Safety tips for my Dogster friends...

Dear Diary-

What a busy and strange week I have been having. Last week while my mommy was getting me into the car outside of a Walmart, someone hit the back of our car real hard and sent me flying up against the back of the front passenger seat. Lots of nice people stopped to help, but the driver of the car who hit us ran from the scene, while people all around yelled, "Stop, you just hit that woman and her dog". How awful. The police were really nice though, and they found her. My teachers from school even came right away to make sure I was ok, and I had to go see the doctor. I am fine though, but I learned some things and I wanted to pass along some tips to my friends at Dogster who love to ride in cars.

1. Make sure that your mommy and daddy put you in the car before putting groceries, packages and other stuff. Who cares if stuff gets hurt, we dogs are more important.

2. Never ride in the back of pick-up trucks, golf carts, ATV's, etc because you could get thrown and then run over by an oncoming car. Always ride inside the car, and always wear a safety strap or a harness when riding in a car.

3. Make sure that your mommy and/or daddy have the name/address/phone# of your vet, and the phone number of your pharmacy with them in the car wherever they go. This way if something happens, everyone will know who to call.

4. Make sure that you also take the name and phone number of an alternative caregiver who will come get you and watch over you in the event that your parents are injured (heaven forbid). Otherwise you may end up at the pound.

5. Make sure that you have a microchip in case you are thrown from the car and lost. Always wear your collar and tags too!

6. Make sure that you have some key medical information about you to take with you wherever you go. You can put this on the same page as the vet, pharmacy and caregiver information. Allergies to medications, etc. This can be a lifesaver.

7. Encourage your parents to take a first aid and CPR course for pets. Pets are NOT little humans, we are anatomically different and the same first aid rules that apply to humans do not necessarily apply to us dogs and cats.

8. If an accident happens, make sure that your parents stay by your side at all times. I was scared, but my mommy NEVER left my side, not even for a moment, and I know that I felt a lot safer because of this. I'm not afraid to ride in cars again because I know that my mommy is there for me.

I hope that this information is helpful to all of you. Accidents happen and we can not stop that from happening...we can only prepare ourselves as best as we can.

Wherever life takes you- have a safe journey, my friends!
Emma

Duck, Duck, GOOSE!!!!

Dear Diary-

Sunday my mommy took me to visit my grandparents, and they have a lake nearby. I had never been to a lake before and it was so neat! There were a squillion birds there, and mommy said that they were ducks and pigeons. All the ducks did not look alike though, some were brown and green, and others were white. Some were large and some were small. My grandpa had a bag of cereal to feed the birds and he started to drop them on the floor to make a trail towards me! This one pigeon came closer and closer, and all of a sudden it reached down to pick up a cheerio and got it stuck on the end of its beak!!! What a hoot! We all had a good laugh.

I was extra good and did not bark at all. I did not try to chase after the birds because mommy was holding onto my harness. I even stood nicely with grandma and grandpa and got my picture taken. Gosh- there are so many kinds of animals out there that I never even imagined. I love going on road trips and seeing new things, and I LOVE to visit my grandparents. I can't wait to go see them again.

Woof!
Emma

Pupdate

Dear Diary-

I just thought that I would issue a pupdate for all my friends on dogster. I took the pre-test for my certification last weekend, and everyone said I did well. I tried so hard to do everything I was told, and my teachers were so nice to me! They think that if I work hard with mommy in the next month or so, I may be able to pass the final test by Easter. I would love that. Mommy and I are out every day working on some skills, so if you see us out in the stores, please give us room to practice. Normally I love extra attention, but I guess I should not be petted for the next few weeks so that I can focus in on what mommy is doing! You know that humans need more training than we do, and it is my job to help out my mommy! Everyone cross your paws for us and I will keep you posted on our progress. When we are done with the test, I hear we are going to have a party!!! I can't wait...I love parties! Especially the ones where I am the guest of honor!!!!

Love is in the Air

Dear Diary-

Bow-wow! What a wonderful day I have had. Today is Valentine's Day and mommy and I were teaching the 5th grade, and you just would not believe how good the 5th graders are. They are so awesome...I love them all!!! We had a party in class and of course I was the star of the party. I got 3 little heart tins filled with doggie treats AND a peanut butter knobby bone from the class. Then, lots of the kids made me Valentine's Day cards. I came home with an entire bag filled with goodies! I don't remember having this much fun last year, but then I was still little then and could not go out in public with mommy like I can now. I was a big help in school, picking things up off of the floor and walking mommy around. My mommy tied a new pink ribbon with little red hearts on it to my harness and everyone said that I looked pretty. Mommy let the students pet me on their way out at the end of the day and I loved all the attention. Some of the kids even said that they love me!

Yes- today was a day to remember. Now, it's time to play some training games with mommy. It's nice to have fun, but we have the more serious matter at hand of having to take our pre-screening for our certification test at the end of the week.

I'll bark more later!

