Birthday: July 18th 2001 Likes: Being with people - he thinks he is a lap dog! Favorite Toy: Any plush toy that he can pull out the stuffing! Favorite Food: Sterile bones filled with pumpkin Favorite Walk: Hiking in Palos Verdes Arrival Story: Hayes was the 1st dog I raised for Guide Dogs of America. He first went into formal training in Nov 2002. After toughing out shoulder surgery in April 2003 he returned to training and graduated the following October. In 2004 he developed some allergies that have forced him into early retirement from his work as a Guide in July of 2005. Bio: He's happy to be home and is thoroughly enjoying is retirement and will be doing everything he can to stay away from the doggy dermatologist! Forums Motto: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz The Groups I'm In: ♥ Paws with a Purpose ♥, (For the love of) SQUEAKY TOYS!!!, All About Labs, Boys Need Attension Too!!!, Dogs with Allergies, Gotta Love Those Labs, Guide Dogs, Guide Dogs/PIT/CC'd/CCI, Pets and their owners, Retriever Love, We Love Our Labs!, ~Labradors Club~
OK, so it's been awhile since I last wrote in my diary. Retirement keeps me sooo busy - I have to sleep on the couch, or the bed...then twice a week I go hiking in Palos Verdes. Last weekend mom and her friends took me and my friend Dublin to Santa Barbara to go wine tasting - whatever that is! All I know is the car was full of bottles of this wine stuff by the end of the trip. Best part - they took Dubbie and me to Arroyo Burro dog beach 3 days in a row! It was such fun lots of dogs to meet and greet. I even went in the water,well really I just the walked in the tidepools because I am not a big fan of the waves. I leave the adventurous labrador responsibilites to my "brother" Kirby - he likes to chase after surfers.
Well, I finally decided to write! I've been retired from Guide work now for a year. I am back home with the person who raised me from a young puppy - and the only difference is that the other lab, Kirby, is still living here too. GDA made him a breeder while I was out working so mom is keeping him. I think he's gonna stay even after he's done being a stud - mom says he's crazy but she still loves him. He does have a funny way of running around the house - mom calls it the "Lab Shuffle" I try to do that once and a while but it takes a lot of energy!
Since I've been home mom has taken me to all kinds of fun places. Houseboating on Lake Mead (I prefer the slow pace of a kayak over the jet ski), Mammoth Mountain where we got snowed in - it was really fun to run in the snow, dog beach in Huntington Beach (doggie paradise), and Santa Barbara where mom did something called wine tasting. I am going back to Lake Mead again this year and Suki gets to go too. Kirby has to go to Camp GDA - maybe he will see a counselor there for his craziness.
I took a great class - nothing like obedience at all, I could be silly and sniff all I wanted. They call it Fun Nose Work - and it is taught by a man who trains drug & bomb detections dogs as well as search/ rescue dogs. He was really nice and I had soo much fun trying to "find" my favorite treats in the scent boxes. Sister Suki is taking the class now and she loves it cause she gets to find tennis balls. We all have fun playing 'find it' at home - cause it means treats!!!
Then just yesterday I took a test at the SPCALA in Long beach and became a real therapy dog. I love to be around people I can't wait to go visiting hospitals & convalescent homes.
Dogster Obsessions: The Starter Kit for Dogs by Wildebeest
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