Spay Maryland Needs Help!

Please help this wonderful organization by making a donation to their new anesthesia monitor!

They're very bully friendly...and we like that around here!

Also, if you're in the Ellicott City area and like to eat out...Spay Maryland has a fundraiser on January 20th at Jilly's in Ellicotty City:

"We are having a fund raising night at Jilly's Restaurant in Ellicott City on Tuesday, January 20th. Please come out for dinner! Spay Maryland will get proceeds that night from every meal sold. You do not need to tell the server that you're there for Spay Maryland and there's no invitation to print out or anything. You just need to show up, have a good time, and enjoy some great food! Jilly's is located at 10030 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City MD, 21042."

~SDS (bully friendly himself)

Bryce will be moving on...

Mom finally has a puppy raiser for Bryce, so he'll be moving on this week. We'll miss him, but he'll finally get someone with more time for him. Right now, Mom's been busy with Xander (and his hurt leg) and other stuff...and she hasn't had the time for Bryce. He's gotten tons of experience with animals and other dogs, and plenty of quality socialization, but his training has been lacking. He has great attention and sits (no matter the distraction...he can sit and watch Mom on the sidelines of a flyball tournament!). He also can nose-target to a hand...and his tug and retrieve skills have been moving along nicely. But that's about it...and Mom knows he could be doing more.

We'll still see him each week with his new puppy raiser...so that'll be great.

Such a cute pup...


Part of being a puppy is learning good doggy social skills!







~SDS (teaching the Puppies in Training...one pup at a time!)

A day in Baltimore...

We went to Baltimore today, and walked around the Inner Harbor with the Grumparents. It was nice...a bit cloudy, but pretty warm for December! 50+ degrees on the water! Weird!

We ate in the food court, and did some window shopping, and then went and looked at the boats in the water. Very nice. Mom took lots of pics...she'll have to post some soon. She's way behind on posting pics...very sorry! Maybe this week, we'll give you an All-photo blog entry!

~SDS (tired but happy!)

Don't waste your money...

We tried our new pet nail sander today...Mom had it wrong, it's not the Peticure, but the Pedi Paws one.

Awful...the thing is too slow/weak to do our nails. Mom thought it would be a nice alternative to the heavy dremel she uses now, but it wasn't good at all. We all can handle the dremel at medium speed, but this thing spooked us because it kept stopping and skipping when our nails touched it. Barely did anything for our nails. Mom gave up after trying mine and Score's nails, and then did Xander's too. You can't tell that she used the thing. Stupid product.

Save your money, Mom says, and get a real dremel (she hears that the Pet Sander version is quite nice n' portable). We got this Pedi Paws as a present from our Grumparents...hopefully they can get their money back.

~SDS (happy that he didn't get his nails done today!)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hope everyone had a good day! We sure did...though my Grumpa sat in my spot on the couch all day!

It was a fun day filled with happiness and lots of food...and lots of presents!

Mom got a new "contraption" today...a Peticure. She said she's getting batteries tomorrow and doing all of our nails. Great. Sounds like fun. (not)

Merry Christmas! We'll be back with new pics soon!

~A very satisfied SDS

Happy Holidays!

Doggie Christmas Surprise!

Happy Holidays to everyone!

~SDS

Why am I so good with other animals?

Maybe because I live with soooo many. We know many Assistance Dogs with prey drive problems...but not me. I am immune to small critters. We were at a rodent show last year, and a ferret was running lose, and ran over my front legs as I laid by John's scooter. Mom saw me...I didn't even flinch. (the ferret then took up occupancy under the scooter and had a fine time playing there)

Mom tries to take all of the "zoo" to puppy class every so often, so the puppies that don't live with us can get some exposure too. Not every puppy raiser keeps a small community of critters in the house like Mom does. And all of our critters are dog-savvy and dog-friendly. Like Fry, the new kitten pictured above. He's either really brave, or kinda dumb. Below is a picture of him with a visiting whippet friend, Cruz. Crazy kitten!




Bryce (the Fidos collie pup in training) and Fry are now friends, btw...Mom keeps trying to get pics of them playing, but they're so fast...the pics are always blurry! She'll keep trying!

John wants to brag on me...

I can't believe it...John actually wanted to brag about me in writing today! So I am graciously turning the blog over to him tonight!

*Some details were edited to keep this blog PG. ;)

~SDS

While shopping for pen kits and stuff we had a run in with the store owner's dog, a Shiba Inu. I saw the dog in another corner of he store and he was sniffing the air, I guess he smelled Sawyer, then he disappears for about a minute. Next thing I see is this dog sliding to a stop in the aisle next to us, he back pedals and immediately sticks his nose right into Sawyer's face. Sawyer does a quick sniff and comes right back to my side so we can continue our shopping and the Shiba continues to shove his nose up Sawyer's rear end*. After the dog not leaving us alone, I had to put my hand on the shiba's head to push him away, multiple times, one of the employees finally comes over and just tells the dog to leave us alone and walks off. I guess we ignored the dog long enough and he went away. We move to another part of the store and the dog gets right up into Sawyer's face so Sawyer turns away from him then the stupid dog tries to put his head/neck onto Sawyer's back, then wants to play. Sawyer finally has had enough and lets out a low, quick grumble and to my surprise the Shiba just stops without any kind of reaction. He just looked at Sawyer and decided to make himself a little smaller and just went away.

