Week 52 with Lucky

So technically this is week 52 with Lucky, but I'm not going to do my "year with Lucky" post until May 2nd! 

First, I have a not so good update on my Lucky boy. Since about November Lucky has been dealing with a lot of itching. He starts to itch so much at times that it caused a lot of hair loss from his ears and then his sides. He went on some allergy medicine for about 6 weeks which seemed to help it a lot. But unfortunately a little over a week later after he had finished the meds the itching came back. He is now back on the meds and is also on a special food trial to see if it is skin allergies to the environment or if it is food allergies. My bets are it's skin allergies to the environment because now that spring is here, he now also has an ear infection when his ears have always been clean. The real "not so good news" is that due to all of this Lucky can't be a guide dog. I'm devastated. I know, that may seem weird because it's "just a dog", but I've just spent the last year (almost! Our 1 year anniversary is May 2nd) working with Lucky, training him, teaching him how he should behave, in preparation to be a guide dog, and now it's all over. I feel this is almost worse then normal turn in at IFT time. I think I feel this way because he took an IFT2 Test (an IFT, but this one is for dogs that have already been medically released or dogs who are likely not going to go into training because of other issues) and instead of being excited that it's time for him to leave me to go into training and be heading towards the goal of being a guide dog, this a sad time because there's no excitement, this is it, he's done, never ever going to be a guide or anything, just a pet. NOT that a pet is a bad thing, but I didn't just raise him for a year to be a pet... But I'm torn because I'm also excited because I already know the person who will be adopting him! I wish I could adopt him, but I can't. I had decided that a while ago that I have my pet dog, I have my girl Dahlia, and for right now I know that I can only afford one dog, so I knew I wouldn't be able to keep him also because we don't know how this could develop and what could end up happening to Lucky with his allergies. Luckily (no pun intended haha) this wonderful person that I work with use to work at a vet and knows about what could happen with Lucky and is willing to take the risk of long term care for Lucky, this person also happens to be my good friend! And she also foster's Lucky's dad Maestro! So Lucky will get to live with his dad from now on!!! And another plus, is that Lucky knows Brenda so well, so well in fact that when we are at work together most of the time you can find Lucky snuggling with Brenda more then me! So as with everything in life there's always a bittersweet end to a story, and this is the bittersweet end. Lucky won't go on to change a blind person's life, but he's going to get to bless and change Brenda's life and.... I'll get to see him like ALL the time which is a happy thing too! :) I also know I can be proud of Lucky because even though he is released, he scored a 4.5 (out of 5) on his IFT2 test. A near perfect score! I can't believe it! I'm so proud of him!!! 

So, now onto the things we have done! Now that he's released he gets to run off leash, hike off leash, and sleep in my bed! :) But first, guess what we got to do on International Guide Dog Day (on April 29th)! We went to the Today Show and were on the plaza from 6:30AM-8:30AM for the show! We were even in a few clips and tons of photos for a photo booth that BarkBox had! It was such a fun time and Lucky did amazing!! He was very composed and very well behaved. :)

Lucky on the TODAY Show Plaza

Frito, Jennifer, and Lucky

Jennifer, Frito, Lucky, and Yolo

Lucky and I on the TODAY Show Plaza

Lucky with the city behind him

Lucky and Gotham

Lucky and Wrangler

Lucky and Nectar in the photo booth for BarkBox

Jennifer, Lucky, and Nectar in the photo booth

Lucky and I with Wrangler and Saxon

Nectar and Lucky

Lauren & Yolo, Lucky & I, Nicole & Gotham, June & Frito, Dave & Jennifer, Saxon & Wranger, and Maxine & Nectar

Lucky was wiped out after a morning in the city!

"hmmmm what is this mom?" 

"New toys for me? Thanks BarkBox!"

Indy (a stud) was here visiting for a few days, he and Lucky have a lot of fun together!

Lucky took his IFT2 test on the 27th, this was when we were waiting to go in for his test.

On the 28th Lucky came and hung out with a friend of mine while I helped at IFTs, then he came to lunch with me and a few other GEB pups on program.

Lucky having fun running around my yard!

And now Lucky gets to enjoy the pleasures of sleeping in my bed :)

I'd say he's enjoying it! :)

Week 51 from Lex's View

Hello Readers far and close!
It's been an exciting week for me, even if I spent half of it away from Mom. Read all about it--and be sure to read all the way till the end where there's an exciting announcement!

