure will be great for the pocketbook!

On a funny note, he is obsessed with the wooden door stops we have. So we have to work on that. I guess I am thankful he isn't obsessed with my boss's Italian loafers! (I don't know if he really wears Italian loafers but whatever!)

Marshall The Adventurer

Marshall is becoming quite the adventurer...So, time to really work on "leave it!" Good news, though, is that the cats don't seem to be as interesting. It is fun to watch Marshall develop. He changes within just days! It seems we finally understand one command when another challenge pops up. However, he is a quick learner. It seems if we focus short sessions on one topic over a few days he starts to understand, and we throw in other learned things along the way as reinforcement. He is quickly learning to sit and wait before coming back in from outside. I even think yesterday he tried to ring the little bell hung on the doorknob to go outside--except that he's still a little to small to reach it. I put it there in hopes that watching the big dog hit it with his nose everytime, he would learn by observation. Only time will tell.

Also, other good news...So far this week, every time I've come home from work after a long day. I would find Marshall mostly calm in his little bathroom on the RIGHT side of the baby gate!

Remember us???

Hello world....we're still here. Life has been a bit wild lately. Not like this is news, but can you imagine what it was like for a while with 15 puppies running wild? Oh wait....if we count the older ones, it was more like 24 puppies. Now, thanks to a lot of help spreading the word, and even more help sorting through the variables to get puppies matched to around 100 call-in volunteers...we now have 22 volunteer puppy raisers! Thankfully, a few of them have volunteered to help me keep this puppy blog up a little more current. Hey....you puppy raisers who are newly invited blog authors: if you're new to this format....look to the right. Up there at the top of the page. See the light blue lettering menu in the dark blue band? Click on the one that says "New Post" and tell us about your puppies!

New puppy photos will be along as soon as possible. Hopefully the volunteer raisers will share a few too!

Bloat

Lucy likes to eat very very fast. Is Bloat a concern? Do I (we) need to get her a "eat slow dog food bowl"?
-Jason

I had a strange dream where I was in a walking in the city wearing a red vest . . .

Sometimes I sits & thinks, and sometimes I just sits.

Do I see a C*T????

Girls rule, boys drool.

If I could get down from here, I'd bite your foot.

Kiss me, you fool!

Forget pictures. I need a nap.

Ain't I cuuuute???

Pupdate

It's been a while since I've been able to post...I think all readers will understand that life in PuppyLand is a bit rushed these days. But I thought you would like to meet the M puppies, now that they are all named and starting to show their personalities! The names were chosen in honor of various people, locations, or streets in Greenville. With the limitations of this blog format, I think I'll have to make each of the eight photos into a different post. Stand by!