GREETINGS FROM SUNNY SOUTH AFRICA!!!
MAXMOM here...
\Hello there to all our friends across the world!
The weather is warming up here in Johannesburg and the Namaqualand Daisies are starting to bloom. Each year the arid region of the South Eastern part of our country transforms itself into a vast expanse of amazing colour. It is a famous tourist attraction which you can read more about...
Although I've never been to Namaqualand myself, I believe it is an incredible sight to behold!
Instead, I sprinkle seeds on my pavement in the early winter and now I am rewarded with this...
Things are still very dry here, but the bees have found their pollen stores and visit these pretty little flowers frequently.
(Notice their swollen pollen sacs)
The promise of Spring suggests brand new life and 'puppies' are very much on my mind.
(As you all know by now)
Molly's puppies (previous post) are located on the other side of our city - some 50kms away - so I will only be able to visit them occasionally over the long 6-8 week time period before I perhaps get to bring one home.
One of my good friends however has decided to volunteer as a puppy walker for the
Today she invited me along to go and choose her puppy.
....oh, the joys of puppy breath!...
This little Golden Retriever puppy was fixated on his chewy treat.
Black labradors prefer shoes!
This is THE pup which goes home with her on Monday next week!
After hours of sitting and playing with the pups, my friend eventually chose this one which is destined for a year of family life in her home.
What excitement!!!
All these pups are bred to be trained as either guide dogs or service dogs.
After spending a year with their puppy walkers, they begin their formal training. Only after they have graduated from that training are they then paired up with their forever companions.
What wonderful experiences they are all in for!
It's great to see such amazing work!
GOOD LUCK, LORRAINE, WITH YOUR NEW COMPANION
AND WITH THE JOURNEY YOU HAVE SET OUT ON!
Thank you too for inviting me along with you today!
I am a confirmed "Golden" fan!!!
( for which I make no apologies)
...and took a moment to spend some time with this delightful Golden who is recovering from his neutering. What an amazingly beautiful temperament he has!
All the pups are lovely and we returned home feeling refreshed with the joys of spring and the promise of puppies.
The seasons are definitely changing!
Sending lotsaluv to you all,
Sending lotsaluv to you all,
30 comments:
Your friend is to be commended for this gracious service. I can't imagine having a puppy for a year and then having to let it go. It takes special people to train guide-dogs.
Your friend must be a very committed person and she must have a strong heart. Letting your puppy go after a year is not easy at all. And to make them guide/service dogs! Those puppies were born for something special :)
A wonderful service your friend provides=best of luck with her new best friend...It looks like you guys had a lovely day with those beautiful babies.
Most dogs are happiest when they have a job. Our pack is much happier now that I know that and can channel each to their own task. Bringing me his bowl, watching that door or window.
Spring and puppies..that combination is unbeatable!
I just love reading about different assistance dog organizations! Your friend is really lucky to be able to actually CHOOSE her own pup--here in America I don't think there really is any organizations that are quite like that! Some of them we have the option of giving a preference as to what breed/color, but not really to the extent of choosing our own pup. :) It would be nice....
I too am a Golden fan all the way--I've been half-way hoping to get a Golden pup to raise for service but half-not hoping too....it would be so much harder to give up!
MaxMom,
Your friend is a most special and wonderful person indeed. Mom says she would never be able to raise a pup for a year and then say good bye to him or hers. Best of luck to her and her new cutie patootie. :)
Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae
I am looking forward to updates on this special puppy destined to live such a useful life. I am also curious to know how your friend went about selecting a puppy - what traits were they looking for at such a young age?
Cheers, Gail
What a wonderful journey. We love the picture of your friend with her puppy with his tongue sticking out.
Super Cute!
Wags!
Mr. Nubbin'
What a fun trip that had to be, and what a great journey your friend is begining! IT is so great that she is going to help with the training of a guide dog - even though it is the begining part it is the part that will probably have the most effect on the personality - how fun it will be!
Oh, how I do love puppies!
And to your friend, "Well done!"
***raising hand***** Golden Fans here too!!!! Love you! Joey Kealani and Valerie
I work with a lot of service puppies in my dog training classes and have two wonderful friends who are also puppy raisers, they are truly blessed humans! (although one admits to gaining 5 lbs every time she gives up a puppy!)
