Tony Stewart Foundation - Smoke's Pup Crew

Birthday Party a Success

2010-06-17T09:27:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday, Smoke's Pup Crew! The dogs' first birthday party was a success with over 100 people attending and enjoying an evening of conversation, food, and Tony's dogs! Nearly $3,000 was raised to underwrite some of the dog's expenses during their final year of training.

Thank you to all who attended, especially the kind representatives of the Tony Stewart Foundation who have done so much for this litter of service dogs in training.

More photos are coming but here's one of the eight dogs POST-PARTY! They were exhausted but happy. One year old and one more year of training until they begin their career in service!

Happy Birthday to Smoke's Pup Crew

2010-05-24T14:19:00.004-04:00

It's hard to believe, but Smoke’s Pup Crew is turning 1 year old in June. In celebration, we're holding a birthday party for them.

WHAT: 1st Birthday Party for Dora, Dega, Bristol, Racer, Riley, Charlotte, Lily, Hunter, all members of the Tony Stewart Foundation litter
WHEN: June 15, Tuesday, from 6:00-9:00 pm
WHY: For fun and to help fund the dogs’ final 12 months of service dog training
WHERE: ICAN’s new office complex, at 5610 Crawfordsville Rd, Suite #18, Indianapolis, IN 46224 (just west of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and on the corner of Crawfordsville Road and 22nd Street; note the suite number is not ICAN’s office suite).
RSVP REQUIRED VIA EMAIL BY JUNE 1: RSVP your plans to attend and how many people will be attending with you by sending an email to Sherri at sherri@icandog.org. RSVPing helps us plan for refreshments and space.

Attend the party and mingle with other ICAN and Tony Stewart Foundation supporters, enjoy meeting the dogs and seeing how they’ve matured, have some food and drink, and give a birthday “gift” to the dog of your choice. PRESENTS ENCOURAGED! The dogs have asked for the following types of presents: thin paper that’s green and has numbers and photos of past presidents on it, checks, and credit cards! They’re hoping to receive gifts that will keep them on track during their final year of training.

Each dog will have a donation box of its own and you can select which dog to support. Photographer Carl Frye will be there again to take a photo of you with the dog you are sponsoring, just like this amazing shots he captured last year of shower guests Sophie and little sister Macy with puppy Hunter.

Can you come? We sure hope so. RSVP by June 1 by emailing sherri@icandog.org.

Dora and The Sit Test

2010-03-22T09:56:00.001-04:00

When training a service dog, ICAN wants to ensure that the dog pays attention to its person EVEN IF the person isn't right in front of them and making eye contact.

We begin teaching this by using a command the dogs know well: SIT. Using this command, dogs and handlers participate in the "Sit Test". Dear pup Dora recently was introduced to the Sit Test with a very funny and insightful result! Read on for more on Dora and her Sit Test (and several photos that show Dora's progression from a pup to an adolescent dog).

The Sit Test involves the following:
1) The dog sits upon request facing the handler.
2) The dog sits upon request at the handler's side.
3) The dog sits upon request with the handler seated.
4) The dog sits upon request with the handler sitting on the floor with his/her back to the dog.
5) The dog sits upon request with the handler lying down on the floor.
6) The dog is asked to lay down and stay while the handler walks 6 feet away, then asks the dog to sit.
7) The dog is walked across the room and told to stay. The handler asks the dog to sit from across the room.
8) The dog is walked across the room and told to stay. The handler calls for the dog to come, then asks the dog to sit when the dog reaches the half point of the room.

Simple, right? Handlers and their dogs turn this training exercise into a friendly competition as their dogs learn new ways to perform the SIT command.

Brandon, a handler at Plainfield Correctional Facility who trains Dora, was helping her through the Sit Test commands. Dora, like all of Smoke's Pup Crew, has passed her Level I certification of skills and is working on her Level II certification. (They remain a precocious and advanced litter! And beautiful...did I mention beautiful?)

Dora was having great success at the Sit Test until she reached the 8th and final step -- the step that requires the handler to be on one side of the room with the dog on the other, then the handler calls for the dog to come and gives the sit command when the dog is halfway across the room.

In ideal situations, the dog will begin to come to the person and then instantly sit when the sit command is given.

Dora had another idea.

She was used to being told to COME. She was used to being told to SIT. But, this new game of being away from her handler and then told to BOTH come and sit within a few seconds of one another seemed to confuse her. Or more accurately, she seemed to think Brandon was confused! Imagine a thought bubble coming out of Dora's head and it saying, "WHAT? You tell me to come, then you tell me to sit, then you tell me to come, then you tell me to sit? Which do you want - come or sit?"

Then, Dora had a brilliant idea. She'd give Brandon BOTH commands!

So, sweet Dora took a few steps toward Brandon when he said "Come", then before Brandon could say anything else, she'd sit! Then, she stood up on her own, took two steps toward him, then sat down. Again and again she did this on her own, slowly making her way toward Brandon, as if saying to Brandon, "Look dude, it seems to me you are very confused on which command you really want me to do. SO, until you make up your mind, I am going to do BOTH!"

The handlers and ICAN trainers erupted into laughter at Dora's attempt to fulfill Brandon's commands. Dora looked around at everyone with a look that said, "Humph. I'm not sure what's so funny. I'm simply trying to problem-solve here. But everyone IS laughing and smiling at me so that must mean I did something right! I just love when they laugh and smile at me - makes me feel very special and loved."

And so you are, Dora.

Check back soon for an update on another dog from Smoke's Pup Crew. Future blogs will speak to one or two of the pups and what they've been up to in training and while on furlough outside of the prisons.

Bella Departs ICAN Training (but there’s a happy ending!)

2010-02-08T14:38:00.002-05:00

At ICAN, we firmly believe that no dog in service training ever fails the program, although they may experience a “career change”. Such is the case with dear Bella who is departing the ICAN training program. Let us explain why. (Don’t worry – she’s healthy and happy and there’s a happy ending!)

To understand the challenge with Bella, we ask you to think of the following. Take your most firmly held belief, one that you can’t imagine yourself ever, EVER changing your mind about.

How hard it would be for you to change a belief that your mind, your heart, and your soul believe to be right, true and real? Pretty darn hard. It would be like trying to convince Tony Stewart that he shouldn’t race for the win when on track!

With that example in mind, let’s explain Bella’s reason for her career change.

Bella has her own deeply held belief that she can’t give up. Her belief is that certain things that she encounters in life have a vital importance and significance, so vital and significant that she will defend against them being taken from her. The technical term for what Bella does is "Resource Guarding.”

In many domesticated dogs, this instinct to guard and protect things that ensure survival and health has decreased because of generations of living with abundant resources and being kept safe by human guardians. However, due to some dogs’ genetics, this instinct to resource guard still shows up. Typically, dogs who have this instinct tend to start showing it between 5 and 7 months of age.

