Just thinking back to way back when...

I just watched the movie "Marley and Me" and it made me remember all of my good times with Tyanna. I miss that girl so much, especially on days like these. I'm so so so proud of my baby girl :). I can't wait to raise again and experience the pure awesome-ness and joy these dogs bring to life!

HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY TYANNA!

Today is Ty's second birthday! Jackson's mom said he and his sister have been counting down the days. I sent a package in the mail with two of Tyanna's favorite things for her second birthday: a sterilized bone and liver treats.

Happy birthday, baby girl!!

Here are some pictures Jackson's mom sent me a while ago (click on them to see the full image - i'm not sure why they aren't working):




The first picture makes me laugh because I have about 15 pictures of the exact same thing. The second photo is Jackson's younger sister who absolutely adores Ty! It looks like she got a new pink collar :).

Thank you card from Jackson and his sister

Today in the mail I got thank you cards from Jackson and his sister! I scanned in Jackson's so you guys could see his great artwork and thoughtful words. I was tearing up reading them in the middle of my student center. DEFINITELY made my day :).

In case you can't read it, it says:

Dear Maddie,
Thank you for giving me Ty. She is a good dog. You are nice. You are cute (haha). You are my friend.

Love,
Jackson


:)

GRADUATION!

**i'm having issues with the pictures. click on them and you can view them in a new window**


I'm sorry this post is so overdue! School has been keeping me quite busy and midterms start next week, so I thought I would write this before all my exams began!

Graduation was AMAZING! Getting there was quite interesting: Train from school to home. Car from home to CCI. Car from CCI to home. Plane from home to school. Phew. It was an exhausting weekend, but definitely worth every second!

When we first arrived, the instructors told us to make sure we try to avoid the dogs we raised until it was the proper time to see them. My parents and I were waiting in the lobby and right when I saw Ty I knew it was her. We hid around the corner until her trainer took her from her new family and brought her into a separate room. It was so cool seeing her walk in with her blue vest on and her new family by her side. She looked so happy and just like the same baby I had raised (no, she hasn't grow a bit! Still hovering just above 50lbs). After all the dogs were there, the instructors let us into the room. All the dogs were in a down-stay...a cute mushy pile of heroes! Then one-by-one the dogs were passed out to their raisers. Tyanna who is SUCH a mellow girl got as excited as she does when she saw me :). It was so nice to have her back in my arms. She smelled the same, felt the same, had the same looks, mannerisms, everything! She has matured, but over all she was exactly how I remember her. I will admit, after being away from puppy raising for 6 months and not having a dog next to me at all times, it was weird to look down and see her staring back...but I LOVED it.





After the reunion, I took her outside to "hurry" and then we took some pictures....and she definitely still has a huge disliking for having her picture taken. Whenever she sees the red auto-focus light go on she turns her head. It's funny at first then just plain annoying! Between her hating pictures and the reflective strip on her vest and the inability to use flash in many places (flashes can cause a strobe affect which affects children with autism), the pictures aren't that great.

What made me laugh was when I got on the ground she just plopped herself in my lap like she always used to. It was so funny to see her do the things I have missed so so so so much.






After the pictures my family had lunch with Ty's new family. They are absolutely amazing! Their family is everything I ever hoped and prayed for. I'm so excited for Tyanna to start her new journey with them! I gave Tyanna's new partner (Jackson) the picture book I made him and he and his sister loved all the 'baby Tyanna' pictures!



After lunch was time for the ceremony. As always, it was absolutely incredible. I met up with Kara and her SD Jen II. They came home from college just to be at graduation with me! It meant so much! We had a great time crying and laughing together as the dogs were presented. Going on stage and handing over the leash was incredible. It was very emotional to have to say goodbye to the baby once more, but this was definitely a happy goodbye. I will keep you guys updated as I do...so check back every now and then!






As you can see, Jackson's younger sister adores TY! She loves to practice the "shake" command :).

I want to thank everyone who has been reading and contributing to this blog over the past 20 months. You all provided such a network of support, advice, and encouragement. I couldn't have done it without you all! Once I'm out of school, I will definitely be back to raising...so look out! I'll be sure to keep tabs on your blogs and puppies until then!

graduation post coming soon!

...as soon as my econ test is taken!

SHE HAS MADE A MATCH!

Tonya from NCR called today and said Ty has made a match! I am not allowed to give any specific details yet because anything can change at any time. :( However, I can tell you that she is currently placed as an ambulatory skilled companion. I can't wait for next saturday!!!! Yay for a Valentines graduation!

a little bit more detail

I talked to Ty's trainer today and I got a few more details about her class, the expectations, schedule, etc.

