An Award!

I love the blogging world! While raising Turk and Mesa, my connection to GDB was pretty much limited to my club. This time through the puppy raising journey, I've got a wonderful puppy club, but I've also met several service dog raisers and partners out in cyberspace.

Erin is raising Rob for Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. I loved reading about Erin's last puppy, Pompei, and this first week with Rob has been just as much fun. They were sweet enough to nominated Kyle and I for our first blog award.

One of the rules of this award is to name seven things about ourselves. I just did a post listing 15 things about Kyle, but I'll try to come up with seven things about us together.

1. When the weather is nice, Kyle and I love to go for walks that can last hours.
2. Kyle gets me up and going in the morning. He's a morning dog, and I'm not a morning person, so he's good for me.
3. Most of my friends weren't sure of taking a dog everywhere when I first started raising again. Now I get invitations for Kyle and I together. In fact, last week Kyle got an invitation to a basketball game. The only reason I went was to be his chauffeur.
4. Kyle and I both love to be outside. Why be cooped up inside when the world outside is so beautiful?
5. Kyle is great for my dating life. He's recently helped me get to know a few guys who are dog people, and he warded off one who hates dogs.
6. Kyle and I both love cuddling, so we get along swell.
7. We are both game for a road trip at the drop of a hat. We've traveled together more than I ever have with any dog in the past.

Because I love following blogs that detail various parts of the service dog journey, I'll list my nominations that way.

• I love hearing about other puppy raisers and get many training ideas from them: Megan and Snickers.
• I've learned there really isn't anything more exciting than getting your first service dog: Sirena.
• The bond between dogs and their partners never ceases to amaze me: Becky and Cricket.
• Even when dogs are career changed, they still make a difference in the world: Mimi and Cabana.
• Finally, I just have to throw in a former puppy raiser turned pet spoiler: Becky, Blue, and Max.

As a teacher, I always hear that it takes a village to raise a child. The same is true of service dogs, and I love being part of the village.