In some cases, this resource guarding and reactivity is mild and the dog can be trained with positive methods to give up the guarded item in favor of something more attractive. However, in Bella’s case, there are no items more attractive to her than the item she is currently guarding and defending. This greatly limits the ability to train her from demonstrating the unwanted behavior. ICAN staff and trainers spent several months working with Bella to modify her pattern of resource guarding. Initially, our positive training methods appeared to have worked and she went one full month without incident, receiving an abundance of praise and treats for her appropriate behavior. But then, without warning, she reverted back to the resource guarding and did so without any warning.

Bella's resource guarding is tricky because her response involves growling and use of her mouth to ward off what she sees as a threat to her survival. For example, a person’s hand reaching to remove a rawhide from her will be growled at or nipped at. It doesn’t matter that this hand may be offering her a juicy steak to replace the rawhide; something in Bella tells her that she must keep the rawhide for survival. Bella’s response is further complicated in that it is spontaneous, intense, and unpredictable.

Does this mean Bella is a bad dog or untrainable? NOT AT ALL. In every other instance, Bella is a beautiful, loving dog and very skilled in offering appropriate behaviors when asked. Was this something brought on from being trained inside a prison? NOT AT ALL. I wish each of you could see the dedicated care and positive-based training that all of Smoke’s Pup Crew receive from their trainers living inside correctional facilities. Bella’s trainers did everything correctly in teaching her skills and behavior appropriate to a service dogs.

No, Bella is not a bad dog. Sweet Bella simply has been born with a tendency to resource guard as dogs in the wild would. Unfortunately, service dogs can’t behave this way. Bella's behavior and environment would require a level of management that would be an unreasonable expectation to pass on to a person already managing a disability. ICAN’s accrediting body, Assistance Dog International, is very clear in stating that a dog demonstrating resource guarding to Bella’s extent cannot be a service dog candidate.

It’s important to recognize Bella’s limitation because of what we ask service dogs to do for a person with a disability. Here’s a simple example: we ask a service dog to pick up and retrieve items for a person. Imagine if the person Bella is helping drops a medicine bottle and Bella retrieves the items but decides she needs to keep it for “survival”. Would she growl and perhaps nip when her person tries to take the item away? Possibly. Imagine the item dropped is a medicine that a person must take immediately, such as an inhaler, to avoid serious health issues. What happens if Bella delays this medicine being taken because she won’t give it up?

What happens to sweet Bella now? We know that statistically not all dogs who enter service dog training have the temperament, motivation, and skill set to become service dogs. At ICAN 2 dogs out of every 5 in training will not be suitable for service work and will require a “career change”. That’s when the ICAN Release Dog process kicks in. People who have an approved release dog application on file with ICAN can adopt dogs that are released from the ICAN program. When a dog becomes available for adoption, ICAN reviews these applications to find the best possible match for the dog and for the applicant.

ICAN’s focus for finding Bella the perfect “forever home” meant finding a special family who understood dog behavior and her severity of resource guarding, who knew how to manage it when it occurred, and who would love her despite her tendency.

Fortunately, a family well acquainted with ICAN was interested in Bella. Carol and Rob adopted Sadie, a released ICAN Labrador, four years ago and wanted to add a Golden Retriever to their family. ICAN had complete confidence in Carol and Rob’s ability to help Bella manage her tendency and knew Bella would have a wonderful life with them – but would Carol and Rob feel that immediate connection with Bella, a connection strong enough to overcome the challenges they would face with her resource guarding?

The answer was a resounding YES! A trial adoption was arranged to give Bella, Carol and Rob time to confirm the situation worked for everyone. Bella spent a few weeks with the family and the decision was unanimous – Bella had found her forever home. Bella was jubilant – wouldn’t you be too with over 70 acres of wooded, rolling land, a new Black Labrador step-sister named Sadie, and two doting owners?

Best of all, Carol and Rob are open to continuing Bella’s training in appropriate serviced-based skills and may eventually be able to take her to places, such as nursing homes, where her environment can be controlled so that items that tempt her to resource guard are not introduced.

We’ll miss Bella, and so will the men who trained her from a small pup to her current age of seven months, but we are all pleased to know she has a fantastic new family.

As for Dega, Dora, Bristol, Lily, Charlotte, Racer, Hunter, and Riley, they are continuing their training and learning lots of great skills. Can you believe that in a mere 5 months Smoke’s Pup Crew will be one-year old?!

Puppy Field Trips to New Prisons!

2010-01-04T14:15:00.002-05:00

It’s time for Smoke’s Pup Crew to see new sights, sounds and people! Yes, starting this week the Pup Crew will begin a continual rotation from Plainfield Correctional Facility (PCF) to other correctional facilities.

This is a good thing for the puppies for several reasons.
1) Imagine having to live with your brothers and sisters day in and day out. Since birth, that’s what the pups have been doing. Now is the time for the pups to “cut the cord”, to grow up a bit, and get out there and meet new dogs that sound and look different than the rest of the Pup Crew.
2) Similarly, within any prison location, the sights and sounds and routines can become very predictable, with new learning experiences harder to come by. However, by switching prison facilities, the puppies are introduced to a new base of people, buildings, sounds, and experiences. Being introduced to new things is a fantastic learning opportunity for a puppy. It helps socialize the puppy and make him or her more accepting of new situations when they occur in the future (and that’s what ICAN needs a service dog to be – flexible and adaptable).
3) The puppies are used to the trainers that have worked with them for the past four months. But, we want to make sure the dogs are able and willing to work for anyone and everyone. By rotating the dogs to different facilities, the dogs are introduced to new trainers with different appearances, voices, and routines than the men at PCF.
4) Lastly, rotating facilities is beneficial to the puppies because each person who trains for ICAN has different training strengths and opportunities for improvement. When a puppy rotates between trainers, that puppy benefits from having access to each trainer’s strengths. (And, each trainer benefits from having a new dog to train because a certain dog can help a trainer turn an opportunity for improvement into a new strength.)

Having the pups rotate prisons is also good for the offenders at Plainfield Correctional Facility (PCF), although it’s difficult for the trainers to let go – even temporarily - of the little fur ball they’ve helped along in life. Why is this a good thing for the trainers?

1) Moving the puppies to a different location helps the trainers begin to understand and process the fact that there will come a day when the dogs have to leave – permanently. It’s a reminder that the puppy is not “theirs” but instead is a dog in training that will eventually leave them permanently and go to live with and work with a person in need. At ICAN, we have learned that small separations between a trainer and a puppy now go a long way toward making that final goodbye easier.
2) When a puppy from Smoke’s Pup Crew leaves the PCF facility for another, it means the trainer gets a well-deserved rest. For four straight months, these men have worked day in and day out with their puppy. Sometimes taking a small rest from training gives the trainer a chance to revitalize and renew their commitment to the ICAN program.
3) PCF trainers now have the time to work with other dogs in the ICAN program and learn how to train more mature dogs who are working on advanced behaviors. Replacing a puppy with an older dog means the men at PCF hone their training skills even more, making them better all-around trainers.

