The First Month

Hi everyone! We sure have had a busy month here. We got home and the very next day we went to get our Christmas tree. We cut one down every year and that was fun. We took Donut with us...he loved running around the tree farm in the deep snow. I'm not sure how much he liked the tractor ride, tho. It was funny, too, cuz the tractor guy kept killing the engine....I was starting to think we were NEVER gonna get out to the trees! In the morning of the tree day, we got to go to a Christmas party with Dad's work. It was at a place called Rinkside..they have a couple of rides and lazer tag and arcade games. It was very noisy and crowded. We couldn't find anywhere to sit to eat! The manager was really nice, she even asked if she could find us a quiet spot to sit and to let her know if we needed any help for Donut. I like it when people are nice to Donut. It wasn't long before Mom, Donut and Cailean had enough and decided to leave rinkside and go shopping.I don't think Donut liked Rinkside.

Sunday, Mom and Dad went out to dinner and Donut got to meet Ama and Papa. Ama couldn't believe what a nice dog Donut is! And Donut was a very good boy too.

Christmas came and went. It was fun. I got a camera to take my own pictures of Donut with! Well, i take pictures of everything tho...including the floor, ceiling, my feet...you get the idea! The most fun was opening Donut's present...He got two cans of tennis balls....i opened both cans and threw the balls for Donut...he was funny trying to chase so many balls at one time.

On Cailean's birthday, Dad took us sledding. we had lots of snow and it was fun. Donut even went down on a sled, but jumped off half way down the hill. Donut even learned how to pull a sled! He pulled Cailean back up the hill! Wait til you see pictures. I will have my Dad post them in the next post.

Well, now it's the new year and Donut goes to school with me!! I like having Donut there. He mainly sleeps next to me on his blanket while i do my work. And Mom is still there every day to make sure that Donut does what he is supposed to do. Now i have to stay with my class in the halls and Donut even makes sure that i keep moving so i get to art, music, and pe on time. I really liked walking slow and touching everything on the walls...now i don't get to do that anymore...if i stop, Donut yanks me along! Ms. Green was laughing today at how silly it looked.

Well, make sure to keep checking back...you never know what i'll post next!! Donut and i are having lots of fun and we will continue to have lots of adventures...i hope!! Thanks for reading!

Love, Colin

Home...finally!

Well, we made it home. It was a LONG ride. There was hardly any space, but we got everything and everyone home. Donut pretty much slept the whole way. Mom packed his harness in his suitcase, so he couldn't come into the restaurants for lunch and dinner. I think that made Donut kinda sad. But, he was sure happy when we got home!! He ran thru the whole house checking it out, and ran around the back yard a bit, too. Donut likes snow. He likes to lick it too. Well, time for bed! Please keep checking my blog, I will keep adding some of our adventures to it. Donut is going to school with me and everything, so I will have lots of stories to tell!
Love, Colin

We Graduated!!!!

Yea!!!! Well today was our big test...Jeremy (head trainer) took us all to the mall and watched my mom and dad and I walk donut around. He wanted to make sure Donut followed all the basic commands mom and dad learned. We then had to have Donut sit at the food court under a table for a short while and then Jeremy watched us load Donut into the van and said Congrats you all Passed!!! And sent us back to 4 Paws to graduation...All the other 7 families passed and graduated as well. At 4 Paws they introduced each family and did pictures and we all enjoyed some cake and ice cream...It was a little sad saying goodbye to all the families and their new additions and the AWESOME 4 Paws staff....but we are all ready to go back home and start our new adventure.....Well here are a few graduation pics....Thanks all for reading my blog....Love Colin

