Phrase of the Day: Social Support Network

A bad day. A bad month. A bad year.

Whatever IT is for you, I have the solution: Social Support Network.

Fun. Happiness. Bliss.

We spent the day at Crown Center in Kansas City with my friends (think Social Support Network) Lassiter, Putnam, Raj, and Chloe. Yes, their humans (+1) were there too. What a wonderful day; what a wonderful opportunity to practice our skills in the most overstimulating environment I have been in to date; what a wonderful way to meet people and tell them about Canine Companions for Independence! (SWMBO adds: sharing ice cream at Sheridan's was wonderful too! --oh no; she didn't share ice cream with ME, if that is what you are thinking!)

Thanks so much to our Puppy Program Coordinator for all of the fun and fellowship!

See our story in pictures below.

Here They Come! Here They Come!


Seein' The Sights


Me and My Buds (Social Support Network)


Lassiter! Stop Goosin' Me!



Practicing Our Lap Command


They Love Us


"The Master" Puts Me Through My Paces With the Back Command


Practicing Our Implicit Sits--Chloe Won!


Lassiter! Christmas Is Too Over!


So Good She Can Train Two Puppies At Once!


What It is All About...

I am so excited! Is it tomorrow yet?

Big things going on tomorrow! I can't wait!

Don't I look excited?

My name is Ansel, but my friends call me...Sniffalickasaurus!

Nuff said!

Bad News, Fun News

Ok, so yesterday and today have been interesting. Bad news first.

Bad News #!: I vomited again today. Sigh. The humans are quite upset. Humph! What about me? So, Dear Readers, if any of you are volunteer puppy raisers who have dealt with cyclical, systemic vomiting in a year-old puppy, please write to my humans and share your experiences and guidance!

Bad News #2: (Part of the good news is that we spent the day with great friends). However, as an intact male, I took that opportunity to try out something called a "marking" behavior--in the house! WOW! If you want to see humans fly into action, I recommend it!

Good News: WHAT A GREAT DAY! Spent time with my buds Bri, Winslow, and Benita. I was exhausted. Check out the pics of me and my pals!

THE YELLOW COLLECTION BY CCI
(Me, Winslow, Bri [aka The Old Man], and Benita)





Bri, Winslow, and Me



FLYING UP THE STAIRS WITH WINSLOW; BRI WATCHES US CRAZY YOUNG'UNS!


I WON THE GENE SIMMONS LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST

Assistance Dog Exhibition--Save The Date!

Offered as Part of K-State For All! Week

Meet assistance dogs and handlers. Visit with puppies-in-training and volunteer puppy raisers. Listen to their stories. Learn about their lives. Decide if an assistance dog might be for you. Discover how you can change a life.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Kansas State University, Student Union
Informal Meet-N-Greet from 11:00 AM-11:45 AM, Ground Floor
Formal Presentation from Noon-1:00 PM, Forum Hall

Or, Attend Live Via The Web (formal presentation only) at: http://ksre.ksu.edu/seminars

WELCOME BY:
Dean Ralph Richardson, College of Veterinary Medicine,
Kansas State University

FEATURING SPEAKERS AND DOGS FROM:
Canine Companions for Independence:
Exceptional Dogs for Exceptional People




















KSDS, Inc.:
Guide Dogs, Service Dogs, Social Dogs




















FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

For more information, please contact:
dsellers@ksu.edu.

Then and Now

After reading a fellow CCI puppy raiser's blog (Elijah & Dembre), it made me go back and grab a couple of pictures. These two pics cannot be the same pup! Hard to believe that 10 months has gone by since Ansel made the trek to Kansas. It sure has been a lot of fun. Sometimes frustrating, but fun none the less.

March 2010



January 2011

Went to the nursing home today

We finally got out of the house today. Spent all morning working at the nursing home and then playing out in the snow.

I got to see my friends at the nursing home first. Saw Pretty Boy and found out it's really "Pretty Girl" (she laid an egg).



Worked on my professional behavior and brought out lots of smiles!






Then TBG decided to test me out with a wheelchair. For my very first time around these things, I think I did a pretty good job.



Check out the doofus holding the leash! He's so embarrassing to be around.




We got back to the house and they suited up (it must be horrible to spend so much time dressing for the cold). We went out for a long walk, a little work and a lot of play!

Click here: Playing in the snow

I'm in Heaven

OK, so TBG and SWMBO decided to take TBG's younger brother out for a milestone birthday dinner. They showered and got all cleaned up. Called for me, put my "harness" on, and we headed outside. I'm thinking "cool;" I get to go! We take care of important business just like we always do before a road trip, but then we go back inside and I hear those dreaded words..."Ansel...Kennel."