What does location rotation of the puppies of Smoke’s Pup Crew mean for this blog? Nothing will change here. We’ll still have photos of the puppies and updates from the people who are training the puppies.

To everyone, Happy New Year!

Picture Perfect -- Pup Photo Session

2009-12-31T12:55:00.004-05:00

Smoke’s Pup Crew had an adventure near the end of 2009. They traveled to the Tony Stewart racing shop on the northwest side of Indianapolis for their very own photo shoot.

Carl Frye, the photographer who expertly captured the pups’ personalities when they were 6 weeks old, graciously volunteered to capture their adolescent personalities at 20 weeks of age. The main difference between now and then? What were slightly squirmy seven-pound puppies are now energized 35-pound, 6-month-old adolescents with insatiable curiosity and boundless energy. What hasn’t changed? They still are adorable.

Enjoy these photos and marvel along with us at how much the pups have matured. (Need a photographer for a special event? Contact Carl at Carl@FocusGroupPhoto.com.)
DORA (above)
HUNTER (below)

LILY (below)
RACER (below)
RILEY (below)

BELLA (below)BRISTOL (below)

CHARLOTTE (below)
DEGA (below)

The Pups Perform! Videos & Photos

2009-12-01T14:17:00.013-05:00

Want to see some amazing video footage of Smoke's Pup Crew in action? Click HERE to watch a 10 minute performance by the pups as the handlers at Plainfield Correctional Facility demonstrate the puppies' skills. The handlers were demonstrating (for prison staff and for Tony Stewart Foundation reps who came to watch) several of the commands the pups have mastered.

In this video, you'll watch as each handler requests behaviors from the puppies and the skilled pups respond. Here are some of the commands you'll see in action and an explanation of why they will be important when the dog enters the profession of service work.

TOUCH - the dog touches the handler's hand or another object with its nose; touch is put to practical use when a person with a disability asks his service dog to open a door by "touching" the auto-open button with its nose.
SHAKE - the dog raises a paw from the ground into the handler's hand; shake is important for grooming purposes when a person with a disability wants to trim the dog's toenails.
BACK UP - the dog walks backward from the handler; this is an important behavior since a person in a wheelchair must maneuver the chair, meaning the dog must be able to move in tandem with the chair's direction.
LEAVE IT - the dog ignores the temptation to pay attention to something or someone other than its handler; when working for a person with a disability, a service dog must be able to ignore distractions so that its sole focus is on its person and assisting them. That means ignoring squirrels, other people, loud noises, and bouncing tennis balls as you will see in the video!

All of these behaviors and many more are vital to service dogs working safely and effectively alongside their person.

The audio isn't great given that we were recording in a large gymnasium, but the video should give you an idea of just how far these nine little guys have come and give you an idea of how skilled the handlers who train for ICAN are. All those clicks you hear throughout the video are the sound that the "training clickers" make. The training clicker sound lets the dog know that that he or she has performed the correct behavior that the handler asked for.

After the nine pups finished their performance, IT WAS PLAY TIME! Watch the puppies at play outside and in the baby pool! The last and larger dog to approach the pool is Daddy Bodhi who was visiting the pups that day. Finally, check out the photos after this video of the handlers the day of the performance.

Bella's Little "Problem"

2009-11-09T14:12:00.013-05:00

Remember Bella? Sweet, adorned in pink, adorable Bella?

Yep, that's her. Now, replace that sweet little doggie-mouth with an ugly little growl. Hard to imagine, isn't it? Before you get too worried, DON'T ! All ICAN dogs in training develop little quirks and behavior issues as they start to mature, and little Bella's quirk was to stop sharing nicely with others. You know how kids go though that stage of not sharing, of thinking everything is theirs and no one else should be able to touch or play with it. Well, that's what Bella was doing.

The handlers at Plainfield Correctional Facility were quick to share with ICAN staff that Bella was turning into a bully. The handlers knew that the sooner a behavior can be positively modified, the better for the puppy and its future success in the program, so they reached out to ICAN staff.

ICAN staff knew just what to do. Bella came to the ICAN office for an "intervention". The intervention involved a fake arm tied to a long stick, a rawhide, Bella, and a whole lotta patience from ICAN staff. Bella was given the rawhide (the item we wanted her to share and give up easily when asked to do so) and allowed to chew on it. Then, the arm was extended toward Bella and its hand placed firmly on the rawhide. If Bella got growly or nipped at the hand, the hand remained pressing down on the rawhide UNTIL Bella calmed herself. When Bella calmed herself, the hand was removed and she was allowed to freely chew on the rawhide.

This was repeated over and over (and over and over) until the hand could touch the rawhide without Bella reacting. Treats eventually were introduced when Bella would give up the rawhide, helping her understand that giving up her rawhide resulted in positive things -- if she gave up the rawhide calmly she received a treat in exchange.

I wish everyone could have seen little Bella's amazing transformation from being growly to being very calm and willing to share. ICAN staff and the handlers at Plainfield continue to work with Bella in ways that promote her new-found inclination to share. So, the happy ending to this story is that Bella is back at Plainfield and doing well !!

Art With Heart

2009-11-02T10:55:00.001-05:00

The level of dog training expertise we are seeing in the handlers at the Plainfield Correctional Facility continues to impress all of us at ICAN. And we found out recently their talent doesn't stop there as evidenced by some amazing artwork that was given to ICAN by one of the dog handlers.

O'Neill, who trains puppy Charlotte, presented ICAN with a lovely hand drawn handkerchief depicting the partnership between ICAN, the Tony Stewart Foundation, and the ICAN dogs and their handlers. Using very small colored pencils on a piece of white fabric approximately 15 x 15 inches in size, O'Neill put his creative talents to work in creating the amazing artwork you see above featuring - who else - puppy Charlotte (and her brother Dega). O'Neill presented his masterpiece to ICAN staff and to a representative of the Stewart Foundation a couple weeks ago, and everyone was in awe of his innate drawing talent. (And what a small world it is - many years ago, a couple of O'Neill's family members raced against Tony Stewart on track!)

What's in store for this very special piece of artwork? Stay tuned to find out. Thank you to O'Neill for channeling his talent into something that touched all of our hearts at ICAN.

NEW VIDEOS - PUPS PLAYING TOGETHER & PET PALS TV

2009-10-09T10:40:00.007-04:00

Three videos are attached as a movie or as links - and all are about Smoke's Pup Crew!

