Han's Point of View...First Basic Obedience Class

I missed my first obedience class at K9 University, as I was out of town visiting my brother Chewbacca and sister Lizzy. Mom was dog sitting while Christie was on a recruiting trip. So I had some making up to do, but I am a quick learner so it was not a problem. 

Abbi our trainer is real nice and signaled that class was getting ready to start as I was outside playing with several dogs in the large training area. Since it was nasty weather, class was going to be inside. We worked on the down, stay, and the inside turn. Mom did real well in getting me to heel and sit. She had to work a bit to get me to lay down as I am a bit stubborn on going down, but I got there. The inside turn is such a breeze, Mom didn't have any trouble perfecting it. 

There are a lot of dogs in my class. There is another Han and he is a BIG German Shepard about a year old. There are several German Shepherds, a Husky, an Irish Setter and lots of other breeds. 

Mom talked to a cool guy who rescues Golden Retrievers. He is the one that has the Irish Setter. She is a real sweetheart, about the same age as me. 

The weather was starting to turn nasty again, earlier that morning a tornado hit Midwest City. Needless to say my senses were on heighten alert.  Thank goodness there were no more tornados that day. 
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Mom here...
Han is doing really well with his obedience training. He is such a quick learner. I am really pleased with his progress. Now if I can just get him to quit barking at every little sound outside I will be a happy camper.  

Han's Point of View...Amish Cheese House and Whole Foods

Wow, Mom just buckled me into my seat in the car and we're off again! I just love traveling in the car, I get to go to such interesting places. I wonder where she will take me next?

In my comfy place in the car

About 35 miles east of Tulsa is the small town of Chouteau, Oklahoma just north of Highway 412. In the area there is a thriving Amish community. Mom's sister-n-law, Karen, told her about this cheese, bakery and restaurant place called the Amish Cheese House, located about 5 minutes north of the highway just before the first stoplight on the west side of the main drag. 

Amish Cheese House in Chouteau Oklahoma

Mom loves grass fed rolled butter from cows and this is the only place so far in Oklahoma she has found that she can find it.  Otherwise she has to go to either Kansas City or Longview, Texas to get it.  Auntie Karen says it is wonderful and so fresh. The best they have ever had. It comes in two pound Rolls. I know Mom was so happy to get some. 

This butter is so good! So says Mom

When we got in the store two little boys came running up to me and the youngest one started to pet me (which is a no, no). Mom was real sweet and explained to the boys that I was a service dog, that means I help my mom, and I must not be distracted from my job while I am working. That is why I wear a special vest to tell people that I am working.  

Then a young girl came up and mom talked to her as well. She was very nice, she helped my mom find some things in the store.  We went through the store and tasted lots of samples. Mom also bought a yummy cinnamon butter spread for her toast. At least she said it was yummy as I am not allowed to taste it. 

Yummy Cinnamon Spread

We left the store and went back into Tulsa to the Whole Foods store at 41st and Peoria. Mom said it brought back a lot of memories for her as the back part of the store use to be a place called Joe's and that is where Mom and her love, Dave, had their first drink 47 years ago. Wish I could have known him. Mom says he was the best!

Buffalo Bones for Bone Broth

Mom was shopping for grass fed beef bones and got grass fed buffalo bones to make bone broth with instead.  The Whole Foods store in Oklahoma City was out of them and so she thought she would check with the Tulsa store while there. I love going into the store. I like seeing all the neat things that are in there, besides I like walking beside Mom's electric cart. People in there are so nice, however Mom and I saw a man being pursued by store employees as he was trying to shoplift a whole basket of food. I think he might have gotten away with a roast, but left everything else behind. The store employees were filming him on their cameras. Mom says you never know what causes a person to steal, I guess he was hungry.  

After we got the bones for broth, we got on the road back to Oklahoma City. Mom decided to go through Henrietta and back on I-40 as there was a lot of construction on the Turner Turnpike. Half way back Mom got real tired and said she was having trouble staying awake. So she pulled off the road at a big gas station and she and I took naps. She said she slept about an hour and felt so much better.  We got back to Norman around 6:45 p.m. and she fixed me a big bowl of food and I woofed it down and she had some dinner. 

It was a long day, but she did good and I am a happy hound.
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Mom here...I learned a long time ago not to try and fight it when you are tired. Just find a safe place to pull off and take a nap. You will be so glad you did and will arrive at your destination safe and sound, late maybe, but alive.  

Han's Point of View...New Butts to Sniff

WOW, I have butt load of butts to sniff, no pun intended. Layla, Rosie, Katie & Kiwi and I am the only boy, how did that happen. But it wasn't for long as this was not a social call. 

