Long Time, No Post

I am embarrassed by how long its been since I've posted on this blog.  Time has a way of getting away from us here.  Until recently, there's been nothing very new to report.

Kruizer continues to be an amazing dog.  He helps his boy out on a daily basis.  And now, he is totally and completely part of the family.  At this point, we don't remember life without our big, fetch-crazed canine.  He makes us laugh, is always game for a good walk and can play ball virtually 24x7 if allowed.

The big news these days is that we have yet another dog in the house.  One of Kruizer's brothers from a later litter, he had to leave his puppy raiser's home due to a severe allergy in the family.  So, we have taken on Konductor, just until he is able to find a family of his own.

It amazes me how similar and different the two brothers are.  Kruizer is yellow, Konductor, black.  Kruizer is the King of Mellow and Konductor...well, he's a little more high energy.  But once you put that service vest on, both dogs are incredible.  Calm, obedient and wonderfully trained.

Konductor's only been with us a week, so he's still getting used to us and visa versa.  But he is a sweetheart.  A bit more affectionate than his brother, he follows close behind me at all times.  And he absolutely HATES to be alone.  He also happens to be a chow hound of epic proportions.  I don't think I've ever seen a dog eat as quickly and voraciously as this puppy.  The two dogs have also been having a great time playing together.  This is great for Kruizer and these days he looks truly worn out by the end of the day.

Hopefully I'll be able to post a little more often than I have been.  Kruizer is about ready to go through his certification test, so I'll have to let you know how it goes.  And, we'll have to share Konductor's latest antics too.  He has us all laughing most of the time.

Kruizer the Magnificant

Last night Kruizer's boy was having a hard time. A really hard time. He was very distraught and seemingly inconsolable.

For over an hour he lay on the floor crying. And for that entire time Kruizer stayed with him, providing a huge calming influence to an otherwise chaotic situation. As my son cried, he would lay on Kruizer, stroking his fur, petting his ears.

It was very loud and tense, but not once did Kruizer leave his side. He never showed any signs of distress or agitation. He seemed determined to see his boy through -- and that's exactly what he did.

The screams became less frequent, the crying softer until finally his boy was calm. Even after the episode was over, Kruizer stuck by his boy's side the rest of the evening, as if to guard him from further trouble.

The whole scene was pretty amazing. We actually had our therapist over at the time and she was utterly amazed. She was thoroughly impressed with his demeanor, his calm, his love.

And we love him. He's become a pet and is part of our family. But last night we remembered what makes him so special. He did exactly what he was raised to do - and he did it incredibly well.

Today we're proud of our dog. We also have great appreciation for those who raised and trained him. You done good. Very good.

Running In the Rain

Yesterday, Kruizer went for his first official run. Actually, its was more like a run, walk, run, then walk again, so no harm done to his young bones.

The funny thing was that he really didn't know what to do at first. Couped up over the last few days because of bad weather, he was full of vim and vigor. So when I started running, he'd bound in front of me, flipping and jumping, ready for a game of catch or some other fun. When he fully assessed the situation, I swear I saw a look of disappointment on his face -- especially when I would slow to a snail's pace to try desperately to catch my breath (yes, its been a very long time since I last ran too.)

He finally got used to the new routine and both runner and dog had a nice outing. The light drizzle and cool weather made it even more relaxing. Hopefully we'll make a habit of this in the near future.

That Doggie in the Window

Poor Kruizer. Over the last two weeks, the flu has been spreading through our house like wildfire. That has left us a little on the lethargic, if not scattered, side. So admittedly, Kruizer has not gotten the exercise he's grown accustomed to around here.

We also haven't taken him out much because, well, we haven't gone out much. This is so unsettling for him. He's gotten used to our busy schedule and used to lots of work. So this dry spell has led to one very, very stir crazy pup.

Its gotten so bad that as soon as he sees me get my keys, he not-so-patiently waits by the front door. The look on his face is too much for me. So in the car he comes, even if its just up to the store and back.

This morning was exceptionally crazy, everyone in the house in an official tizzy. And that's why I didn't have time to bring Kruizer with us on our daily trip to school.

As I pulled out of my driveway I looked up and saw the most pathetic, sad doggie in the world looking back at me from our living room picture window. My heart broke.

So today, I'm making a special effort to play ball, go on a walk and get out of the house for a little while. This guy has brought us so much happiness, its the least I can do to return the favor.

Our Holy Canine

I am very embarrassed to admit that, due to all the excitement in our household, our attendance at Church has been less than stellar. Come Sunday, we've either been sick or tired or both and can't seem to get ourselves out the door.

Feeling the void, I decided to buck the trend and once again make it a priority. So this Sunday we went to Church.

Now, usually Kruizer's boy has a very difficult time here. The noise, the close proximity to so many others and the sermons he doesn't understand, make the experience less than enlightening for him. He usually acts out and becomes aggressive even at the thought of going.

Not this week. That's because instead of going it alone, this time he had his faithful companion by his side. Kruizer was wonderful -- except for the occasional snore that could be heard from our pew. And his boy responded in kind. He was calm, settled and relaxed.

I was so happy. This is an important part of my life and I was glad to see my son finally able to share in it. We'll be back next week and hopefully Kruizer can work another miracle or two -- hopefully minus the snores.

Kruizer Gets Suspended

As a parent, whenever you get an unexpected call from school, your heart skips a beat. Is everything OK? Did someone get hurt? Or, what did they get themselves into this time? I'm happy to report, I've never gotten a call saying one of my children was in some sort of trouble...that is until today.

Who thought that child would be about 2 1/2 ft. tall, have a soft blonde coat, the most impressive puppy-dog eyes and floppy ears. Yes, today, I got a call from school asking me when I could pick up "the dog." Turns out today at recess, while he was in a down-stay, Kruizer decided to do a little socializing with a dog he spotted across the school grounds. He slipped out of his collar and ran off to greet his new friend. And if that weren't enough, he then caught sight of a tennis ball. Being his favorite thing in the whole wide world, and already feeling his oats, he decided he would just join in on a game of catch. Whoops.

As my son described the situation later, I had to chuckle. Too bad the teachers and principal didn't see the humor as I did. I guess the whole scene caused quite a commotion on the playground, leading to our furry friend's stint in the Principal's Office.

As a result, I have agreed to keep Kruizer home for now -- at least until we can step up efforts on training (yes we will be at all the Sunday trainings from now on!) and working with distractions. Service doggy boot camp, here we come.

Kruizer Goes To School

Kruizer's boy started school on Monday. A new school, new teacher and new classmates is usually a recipe for disaster. But not this year. That's because Kruizer has been going with him.

Of course, he was an instant hit, with the kids lining up to throw a ball or play with him at recess. This ended up being a little bit too much, so I ended up in class this morning, going over some ground rules so that dog and boy alike don't get too overwhelmed. All went well and I had a class of 30 kids quiet and behaved for a half an hour. That's the kind of affect that Kruizer has on all those around him. Its pretty amazing.

I'm not sure if Kruizer will be spending all his days at school, but its really coming in handy right now.