Get ready to try and accept the fact that the large puppies you see on this video are indeed Smoke's Pup Crew! You know, those tiny little puppies you followed from birth on the Puppy Cam? Now, Smoke's Pup Crew are 14 weeks old - and oh my gosh - you won't believe how much they know (more on that in a future blog, but let's just say that these puppies at 14 weeks are about ready to pass their Level 1 certification of skills). Precocious? YES! Advanced? YES! Adorable? YES! Again, ICAN sends its thanks out to the Plainfield Correctional Facility and to the trainers there who have put these puppies on an amazing path to service work. And while these puppies work hard each day, they also have lots of time for play as you're about to see.

And, in case you missed the airing of Pet Pals TV on Channel 13 last month or this month, check out these video links. In this first LINK (click LINK to view videos), Smoke's Pup Crew is the first story. In this second and most recent video LINK, the story is closer to the end (about the 14 minute marker) but there's more of a focus on the prison training with footage inside the Plainfield Correctional Facility.

Riley on Furlough

2009-09-16T14:02:00.005-04:00

Puppy Riley visited with Tony Stewart Foundation staff on Tuesday of last week during an impromptu lunch and visit to a local pet supply store.

She was on her best behavior and it's a good thing! The manager at our lunch location needed a little convincing that she was a service dog in training given her age and small size. But Riley stood up to this test and conducted herself just like a proper worker dog would. Over the next 3 hours, Riley did not utter one inappropriate bark and kept her bladder manners in mind. As for her loose-leash walking training, she was a tad challenging, but then again she's only 3 months old!

Inside the pet supply store, she made friends with an over-anxious Pugle dog, and while outside the store she befriended a very sweet Terrier.

The trip concluded with a visit to the Tony Stewart racing office where Riley made a beeline for Tony's mom's office! Inside Pam's office were a woman and her little daughter who were visiting. Riley immediately snatched up one of the child's Beenie-Babies for herself (which she had to give back). But, how wonderful to watch Riley interact with this young child who might have been a year and a month or two old. Riley was calm, but at the same time interested in the child. Calm but interested are good traits for a service dog in training, especially since Riley's future may involve assisting a child managing a disability!

After nearly 3 full hours of socializing, Riley began her car trip back to the ICAN office. Within seconds of leaving the race store, she was fast asleep.

CHARLOTTE IS A TURKEY FOR A DAY

2009-09-11T10:23:00.004-04:00

Yes, those are feathers sticking up from puppy Charlotte's rump in the above picture. And yes, that's a red wattle hanging from her chin just like a turkey has. Furlough families who take ICAN pups in training out into the community to introduce them to new sights and sounds can be VERY creative.

Jennifer, a furlougher who had puppy Charlotte recently on her release from prison, entered both her own black Labrador and Charlotte in the North Salem Old Fashion Days Pet Parade.

Charlotte was dressed up as a turkey, as you can see. The black Lab was dress in camouflage with a fake gun. THEY WERE AWARDED FIRST PLACE HONORS!

While a bit premature, Happy Halloween and Early Thanksgiving to all !

Meet the PCF Handlers Who Train for ICAN

2009-09-02T09:35:00.016-04:00

Introducing the handlers at Plainfield Correctional Facility who are training the Tony Stewart Foundation litter. These guys deserve a round of applause for all the effort they are putting into training these nine energetic pups. (In fact, I am applauding them right now as I babysit Riley who's out of prison on furlough....she's interested in everything, has to be watched every second, and is quite vocal! She's lovely - just has to be watched nonstop.)

John with Bella

Casey with Dega

Jeff with Hunter

Stephen with Riley

O'Neill and Charlotte

David with Bristol

Brandon and Dora

Kris and Riley

Sam and Lily

Corey with Charlotte

Jason with Hunter

Chuck with Bella

Jason with Lily

Florian with Dora

Dustin with Racer

Eric with Bristol

Jason with Racer

Dora Does Her Flying Nun Imitation

2009-09-02T09:28:00.004-04:00

For those who remember the TV show The Flying Nun, this photo of Dora needs no explanation. Looking at it in racing terms - it's her spoiler, her aerodynamic package!

PUPPY SHOWER DE-TAILS

2009-08-27T14:47:00.018-04:00

What a party! The ICAN Puppy Shower for these nine growing bundles of fur and energy was fantastic. Over 125 people attended and the vast majority of them made financial contributions to support the puppies. Each attendee was invited to make a donation in honor of the puppy of their choice. Each pup had its own photo display and donation box (with a racing theme, of course, in honor of their benefactor Tony Stewart!). It was fun to watch our guests go over to the puppy pen, play with the pups, decide which was their "favorite", then walk to the donation box and insert a contribution to support that dog.

The pups were in a pen the entire night EXCEPT when they were being cuddled by our guests or having their photo taken by ICAN's friend Carl Frye (Need a great photographer? carl@FocusGroupPhoto.com). In other words, the puppies weren't in their pen that much!

Total funds donated that night were $6691.00, and we are so appreciative of everyone's generosity. How do those contributions help? Let me share that health care for the nine pups for their first year of life will total around $6750 (preventative care, vaccines, spay/neuter, for example). The puppies food cost for their first year of training could be covered by the donations raised at the shower. With ICAN having 50+ dogs in its training program, you can see why donation such as this are significant to our success at training and placing skilled service dogs with children and adults with disabilities.

Of special interest to people was the display with a photo showing each puppy and a letter written by that pup's handler at Plainfield Correctional Facility (PCF). Underneath the handlers letters on display, were photos of ICAN clients and dogs we have placed together. I can't tell you how many guests stopped at that large display of letters and read each letter word by word. I also can't tell you how many positive comments we received from these guests expressing how moved they were by the handler's words and how dedicated each handler sounded. Several guests elected to write the handlers a return note of encouragement and thanks on the poster board we had out for that very reason.

By the end of the night, we had nine EXHAUSTED puppies on our hands. These photos tell you just how hard those nine pups worked at the puppy shower!

Thanks to everyone who attended the shower to share in the joy of these nine puppies, and special thanks to those who made a donation to help the pups in their 2 years of training. Want to make a donation yourself in honor of one of these puppies? Visit www.icandog.org and click on Sponsor A Dog. You'll find photos of each of the nine pups there and you can pick which one you want to sponsor. In return for your donation you receive a sponsorship certificate and a photo of you puppy! Thanks in advance.

PUPdate from Plainfield Correctional Facility

2009-08-27T13:44:00.027-04:00

It's hard to believe the pups have been at the Plainfield Correctional Facility (PCF) for over 2 weeks now. And what a learning curve it's been for all of us involved with these pups. First of all, the relationship between ICAN and PCF is in its infancy so that means lots of time spent working out details and training schedules. And, we are thrilled to report that this facility has been fabulous to work with and they've embraced the pups and the ICAN program wholeheartedly. Thank you to everyone at PCF!