Sawyer behaved amazingly well, like he always does. I could not believe how well the Shiba was with people and Sawyer. I've always heard that Shibas are not good with other dogs. This one was a little rude but backed off really quickly when he was told off.

Whoohoo Bean!

I should probably give Erin a little credit for Sawyer's behavior too.

-John (Sawyer's human)

Have you been naughty or nice?

I've been very nice this year...helping John with all sorts of things. I think Santa will definitely bring me some good stuff this year. I've got my stocking hung up and everything. Now I just have to wait a few more days!

I may not get a chance to post too much until after the new year...my Grumparents are coming in for Christmas next week! I hope everyone has a great Holiday, no matter what you celebrate!

~SDS (trying so hard to stay "good for goodness sake!")

The Goo Girls

Mom was going through her photobucket account, and found this pic of the Goo Girls...she had no idea the photobucket albums had so many pics!

We just had to share this pic, as they're so cute. This is Teyla and Trillian...they're degus, a South American rodent. They were having a playdate in the tub.



Surrounded by small creatures
~SDS

New toy!

A new toy! I'm very excited!
~SDS

Clean bill of health

I went to the vet today...a new vet that gives discounts to Service Dogs. (how very nice of them!) I got an exam, my distemper combo shot and horror of horrors, *whispers* they took a fecal sample. I grumbled for that one. Ugh. Who wouldn't?

Everything was good, of course, I am perfect in every way. (Riiighhhhtttt...says Mom)

It's nice to have everyone ooh and ahh over me of course...they were impressed at my skills (I offered them lots of behaviors for some kibble). It was a nice time. Mom wishes Inara would find the vet as fun as Score and I do. Silly sister!

Anyway...I've got to go nap on the couch, it's been a long day.

Happy and healthy for the new year
~SDS

I am a Life Saver!

That's right, I officially became a Blood Donor today. My first time giving blood, and it couldn't have been easier.

Mom left me with the vet and techs, and went out to walk Score (big baby wouldn't potty in the rain). She was waiting in the lobby when I was done, and they brought her into the room where I was. I was having a blast...walking around eating treats and mugging them for more. They told mom that I was really good, that they didn't think I even knew what was going on (there was PEANUT BUTTER). Then they threw some treats into the water bucket, and I amused them by blowing bubbles as I stuck my entire head into the bucket.

I got a new red bandanna that says "Blood donation the humane way." I look quite smashing in it.

This is quite a nice addition to my resume, don't you think? Service Dog, Therapy Dog, Flyball Dog, now Blood Donor.

~SDS: The man of many talents

PS...for more information on giving blood in Maryland and Virginia...check out Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank (EVBB)

Pit Bulls and Pretty Girls

Mom says that I have to give her a plug for the new calendar that she and Score are in. It's a calendar with pin-ups and their pit bulls (or mixes like Score). None of the girls are models...they're all just pit bull owners that wanted to help out.

All of the proceeds go to Operation Hug A Hero. This is a special fund to help get "Hug a Hero" or "Daddy" dolls to kids that have lost a parent in the line of duty or simply can't afford one. These special dolls are printed with the likeness of a loved one that is overseas, in the hospital, etc. What a great thing!

Mom is "Miss November", if you want to check her out!


Pit Bulls and Pretty Girls

It's a great present for those deployed overseas or anyone that loves pit bulls (or pin-ups!)

~SDS

Flyball again...

This time it's our new YouTube videos...put together by a team member-Jenn. (She's also my new flyball handler.) :)


The Two-Lane Highway Team Video


And our blooper reel!

We'll be flyballin' again this weekend...hopefully getting some more good videos to share with all of you!

~SDS: Proving once again, that Service Dogs do play!

So busy!

It's hard to find time to blog when you're a busy guy like me! What with all of the relatives and friends over for Thanksgiving, flyball tournaments and other fun stuff, it's been crazy around here!

Mom says it's a slow day today, so we'll get back and blog about our puppy class field trip from last night...but later! Be patient! For now, some updates on the household:

Bryce is doing well, and growing lots of nose and legs. No one asks "What breed is he?" anymore...most people can guess "Collie" now. Hard to miss that needle nose. He's making friends with the kitten, Fry, and charms everyone he meets. Except for Mom when he poops on the floor behind her.

Xander is still on crate rest, and will need surgery soon. His ACL is still bothering him, he barely puts weight on it. Mom is guessing that it's more than a partial tear. Now we have to raise the money for his surgery somehow. Ugh. He's a good boy though, Mom says, and is quiet in his crate (not like me!)

I'm doing well...been getting out a lot. (John hates to go out when it's cold...but Mom tells him that I need to get out some, so he goes out-just for little ol' me!) I love to get out and go places...that's one reason I love being a Service Dog. I've been behaving myself everywhere we go...Mom and John have been very proud of me. It's been 2 years since I decided that this was the life for me...and I think we're all very pleased at my decision. (the humans think THEY made the choice...right!)

The big news? I got an invite to be part of the DogTime Blog Network...so I'm going to be a DogTime Blog Star soon! We'll have more of an audience soon! Thanks for the invite, DogTime!

That's it for now...I'll hopefully have some puppy class pics up later!
~SDS