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

Day 3

Ok, well can you beleive it?? Mom and Dad forgot the camera, so there won't be any pictures today, sorry!!

We worked pretty hard today. First thing this morning, we had to bundle up real warm, cuz we spent the morning outside doing what Jeremy calls "Tracking". I don't know what that means except that I got to go with Dad and Carson and hide in the woods with a bag of hotdogs. After we had been hiding there for about 5 mins, Jeremy and Mom and Donut came to find us. I couldn't see what Donut did, but he found me VERY fast!! Then i got to give him handfuls of cut up hot dogs. Donut likes hot dogs!! Mom said that Jeremy held onto the stretchy leash and told Donut to TRACK! and Donut went running with his nose down on the ground. He ran in a snake like pattern til he found me!! That was fun. I like that game!!! And we get to do it again tomorrow!!
After lunch, we were back at 4 Paws and we learned about tethering and Donut got his brand new service dog harness. He looks real good in it! Then we got homework!! We had to go to the mall and walk around with Donut. I held onto Donut's little leash the WHOLE time!!! That was the most fun I ever had at the mall. Mom and Dad didn't yell at me or grab my arm one single time. They know that Donut will keep track of me now and are hoping that now i will stay with them and not wander off. I did see some teddy bears and tried to stop to look at them, but Donut wouldn't let me stay and get lost, kind of a bummer for me!!
Well, tomorrow holds new adventures, I'm sure....
Hugs, Colin

Day 2

Hi friends and family,

Well day 1 (Tues) I basically got to meet Donut and Mom and Dad got to learn some basic commands...sit; down; heel; come; etc. It was a great time meeting Donut and he seemed to take and bond with my family pretty quickly...even thou Jeremy - the trainer had been taking Donut home with him the past few weeks and they became pretty good buddies...Donut slept on my brother and my bed for a little while, but i think the snoring of all 3 of us in our room might have bothered him and he went elsewhere for the rest of the night...lol

Day 2 (Wed) Today we reviewed and practiced our basic commands and learned a few new ones. Donut is an ace at all of these and one of the better students. We are sooo proud of him. We went over what to expect when we start to do tracking, which we start tomorrow morning. Colin loves to play hide and seek so this should be interesting and fun....

Well off to the pool for a quick swim with my brother and then to bed...

Love Colin

Donut

Donut

We Made It!

Hi all!!!

Well Mom and Dad made me get up at like 4:30 in the morning today for us to make our trek to Xenia Ohio. They said something about missing the Chicago traffic....Well I didnt see any...:) I guess that is good.

We stopped at McDonalds for breakfast in Indiana and then drove in nice cold - sometimes freezing rain all the way here. I was pretty good during the trip and played with my gameboy and watched a few movies.....

We stopped and visited one of mom's friends in Ohio who is an artist and she showed us her studio and showed me and my brother and sister how to play the guitar and I also got to sing on her kariokee machine....she then gave us all a bagel for a snack...

We then continued to Xenia and found out where 4Paws was and then checked into our hotel...mom and dad said now we are going to go swimming to burn off some energy???

Can't wait to meet Donut tomorrow....

Colin

15 hours to go..

Well, we are leaving in about 15 HOURS!! Mom is making us leave early, cuz SHE wants to rest once we get there so we can be ready to meet Donut on Tuesday. I plan on usingthe swimming pool and making her nuts. It IS what i do best!! It seems that we are all ready, we just need to put hte suitcases in the car. It sure takes a lot of suitcases to pack winter clothes, tho. Dad still needs to put his stuff in one, too. I prolly won't post again until after i meet Donut....I can hardly wait!! I look at his picture every chance i get, and mom and dad finally got Donut's "house". I have spent LOTS of time in there with Cailean....we read books in there. I don't know where Donut is gonna sit in there, tho....cuz once Cailean and I are in there, there is not much room left! I wonder if Donut will like having me read him stories? I sure hope Donut likes Dora and Blue, too!!

WEll, check in Late on Tuesday or Wednesday and find out how our first meeting went!!
Love, Colin

MY DOG DONUT!!!! :)

HI Friends and Family!!!

I finally received an email from my new best friend today!!!!! Here it is!!!

My name is Donut! Can you believe it? I always wished I had a cool name like Donut and then out of the blue Jeremy starts calling me Donut and I thought, "Oh my, now how did he know I liked that name?" Of course for a moment I wondered if I was eating too much and started growing a donut middle but no, it was to be my name and now I know why! God put that name in my head and yours, now that makes us slam dunkin donut partners, don't ya think? I am so excited that you are coming next week! Hurry up now! Oh yes, before I go, I am a 2 year old Golden Retriever who loves to snuggle and am very sweet and gentle. Love and doggie kisses, Donut

Love, Colin

STILL waiting....

Hi everyone. I am STILL waiting to find out who Donut is. We went shopping yesterday for a crate and only bought doggie poop bags. I picked out the pirate doggie poop bag holder, even tho mom wanted the paw print one! I really hope today we get to find out who Donut is!! Love, Colin

Friday - No Dog :(

It's Friday Yea!! However I have still not received an email from Donut :(

Dont donut where/who are ya?????

Love Colin.....

Tracking My Dog Donut

Hi friends and family!

Welcome to my Dog Donut blog :)

As of today (Thursday, November 15) I am eagerily awaiting my email from Karen Shirk and the rest of the gang at 4 Paws For Ability (4pawsforability.org) to find out who Dog Donut is. It should be ariving any day now since we only have 12 days until my family makes the trip to Xenia Ohio to train with him. I am really looking forward to meeting him. I know my mom,dad,brother and sister are too!

I plan to update this when I can with new information as it arrives. Feel free to post any messages to me on here.

Thanks for all your support!

Love - Colin