Second, the handlers training the dogs at Plainfield are new to dog training so their learning curve was significant. And, we are pleased to say, they each met the challenge with determination, hard work, gentleness, and dedication. They have thrown themselves into the ICAN program and into training these pups with a verve and a passion, and we are so appreciative for what they are doing. And let me tell you - THESE PUPS WERE A TAD CHALLENGING!

What do we mean by that? Imagine you are a dog handler new to dog training -- and the first pups you are given to train display two traits: 1) they aren't food motivated, and 2) all they want to do is play with their puppy siblings. Dogs that are food motivated are easier to train because they will display certain behaviors knowing a reward is coming their way -- food or a treat. Alas, these little guys didn't seem swayed by any of the treats the handlers and ICAN staff tried, leading to some frustration and some feelings of "What am I doing wrong?" Of course, the handlers were doing nothing wrong. The pups just weren't responsive to food like most ICAN dogs in training. Hmmm...what to do!?

The answer? Miniature MARSHMALLOWS. Yes, finally we hit on the treat that seemed to get the puppies attention...the beloved marshmallow. Now, the pups are responding to the handlers requests for behaviors, such as giving eye contact and and sitting. As for the nonstop sibling play, this was addressed by separating the pups into smaller groups during training time. Often people wonder if service dogs ever get to play - trust me, the ICAN pups and other ICAN service dogs are always given their play time. Who could take play time away from a dog for any reason?! When they play, we smile and laugh.

In addition to the original 8 handlers inside PCF who were hired by ICAN, we've added a 9th handler and several babysitters who look after the puppies' needs when their primary handler is busy with schoolwork or their job at PCF. In the next few weeks, we plan to host some of the Tony Stewart Foundation staff at the prison so they can see how their support is unleashing abilities and changing lives.

August 20th ICAN took the pups from the prison for a few hours to attend their Puppy Shower. Our next blog will be about that, but suffice it to say, it was a blast and the puppies were a huge hit with the 125+ people who attended the party. What a great socialization opportunity for the pups. While the pups were the main attraction for shower guests, there was a close second that really captured people's hearts and interest -- what the handlers shared with us in writing about their first few weeks with the puppies. Our guests were genuinely moved to read what the PCF handlers shared about the pups they are training. Of all the comments we received that night, the majority were people thanking us for sharing the handlers insights and thoughts. Again, ICAN thanks the handlers at PCF for helping our supporters and volunteers understand how these pups are avenues for joy, learning, service, and future opportunities.

What next for the puppies? Starting this week, the pups will go on their first furlough. This means an ICAN volunteer will remove the pup from prison for several days and work with the pup outside of the prison environment. This way the pups are exposed to people and things they might not see, hear, and smell while inside PCF. Furloughs also give the handlers a chance to rest up, take a break, and reflect on what's been learned to date and what they might learn next.

Check back in a couple days to see photos of the Puppy Shower and photos!

Pups Arrive at Prison!

2009-08-10T10:43:00.024-04:00

Before sharing details about the puppies' move to prison, ICAN sends a big thank you to Jamie for all the time and effort and love she gave the pups for the past 7 1/2 weeks! What a great start in life they had with you, Jamie. Thank you for EVERYTHING!

What an eventful day Tuesday, August 4th, was for everyone! The nine TSF pups were loaded in two large dog crates in the early morning hours and driven away from the only home they'd known. An hour later they arrived at their new home for the next 2 months - the Plainfield Correctional Facility, a medium security men's prison. The weather was ominous - dark skies, winds, impending rain and lots of it predicted - as supplies and the pups in crates were unloaded from the van and taken inside.

ICAN staff and prison staff took the pups to a school room and then to a large and lovely courtyard off of the room....the crates opened, and puppies tumbled out and then flew everywhere about the greenspace! After a few moments with pees and poos completed, the pups began to sniff around and explore the new landscape. The prison staff couldn't stop smiling; they are so happy to have us there.

Suprintendent Knight, the superintendent shared, “I’ve seen some of the hardest individuals turn into the biggest babies, rolling around and playing with the dogs,” she said. “It truly transforms them because they have to care for something else,

be responsible, and put their needs aside. Animals have a very calming effect on the population. They can be who they want to be around the animals and not have to put up any walls or pretenses.”

When the raindrops started a few moments later, 8 of the 9 pups hustled back into the school room.....except for Ms. Dora who was more interested in the grass, and the rain, and the thunder, and the pavement, and the "this" and the "that". Finally, we got her inside to her displeasure. She got over this displeasure by tackling Dega and chewing on his head. She's a wild one.

Enter eight handlers from the prison's substance abuse unit - the pups new trainers. All ages. Seven of the eight men are new to the ICAN program; John, however, was a babysitter for an ICAN dog about 4 years ago when he was housed at the Branchville Correctional Facility. (He later shared that it tore him up when the dog he babysat named Daisey left the facility for good.) The nine pups were released and ran toward the men who all were tentative about how to react...Should they pet the dogs? Could they pick them up? In a place where you ask for permission to do everything, it tugged on your heart to watch them try to figure out what was the appropriate and correct response to these nine furry, bouncing dogs. But they were all smiling.

Sam was the first handler to take the plunge of making himself comfy with the pups and this set the tone for the others. John then sat with Charlotte and played gently with her and shared that he was a welder but that he might go into dog training when he was released. Brandon scooped up Dora and shared that he originally had not been assigned Dora. But when he heard her name, he had to have her. At the time of his arrest, he had a dog named Dora at home who he adored. After his incarceration, his dog Dora stopped eating and passed away, he believes, from a broken heart at his absence.

The first lesson for these handlers....pee and poo cleanup. No time to learn like the present! Case Work Manager Joyce Lingle at the correctional facility had baked and decorated a cake in the shape of a dog. After the cake was gone and the pups' rousing 40-minute-playtime was up, each pup dropped to the floor (or climbed up on the very cool metal outcropping along the base of the windows) and fell asleep soundly. With the pups at rest, I chatted with several of the handlers and shared a little with them about Tony Stewart Foundation support and the kindness we have been shown by the foundation. They said they'd love to invite the foundation in to show what the pups are learning.

Nearly 2 hours into the arrival, ICAN trainers gathered the group to talk about how to proceed with introducing the pups to the facility, other inmates, and so on. All of the men were kind and respectful to all of us and to all of the puppies. Rest assured, the pups are in good hands and are off to a great start in their lives of service work.

Here are the Plainfield Handlers names and Pup Assignments:

Brandon/ Dora

Kris/ Riley

Jeff/ Hunter

John/ Bella

Jason/ Racer

Casey/ Dega

Sam/ Lilly

O'Neill/ Charlotte

John and Casey are both responsible for Bristol

They're Off

2009-08-09T21:28:00.009-04:00

The pups are off on their latest adventure. ICAN collected the gang Tuesday AM and checked them into Plainfield Correctional Facility. See an article from the local newspaper at http://www.flyergroup.com/local/local_story_217145742.html

The pups are doing well in their new home, although some of the handlers are losing a bit of sleep caring for their new, and sometimes vocally demanding, charges. The pups will also have time out in the community with furlough volunteers, visits to a church daycare for time with children, and many other new experiences.