Mom and Me, aren't I a handsome guy!

Mom and I took a road trip to Tulsa to help her brother out when he was having a surgery Monday. We had to get up super early and be at Hillcrest Hospital near downtown Tulsa by 6:00 a.m. I got to meet the receptionist, nurses and doctors and see how Day Surgery works.  How fun, I was on my best behavior. 

Being in Day Surgery was very interesting as it was very busy with lots of people walking back and forth. I got to see an IV inserted, that must have hurt but Uncle Frank didn't flinch.  I got to meet the anesthesiologist, nice lady.

Day Surgery and all the hard working nurses

I decided to curl up under my mom's chair so I would be out of the way, too many people walking in and out of small quarters. Finally Uncle Frank was taken back to surgery. 

Now we have to go out to the waiting room, lots of people out there, more than before. I had to go to a green spot so mom took me on this moving platform thing. There was this deep dark space from solid ground to the platform that I didn't want to cross, but mom said it was okay. Mom presses a button on the wall and this platform thing seems to be still yet it moves. How can that be? It confuses me and I try to hug the floor. It makes me real nervous. Then the doors open. Boy there are a lot of strange things in this world.
Once outside mom finds me a green spot away from everything so I can do my business. Then we went back inside again to the moving platform and once again I had to cross the dreaded dark space, up we went to Day Surgery, again I had to cross another dreaded dark space. Will it ever stop?  

There is this strange bell that keeps chiming and people come through a door that opens and closes magically. Ah, that moving platform thing, mom calls it an elevator. I call it nuts! I'll take the stairs any day. 

This lady came out and called a persons name, she had on funny clothes and a real funny looking hat on her head that I didn't think should be there so I let her know and barked at her. Mom said it was okay that it was a hat used during surgery. I remember now, Uncle Frank had one on. 

A nice nurse came out and asked if I would like a warm blanket to curl up on. Well heck yeah! It felt nice.  Then suddenly an man with a plaid jacket and a funny hat on came out of nowhere and that frighten me so I barked at him too. Just once though. Just thought I would let him know I was there. Again mom had to hush me up. Sure like this warm blanket, think I will curl up and take a nap right here. 

The nice warm blanket the nurse gave me, ah warmth!

Pretty soon the Doctor came and called us back to the consultation room.  Uncle Frank was out of surgery and doing well and they were getting him ready to go home. 
We went back to where he was and he was just about ready to go. Mom and I went out to get the car and pulled around to the front of the Day Surgery building and out came Uncle Frank being pushed in this contraption. Mom called it a wheelchair. Looks like a torture chair to me. We went to the pharmacy to pick up his prescription but it wasn't ready so mom took Uncle Frank home and then went back to get his meds. 

She got him all settled and then we struck out for 
Chouteau, that's another story...
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Mom here...Han did really well at the hospital. Everyone was so nice and the nurses gushed over him. Several came up to us to tell us about their dogs. Several wanted to know what kind of dog Han was.  He is 1/2 Blue Heeler, 1/4 Great Pyrenees and 1/4 Lab. A lot of people in the waiting room were very interested in him.  He is quite the ice breaker. In his own special way he seemed to calm one person down, who was getting ready to have a surgery, by just his presence. I could see the anxiety melt from them as they talked to him. Cheeky little pup. Han is 6 months old now and a whopping 50 lbs. And so the adventure continues. 

Han's Point of View...Lots of Travel Hither and To

I have been very busy traveling. Always on the go it seems. Mom made a very comfy place for me to travel in the car.  I have front seat privileges and my very own seat belt harness. 

My new service vest

The other day a special package came for me and it was a special harness that says Service Dog! It is red and black with reflector tape on it so people can see me when I take a walk at night. I feel so special. Mom says I have to  wear it when we go out as she needs help when we go shopping. 

Bazaar Cattle Pens in the Flint Hills of Kansas a cool place to stop

Last week I got to go to Kansas City to see my brother Chewbacca (Chewie) and Lizzie. Chewie is a bit off the wall and loves to play and we have lots of fun chasing each other and wrestling. Sometimes we got so rowdy that mom had to our leads on us to get us to settle down. Lizzy is my sweet step sister, who snarls at both Chewie and me. She just likes her space like most girls do. 

I had a great visit with my brother and Lizzie and look forward to seeing them again soon.

Chewie and me passed out after a hard day at play

Mom Here...Han is such a delight. He has completed his  Puppy class. And we are waiting for his Basic Obedience Classes to start. He is very smart and learns quickly. I can't wait to see what adventures Han leads us on. 

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