I must admit there is nothing cuter than a little golden puppy, they get those too here!
Awesome role your friend has chosen - our applause goes to her.
Puppy fever - isn't it just wonderful to see all that new life?
Thanks for putting a smile on Mom's face.
Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara
Yippee for your friend. That sure is hard to do. Puppies.. We love those little huts. Happee day
Benny & Lily
Oh I just LOVE the smell of "puppy breath"!
I also LOVE your blog Caryl! Keep traveling for me, I almost feel like I am taking each trip with you.
Hugs, Blu and Tessa too
I come right over as soon as I heard the word puppy's breath!
Congratulations on your beautiful puppies, Molly!
I wish a lucky "Golden" pup will be picked and brought home to be the newest member in your family.
The daisy flowers are so pretty, the bee sure knows how to enjoy it.
Cheers!
Kudos to your friend for her commitment! I've fostered a lot of dogs and let them go to their permanent families, but I'd have a hard time letting a puppy go after a year.
We'll be counting down the days with you until your own comes home!
Those puppies are just so freakin' cute!!! I want one RIGHT NOW!!! LOL
I don't think I could take a dog in for a year and then give it back. Even knowing that I had to give it back, I'd become waaaaaaay too attached!
I have a friend whose family was a puppy raiser for "Guiding Eyes" in New York and through them I came to admire the work that these dedicated people do to make a difference for someone.
She sees a vision of what "will be", and her calling is to make the miracle happen.
To look into the future and forsee how these little paws will grow and will someday make a difference in someones life, is a gift, and is selfless love.
A giving heart that is able to let go, after it has loved.
Your photos are awsome! Just awsome
love
tweedles
What beautiful pictures!! Puppies!! Your friend is very kind to do such a service. We have Saint Francis of Assisi here that trains service dogs and mom loves going there. She loves Goldens too very much. Puppies...oh dear...mom can't wait to see what happens next!!! Lots of love, Holly and mom
Two of my neighbors are raising guide dogs - one has a female black lab Trista, the other has a black goldendor Camille. Neeli likes to play with both of them.
What a wonderful commitment people make to raise a puppy knowing that they'll have to them him/her go at around 13-16 months. But what a job these puppies have awaiting them too!
Hugs,
Nadine Apples & Neeli
Puppy breath - the best perfume a lady can wear - at least to other puppy lovers☺
Those puppies are so precious. They are giving me puppy thoughts! BUT, I shall wait for your puppy, Caryl, and will raise my puppy through you!
Gee, will your little one and your friend's little guy be able to have play dates? Wouldn't that be fun?
Puppies! I don't think I can ever do what your friend does. It is so tough to let go. I can't even foster a rescue dog. I know I would not want to let them go to their new owners.
Hi Caryl, we're catching up on the last few posts. How exciting! We loved seeing the photos of beautiful Molly and her sweet babies.
Springtime and puppy breath... how perfect!
Luv,
Cloud and his mom
The puppies are all so cute that I know my mum wouuld want to keep one for more than a year!
Woofs,
Riley
What a Most Beautiful post. Sunny flowers and sunny puppies! Your furend is our hero. She is doing a very much impawtant thing. Mom doesn't think she could raise a puppy for a year and then gives it over to somebuddy else - even for a good cause. That's why your furend is so special.
Wiggles & WAgs,
Mayzie
Caryl, just came by again to look at the puppies (I ♥ puppies) and noticed the look on your face as you are petting the Golden male who had just been neutered. The love and the longing I see on your face is evident - you, my dear, need another Golden to touch and to hold and to train and to share your nights and days and life. I can't tell you how pleased I am that in a short time you will feel Golden puppy breath kisses on your face. I am also so pleased that our dear Tammy will have a puppy of her very own to love and to play with and to show around this big world of ours.
I agree - Puppy breath is wonderful! And, I confirm - black labs love shoes!
What an uplifting day you must have had... touching and playing with such cute little furry wrigglers!
I love your flower picts. It will be fun watching your spring dawn as our fall approaches...
What a difficult thing, having a pup for a year and then giving it up for its formal training. A truly unselfish act. Dad says he doesn't think he'd have been able to part with most of us after a year, some of us after a week maybe.
- TBH&K
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