Every litter has their own "personality", and this litter was confident, social, and vocally demanding. They demonstrated many traits that are desirable for assistance dog work: low to moderate energy level, low reactivity (to sound, novelty, motion), and a strong social attraction to people. But the pups also had their own individual personalities: Dega, Dora, and Charlotte were the most vocally demanding. Bristol and Hunter were mellow. Racer was the busy boy. Lilly was the soft, sweet cuddler. Riley was the clever girl. Bella was often off doing her own thing.

Slowly, I am putting the house back together. The puppy pen, puppy pools, and puppy supplies are back in the storage shed. All the puppy bedding and soft toys have been laundered. The plants around the back porch are starting to regrow after being puppy chew toys.

Wishing all the pups much success and know that they will bring lots of joy to the many people they will meet along the way, including the inmate handlers who will be their primary teachers. And the inmate handlers will learn from the pups key lessons in life such as love, empathy, responsibility, patience, teamwork, giving back, and a sense of accomplishment. Whether the pups become assistance dogs, therapy dogs, or beloved family pets, I trust that ICAN will guide them down the path to their forever homes.

A few close up pics

2009-08-01T19:14:00.006-04:00

Enjoy more adorable puppy pics!

Dega on porch

Dega sleeping on footstool

Lilly looking into the pool

Dega on porch

Bristol sleeping on Dega

Bella on pillow

7 weeks old

2009-08-01T18:17:00.009-04:00

Seven weeks old, and soon leaving to begin their training as ICAN assistance dogs. Most of the pups gained about 2 lbs last week and currently weigh in at 8.4 to 11 lbs. Bella and Lilly are the little pups; Hunter continues to be the big boy. The pups are currently eating 18 cups of puppy chow per day (2 c per puppy!) It has been a very busy couple of weeks, and no time to blog. Those of you watching puppy cam have probably noted that the pups are spending considerable time outside of the puppy pen; they are both loose in the house and out in the yard. There is also a moveable puppy pen out in the backyard (much easier clean up out there!). The pups have recently had two ICAN outings - a stint on Fox 59 morning news and the Tony Stewart Foundation naming ceremony. Last week they started going for individual mini-walks on leash, just down to my neighbor's house and back. They have learned the "four feet on the ground" rule and do lovely sits for attention. If you call "puppy, puppy, puppy", they all come running. I just got back in from being out in the backyard with the pups. Dega got the zoomies, was running donuts, and all of a sudden did a somersault, got right back up and was off again. Aunt Bridget (Bodhi's sister) is here for the weekend, so the pups have another adult dog to interact with. Cleo has long since returned to life sans puppies. Some of the pups have met the resident house cats and have learned to mind their manners around these dog-savvy felines. When not busy exploring the world, the pups are in their puppy pen, listening to NPR or sound effects tapes.

Cleo and pups

Grandma Yuma (Bodhi's dam) & Lilly

Aunt Bridget (Bodhi's sister) and pup

Pool fun

Lilly not so sure she wants to get wet

Lilly considering trying some agility

Dega sprawled out on the porch

Puppy Cam Turning Off Aug. 4

2009-08-01T09:03:00.005-04:00

All good things must come to an end, as they say. And, that includes the puppy cam. But this blog will continue so you can follow the pups progress and photos!

On August 4th the puppy cam will be shut off. But why? It's time for the next phase of the puppies' lives - moving on to Plainfield Correctional Facility to begin their pup-start training. For the next month and a half to two months, the pups will be trained by offenders in the most basic of all skills (eye contact, toileting, sitting, etc.) as a way of preparing them for the more advanced service dog training they eventually will receive. Occasionally, a few folks worry about these pups going into prison but we assure you, there's no need.

Offenders who train for ICAN are carefully selected, and the puppies and ICAN dogs in training always seem to bring out the best in people - in all people.

What we observe at the prison are offenders who are eager and excited about the potential these pups hold for people with disabilities, who are proud of the fact that they are helping a child or adult in need. What we observe is how they soften and show such compassion toward and love for the dogs, in part because that's exactly what dogs offer humans back.

Onward! A puppy cam viewer recently asked, "Why so many toys and items in the puppy pen? It's hard to make out what's a stuffed animal and what's a real puppy! And also, why don't I see the pups in the pen as much?" Excellent questions.

We want a stimulating environment for the pups, so having toys to interact with and things to have to negotiate over and through helps with neuromuscular and mental development. New textures, sounds, movement, and such help the little pups become more open to things they will encounter in the

future.

The pups lately have been sleeping around the periphery of the pen which is often out of camera range. And also, the pups are spending considerable time out of the pen - basically most of the time when someone is home and awake, and for the 2-4 hours that Nancy (pup sitter) is over there in the afternoon, they are out of the pen.

They are running around the house and yard, or just sleeping in the outdoor pen. It was fun this morning, since the back door could be left open, and the pups followed people around the kitchen and others hung out on the porch. Many were napping under the kitchen table or in the plants next to the porch. Two or three
of them often check out when the refrigerator or cabinets were opened, and there were a few
cabinet doors purposely banged shut to get them used to loud sounds. And, amazingly, very few toileting "accidents". Never a dull moment these days.

The puppies have NAMES!

2009-07-25T19:02:00.023-04:00

On July 23rd, the puppies - identified to that date only by the color of the collar they wore - each received their official names! Thanks to all the fans who submitted name choices in the naming contest. Tony named two of the pups personally, choosing Dora for the female puppy with the red collar (of course!) and Dega for the male puppy wearing the black collar.

Nearly 6-weeks into life, Dora and Dega are proving to be the most bold, energetic and demanding puppies of the litter. Introducing Dora and Dega!

DEGA

DORA

The other seven pups also received their names. For the five remaining girls, the names are: Bristol, Lily, Charlotte, Riley, and Bella. The two remaining boy pups are named Hunter and Racer.

HUNTER

RACER

BRISTOL

BELLA

CHARLOTTE

LILLY

RILEY

5 weeks old

2009-07-19T12:04:00.003-04:00

The pups are 5 weeks old, and starting to have their own unique personalities. They are acting like normal little puppies - running around, play fighting, biting on each others ears, trying to undo shoe laces, playing with toys, etc. But they still tire quickly and spend much of the day sleeping. With the weather being so pleasant, they have had lots of outdoor time, and we encourage them to much of their toileting outside. It is so cute to open up the pen and have the little herd of puppies all charge to the door going out into the backyard. They are also starting to receive visitors and are a very social bunch. Yesterday, one of their guests was a 3 to 4 year old neighbor girl.