School Days

Dear Diary-

Yesterday we went to a doggie fair with our class, and the dogs there were showing off their basic obedience skills. It was nice to see that so many doggies and their parents take their obedience seriously. It was nice to see my friends there also. Teacher keeps talking about us taking our final certification test, and it is exciting in some ways, but sad in others. I love school so much and hate to think that this will all end. I look forward to Saturdays each week because I get to see my friends, learn new skills and do fun things as a group. Mommy says we can have play dates, but I'm afraid it will not be the same. Of course, mommy did promise me a big treat if I pass the test...a little swimming pool of my own for outdoors. That could be cool. For now, I will just enjoy our weekly outings. We will keep all our friends on Team Emma posted...

It's a Birthday!

Dear Diary-

Today was so much fun. It was my mommy's birthday and we were teaching at the school. I told all the boys and girls and they worked with me. They made cards for mommy and were on their VERY BEST behavior. Everyone got candy (except me---I got a doggie treat). Tonight I plan to shuggle real close to my mommy on the couch and watch TV. She loves it when I let her give me a puppy massage...so I think that I'll just let that happen tonight! Time to go and rally the cats...I told them all to let mommy pet them too!

Woof!
Emma

Back to School

Dear Diary-

The Christmas break is over and this week I got to go back to the elementary school. I was so happy to be there and see all of my friends again. I get to go all this week and next in the morning. Yippee! Today when I was there I even got a new ribbon for my harness. It is pink with red hearts on it and I love it so much. Everyone said I looked pretty!

We are hard at work practicing for our certification test, and I am glad that I have my school friends to help me practice good behavior. Then, on Saturdays, when I go to service school I know I will behave well because I have practiced all week. I know that if we all work very hard together between now and the Spring we will do well. Mommy says we have to work on waiting at the door, leave it and walking close to her when she lets up on the leash. OK ...calling all members of Team Emma...I need your help. When I am at school, let's practice these things together!

All for now...time to take a nap, practice with my mommy some more and then get ready again for school in the morning.

Bow-WOW!
Emma

Happy New Year!

Dear Diary-

A new year is here and that means more exciting adventures. I can't wait to see what we will do in the coming year. Last year was real busy for mommy and I. To recap the year, we completed our obedience training, passed our Canine Good Citizen Test, completed the beginner service dog training and passed the Public Access Test. We sold our old house, moved out to the country and started to teach in a new school. I also made friends with horses, steer and a donkey! I joined the fire department. Bow-WOW! That is a lot of changes.

This next year our biggest task is to pass the final certifying test for service dog school. That will certify mommy and I together as a team. I hope that all my friends at Dogster and at the Elementary School will have a safe, happy and healthy new year. I look forward to seeing all of my friends.

Woof!
Emma

Santa Paws

Dear Diary-

It's true!!! Santa Paws really does come to good doggies and kitties! The day that Kovu and I went to visit Santa Paws and get our picture taken, I asked Santa to bring me a knobby bone and a furry mouse for each of the kitties. Well, I got 2 bones, squeaky toys, tennis balls and treats galore! And, Santa remembered the kitties and they each got a mouse, a toy and some treats!

Yesterday we went to my grandparents house and what a surprise I got there. My Aunt Cindy, Uncle Nelson, cousins Katie and Maddie and my Aunt Sue were there too!!!! We got gifts and had a big feast. I got to play with everyone. I like my cousins the best because they are cute. Katie is older and she gave my hugs and kisses. This morning we opened up our stockings and will have a nice feast again! I got beggin strips from mommy and Andy, and a big bag of Breath Busters from the kitties (do yo suppose they are trying to tell me something???). Later on, my brother and I will go outside to play fetch with my new tennis balls.

I just love Christmas. I would do this ever day, but mommy says no for several reasons. First, then it would not be specia. Also, Santa Paws is tired from riding all around the world and needs to take a big nap. I can see that.

I'll bark more later...Merry Christmas to all my dogster friends!

Emma

Santa Paws

Dear Diary-

Yesterday after school we went to the PetSmart and visited Santa Paws. Chance and Holly could not go, but Kovu and I went and we took our mommies. We both got our pictures taken. Kovu had a funny hat that looked like antlers with lights on it, and he looked handsome. I had a Santa hat that looked just like the one that Santa Paws was wearing. Mommy had my pictures framed and we will keep one and give the other as a Christmas gift. Santa is pretty nice...I asked for a peanut butter knobby bone for me and a furry mouse for each of the kitties.

We got to watch video tapes of us doing our training exercises yesterday and the teacher pointed out some things that even we were not aware that we were doing. It was funny to see myself on the TV! Then she said that she thinks that mommy and I may be ready to take our final certification test in the Spring. Oh dear- now I am going to be nervous. Mommy said to just take it a day at a time though. (I think that she is just as nervous as I am). I will have to ask all the boys and girls at the Congress Elementary School to help out.

This past week we visited the 8th grade for 2 days. The 8th graders are SOOOO nice and they always follow the rules. This is a big help for me. They even help put out my nap blankie in the morning and roll it up in the afternoon. I sure am lucky to have such good friends.

I will bark more soon. Only 3 days until my human brother gets home. Good-bye friends...stay tuned for more news later.

Woof!
Emma