There are 15 dogs going into this Team Training. The on-site class will consist of the 'regular' skilled companions and service dogs and the off-site class will be the ambulatory skilled companion dogs. The trainers are hoping to place Ty in the off-site class. The individuals in that class are kids with developmental disabilities and autism and a facilitator (usually a parent). In addition to the 'regular' set of commands, these dogs have also learned the "nudge" command. This is used to help focus the kids and break repetitive habits. Both of these classes will graduate together at the graduation/matriculation ceremony on Valentines day. Tony said that the latest they would be calling the PRs would be Friday, but she's pretty sure that she will be able to get a call to us on Thursday around 4pm. This is going to be a long week of waiting!!

"THE CALL"

Hello everyone! I have exciting news!

Tonya (Tyanna's trainer) called today. She called the house, and my mom wasn't home to pick up, so she left a message. Unfortunately, due to weather in Ohio she was out of the office so I can't call her for more details until tomorrow after 4pm. However, she did leave me with some exciting news (although not a lot of details). She confirmed that Tyanna will be entering the February Team Training Class (which begins Feb. 2). Tonya said that they are looking at numerous possibilities for her, but are hoping to place her as an ambulatory skilled companion (i will explain that in more detail after I talk to tonya tomorrow) in the off-site class. They are running two classes this february: one at the CCI campus, and the other at an off-site location just for space's sake. Both classes graduate on Valentines day :). If she is placed in the on-site class i will know feb 4th. if she's matched in the off-site class i will know the 6th. if i don't get a call those days then she is either being released or being held until the may TT because she didn't make a match.

i will give you an update after i talk to tonya tomorrow!!

keep your finger crossed!!


here is a video that i love of cole and ilia, his skilled companion dog.

The countdown is in the single digits...

I'm working on not getting my hopes up - but there are many "housekeeping" things that need to be done in case that day comes. The biggest of them all (above the bus tickets, missing school, etc) is putting together a scrapbook of Tyanna's growing up. This is where I am turning to you guys - the network of puppy raising friends that know what it's like and how it feels - something that my parents and close friends can't identify with. I'm having trouble putting this book together on many levels. Any ideas where to being [or end]?

Actually, any ideas would be welcome. :) Thanks so much for your support. Let's still keep our fingers crossed!

wow, i can't believe how fast time flies.

tyanna has exactly TWO weeks left in training. no matter what happens, i'm so so so so so proud she has made it this far!!

20 days and counting

if tyanna can make it through these next 20 days she will be graduating! keep your fingers crossed!

DECEMBER!

WOO! She's made it this far! Only ONE more month to go! Hang in there Tyanna!!

The next report will be a phone call no matter what - either telling us she is being released, or she will be graduating. This is so nerve-wracking! I am actually very surprised she has made it this far, only because I kept telling myself not to get my hopes up knowing the slim chances of reaching graduation, but she's so close! The report was overall pretty good, there are still a few behaviors they are keeping an eye one. Her trainer reported a significant decrease in her "bone sharing issues".

Keep your fingers crossed!!!

I miss her watching me...

November Report!

I just got Tyanna's November report. There are many more positive elements, which I'm very excited for! They have her working on behaviors with wheel chairs now. She is currently classified as "second semester" meaning she has made it half way!! Her instructor noted that she has been seen growling at dogs trying to take bones from her, which is bad. On a positive note, she responded to the corrections. CCI thinks it has to do with reorganizing the pack because a whole new string of dogs just arrived in the kennels this month. Hopefully that improves. It's something that I have NEVER seen her do before, so that was definitely a shock. I'm really hoping she cleans up her behavior...quickly!

A picture of her as a puppy was featured in the CCI North Central Region Newsletter with an article called "The Cuteness Factor." I took the picture on Photobooth through my computer, so it's backwards. But you get the idea. :)

Tyanna's Third Report

I got the e-mail with her report attached early this morning. The only thing that has changed is her breeder status...she was spayed. I am completely fine with this decision - I never really saw her as a breeder, and didn't have my heart set on it. As far as the report goes, nothing has really changed. She is still showing signs of dog distraction, and has started licking her handlers. The report this month was really slim because of Team Training, so there isn't too much to say! Hopefully these issues can be figured out! Her trainer said that Ty is making improvements in all of her "downfalls", so it's still a waiting game!

No Report Today!

I was supposed to get Tyanna's second monthly report today, but nothing came! It's Team Training Week, so all the trainers are SUPER busy making perfect matches and working with the graduates, so everyone is probably a bit behind on their paper work!

I will let you all know as soon as I get it!