At their most recent weigh in, most of the pups weighed 6 to 7 pounds. Big Blue boy topped the scales at 7 lbs and little White girl was only a bit over 5 lbs. White girl had a bad case of puppy diarrhea earlier in the week and wasn't eating much. But the second half of the week, she has been back to normal, eating and gaining weight at the same rate as her littermates. Together the nine pups are currently eating 9 pups of puppy kibble per day. Cleo's milk has almost dried up already.

Puppy pics

2009-07-18T08:43:00.008-04:00

Enjoy!

Playtime in the front yard

Playtime in the backyard

Gorgeous little Red girl

Hawkeye the smooth coated collie playing with the pups

Pups trying to get to Cleo who is up on the porch

Big yawn from Yellow girl

Orange boy (?) up on the porch

Blue boy up on the porch

Handsome Blue boy

Blue boy and leaf

Blue boy practicing the ICAN command Cross (cross his front legs)

4 Weeks Old

2009-07-12T12:22:00.011-04:00

Puppy pinwheel

Purple girl, asleep in the food bowl

Orange boy sleeping under the Tony Stewart flag

Blue boy, big yawn

All tuckered out after the professional photography session

Sleeping in the evening sunshine

White girl, surveying the front yard

The pups have had a grand week of growing up and new experiences, including their first professional photography session. Most gained an impressive 1 1/2 to 2 lbs of weight last week. Purple girl is the smallest pup weighing in at just under 4 lbs, and big Blue boy topped the scales at 5 1/4 lbs. The pups are now eating and drinking on their own, and I will be slowly starting to wean them from Cleo, who is more than ready to go back to life as a cherished companion and therapy dog. As weather allows, the pups have had outdoor time, and I just started allowing them loose in the main part of the house. I have tile and laminate flooring which can be a bit challenging for baby pups, but it hasn't slowed down this gang. In addition to regular nail trims, the pups are also getting used to being groomed with brushes and combs.

Having lots of fun

2009-07-09T07:28:00.005-04:00

Pink girl - doesn't look like it would be very comfortable.

Pink and Purple girls checking out the new toys.

Black boy sleeping on toy.

Black boy with slipper

The pups continue to change by the day. They received their first real collars this weekend - they are starting to look like real dogs! On Monday evening, I bumped out the puppy pen to full size, so lots of room to play. The pups are eating very heartedly, love their kibble and milk. They are starting to use their little mouths to chew and tug, and are much more interactive with each other. On Wed, the pups had their first big adventure outside in the front yard. They all did very well with the new experience.

3 weeks old

2009-07-05T11:08:00.009-04:00

Puppy pile

Pups checking out the Tony Stewart flag

The pups have almost mastered nursing with Cleo standing

Yellow girl sleeping on her back

Blue boy hanging out in the litter box

Silly Cleo hiding in the puppy tub

The pups are growing up fast. They weighed in at 2.7 to 3.25 lbs. I am pleased that the little pups have caught up with the pack, and the weights are very uniform. I have just started noticing some reactions to sound, so their ear canals are beginning to open. And little baby teeth are starting to come in - poor Cleo. The pups are enjoying life in the puppy pen, and doing an admirable job of using the litter box. They are acting like little puppies - starting to groom themselves and each other, doing a little bit of play wrestling, interacting with toys, and trying to climb over the low panel I have in front of the pen so that the adult dogs can come and go easily. But mostly, their little lives are concerned with sleeping and eating. Together, they are eating 1/2 can of Iams dog food 3 to 4 times daily, and I just introduced soaked puppy kibble, which also went down well, although a bit messy when fed from a pan.

First pan of puppy kibble - not a pretty sight!

The pups are still learning how to lap and eat, and not just suck down everything. I have a low bowl of water in the pen which a few pups have explored by dunking in their muzzles, but mostly just get their feet wet or spill it. All part of learning.

Barking Out!

2009-07-04T10:29:00.004-04:00

Forget the yaps and puppy squeaks....these guys are barking now! Check out this video to listen to the 9 pups share their thoughts and opinions!

Ever Exanding World

2009-07-02T21:11:00.005-04:00

The favorite puppy bed

How many pups can fit, or almost fit, in one small puppy bed!

This pup already has its eyes on the outside world

Auntie Tacara assisting with clean up duties

The puppy pen, with litter box at the far right end

On Wednesday evening, I bumped out the puppy pen and added a litter box. The litter box is a plastic hatch liner from a small car, and I fill it with newspaper and shredded office paper for litter. Blue boy was the first pup to christen the litter box, and a few others have followed suit on their own. When the pups first wake up and after nursing, we hurry them over to the litter box to start patterning good manners. It is amazing how fast most pups catch on. More and more toys will be added to the puppy pen over the next week or so. The pups are currently enjoying small amounts canned food and will be introduced to soaked puppy kibble this weekend. And of course, the pups are getting lots of cuddling time.

Growing Up!

2009-06-30T22:04:00.012-04:00

We couldn't believe how quickly the puppies are growing just since our last visit. Squeaks have become mini-barks, scooting about on their tummies has been replaced by a halting, stumbling walk, and they now sit on their tushes propped up by their front legs. It's just amazing to see how these little guys have changed and how they are gaining control of their bodies.

But one thing hasn't changed...they still sleep a lot. Unless Mama Cleo enters the pen and then EVERYONE instantly wakes up. Feeding time!

2 weeks old

2009-06-28T16:21:00.004-04:00

The pups weighed in at 30 oz (White girl) to 2 1/2 lbs (Blue boy and Green girl) - very similar to the 2-week weights of Cleo's first litter. The pups' walking abilities are improving by the day and they will soon be moving into a large double exercise pen/puppy pen. I will also be adding more environmental enrichment in the form of different types of bedding and soft toys. Much to the pups' delight, they had their first taste of canned dog food this AM, and eagerly inhaled the dab I offered. During the next few days, we will be feeding the pups approximately 1 tsp of canned food 3x daily to start getting their systems prepared for solid food. By end of the week, I expect the volume of canned food offered to increase, and then by 3 weeks of age, I plan to offer them soaked puppy kibble. The pups also received their first worming this AM - a safe, mild wormer that is very efficacious against roundworms which are often transmitted directly from the dam to the pups during pregnancy and lactation. And when I can catch them sleeping, I am attempted to get 9 sets of baby puppy toenails trimmed again. The last day of BioSensor early neurological stimulation exercises is Monday.

