Raising a miracle.....

Stinson II (1/24/12 Celine II x Oz III), a Golden Retriever/Labrador cross.

Stinson's age.....

PitaPata Dog tickers

Friday, December 26, 2008

Puppy camp adventure

I spent a week in Ft. Myers with Roy and Debbie - they are raising Dancer (5 months). Dancer and I are best of friends now. Roy took me to a Christmas party and to the airport twice, but he forgot the camera, so here's really cute pictures of me and Dancer!





Happy Holidays!

From Baron, Daphne & Duchess - have a happy holiday season!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Out and About!

I went to Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities this week for the annual Bradenton Firefighters Christmas Party for everyone there. I had my first ride on a golf cart with Marla and her daughter, Lacey. There was an antique fire truck and Santa Claus showed up, too! It was a great party.

My puppy raiser volunteers at the Animal Rescue Coalition, so I go to the office with her. There are two very nice kitty cats there - Petey and JayLynn. I like them, but they ignore me.


While I was at the Community Haven, I got to visit with babies in strollers. There were FOUR babies in each one! They smelled really good, but most of them were sleeping.



Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Veteran's Day

This morning we went to the Veteran's Day Parade on Main St. in Sarasota - wow - it was really noisy! My friend, Daphe, was there and we met up with Baron later. Marching bands, motorcycles, drum & bagpipe corps, fire trucks and horses, too. It was a big morning for me - I took a very long nap this afternoon. More pictures soon.........

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Six months this week...

I went to the eye doctor with my raiser last week - they turned the lights off, but I held my 'Down-Stay'....what a good girl (and modest, too). I'm 51 lbs. now, still growing!
I love to play with my friend, Daphne - sometimes I let her win and sometimes I win, but we always have a good time and an even better nap afterwards.
I've never seen anything like this before - his name is PeeWee and he is a 140 lb. Mastiff PUPPY. He came to a puppy party at Aunt Barb's place. (All the puppies love to go to Aunt Barb's!) I was very polite and waited for him to finish with the water bowl. He was very gentle, but he slobbered alot.

Monday, September 29, 2008

5 months now!

I went to the mall last week with my guide dog friend, Quincy, and we went to the eyeglass store. I was very patient and behaved myself beautifully. I'm growing fast - 45 lbs. now.
My raiser and I went to the dentist today. Boy, was that fun - everybody there really liked me - even the patients. I rode an elevator and used the outside stairs, too. I'm getting really good at this stuff!
After the dentist, we went out to lunch and then to Morton's Market. I was exhausted!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Swimming!

My friend, Daphne (the yellow lab puppy), invited me to go swimming today with her raiser. It was my first time, so I had to learn how to find the steps. As you can see, Daphne and Baxter were really helpful.I jumped in one time and made a big splash. My raiser caught me before I sank and Daphne greeted us on the steps with lots of kisses. We really had fun! And, now I know how to look for the steps if I ever fall in a pool!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Duchess 19 weeks

Another busy week for me - I went to lunch with Nip & Jackie from King's Gate again - they were amazed at how big I was!
I went to Siesta Chapel with my PR's friend, Phyllis (she raises my friend, Daphne) for church on Sunday - I loved the kids and they loved me! I had a GREAT time playing at her house after church.
My PR is working on teaching me to sit, stay - I'm doing really well, don't you think?

Monday, August 25, 2008

Duchess 16-18 weeks


I finally got to meet the folks from Kings Gate Club - my puppy sponsor! We met Nip & Jackie for lunch and Baron, another King's Gate puppy and his Puppy Raiser Lorraine got to come, too! Thanks, King's Gate Club!

Today, we went to Peaches Restaurant and had lunch with my working Guide Dog friend, Pixie. She is a really good mentor for me and she let me snooze on her paw!

I went to the hair salon with my puppy raiser last week - I am getting really good at 'down-stay'! I am so proud of myself.



I had my 16 week vaccine and am now 'street legal', so I have been getting out more. We go to Publix every week and I am doing GREAT in the store. I weighed 32 lbs. at the vet and they say I am just perfect! I am learning more every day - we're working on 'stay' now and that's a tough one for a puppy.







Tuesday, August 5, 2008

14 Weeks


I had a very busy week, again! I had a puppy play date with my buddy, Daphne (I am STILL older!) and we played in the bird bath and wrestled each other. We had so much fun!



I love to snuggle up next to my half-sister, Tiller. I crawled right into her crate with her (she didn't think it was a very good idea and she left).





My puppy raiser took me to something called 'Brunch' at The Colony on Sunday. I wasn't impressed but found the furnishings quite comfortable. Everyone was very impressed with my manners (and my beauty!).


My puppy raiser says she is sad because I have to 'retire' the little puppy coat I am wearing and get a bigger one. I don't get it - isn't that what 'raiser' means? People sure are silly.....

Friday, July 25, 2008

13 Weeks

This week I gained two pounds (I'm up to 22 now!). I went out to lunch with my two friends, Barbie, a working guide dog and guide dog puppy, Baron, my mentors!
Me and my guide dog puppy friend, Daphne (I'm 10 days older!!) went to lunch at Leroy Selmon's. We were VERY good!
Posted by PicasaI love my crate and my raiser gives me a nice, soft pillow to help me sleep. Just 2 more weeks and I will be able to go everywhere (after I get all my shots- whatever that means?) with my raiser and my puppy friends!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Duchess at 12 Weeks




I had my 12 week shots this week and said goodbye to my friends at Fruitville Elementary School where my Puppy Raiser volunteers with the summer reading program. I love the kids!!!

10 & 11 Week pictures





This was a very busy week for me - my first rides in the car, first dinner out (notice the adoring fan), and TWO lunches! One with my Guide Dog friend, Quincy (and his dad, Bruce) and one with all my guide dog puppy friends at Patrick's (and my PR's friends, too).

Duchess at 9 weeks



My first couple of days in my new home with my Puppy Raiser. Boy, was I tired! I had my first lessons on how to behave on the tie-down and played 'till I dropped!

My first attempt at blogging!


I thought I would give this a try to post pictures of my adventures raising guide dog puppies. This is Duchess, age 8 weeks, before she left the campus on June 25, 2008, and came home to live and learn with us for the next 18-20 months. She was sponsored by King's Gate Club in Nokomis, FL. They have sponsored many puppies for Southeastern.