Downey Holiday Parade

Velvet and Melinda marched with the South Bay GDA puppy raisers today.

Race for the Cure

I do not know who signed me up to do a 5k the morning after I was out until 1:15am but there I was. It was an amazing sight to see all the people supporting the Komen Foundation and the Race for the Cure of Breast Cancer. Auntie Laurel started doing this event on behalf of a friend. Here I am pictured with that friend's poster at the walk. That afternoon I went to my new family to begin my career as a Guide Dogs of America breeder. Yes, this will be my final post. Auntie Laurel would love to have you check her less often updated blog ... http://careerchangecondo.blogspot.com/

2008 GDA Partners Dinner

Wow, what a fun evening I had visiting all my puppy-in-training friends at the Petersen Auto Museum in LA! We were all dressed up. I wore my rhinetone collar and everything! I was really tired ... we got home at 1:15am.

It's Official !

We got the word today that I will be a breeder for Guide Dogs of America! I don't know what that means yet but it has to do with boy dogs and puppies. Sounds like a great deal to me. I'll be going to a new home Sunday the 28th. My current temporary family will miss me terribly but they know that this is the right thing to do! Plus, I know they will be checking in on me! They are all proud that I will be part of the wonderful GDA breeding program! I will be at the Orange County meeting in October but will be attending South Bay Meetings after that!

Jumbo Tron Dog

Velvet participated in the 2008 Orange/Inland Empire Night the Light Walk at Angel Stadium. She make many friends and walked a 5k with the crowd. This year they let us walk around the field and had a camera man putting our images up on the Jumbo Tron. He did some close up shots of Velvet that were absolutely stunning. The picture we are posting is nice, but, not nearly as nice as some of the other "live" views.

At Camp GDA Again

If you are checking my blog, I'm up at GDA for my final breeder evals. I will be back in touch soon!

Rock n Roll Guys

We went to downtown Yorba Linda this morning to the Farmer's Market and Pet Adoption Fair. There was a cool band and they took a break for a picture with me and Autie M.

Farm Animals

There was a little petting zoo at the pet adoption fair in Yorba Linda today. I thought these farm yard animals were a hoot. The chickens and turkey's didn't care about me at all and neither did the white goat. The brown goat, however, kept trying to bash heads with me. I was a good girl and just stood still.

Breeder Evaluation Progress

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I was only around for 5 days when GDA came and picked me up and took me back to Camp GDA for more breeder tests. So far I have passed the eye test and have had my Penn Hip x-rays. I still need to have my temperament evaluation which if I must say, should be perfect, and, my heart test. I came home yesterday with three of my friends. We played for awhile before Auntie Laurel came and picked me up.

Swimming, swimming, swimming

On our way home from GDA, we stopped at Aunt Cathy's where Landon and Virtue were waiting. I started by taking a warm-up dip in the Koi pond (woops, big NO NO). Not sure those Koi will ever be the same! After a scolding, we all swam in the real pool. Paisley was with us, too. We had a blast retrieving the flying squeaky disk thing. Both Paisley and I crashed on the way home.

I Saw My Brother's Vinnie and Velo!

Auntie Laurel picked me up from Camp GDA today. We tried to take a picture with my and my brothers Velo and Vinnie who went in for training today. We were all hot and uncooperative so the picture we have isn't great. We are hoping the others got a better shot. We'll share anyway.

My Handsome Brother Velo

While I'm up at CAMP GDA, I'm posting a picture of my brother, Velo. That is pronounced with a short e and long o. Isn't he a looker? He goes in for training to be a guide dog on August 9. I wish I was going with him but I must wait.

Summer Camp

I am spending some time at Camp GDA. It is so much fun here! I have a roommate named Umiko. The staff say we are nice calm puppies and that we are enjoying our stay. Check back after August 9 as that is when I will be done with summer camp.

GDA Graduation

Okay, now I get what a guide dog is and YES, that is what I want to be! I watched my friend, Dustin, graduate. Isn't he handsome in his harness? I want a harness just like that!

Watermelons, Veggies, and Kibble.

What better place to practice NOT grazing but the grocery store. The watermelons and fresh veggie counter made a nice background, but, please observe me leaving that bit of kibble alone in the aisle where one finds the motherload of dog food and treats. It was tough, but, I left it behind! Good Job!

Not Guilty Your Honor!

For awhile I was getting blamed for a certain amount of destruction around the condo. Just to keep things clear, this happened on a day I was NOT home! I received an apology and cookies.

Mistress of the Stairs

Upon arriving at my new place in California, the first thing I did was go up the stairs and promptly and clumsily (is that a word?) fall all the way down. I am not sure I ever went down stairs without a leash! But, now, I have conquered the stairs and I safely travel up and down. I love sitting on the landings and watching over my queendom.

