Puppy Picnic and Meeting My Big Brother

I have had a busy busy Memorial Day weekend. I hope everyone had a nice relaxing holiday weekend. First on Friday my big half-brother Graham Cracker came home. He was at SSD's kennels for advanced training. He comes home on weekends until he goes to his new partner; however Graham will not be a service dog due to some issues that came up while in advanced training. His future is still being determined, he will either be a demo dog or released as a pet for someone. Anyways Graham is much much bigger and darker than I am! Here is a picture of us chewing on bones, can you see what I mean?

On Sunday we went to a puppy picnic! I got to play with my puppy class friends and a few extra dogs. I had tons of fun. First I got to play in this big yard, that really wore me out! While everyone ate I found a nice cool place to sleep!

I got to play a game called Bobbin For Biscuits! Its where they put treats in water and I had to fish them out. I had to see how many I could get it 30 seconds! My grand total was 1, here is the video:

After Bobbin for biscuits, I was given a huge ice cube with dog treats in it! It took me like forever to get all the treats, but I ate all the ice when the treats were all gone! I even went swimming for the first time! I'm not sure if I like it yet. I watched Mom set up our pool this morning, I will give it another try to today.

Last but not least Mom and I played Musical Chairs! I had to sit before Mom could sit. The first time we played I was the first one out. The next time around we almost won. Boy was I tuckered out by the end of the day! I had a great time and can't wait till the next one when I am bigger!

My First Puppy Class

Last night I went to my first puppy class. I got to meet 2 yellow labs and a golden retriever. I was too focused on my mommy and the treats she had to play with the other dogs, but I bet they will be a lot of fun once I get bigger.

I did learn to walk on some new surfaces, for example a wire crate, a sand papered board (its normally used to file our nails) and a garbage bag. I was great I even sat on some of these strange things. Mom also tried shaping me to do something with a small box! I have no idea what she wanted but every time I looked or nosed it I got a click and treat. We also tried shaping to put my harness on again. I can stick most of my head under it. Mom says I am very smart for a 9 week old puppy. I also showed off my loose leash walking skills, both on and off the leash.

I did have fun but boy was I tired afterwards. While mom was talking with the other puppy raisers she held me, which I love, and rubbed my belly and I fell right to sleep. When I got home I was still exhausted. Mom even took this picture:

Mom says this weekend I get to meet my big half-brother SSD Graham Cracker for the first time. I am excited, he is finishing up his advanced training so he can tell me all about this great journey I am on. In my next post I will tell about how it goes and about a puppy picnic I'm going to this weekend. I'm off to sleep again!

Hello World

Hello! I'm Lewey, a Susquehanna Service Dog (SSD) in training. This blog is about me learning how to be a great service dog. My mom and I are going to do our best keeping you updated on my progress. Tomorrow I turn 9 weeks old. I am a male yellow labrador retriever. I came to live with my new family last Thursday. I now have a mom and dad and two big black labs to play. Finch, an 8 year old lab, who really doesn't play with me and Burnaby, an year old lab, who loves to play with me! I am my mom's 4th SSD dog.

Since I came to my new home I have started to learn things! I learned what a clicker is! Its an amazing thing that makes a noise and then a treat comes after that! Boy do I love my treats! I have gotten the hang of sit on a verbal cue and mom started down and shaping me to put my harness on! She says I am a very quick learner! I even went on my first official outing the other day. I went to a pet store and a home improvement store. I met lots of wonderful people and got lots of treats. Mom even said I was being amazing.

Well I got to go, but tomorrow night is my first puppy class! Mom says I get to meet some new friends and I can't wait!