At approximately 11am Thursday morning, an alien from another world landed in Pawley's Island, South Carolina and chose to corrupt the mind of a small 9 week old labrador puppy. The puppy, though normally fairly well behaved, spiraled out of control, racing around the residence and seeking to maul every electrical cord in sight. The puppy's grandmother had no choice but to pursue the puppy to each location, yelling commands that fell on deaf floppy ears. The alien, however, was smart enough to evade capture and eventually slipped away unnoticed after the puppy was offered lunch at 12pm. The puppy, exhausted from his encounter with the unfriendly alien, was then placed in his crate where he slept for the next two hours.
However, after Tucker's rampage ended, he was a very good little puppy. We took him to the Coastal Grande mall tonight and he slept under a chair in the food court while we ate. While I was sifting through sale racks, Tucker hung out with Mattie by the cash register, and was very good except for trying to bite his leash out of boredom. Oddly enough, no one even questioned Tucker being in the mall until we were getting ready to leave. A security guard approached us and asked if he was a service dog. She took my word for it, but I showed her my ID card regardless.
From there, we went to Broadway at the Beach to expose Tucker to the craziness. (Surprisingly, no one questioned him there at all.) He did a wonderful job and walked most of the way himself. When we stopped at Johnny Rocket's, he fell asleep under the table again, amazing those around us. From that point on, we carried him most of the way, eventually stopping in a pet store to let him enjoy the AC. After he'd settled down on the floor, that was it. From there to the car, he had to be carried like a baby. He hung his head upside down off my arm and went totally limp. I'm sure the people we passed thought he'd literally passed out. He should sleep well tonight!
My favorite episode from today, however, had to be when I took him out for a break this afternoon and a woman came off the beach (a woman I'd never met) and said, "Oh, you must be Tucker! I've heard so much about you." I'm telling you - he's celebrity material ;)
Soapbox of the day - Children should learn more about service animals in school. Here's my thought - maybe if more kids learned about service animals in school (and how you should ask before you pet them) they would go home and share their new found knowledge with their parents. I was so tired of people just bending down to pet him (without asking) tonight even though he was wearing his bandana, which should make people realize he's not your average puppy. I don't mind explaining it to people at all, but it makes life difficult when they squat to the floor to pet him before you have a chance to say anything. Hopefully, Tucker and I will get to visit several schools once the school year starts and we can set some people straight. :)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Just Keep Swimming
Tucker spent the majority of the morning and afternoon sleeping in his crate, which is his preferred napping location.
The pool is only a few feet from the condo, so it was easy to check on him about every half hour. Most of the time, I looked into my room to find him still sound asleep. :)
Around 4:00, I decided it was cool enough to take Tucker down to the beach and to see if he could swim! Mattie carried him past the ever-tempting soft sand and then I carried him into the waves. We were only about knee deep, but it was deep enough to prove he could keep his head above water. And yes, I lifted him out of the water when the waves crashed. ;) He wasn't thrilled with the idea, but I think the waves were the problem. If it had been calmer or a lake, I think he'd have thoroughly enjoyed himself.
After his ocean adventure we walked down the beach. Tucker found a hole kids had dug earlier and discovered that if you push at the mounds of sand with your paws, it falls into the hole! This was definitely his favorite discovery - that is, until he realized he could dig! Tucker's digging style may have looked like a spastic center hiking a football, but he sure had a good time. :)
Once he'd worn himself out, I brought him back to the condo and gave him a quick bath to get rid of the salt and sand. This time, I made a discovery - Tucker has figured out how to jump out of the tub! Until today, I hadn't thought he was big enough to do that. However, in the long run, he seemed less concerned about the bath than he did on Monday.
