Han's Point of View...Was That An Airplane Or Your Hand

Mom has started me on the next round of obedience classes and I must say all this wavy hand stuff is confusing. So I'm sitting in class ready to walk and Miss Mallori of K9 University gives the humans instructions. Next thing I know this hand sweeps across the top of my head and I am instructed to heel. Wait a gosh darn minute, I didn't come to these classes to be dived bombed by a hand. Mom stopped walking, I sat and we did it AGAIN. What the heck is this? Oh no, now she is throwing that hand down in front of me and telling me down. What is with all these hand signals? Over and over we went with these two new commands. I wonder if it gets worse.

After Mom had a busy week then we left for Texas to go see Sam, Lizzy and Chewie and of course the humans, Maggie, Noah and Andy and of course Heather, J and Christie. All us dogs had a grand time together, but Sam the old man was not doing so well. Slept most of the time and wandered about the house. Being the pup I am I had to display my attitude and ended up on the end of a leash next to Mom not able to move from her side. By the third day when Lizzy and Chewie arrived and I could behave myself Mom took the leash off of me.  We stayed for 7 days the Mom drove back to Oklahoma. I like traveling in the car as I get to sleep. 

What? Back to training class? Another command and hand waving? What this time? Mom had to step out with her right foot and turn in front of me while throwing her right hand down in front of my nose for the Stay command along with a Come, Heel command. Lots of review and repetition. Mom says to get use to it as I will have to learn to respond to her with hand signals and no voice commands. What!? 

Sounds like I am going to have to straighten up and fly right if I want to pass my class. 
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Mom here: Han is doing well in his classes, although he is the typical chilled out puppy. Actually lazy. His sits slide into downs. He is so happy being in a down position that he doesn't want to sit. So much work to do on that behavior. Otherwise Han is doing so great.  We went shopping the other day and not once did he bark, even when he saw another service dog who went nuts when they saw Han. So proud of this boy.

Remember parents, remind your children to not touch or pet dogs who wear a service dog vest because they are working. 

Sad to report that my daughter and her family had to put Ole Samwise down. He was 14 years old and a real sweetie. 
But he was suffering and no point in letting an animal suffer once the quality of his life is gone. Rest in Peace Samwise.

Han's Point of View...Surgery and the Dreaded Cone of Shame

Mom got me up real early one morning and we went off to the Dr's office. I was extremely upset with her as she wouldn't let me drink or eat anything. What's up with that?

We got there before everyone else and had to wait in the car. Mom gets time mixed up sometimes, even dates have not been her forte lately. This is the second time we have repeated this scenario in a week. Mom says "it happens", whatever that means. I wish she would pull herself together and put it on her calendar on her phone instead of trying to remember everything.  She would be so much happier, I think. 

Han getting weighed

Ah the doors finally opened and we went in. A nice attendant came out and weighed me and then took me back to the back and put me in a cage. Hey, what's with this? Mom doesn't put me in cages! They told me it was for my own safety. Well if that's the case then, Okay. Where is Mom? Why is there so much noise, and what's with all the barking dogs and was that a cat?

Cat Cages

Another attendant came and got me and gave me a pill, I became real relaxed and kind of giddy, oh happy day! The attendant lifted me to the table and shaved a spot on my left foreleg and my right foreleg. Hey what is that shinny sticky thing in your hannnnnd, oh good meds. Go ahead and stick me, see if I care. Ah, I see rabbits chasing rainbows and fuzzy stars...then nothing, I think they call this dreamland. 

Hey, I'm in this cagey thingy again...OW I'm sore where I shouldn't be sore. Hey, what did you guys do to me. MOM! Heeeey, think I will sleep some more. An attendant comes in a bit later and puts my collar on me, boy the area between my shoulder blades hurts as well, what all did they do to me?  Now they are taking me out to the reception area...MOM! MOM? MOM! I'm so glad to see you.

Mom, I gotta tell you what they did to me!

Some of my toe nails are gone, my neck hurts, but the area back at my back legs really hurts, Mom. Wait! What? Now you say I can't jump into a car for a week? Well you know I don't jump anywhere, I climb! But now I can't climb? What happened Mom?  Now I can't even lick myself? MOM!!!!! What gives here?

Okay, let's go home so I can rest some more. Whoa there Nellie! What are these pant thingies? They look like Kismet pants! Their do WHAT? Oh the indignity of it all!

Kismet Pants! 

No I will not look at the camera!

Mom, that's just not fair. I will defeat this, I will, I will.  

Two days later Mom took me to PetSmart and got this strange contraption for my head. She said it was best for me since I would not leave my Kismet pants on for more than a minute. I said I would defeat it! Ha, Ha! But this thing, I'm not sure of. I keep running into everything with it. Think I will run into the back of Mom's legs. She hates that, just as much as I hate wearing this contraption.  Everyone called it the Cone of Shame.

Han's Cone of Shame! If he would have just 

left his pants on!

Glad I only had to wear it for 5 days. Got a hold of it after Mom took it off of me and ate that sucker up! So there, Cone of Shame. Now time to start my next training class! I am so ready!
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Mom here: Han came through his surgery with flying colors. Being a Blue Heeler he had some possessive aggression and having had him neutered will hopefully remove that aggression, making him a better service dog. Han was also chipped and had a great nail trim while he was out. 

I can't thank enough, the wonderful attendants and Doctors at Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital and Pet Spa for all the attention they gave Han during his procedure.  They are a very caring bunch of true professionals. 

Han was indeed a little stinker with his Cone of Shame. He butted me with it every chance he got letting me know he did not like it one little bit. Had he not fought me about the Kismet pants he wouldn't have had to wear that darn cone. He just outsmarted himself. 

Han loves to hear from his readers, please leave a note in the comment box below and he will answer you back!

Hans Point of View...Ow That Hurt...

Mom, Christie and I went shopping a while back and while Mom was getting settled into her shopping cart a little boy ran up to me and HIT me on top of the head and ran off! Well it really startled me and I got upset and started barking, a real nice lady from the store came and had Christie put me in the car. If I bark I can't help Mom.

Parents, please instruct your little ones that if you see someone with a dog in a store, PLEASE do not touch the dog! I am working and need to concentrate on Mom and help her. I wear a special vest that shows I am a service dog. With that said we went to the next store and I was calmed down by then and was able to shop with Mom.

We have done a lot of shopping, Ikea, Sears Outlet, World Market, Trader Joe's and At Home. Lots of sights, smells and commands from Mom. At World Market Mom found the cutest cookie Jar for the holidays she is going stuff with cookies. She must like camping because it sure looks like a little trailer to me. What does that have to do with the holidays? 

Mom's new holiday cookie jar!

Mom tells me the family is coming for Thanksgiving next week so we are cleaning, or at least Mom is, me, I get to play and get in her way. 
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Mom here: As you can see I am a little behind in getting Han's posts out as this one goes all the way back before Thanksgiving. He has been on quite a few adventures so I will be getting his dictation out here soon. So stay tuned for a new story from Han and his many adventures.