News on my litter

We are all doing well. I heard today that Fergus has been placed as a Service Dog in NH. The only girl Faith has been placed as a Service Dog in the SE MI area. Yay for us!

There will be no news from me until my partner and I are certified in the new year. Paws crossed I do well.

How could I give you up?

This is why!

My new working boy cape. Mom is very proud!

PAWS also got a note that says it all. I don't know if it's from Felix's family, but I'm hoping his family feels the same way. An email from a client with a recent Service Dog placement:

I am simply amazed at the number of commands he knows! He has lifted my spirits tremendously and I feel better overall knowing how we interact and how we feel about each other already, regardless of what my future holds. He is a Godsend and I am so blessed to have him and a relationship with PAWS. When he is certified he will go everywhere with me to assist me with those challenges I can't handle anymore. I thought I knew how people felt about their Service Dogs, but I didn't. I now have a much better understanding of the bond that is created in a very short period of time. He is absolutely a fantastic and loving dog and again I am so lucky and blessed to have him. I can't thank everyone at PAWS enough for making my life fuller and helping me achieve the independence we always spoke of. The trainers did a wonderful job with him!

That is how I could give you up. Someone loves you more than I ever could.

Great news

Felix is being placed as a Service Dog and is off to his client in NC today! Woo Hoo!

The next step the client and the dog learn to work together. It usually takes 6-8 months of in home training in the client's own community. Then the team takes a test and they are officially certified. Let's hope Felix is a good fit for the client.

In the home stretch!

From my teachers:

Felix is filmed and ready to go. He has a nice match and will be very appreciated.

This means I am almost ready to go home with my new person. They match our personalities. Then they tape me doing my job and everyone decides if I am ready to go home. I hope my new partner likes a busy boy cuz I like to be active. I can be a great help with all that energy.

Stay tuned for more updates

Felix- Future Service Dog

August Report

I just switched trainers and we are getting to know each other.

I am still working on my tasks and will matched with my new person real soon.

July Update

Another Report card:

Felix has moved to phase 3 and just started some of his tasks. He has a nice retrieve and is good in public.

This means that if all goes well, I will be matched with a client and start to learn tasks to take care of them. I still am voicing my opinion of things and have a lot to learn.

This last phase takes several months to complete. Keep your paws crossed that I continue to do well in college.

Report card from my trainer

Good news. I'm settling in to college life. I'm learning and strengthening my obedience tasks in phase one. I'm a good learner but still crying and barking in my kennel. Not appropriate behavior for a college boy. I guess I still have some growing up to do. We will have updates once a month on my progress.

My brother Flint moved to Leader Dog school. He will help someone who is visually impaired. Wish us both luck!

Dog In Training

Got the news today: Felix did much better on his submission today and passed his retest.

That means I'm officially a Dog in Training! This is the time when PAWS staff decide what job I might be good for. The selection criteria is very high. Not all pups will make the program. In the next few months I am in Phase 1&2 training.
In Phase 1- I work on improving upon the obedience training I already started. The degree of difficulty and more distractions are added to make sure my behavior is solid.
In phase 2 -I will learn retrieving and door opening skills. Most of the advanced skills I learn will be based on these 2 tasks.

Wish me luck on this new adventure.

Update

Note from my teachers:

Felix did well on his temperament test. He did struggle with the submission portion but we will keep working with him on that and hopefully that will improve once he’s settled in. We will retest him in a week. I will keep you posted.

College Day

Today I go to school. I got to pose a few more times for Mom. Got to meet up with my siblings. Fisher, Flint & Faith.Flash and Fergus moved in the the dorms early.
More pictures as we greet everyone. Class picture.
Wish me good luck. I still have to pass the entrance exams.

Spring is here

Mom says It's almost time to go to college. I am much taller than Aussie now. We share the water dish. I can reach the top!I'm just checking out the yard now that the snow is gone.
Watching for birds.Mom likes me to pose by the flowers. I humor her.

IKEA here we come

We had a fun outing today. My friends and I went shopping. We got to practice our skills. First I had to do a little clean up. We worked on sit, down stays, under, thru, steps, and trying to ignore each other. That's a hard one! I had a great time Mom, but I'm tired.

My vacation with Ms Sonya

Mom & Aussie are out of town again. They had to go to a place call Utah to teach student nurses about service dogs. They reviewed the role of pets & therapy dogs too. How all pets can make you and keep you healthy. Mom says I bark too much and would be disruptive during class. I got to go to Ms Sonya's house instead. I met Phoenix, Chloe and Patrick. Phoenix had a birthday. She turned 7. She let me snuggle with her. Sonya has a comfortable lap.I had a great time but it's nice to be home with my Momma and sissy. I'll be a college boy real soon!

My Vacation with Miss Suzanne

Mom & Aussie went to Arizona. I got to go to Flynn's house. These are a few of my letters.

3/16 Hi Mom,
Wazzup, Mom? Did I countersurf once too often? Did Aussie complain too much about when I drag her around by the collar? Please tell me - what was the straw that broke the camel's back and made you send me to get a dose of my own medicine with Flynn?
Yup, Flynn is a non-stop energy machine, except when he is sleeping. He wants to play ALL THE TIME - I get overwhelmed. He grabs my collar and tries to drag me around. Fortunately, I'm bigger and heavier than he is, so I just stand there and eventually he lets go. Even though there are lots of toys, Flynn wants to grab at the one I have. I try to lay down and he jumps on my bones. I may have bags under my eyes when I get home - I am coming home aren't I?
Actually, I'm having a good time with Flynn, once he got used to having a big bro in the house. I didn't whine in my crate last night. Suzanne took me to the library all by myself. I was a good boy! So don't worry, Mom, everything is O.K. Have a good time and I'll see you when you get home - when will that be?

Puppy hugs and slobbery smooches,
Your GOOD BOY,
Felix

3/18 Hi Mom,
I gave Suzanne a good lesson. It involved me being on the back seat of the truck and a large Coke and cheeseburger being in the front seat. When she got out to let me out of the back seat - well, you know what happened. I do have to say that she learns very quickly - good girl, Suzanne!
Also, Flynn can't open cabinet doors, but I can if they don't close real well. Suzanne was sitting in another room and she heard some chewing in the kitchen. When she came in, there was the cabinet door under the sink - open. Flynn was chewing a bar of soap - he didn't eat alot. It all came out later in the afternoon. Another lesson learned - keep an eye on everyone at all times.
Other than that, I'm being a good boy and having a great time. We go out on adventures - Flynn one time and me another. With the weather warming up nicely, we're spending quality time in the fenced-in backyard helping Suzanne pick up sticks and stuff from the winter.
Hope you're having a good time in the sunny southwest. I be Aussie is thinking she's in heaven with me not there to bedevil her. I think this is a good break for everyone.

Puppy hugs and slobbery smooches,
Felix the Great

Flint

My brother came to visit for the weekend. We had a great time. Lots of wrestling. Aussie was glad to have a break from me. She liked Flint too.We have different heads but have many things in common. We both love the snow. And have long legs & bodies. Also a great smile.We went to a rib cook off. It smelled great!