OUR GIFT..... (Brando Page 2)
Learning to be a guide dog is hard work. Brando
gets out every day, and everyone in town knows his name... from the tellers at
the bank, to the
post office staff and the bag boys at our local grocery store. Being so "pupular"
really wears him out, but he loves being the center of attention. When he
gets home after a long day, taking a nap is his number one priority. And,
as you can see, this secure little guy will fall asleep just about anywhere.
December 25, 2000 ~ Brando's 7 Month
Birthday
Brando whispered to Santa... "I want to be the best
Guide Dog in the whole wide world". With a twinkle in his eye, Santa
asked him, "Have you been a good boy this year?" Brando
answered, "Yes, Santa, I practice my special Guide Dog skills every
day. My Mom is very proud of me." "Well then", Santa
said..... "It will be so."
January 26th ~ 8 Months + 1 Day Old ~
Brando's First Snowfall
Yes, we even get snow here in sunny Southern
California! Brando wasn't sure what to make of the cold white stuff, as
you can see from his curious look. After spending an hour or so sniffing
around, he and his pal Becky got revved up and raced around the yard
approximately 427 times, before the sun came out and everything started to turn
to mush (and MUD!) Our boy has never been happy when it's hot.... he
seemed to really like the cold weather. Isn't he getting big? We haven't put him on
the scale lately, but he's got to be pushing 70 pounds by now.
February 2001
"Baby" Brando
was called in to GDA to be fixed. We didn't even know he was broken!
March
2001
Brando took a trip to Colorado. It was his first time on an airplane, and
he handled the confined space during the 2 hour ride very well. Mom, on
the other hand, sat with her knees wrapped up to her chin to give him more
room. :-)
The American Airlines flight crews were very kind and helpful --
we would highly recommend them to others traveling with service dogs.
"I smell the elk but
where are they hiding?"
April 25, 2001
Brando is 11 months
old today. Thinking about his birthday reminds me that he's not a puppy
any more, and it won't be long before he heads back to GDA for his formal
training. In fact, I'll be taking him there next week for his preliminary
evaluation -- getting his physical and having his first "road test"
with a GDA trainer. I'm very proud of his progress and look forward to him
becoming a guide dog, but I'm not ashamed to admit it brings tears to my eyes to
think of him leaving us...
Brando Goes Global
April 30, 2001
Brando visited the
Anaheim Convention Center to attend the International Collectors
Exposition. He was generally not very excited about all the shopping mom
was doing, but he did enjoy stopping by the Cardew Designs collectible teapot
exhibit to meet Paul Cardew (see photo at right). The folks at the Cardew
booth were very welcoming, and Paul even took time out from his busy teapot
signing schedule to offer Brando a "spot of tea" (water).... from a
Cardew teacup! Needless to say this drew quite a crowd, and they became
the center of attention with cameras flashing all around. Brando was
honored as the first 4-legged and youngest member of the Cardew Collectibles
Club, and we're told that he will be featured in an upcoming edition of the
Teapot Times published in England and distributed worldwide. Brando may
not be the first guide dog puppy-in-training to be in the spotlight, but he's probably known
the furthest away!