For the rest of the night (with the exception of a short period around 9:00pm when he went completely insane running around the condo) he seemed exhausted. He might play with me for a few minutes, and then all of a sudden, he'd turn and trot into the bedroom and settle down in his crate for a nap. :)
Best part of the day? People on the beach were calling Tucker by name. He's quite famous. ;)
The pool is only a few feet from the condo, so it was easy to check on him about every half hour. Most of the time, I looked into my room to find him still sound asleep. :)
Around 4:00, I decided it was cool enough to take Tucker down to the beach and to see if he could swim! Mattie carried him past the ever-tempting soft sand and then I carried him into the waves. We were only about knee deep, but it was deep enough to prove he could keep his head above water. And yes, I lifted him out of the water when the waves crashed. ;) He wasn't thrilled with the idea, but I think the waves were the problem. If it had been calmer or a lake, I think he'd have thoroughly enjoyed himself.
After his ocean adventure we walked down the beach. Tucker found a hole kids had dug earlier and discovered that if you push at the mounds of sand with your paws, it falls into the hole! This was definitely his favorite discovery - that is, until he realized he could dig! Tucker's digging style may have looked like a spastic center hiking a football, but he sure had a good time. :)
Once he'd worn himself out, I brought him back to the condo and gave him a quick bath to get rid of the salt and sand. This time, I made a discovery - Tucker has figured out how to jump out of the tub! Until today, I hadn't thought he was big enough to do that. However, in the long run, he seemed less concerned about the bath than he did on Monday.
For the rest of the night (with the exception of a short period around 9:00pm when he went completely insane running around the condo) he seemed exhausted. He might play with me for a few minutes, and then all of a sudden, he'd turn and trot into the bedroom and settle down in his crate for a nap. :)
Best part of the day? People on the beach were calling Tucker by name. He's quite famous. ;)
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Dinner = Epic Fail
Tucker did well this morning walking around with me and then napping on the deck while I read.
Dinner, however, was not as successful.
Lessons Learned:
1. Don't even try to look nice when going out to dinner with a 9 week old puppy at the beach.
2. Even if the puppy seems tired after his 10 minute walk - keep going until he can't go another step.
3. Always go with your first puppy raising instinct.
I asked if we could go to one of my favorite seafood restaurants as an early birthday dinner since this will be my only trip to the beach this summer. Before we left, I took Tucker on a short walk to go to the bathroom. I should have walked him longer, but he kept sitting down like he was tired and I was trying to keep my hair from blowing into a hot mess and from getting sweaty again. (Mistakes #1 & #2) When we got to the restaurant, they said we could sit on the covered porch. We sat down and I sat Tucker under the table as usual. Unlike our normal restaurant outings, he refused to settle down. I gave him one of his toys in an effort to keep him lying on the floor, but even that didn't work. Mom ate her dinner quickly, so she took over the leash so I could attempt to finish mine. We were constantly telling him to sit back down, to settle, to lie down. About 10 minutes before we left, he finally started to fall asleep on the floor. When we finished, I picked him up and started to walk towards the exit. It was suggested that I put him down and let him walk since he seemed to have so much energy earlier. Although my instinct said I should carry him out just in case he needed to go to the bathroom, my frustration took over and I put him down. (Mistake #3) Twenty feet later, he was peeing on the floor.
Needless to say, tonight has been the most frustrating outing thus far. Tucker has been so good and is so smart that sometimes I forget he's still only 9 weeks old.
Lessons learned? I think so.
Dinner, however, was not as successful.
Lessons Learned:
1. Don't even try to look nice when going out to dinner with a 9 week old puppy at the beach.
2. Even if the puppy seems tired after his 10 minute walk - keep going until he can't go another step.
3. Always go with your first puppy raising instinct.
I asked if we could go to one of my favorite seafood restaurants as an early birthday dinner since this will be my only trip to the beach this summer. Before we left, I took Tucker on a short walk to go to the bathroom. I should have walked him longer, but he kept sitting down like he was tired and I was trying to keep my hair from blowing into a hot mess and from getting sweaty again. (Mistakes #1 & #2) When we got to the restaurant, they said we could sit on the covered porch. We sat down and I sat Tucker under the table as usual. Unlike our normal restaurant outings, he refused to settle down. I gave him one of his toys in an effort to keep him lying on the floor, but even that didn't work. Mom ate her dinner quickly, so she took over the leash so I could attempt to finish mine. We were constantly telling him to sit back down, to settle, to lie down. About 10 minutes before we left, he finally started to fall asleep on the floor. When we finished, I picked him up and started to walk towards the exit. It was suggested that I put him down and let him walk since he seemed to have so much energy earlier. Although my instinct said I should carry him out just in case he needed to go to the bathroom, my frustration took over and I put him down. (Mistake #3) Twenty feet later, he was peeing on the floor.
Needless to say, tonight has been the most frustrating outing thus far. Tucker has been so good and is so smart that sometimes I forget he's still only 9 weeks old.
Lessons learned? I think so.
Monday, July 4, 2011
I found sand!
Tucker has seen the Atlantic ocean! Since we've been here, he's walked around the grounds several times, which was a lot for him. He met another yellow lab and a myriad of little children. :) When we went out on the beach, he immediately started to eat the sand. I thought he might taste it, but I never dreamed he would try several times to ingest large quantities. When we finally made it to the water, he splashed around a little bit before deciding running around on the sand like a crazy puppy was much more fun.
Even though I hosed him off on the boardwalk, he was still covered in sand, so I gave him his first bath. Honestly, he didn't like it as much as I thought he would. He didn't hate it, but he didn't love it either. Afterwards, I wrapped him up in a towel and he slept for quite some time - despite the fireworks exploding almost constantly.
When he woke up and needed to go out, I was a little worried about how he would respond to the fireworks. I took him out behind the building, hoping the sound would be muffled, and set him down on the grass. The next time a firework exploded, he sat, cocked his head, and listened. A few seconds later, he decided that although it was a new noise, it was nothing to be concerned about, and he did his business. In fact, he did so well that I walked him back around to the front of the building. Again, he just sat down, seemingly pondering the explosions and lights.
Now he's fully awake and running wild again. :)
Even though I hosed him off on the boardwalk, he was still covered in sand, so I gave him his first bath. Honestly, he didn't like it as much as I thought he would. He didn't hate it, but he didn't love it either. Afterwards, I wrapped him up in a towel and he slept for quite some time - despite the fireworks exploding almost constantly.
When he woke up and needed to go out, I was a little worried about how he would respond to the fireworks. I took him out behind the building, hoping the sound would be muffled, and set him down on the grass. The next time a firework exploded, he sat, cocked his head, and listened. A few seconds later, he decided that although it was a new noise, it was nothing to be concerned about, and he did his business. In fact, he did so well that I walked him back around to the front of the building. Again, he just sat down, seemingly pondering the explosions and lights.
Now he's fully awake and running wild again. :)
Sunday, July 3, 2011
It's a small world after all...
This morning, Tucker went to church with us to hear Lt. Col. Oliver North speak. The house was packed - probably at least 1000 people - and yet, he sat calmly under my chair for the entire service. He was asleep before the service started, and when the trumpets sounded to begin the July 4th tribute, he jerked awake and looked around like he wasn't quite sure where the sound came from. As usual, he settled down almost immediately, and I don't think the majority of the people around us even noticed him.
He took a few well deserved naps this afternoon, and then we went out to church again for my bible study. As it turns out, I missed the memo about it being cancelled today. However, I am so glad I went. When we came through the lobby doors, I saw a man sitting on the couch, but didn't really think anything of it until he said, "Are you from Michigan?" Most people don't know what a Leader Dog is, much less where it is, so I was very surprised. Sensing my surprise, he smiled and pulled a Leader Dog coffee mug out of his bag. As it turns out, he had just finished his orientation in May and was scheduled to go back in the fall to get his first Leader Dog!