No Farm, No Berries?

Yippee, I got to spend the day with my sister, Virtue! We met at a place called Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. We didn't see a farm or any berries though. Sometimes these humans do strange things. Anyway, we had a ball having lunch at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant, shopping at the shops and posing for pictures. Well, posing for pictures was a bit of a struggle. Aunties kept making us get on things and making us sit straight and smile. We just thought it was way too hot for this activity and we finally put our paws down for it to stop.

To Fish or not to Fish

I had so much fun today - I thought I was back to Idaho for awhile! The Diamond Bar group had an outing at the Bass Pro Shop at Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga. Wow, there were boats to sit on, bridges to walk over, streams, fish, animals (stuffed) and all kinds of things to experience. It was such a large place we even conducted an obedience class on the second floor. Many customers stopped to watch and we all showed off our skills for the customers. The second floor was also where the hunting equipment was and there were a few hunters there that wanted to take me home! After that adventure we went to the Corner Bakery for lunch. Well, not sure why they called it lunch because all I got was ice. A few of us then rode the trolley around the outdoor mall. Yee-ikes but it was hot by the time we were heading to the car. But, the car cooled down quickly and we were on our way home.

Velvet meets the Mouse.

Well, sort of. I visited Downtown Disney today. The July 4 crowd seemed to be gone and there weren't many people, but, enough to make it fun. I had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. I sat next to the elephants who got a bit out of hand about every ten minutes so I just ignored them. I couldn't see the apes, but, they were pretty noisy, too. So, I just slept under the table. I walked the around the shopping district and made everyone smile. I met a youngster who was deaf and she is looking forward to getting a hearing dog so they really liked me.

V Girls Re-United!

The girls don't look much alike but they were so happy to see each other again. They were two bucking broncos for about 15 minutes while they played together for the first time since they were tiny puppies. Virtue (left) is a bit more petite in build where Velvet (right) is thicker built!

This Work Thing is GREAT!

I get to go to "work" every day in a big building that they call a sales office. I don't know what they sell but it has something to do with automation. All I know is my job is pretty cushy. I have a nice bed, a crate, toys, and lots of friends. Here I am working as hard as possible! I hope I get to work a lot!

Tom's Farms

Today I visited Tom's Farms in Temecula. It is a biker hangout so there are many different people to visit with. Along with the furniture store, candy store, farmer's market, and wine and cheese store there is a garden center, picnic area, swap meet, shed display, and mini western town with a train, electric tractors, shooting gallery and other amusements. There is also a pond with a fountain. I really wanted to swim but we thought we'd have to make a quit exit if I did. We visited many people and everyone thought I was a sweet and beautiful dog. I even rode the train!

A Diamond in the Ruff, An Open House

Today was the Guide Dogs of America Open House and 60th Anniversary. It was called Diamond in the Ruff.

I have never seen so many puppies-in-training all in the same place at the same time. And sooo many people, too! We did something called Puppy Trials. We really enjoyed that! There were so many smells and things to see and do. There were even farm animals and hot dog plants. Really, the hot dogs were growing right out of the pots. I wanted one very badly but left them alone. We conducted a tour for about 30 people through the campus and I was the star of the tour, of course.

Paws To Heal Anyone?

Today we went to a Therapy Dog meeting called Paws To Heal. Both Dodger and Paisley are therapy dogs. I'm not a therapy dog, but, I was invited anyway. There were all kinds of dogs there ... labradoodles, goldens, weimereiners, and labradors. We had fun enjoying the yard and playing in the baby pool. I was exhausted when I got home and I was a very good girl!

My New Condo Home!

I am now living with two other labrador retrievers, Dodger - another black labrador, and, Paisley - a yellow labrador. Dodger is kind of a crabby guy but he seems to like having me around. Paisley is a lot more fun and seems to like me even better. She plays with me a lot and she is now my IDOL! We also have a few cats. Casey is a long haired white cat the seems to live in the kitchen on top of the fridge. Abby is a short haired tabby who lives under the bed in her own "cat" room. I'm not allowed in there because I would eat all the cat food and probably some kitty roca from the litter box, too.

Go West Young Puppy-Breaking out of Camp GDA!

My name is Velvet and I am a black labrador retriever, born at Guide Dogs of America in Sylmar, CA. I was raised in Idaho by my mom and dad. I came back to Sylmar, CA when I was called in for a breeder evaluation. Then something called a "heat" happened and I stayed at camp GDA without getting that evaluation.

Wahoo, my heat was over and I am leaving this place with someone new. I cannot wait to see what is next in my journey to become a guide dog.