Taken From Colby Akins (CCI PR)

On her thoughts about turning in a CCI puppy:

"...it is entirely possible to leave a small piece of your heart in an entirely different state miles and miles away. But the wonderful thing about leaving that piece of your heart is that you know it's out there somewhere, spreading your love and passion somewhere that you physically aren't able to reach."

I couldn't agree more.

Second Update

Tyanna's second update arrived in my inbox last Wed, and I have finally had time to share it with you!

Overall, the report was mediocre. They reported about her dog distraction (which we all knew about), but said that it has been improving over the past month. I think the kennel stress is getting to her because they noted some behaviors that I have never seen her display. I am hoping that she will adjust and let herself shine :). She passed all of her medical exams, and is still a potential breeder, so we will see! The reports aren't very detailed, and they note more of the bad than the good, so I'm really not going to let it bother me, especially because dog distraction was something I had been working on with her since the first day home. She's just a social butterfly...

Hope all the training is going well! Enjoy your pups!

Turn-in post/First Tyanna Update!

Hey guys! So I finally have a few moments to sit down and write!

Turn-in was AMAZING. The graduation ceremony had me bawling more than the matriculating portion to the ceremony. When we first walked into the building and saw all the CCI capes, I felt so reassured that I had done an amazing thing for this small (but so important) community of CCI. 2 minutes into the ceremony I was already bawling. By the time they called our names to the stage/showed the slideshow video, I was gone. I recovered myself in time to see the graduates take the stage, but then I REALLY lost it. I never knew I had that many tears inside of me!



After the ceremony there was a greet and meet room with food, CCI gear, and lots of people and puppies! I met up with Kara and Jen II, and found Tucker, Tyanna's brother! He is SO SO much bigger than her! It's crazy!! He made my 52lb baby look like well, a baby! It was interesting to see how they interacted - I feel like they knew who each other was.



After eating a bit and chatting, we went out in front to take some pictures, then headed over to the kennels to say goodbye. We took a few more pictures in front of a CCI sign, then went inside. I met with her trainer and answered some last minute questions about her, took off her vest, GL, and collar (that was the hardest part), said goodbye, then gave her the command to enter her kennel.



Closing the door was the worst. But, she soon met her roommate Wyatta and forgot all about me :). I then finished up talking with the trainer, and said my final goodbyes. Walking out of that room was incredibly hard. I just wanted to keep turning for one more glance.



Yesterday, I got Tyanna's first update. The first and last always come by a phone call. My parents and I had agreed earlier that all updates/news would go to them first because I don't want to get horrible news right before walking in to a huge final exam or anything of that nature. So, to say the least, I got a brief overcap from my mom about what was going on, and I have to call back after noon today to get the bigger picture, and the trainer has a few questions for me.

Overall, the report went well. They said that her class of dogs is one of the hardest that they have seen in the past 8 years, and they have already released a good number of them (hang in there Ty!). They were EXTREMELY impressed with her behavior around food (they dropped it all around her and she didn't even look), as well as her behavior in the pet store. At the park she was a bit too sniffy, and on the playground she was hesitant with the stairs. This worries me because I walked a jungle gym with her at least twice a week, so I hope that kennel stress isn't building up in her. That's just about all I know for now...I will give another update after the call today!

ps - she is still on breeder watch!!!

I Know, I Know...

I'm not forgetting about the official goodbye post. College has got me busier than an entire swarm of bees. I leave tomorrow! So if I don't get the post in tonight, it will be coming from my new dorm room!

I'm still missing my baby tons, but time has definitely helped to heal the wound. Thank you so much for all your support. There is nothing like the words from a fellow puppy raiser because you guys "just understand".

Saying Goodbye

I think I have put off writing this post as long as possible. i leave for college on Thursday and I know I will be incredibly busy until then. To put it bluntly, I miss my baby SO SO SO much. I have such a heavy heart right now. I'm feeling completely shelfish about the way I feel, but for some reason I forgot how much it hurts to say goodbye. I emptied the house of all her stuff because I couldn't stand looking at it. The things that are sentimental I kept, but stuck them in a drawer out of sight. I barely made it through one of my favorite stores today that I used to bring her to. I'm not used to being alone like this, as weird as it seems. She's always just been there. I know the first few days are the hardest (especially when I don't have a new puppy to distract me), so I'm hoping that every morning I will feel a bit better.

I get my first update on her progress August 27th. She is still a potential breeder, so her first few weeks in the kennels will be breeder evaluation stuff. I'm anxious to see how it goes! I will post pictures of the big day soon, it's still hard to look at all of them.

These past 14 months have been an absolute blessing. I couldn't imagine spending them any other way. I will love you forever Ty baby.

Expect a real "goodbye" post soon.