After the shock of meeting a future Leader Dog handler, I wondered, If he's blind, how did he see Tucker's Leader Dog bandana? Again, he seemed to read my mind, and explained that he has 3% vision left but that the doctors have said it will be gone in a year or two. He said he could see an area about the size of my face, which is how he saw Tucker's bandana. Since my bible study was non-existent, I talked with him a little while longer before heading out.
The outdoor activities at church weren't scheduled to begin until 6, but I didn't want to drive 30 minutes home just to come back out, so Tucker and I decided to hang out at MacDonald's. ;) Here's the funny part - the kids who came by asked politely if they could pet him, but the MacDonald's employees just walked up and started petting him without another thought. Tucker was asleep, so I just let it go.
When we went back to church, several people stopped me to tell me pets weren't allowed at this outside event. (Thankfully, the college/singles pastor had already said Tucker was allowed) When I explained that he was a service dog in training and that he sat through Oliver North's sermon that morning, almost all of them said, "He was there? I didn't hear a thing!" I walked him around the grounds once and then we left for home. Between the heat and the myriad of small children who had swarmed him, he was tired. I thought he did a great job - with the exception of the busy parking lot, he walked all of it himself!
He slept for quite some time when we got home, but woke up just in time to play with Dad's friend Scott when he dropped by. :)
He took a few well deserved naps this afternoon, and then we went out to church again for my bible study. As it turns out, I missed the memo about it being cancelled today. However, I am so glad I went. When we came through the lobby doors, I saw a man sitting on the couch, but didn't really think anything of it until he said, "Are you from Michigan?" Most people don't know what a Leader Dog is, much less where it is, so I was very surprised. Sensing my surprise, he smiled and pulled a Leader Dog coffee mug out of his bag. As it turns out, he had just finished his orientation in May and was scheduled to go back in the fall to get his first Leader Dog!
After the shock of meeting a future Leader Dog handler, I wondered, If he's blind, how did he see Tucker's Leader Dog bandana? Again, he seemed to read my mind, and explained that he has 3% vision left but that the doctors have said it will be gone in a year or two. He said he could see an area about the size of my face, which is how he saw Tucker's bandana. Since my bible study was non-existent, I talked with him a little while longer before heading out.
The outdoor activities at church weren't scheduled to begin until 6, but I didn't want to drive 30 minutes home just to come back out, so Tucker and I decided to hang out at MacDonald's. ;) Here's the funny part - the kids who came by asked politely if they could pet him, but the MacDonald's employees just walked up and started petting him without another thought. Tucker was asleep, so I just let it go.
When we went back to church, several people stopped me to tell me pets weren't allowed at this outside event. (Thankfully, the college/singles pastor had already said Tucker was allowed) When I explained that he was a service dog in training and that he sat through Oliver North's sermon that morning, almost all of them said, "He was there? I didn't hear a thing!" I walked him around the grounds once and then we left for home. Between the heat and the myriad of small children who had swarmed him, he was tired. I thought he did a great job - with the exception of the busy parking lot, he walked all of it himself!
He slept for quite some time when we got home, but woke up just in time to play with Dad's friend Scott when he dropped by. :)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friends!
Tucker had another busy day today. First he met my Dad's cats: Riley and Lily. Riley actually let him sniff his face before walking away in a huff, but Lily wanted no part of it and hissed in his face. Thankfully, Tucker didn't seem offended in the least.
After that, Hannah Riener, Derek Breakfield, Tucker and I had lunch at the Flat Rock Village Bakery and then Derek gave us a quick golf cart tour of Bonclarken. It was pretty hot, and Tucker thoroughly enjoyed the breeze. :) He seemed to enjoy Derek and Hannah's company, which is good since they'll probably end up puppy sitting at some point!
We came home and let Tucker take a nice long nap before my Dad's side of the family arrived for a cookout. Tucker did a great job with my little cousins, although he was really upset that I wouldn't let him play with the twin babies. He started to get anxious when I made him sit by the table during dinner, but he eventually settled down. Somehow, he managed to sit calmly beside me while my younger cousins threw his toys at me. :)
Tomorrow, we'll see how he does in church!
