Nettie pulled from class

I got word today that Nettie has been pulled from class and won't be graduating on Sat. Our RM said that her pace didn't match with the person she'd been placed with.

I can't help but be nervous, though. I'm not sure why this decision was made so close to the graduation -- I would think this would have cropped up sooner? So I hope that it's not that they're thinking she may not make it.

The proper etiquette? Discuss

The Pup Who Shall Remain Nameless had me thinking: How do you handle it if you sit for a pup and it displays bad behavior?

PWSRN's raisers seem to be very conscientious people who are trying hard, but seem to be having difficulty. When they arrived to collect PWSRN, they asked if she had barked much .. and it was obvious from the tone and semi-furtive glances, they knew already she probably had. Ditto on the jumping. I tried to be honest, while not dwelling on all the gory details. ("Yes, she did bark in the crate when no one was in the room" was what I said vs. "She finally quit barking after three hours when I came and slept on the couch in the room with her.")

Was I being too nice? Discuss.

Other question of the week: We get our picture taken with Nettie and her person. Clearly, Andrew will be in it. (I took him to get a haircut today so he would look presentable, and he told the Supercuts stylist all about going to graduation for a dog that isn't ours. She was very confused until I clarified.)

But the baby? I'm of two minds. She did not contribute to the raising. In fact, one could argue that she notched up the level of difficulty, by making me nauseated, very tired and top-heavy at varying stages. I'm tempted to hand her to a bystander if the opportunity is there. (Husband cannot come to NY.)

The polls are open.

Not all Labs are created equal

I am babysitting tonight and tomorrow for Pup Who Shall Remain Nameless, in order to protect its reputation.

Nettie, it turns out, was an amateur when it came to barking.

It is now 3:15 and Pup Who Shall Remain Nameless has been at it since 1 a.m. I have come down to sleep on the family room couch, to see if having someone in the same room will make her be quiet. (Apparently at home she sleeps in crate in daughter's bedroom.)

Fortunately, husband and both children can sleep through pretty much anything, and have not stirred from this commotion. But tomorrow should be fun -- this pup is also a real bad jumper, and I'm not thinking I'm going to be able to trust her around the kids.

I think the next time, I may ask a few more questions before I agree to sit ... Pup Who Shall Remain Nameless is a year old and doesn't have jacket yet ... hmm. If I'd known that, I might have been busy tomorrow.

At least I didn't agree to keep her for a week.

Coincidences continue ...

Our regional manager told me today that Nettie is going to a woman who lives in a town about 15 miles from Lexington, Ky., which is where we lived for nine years! I know that Nettie is her first guide dog and that's it at this point.

Still, I'm blown away by the coincidence. We still have lots of friends in Lexington, and my parents don't live that far away. I am trying not to get too hopeful, but I really am hoping that Nettie's owner might be open to keeping in touch after graduation.

It's a small world after all

I now know Nettie's partner's name. She is going to a woman from Kentucky -- which is very cool because we lived in Lexington, Ky for nine years! I covered higher ed and politics when I was a reporter there, which means that I have visited practically every part of the state at one time or another. So I have a feeling I will be very familiar with wherever she goes.

Now to get cracking on the scrapbook that Carol started for Nettie. I intend to finish it well before I finished Murphy's -- which was at 12:30 a.m. the morning of graduation!

Nettie is in class!!

I got word today that Nettie is in class and scheduled to graduate on July 19! I truly was not expecting this yet -- I honestly wasn't sure she'd make it after the last report. I don't know much more yet, but will write much more later.