Eyes wide open

2009-06-27T14:14:00.009-04:00

Well. . . maybe not wide open, but the pups are opening their eyes. Yellow girl was the first to see the world on Thursday 6/25. They are doing lots of wobbly walking and a little bit of barking, in addition to their puppy mewing. Also on Thursday, I removed the puppy pool and transitioned them into a small puppy pen. The hard flat surface is better for practicing walking and the pen offers Cleo more ventilation. The pool is great for keeping the pups warm, but now the pups are no longer so sensitive to cold. I am also very pleased that all pups have doubled their birth weights by 2 weeks of age, which is an important milestone. Poor Cleo is now supporting 18 lbs of puppies. Cleo's milk production is almost keeping up with this rapidly growing family, but we are still supplimenting with bottle feedings of goat milk. If a person steps into the pen, the pups now swarm us, just like they do Cleo. Having pups have such positive associations with people at such a young age is beneficial for future bonding.

Green and Pink girls

Cleo and 10-day old pups

Cleo and 12-day old pups - see how fast they growing, especially if you compare to their newborn pics.

You can NAME A PUP!

2009-06-27T08:38:00.004-04:00

The puppy naming contest is up and running, and you have a chance to name one of Smoke's Pup Crew! We are all so excited to see what creative names comes in as entries. Remember: these puppies will eventually serve children and adults with disabilities so keep that in mind. Submit your name choice at www.tonystewartfoundation.org.

The pups are starting to understand they have 4 legs, so motoring about the pen on 4 legs is just a couple days away. And, their eyes are opening. And, they will get their first taste of solid food this week. The babies are growing up so quickly! (OH - and if you notice a large German Shepherd in the pen with the puppies, don't worry. It isn't the big, bad wolf....it's only Auntie Tacara making a visit.)

Remember that if you tune into the camera and there's no picture or if the camera lens is covered, it means the pups are taking a temporary break from the limelight (or that the bedding is being changed, etc.). These "breaks" typically are 15 to 30 minutes in length so be sure to check back.

1 Week Old

2009-06-21T11:15:00.005-04:00

Red girl sleeping

Purple girl sleeping on Cleo's back legs

Pink and Green girls sleeping together

The pups are all doing well, a bit small for their age, but gaining weight and vigorous. Weights currently range from 17 oz (White) to 26 oz (Blue). Quite a few of the pups are almost walking already. And the pups are getting their first toe nail trim today (trying to catch them when they are sleepy). Cleo is still not producing an adequate amount of milk, so the pups are getting bottle fed 3 times per day and loving it. Cleo is spending more and more time out of the puppy pen and is no longer too concerned if the other adult dogs in the household check out the pups. When Cleo does make an appearance, the pups instantly wake up and swarm her.

This morning, ICAN upgraded the camera for the puppy cam. Check it out at http://www.marestare.com/icandog.php

The Puppies with Tony Stewart (sorta)

2009-06-19T17:02:00.014-04:00

Ok, so Tony Stewart hasn't actually seen the puppies in person yet, but the puppies have seen Tony -- at least in cardboard figure! When the cardboard figure was put into the tub, one little pup started crawling toward it right away (and really fast, too).

Take a look at these pups who obviously understand the racing concept of "drafting".

The pups put on quite a show last night when Tony Stewart Foundation

representatives paid them a visit. Here's a few photos of them that are sure to win your heart.

Day 5

2009-06-18T17:17:00.001-04:00

A contrast in colors - White girl (dark) and Red girl (light)

Purple girl on top

Blue boy

Cleo and the pups are all doing great. I have begun supplimenting the pups with a bottle since Cleo wasn't keeping up with this large family, and the pups weren't gaining weight at the rate they should be. All the pups have taken to goat milk in the bottle and are still eagerly nursing Cleo. Cleo's appetite is coming back and as her calorie intake increases, hopefully so to will her milk production. The pups have also already outgrown their newborn puppy collars (elastic hair bands). For the next week or two, I will identify them with nontoxic paint dabs on their rumps. Red/White is now Green, Pink/Purple is now Yellow, and Blue/Orange is now Black. BioSensor exercises will continue until the pups are 16 days old.

Movie clip of pups in action!

2009-06-16T22:47:00.000-04:00

Here's a little movie clip of the pups and mama Cleo together. Yes, that loud squeaking is coming from the hungry pups. Translation: FEED ME!

For another movie clip of the pups, click here.

Day 3

2009-06-16T21:33:00.000-04:00

Basket full of 2-day old pups

Creative sleeping - Purple girl and Red/White girl

Blue boy

This litter continues to be an incredibly precocious bunch. Some pups are wagging their tails when they nurse and are starting to push up from their hind legs in preparation for walking. They are very adept at the puppy commando crawl and diving in for a place at the milk bar. Their little umbilical cords fell off yesterday. This morning, I moved them into the large puppy pool since the pups were so mobile. Cleo is enjoying being able to stretch out. Tonight, I started BioSensor early neurological stimulation exercises. If curious, more information at http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/articles/early_neurological_stimulation_en.html

Newborn puppy pics

2009-06-14T19:09:00.000-04:00

White girl

Purple girl

Blue/Orange boy on top

Pink girl

Purple girl and Blue/Orange boy

Happy Birthday

2009-06-14T15:08:00.000-04:00

Proud Mama Cleo and all nine puppies

Cleo cleaning newborn pups, note pup on right is still wet

Newborn pups Pink, Purple and Blue - hanging out in the warming box, awaiting the birth of their littermates

Cleo kept us in suspense for this litter. She started having early signs of labor Thursday evening, and continued most of Friday and Saturday. Her official due dates were June 12 and 13. At 10 pm Saturday night, labor finally started, and at 11:23 pm, the first puppy made her appearance. Cleo continued to deliver the next 5 pups about every 30 minutes, and then started slowing down. The 9th and final pup finally arrived at 5:20 am June 14. We were getting worried that Cleo was getting too tired and/or the last pup was too big to deliver easily, so we got Cleo up and were going to take her outside to toilet and stretch. We didn't even make it down the front porch steps when she had a big contraction, and out popped the last girl who I caught on the fly into the towel I had brought just in case. Final count, 6 girls, 3 boys, all very good sized pups ranging in weight from 13 to 18 oz. Poor Cleo was carrying around 9 pounds of puppies!! Mom and pups are all doing well, the pups are vigorous nursers, and Cleo is producing lots of milk.

Birth order, times and weights

Pink female 6/13 11:23 pm 16 oz

Blue male 6/13 11:53 pm 18 oz

Purple female 6/14 12:28 am 16 oz

White female 6/14 1:04 am 13 oz - dark short coat

Red female 6/14 1:18 am 15 oz

Orange male 6/14 1:30 am 16 oz - lightest pup

Blue/orange male 6/14 3:10 am 16 oz

Pink/purple female 6/14 3:23 am 17 oz - dark pup

Red/white female 6/14 5:20 am 17 oz

Pups on the way

2009-06-14T14:55:00.001-04:00

Mama Cleo - 8 weeks pregnant, 1 week to go

Sire Bodhi, looking handsome in his ICAN vest