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After that, Hannah Riener, Derek Breakfield, Tucker and I had lunch at the Flat Rock Village Bakery and then Derek gave us a quick golf cart tour of Bonclarken. It was pretty hot, and Tucker thoroughly enjoyed the breeze. :) He seemed to enjoy Derek and Hannah's company, which is good since they'll probably end up puppy sitting at some point!
We came home and let Tucker take a nice long nap before my Dad's side of the family arrived for a cookout. Tucker did a great job with my little cousins, although he was really upset that I wouldn't let him play with the twin babies. He started to get anxious when I made him sit by the table during dinner, but he eventually settled down. Somehow, he managed to sit calmly beside me while my younger cousins threw his toys at me. :)
Tomorrow, we'll see how he does in church!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Goin' Down to Wally World
Tucker had another busy day today. For lunch, we met my dad and some of his friends at Piggy's - a burger and ice cream joint that's been in Hendersonville forever (and by that I mean as long as I remember ;) ). As usual, Tucker fell asleep underneath the table and didn't make a sound.
After lunch, Mom and I went to Wal-Mart. Normally, Tucker tires pretty quickly and I have to carry him, but not today! He walked with me the whole time, charming everyone we passed. I couldn't believe he walked that long and well in a place as crazy as "Wally World." Needless to say, he got a new toy out of it. :)
With all the excitement, he slept the majority of the afternoon. Since Tucker seemed to like his green bone better after Rocky chewed the ends up, I decided to try to "rough up" the ends of his slick nylabone by beating it on the concrete outside. (Yes, brilliant I know) Shoeless, I headed outside and left the basement door open. As I was hitting the concrete with it, Tucker slowly walked up beside me. When I turned to look at him, he had my yard shoe in his mouth! I put out my hand and he gave it to me without a fuss. Honest to goodness, I think he was confused when I didn't put my shoes on to go outside! I guess he was trying to be helpful. :) haha
Tonight we went over to Katie Sander's house. I worked with her at the vet clinic and she hadn't gotten to see him yet, so we spent about two hours outside in her neighborhood catching up and showing him off to her friends. Almost everyone I talked to had a story beginning with either, "Well, my lab ate a whole..." or "I knew a lab that ate a..." Such encouragment. ;) As soon as I put him in the car, he fell into a deep sleep. He continued his nap at home, but about an hour ago, he woke up and decided it was time to run around like a lunatic. Mom's trying to run out the energy now. :)
After lunch, Mom and I went to Wal-Mart. Normally, Tucker tires pretty quickly and I have to carry him, but not today! He walked with me the whole time, charming everyone we passed. I couldn't believe he walked that long and well in a place as crazy as "Wally World." Needless to say, he got a new toy out of it. :)
With all the excitement, he slept the majority of the afternoon. Since Tucker seemed to like his green bone better after Rocky chewed the ends up, I decided to try to "rough up" the ends of his slick nylabone by beating it on the concrete outside. (Yes, brilliant I know) Shoeless, I headed outside and left the basement door open. As I was hitting the concrete with it, Tucker slowly walked up beside me. When I turned to look at him, he had my yard shoe in his mouth! I put out my hand and he gave it to me without a fuss. Honest to goodness, I think he was confused when I didn't put my shoes on to go outside! I guess he was trying to be helpful. :) haha
Tonight we went over to Katie Sander's house. I worked with her at the vet clinic and she hadn't gotten to see him yet, so we spent about two hours outside in her neighborhood catching up and showing him off to her friends. Almost everyone I talked to had a story beginning with either, "Well, my lab ate a whole..." or "I knew a lab that ate a..." Such encouragment. ;) As soon as I put him in the car, he fell into a deep sleep. He continued his nap at home, but about an hour ago, he woke up and decided it was time to run around like a lunatic. Mom's trying to run out the energy now. :)
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