What the......THEY'RE leaving me at home? Come on man, give me some love, people! Needless to say, I got to spend some "me" time at home while they went out and partied. I kept mumbling to myself about how mean and unfair it was, but before I knew it they were back.

Here are a couple pics of where they went to dinner.






I must admit though, that they obviously felt bad about it because this is what they brought home just for me!




I think I've gone to doggy heaven!! To all my fellow CCI buds: I'm bringing these with me to the meeting in KC next week. I suggest you prepare for some dodgeball!!!

California Dream'n

How did I luck out in the draw as to where I would end up. I was born in California and raised in Kansas. If I only knew then what I know now!!!

So we finally got some snow and it was fun to play in. We woke up this morning and went about the normal morning activities; that would be me eating breakfast. Then I saw TBG putting layer after layer on and after what seemed to be hours, we headed outside.

Holy mackerel, I thought my poor little.....ummm....feet were going to freeze and fall off! I had TBG take a picture of the temp gauge that's outside.



Are you kidding me? -9??? Chunky man said that with the wind blowing it was -20!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that's way too cold for someone as precious as me. I didn't even want to stay outside and play. TBG tried tossing a tennis ball for me to chase and I just stood there looking at him. Does he really think I'm stupid? I was heading back in whether he wanted to go or not!

Spring can't get here soon enough.

Snow Day

I vaguely remembered this white stuff from my first day in the Sellers home way back in March of 2010. I really didn't see much of it till today and let me tell you....it is FUN

We went out for a walk and I got to do a little free range running in the snow!! Snow is some fascinating stuff and I just couldn't keep my sniffer out of it.

Here's a picture and a few videos of me running and working on a few commands in the snow. Don't mind the Kansas wind, it's ALWAYS like that.










Sniffasaurus at work

Details

Hello everyone! I had a great time Monday night at the Sertoma Club. SWMBO (She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed) did her thing and I got to show off all of my skills. A wonderful volunteer let me do a "lap," well, in his lap, and I laid down nicely under the table while the humans ate dinner. Afterward, the nice person in the photo put me through my paces. She's a great pack leader and would be a wonderful puppy raiser...if I do say so myself!



I visited the eye doctor. SWMBO had trouble with the chart...but I didn't! The doc said I was good to go--no spectacles for me!





I went to K-State too, this week, but then everything ground to a halt after my food didn't sit well with me again. Talk about humans-in-action! Mona The Vet and Suzanne The Puppy Program Manager were consulted, and I guess I'll be trying out a new dog food for those of us who are "sensitive." So, I AM actually kinda grounded (low-key events/places only) for the next two weeks to see if my stomach settles down.

Well, during the consultation with Suzanne The Puppy Program Manager, the humans outlined for her all of my whacky, lovable, eccentric behaviors. You know me--basically they were talking about my excessive licking, and desire to go on "hoover patrol". So, the humans took video of me for the past two days and are sending it to CCI for some study by the experts. We'll let you know what they say!

What I Have Been Up To This Week

1. Presentation at the Sertoma Club in Manhattan
2. Visit to K-State
3. Making a video, starring...ME!

Look for details this weekend!

I'm TIRED!

To the Vet!

So, I haven't exactly been sharing the WHOLE story with you, my peeps. I hope that you will forgive my desire for a little privacy until I had something to report.

Thing is, I haven't been exactly up to snuff the past week or so--of course, over the holidays! Because I know that I have some sensitive readers out there, I will just say that my food has not been sitting well with me this past week....though I have been feeling fine, eating, drinking, running, playing, (licking) in my usual way.

Well, after the third time, the humans decided I needed to see one of my favorite people, Mona The Vet. So, we went there, weighed in, and Mona The Vet prodded me, poked me, and listened to me (all in the very kindest way). After a bit of discussion, it was decided that I might get acidic over night, so the humans are going to go back to feeding me three times a day (woo hoo!), but one time later at night.

So, we'll give this a try and see what happens, but I am RELIEVED I have nothing more serious to report.

And, as a very nice addition to my day, I met the nicest people at Mona The Vet's. I particularly liked the girl with the Schnoodle puppy! However, no rest for the not-sick-after-all...SWMBO and I are off to give a presentation to the Manhattan Sertoma Club.

Weighing in at Mona The Vet's

One on 1/1/11

Wooo Hooo, party time for me! Today is my birthday and I made it to one (that's 7 in my world).

Went out for a nice long walk in the frosty cold of Kansas. Warmed up in front of the fire and plan on settling in to watch some good college football games.

Here's a birthday high five to all my peeps!