Days 8 & 9

Well, the last 2 days have been pretty tame. We did some more tracking and worked on brushing up our obedience skills. Donut is really smart and knows everything. I guess this training has really been about Mom and Dad getting trained! There is so much to learn. I really hate wearing my harness for tethering, so I get to hold a small leash attached to Donut instead. Mom says that eventually for some things I am going to be tethered to Donut. He won't let me get away, bummer. Jeremy said that we have to practice the hide and seek game a lot once we get home. I really like dat game, so I am glad that we have to practice it a lot! Yesterday, we woke up to SNOW!! Here in Ohio, we got about 4 inches. Donut was funny. He got snow all over his nose and snorted. He likes the cold weather, he gets all frisky. I got to buy Donut a tennis ball at Petsmart and we played ball in the hall of our hotel. Donut likes playing ball!! He will also fetch his bone, donut toy, and kong. Yesterday, Carson got to go to Mom's friend's house and do lots fo fun art and music stuff. But, Mom got stuck in a ditch cuz of the slippery roads and had to be pulled out by a tow truck. No damage the the car, and Mom got a 35 pound Ohio souveneir.....mud. The tow truck guy cleaned it all off, tho and Mom didn't save any. I would have liked to play in that!! Today, I woke up all warm and snuggly cuz Donut was cuddled up next to me....I liked dat. It was nice. Today is also graduation day. Mom and Dad have to take a test to prove that they can handle Donut and make him do what they say. If they can't, I can't take Donut home with me.....they better pass!!!!! Wish them luck!

I am missing school and home, and looking forward to leaving tomorrow. Love, Colin

Pictures 2!!

Pictures!!

Days 4,5,6 & 7.

Well, I am sorry I have taken so long to post again. My whole family managed to get really sick with stomach flu...Cailean went first and then Carson, Mom, and me. Yuck. But all that really took up our time! Now we are all feeling better!! Donut wasn't very happy about us being sick, tho. He likes to be busy, just like me.
Ok, Day 4. Just me, Carson, Dad, & Donut went to training in the morning. We got to go "Tracking". It is a game like hide and seek. I get to hide and Donut comes to find me! I like dat game! And so does Donut, especially since he gets lots of hot dogs when he finds me!! The afternoon, we went back to 4 Paws with Mom, Donut and me. Jennifer showed us more obedience things, behavior mod stuff and all of Donut's tricks! He is really cool.

Day 5. Saturday. Today was the day that convinced mom that Jeremy is absolutely nuts. We went tracking at the park in the morning...it was COLD! I stayed in the car til it was my turn playing my gameboy and torturing my sister. Then I got to go hide with Dad and Carson. Mom got to hold onto Donut's flexi lead while he came to find me. She says Donut is FAST. She also says he is very smart and can find me quick. I think Donut just likes the hot dogs that i get to carry. But, what convinced mom that Jeremy is nuts, was for the afternoon, we went to the MALL. and not to shop either. We went there so that Donut could track me at the mall. It was a very crowded place on a Saturday....BEFORE Christmas!! Donut did ok, Mom had to leave before it was my turn cuz she and Carson got sick. When Dad and I got back to the room, I got sick too. Then Dad, but he didn't get as sick as the rest of us. OH! A really great thing happened! I had a seizure. Mom and Dad called Donut to come while I was having it and had Donut "Speak". That is his signal to anyone that i am having or going to have a seizure. Then when it was over, Donut stayed with me for a few hours. That was nice.

Day 6. Sunday. I stayed home with Carson and Dad, cuz we were all sick. Mom wasn't feeling that much better, but she really felt that training was important to be at so she and Cailean and Donut went. It was more laid back day at 4 Paws. The morning was spent on all the commands that Donut knows and the afternoon was all about how to take care of Donut. Grooming, nail trimming, bathing, etc. Mom says that there are professionals who know that stuff....she will take Donut there.

Day 7. Monday. Optional training day. We went to 4 paws for the morning to work on obedience and other stuff. In the afternoon, we went to track again. It was just us and Jasmine and her dad. Her girl, Natalie, was sick today. I got to hide two times. Once with Dad and once with Mom. Donut found us VERY fast!! Which was good, cuz today was the coldest day yet. After training, we had to go to court with Mom. She got to meet some of Xenia's finest in one of their speed traps. The judge let her go with a MUCH lower fine, cuz Donut and I were there and being such good boys. We took lots of pictures today! Look in the next post to see them!! Thanks for keeping up with me and leaving me messages, I really like them. Love, Colin