On Saturday, I enjoyed suntanning...got work on that tan for summer!

On Saturday, I went to the Peebles sale, and I settled very well while Mom browsed! 

I went into the dressing room and took another nap!

On Saturday night, I went to my mom's concert. I dressed in my black bow tie! :)

I was a great boy with several people greetings. 

I'm talented! I can wink, roll my tongue, and sit all at once! 

During the concert, I was a good boy for my uncle! 

On Sunday, I went to church.

Then, I went to a pot luck dinner. I slept perfectly through the entire meal!

On Sunday afternoon, I went on a home-switch to raisers on a college campus. First off, I got to have some playtime (and I got just a little muddy!)

I went to this beautiful park to play!

On Monday, my sitters and I came to this parking lot, and I found MOM (who had their dog, Yardley)!! Turns out we were at the same event....

,,,,the event was an experience of a lifetime. I was interviewed by a tv station,

The reporter wanted close up shots of us pups. I was such a good boy! My friend, Wiggins, is in the picture with me. 

I photo bombed the picture! Haha!

Me, Yardley, and Wiggins were wonderful representatives of Guiding Eyes. I settled PERFECTLY when the reporter interviewed Mom. She was beyond proud of me!!! After the interview, I went back with my sitters, and Yardley went home with mom again! 

I got to visit the barn where the raiser works. I love horses!!

I went to several classes over the course of 3 days. I settled perfectly. This class is inorganic chemistry! Wow-that made my brain hurt a little to try to follow that lecture!!

I went out to eat for breakfast! 

I was such a good boy!!!

On Wednesday night, I went to puppy class where I went back to Mom! We had some playtime beforehand.

Yardley couldn't keep up with me! HA!

I was the distraction dog for puppy class. 

I got to work on my skills, too! 

I said goodbye to Yardley at the end of class.

I was shocked when I found snow outside!!!!!!!

What is this stuff??! It looks familiar!

I found this lawn mower at Tractor Supply. I remember this one from when I was a little boy!

Inside Tractor Supply there was this super cool bike. I was taller than it is!!!

Decorations, anyone?

Dog food! Now, you're talking!!

Cat food!

Harlow and I found some spring flowers. Breathe in that spring air!!

Harlow and I are thankful for warm weather!

Am I bigger than Harlow? Yeah--just a little bit!!!!!!

This has to be the most boring photoshoot ever!

Sitting pretty! uh...sitting handsomely! 

I went to Lowe's and found flowers EVERYWHERE! I've never seen so many flowers inside Lowe's.

Will someone push me in this cart, please?!

I practiced "close," I'm very good at it. 

Harlow and I went to a school for a Guiding Eyes presentation. We got a few pictures before our presentation. 

We look pretty handsome and pretty, huh?!

During the presentation, Harlow and I took a nap.

I went to a motorcycle store where our region's Guiding Eyes donation dog currently is visiting (basically, it's a piggy bank in the shape of a dog!)

Have you ever seen so many bikes in one spot?!!

I helped make a return at Peebles. Look how well I settled!!

We went to the park where there were several other dogs walking and playing. Mom and I practiced check-ins. I was definitely interested in the other dogs, but I was able to connect with mom, too!  

Harlow and I had fun on our outing together. 

Harlow and I were tired pups on the way home!

Now...the moment I've been waiting to reveal....

some amazing

some exciting 

some wonderful 

some life changing 

some fantastically cool 

NEWS!

I'm going to be a big brother!!!! 

My mom is getting another puppy to raise for Guiding Eyes. 

Here's what I can tell you about the puppy. 

Name: Kinley

Birthday: March 1st 2015

Parents: Hero and Evita 

Likes: Food, Play, Attention

I'll get my little brother tomorrow night, and I can't wait to have a playmate. 

Here's the cool part...Kinley is related to me. Here's how. Kinley's dad, Hero, is my half brother (we have the same dad, Maestro), and Kinley's dad, Evita, is my half sister (we have the same mom, Halsa). So, Kinley is my double nephew! I guess that makes me "Uncle Lex!" That sounds good!! 

Here's the first of many future pictures of Kinley! :) 

Until Next Week, 

Lex