In what is quickly becoming a Halloween tradition, I headed to Silva and Felipe's apartment for some pumpkin carving. I do not actually carve a pumpkin as I always seem to have one dog or another with me and carrying a pumpkin while walking a dog (or dogs) is a challenge I think I will pass on. But nevertheless, I have a lot of fun watching everyone else carve their pumpkins. But I am getting ahead of myself!
This was Josie's first major outing into the city beyond my neighborhood. Here she is sitting on the foot bridge that goes over a major highway.
After making our way across the foot bridge, we headed for the subway station. I was glad that once we were inside the station, we had some time to just hang out before the train came (a rare thing to wish the train did not come!). A train arrived on the other side of the platform, which was great as it allowed Josie to hear the sound of the train but not have it directly in front of her. Josie waited very patiently.
I worked really hard with Josie the first few weeks that I had her to teach her to "close," as it is a very useful command when on a subway. She did "close" almost perfectly but as the train ride went on, she gradually scooted over to one side. We will have to work on this.
After we got off the subway, we stopped at the corner of W. 57th Street and Broadway, right in the heart of midtown Manhattan, for a nice photo of Josie with traffic whizzing by behind her.
After a nice walk through the city (with near perfect loose leash walking I might add!), we finally arrived at Silva & Felipe's.
The pumpkin carving commenced, along with watching The Shining (red rum!). It was a great Halloween with some spectacular pumpkins! Josie agreed to put on her Halloween costume for a few minutes to get a nice Halloween photo. She was a moose (with a very tempermental head!).
Hoping everyone had a wonderful Halloween!!
I just had to post this fall photo of Josie. It was taken in Patterson, NY, at the Guiding Eyes guest house. She looks so sweet and ready to take on the world.
My second GEB puppy has arrived!! Josie was born on August 11, 2010, to Mama Phyllis and Daddy Cletus. She is one of eight puppies in her litter. Josie's first night in NYC was very, very busy as we had a fund raising event called the Night Walk to attend. This event was hosted by Bruce Stark and his store, Beacon Hardware. Bruce is a good friend of raiser John McNally, who helped Bruce with the event. According to John, the event raised approximately $12,000, which was all donated to Guiding Eyes. I would like to think that Miss Josie had something to do with the money donated - who wouldn't be enticed into doing whatever these sweet eyes ask you to do??!
Every year Guiding Eyes hosts a workshop for the region coordinators and team helpers from every region. Everyone gathers together for a few days of learning, fun, and puppy snuggles. This year's workshop was my very first one - Julia and Kim from the NYC region also came. The theme of the workshop was Puptoberfest! I'm not really sure why that theme was chosen, but it made for an excellent German-themed dance by all the region managers!
The first night was basically just an introduction to the workshop, which involved eating some German-themed food and shopping at the region tables. I really had to restrain myself from buying every item there! Lots of regions had some really creative stuff - I ended up buying a wind jacket and some dog toys (as if my dogs don't already have enough toys! haha). It was also the first time I saw all the region managers - it was nice to put faces to the names. 
The second day of the workshop involved a lot of instruction on the wonderful new preplacement classes that Guiding Eyes has developed. We have tested the new classes a few times in NYC so I was already familiar with the material but it was great to hear the questions from other regions about issues that we had not come up with. There was also a surprise visit from the next puppy I will be raising (Josie!) who, along with her sister Joan, were the demo dogs.That night we had yet another delicious meal and a short comedy sketch/speech from comedian Brian Fischler and his guide dog Nash. He was hilarious as usual. Poor Nash had spotted his puppy raiser in the audience and cried throughout Brian's sketch.
There was also an AMAZING presentation by the Heeling Autism program, which included updates on every dog that has been matched while a child. The father of one of the kids who received a Heeling Autism dog gave a speech that was incredibly touching. There was not a dry eye in the house. I really enjoyed learning more about this program.
The final day of the workshop was the day everyone had been waiting for - community run day!! From what I understand, this was the first time that Guiding Eyes brought everyone into the community runs and allowed people to request specific dogs they wanted to see. Initially I was a bit bummed because Frito had recently been spayed and was on the "do not run" list but then I learned that instead of the community run, I was allowed to spend 30 minutes alone with Frito in her kennel. It was pure heaven!
And then it was time...time to pick up my new puppy!! She was hanging out in a van with her sister Jamie, just waiting for me to take her home. (I borrowed the photo from Laura's Facebook page - Josie is on the left).
After a great workshop where I got to see Frito again, learn lots of new things, and meet many of my Facebook friends, we headed back to NYC...
Only a few days after dropping Frito off at the Guiding Eyes training school, Julia and I returned to watch Frito take her in-for-training test. Frito was scheduled in the afternoon session but Julia and I arrived early so that we could take the kennel tour that was offered between the morning and afternoon sessions. I confess, it was really just an excuse for me to see Frito as soon as possible.
The moment we set eyes on each other was incredibly emotional and I almost lost it right there...
After a quick hello, we finished the kennel tour, went to get some lunch, and then it was test time! I do not think I have ever been this nervous for any tests I took for school and this time, it was not even me taking the test! There were a few other raisers there to see their dogs and of that group, Frito was scheduled last. I watched the other dogs do their tests, feeling so much pride for all of these dogs whom I did not even know. And then it was Frito's turn - Julia and I had to hide behind a piano so that Frito would not spot us.
Frito did really well on her test - the only moment where I was absolutely horrified by her behavior was when they had a toy bird/bat fly around in the area. Frito jumped up at the bird, not once, but twice! I was so surprised as she has never shown any interest in the many birds, pigeons, etc in the city.
And then finally - her test was over and it was time for some Frito snuggles!! She was sooooo happy to see me!
I considered smuggling Frito out the back door...
Gotta love lapradors!
A final squeeze! Frito is officially in for training!! Yay!
Dexter and Bailey are really going to miss Frito...
