Pictures of Adian at home

Hello all. Pearl here. I always love to hear how my kids are getting on, so I was thrilled to get pictures of Adian from her new family.

She got to spend her first week away hanging out with her big sister Dorit which they obviously both enjoyed. (I must admit I'm a bit jealous as I miss getting to play with my pups myself). Adian's family sent us a lovely photo of my girls playing (above).

Although Dorit has now left for CCI 'college', Adian looks to be making herself quite at home even without her sister.



I was particularly glad to see that she's got a nice lawn to play on and that she is putting to good use all my advice on how to enjoy it. I also hear that she's a very smart girl and that she's learning all sorts of new things. I'll bet she has hardly any time to miss her old mom !

Pearl's 'D' pups are off to college!

[A note from Pearl's humans]

Just as Pearl's youngest pups (the 'A's) are happily settling in with their new families, her 'D' pups are setting off for college!

At present, the 'D's are all either busy preparing for school or already taking their first classes at Canine Companion's Advanced Training. It seems like just yesterday that the 'D's were eleven tiny little balls of fur!
On Saturday, Pearl was thrilled to get to watch three of her 'D' kids walk across the stage at the Canine Companions matriculation and graduation ceremony. A CCI graduation is always a moving experience, but Pearl was particularly misty eyed. She was thrilled to see what fine dogs her pups grew up to be and appreciative of the wonderful job their Puppy Raisers did with raising them. [Above is a picture that Dorit's Puppy Raisers took of Dorit, Delia and Durrell dressed up for the big day!]

Since each CCI region (North West, South West, North Central, South East and North East) has its own Advanced Training center, the pups start school at different times. In addition to Delia, Dorit and Durrell who matriculated this past Saturday, Devika, Devline, Dharma, and Donali enrolled in May, and Damita, Danea, Daltry, and Dryden will start this month. [At right is a picture that Devline's Puppy Raiser sent us of Devline and Dharma on their first day of college in May.]

The 'D's will now spend several months living in the CCI dorms while learning new skills (and lots of new words). There will be, of course, 'career counseling' as not all of them will graduate as service dogs, but Pearl is proud of her pups whatever they do!

Pearl's empty nest

Well, my friends, all my pups are now with their new families. My boy Atticus went to his new home last week, and Adian left us yesterday. My humans and I already miss them so much!

(At right, Adian and I enjoy a sprawl in the grass and a bit of a chew during our final quality time together).

When Adian's new family came to pick her up, they were able to visit with us for a while. They were very nice and I know that Adian will be happy living with them. I was particularly pleased because they also raised my daughter Dorit, and thus Adian will get to spend time with her half-sister before Dorit goes off to Canine Companions 'doggie college' next week.

In her last week with us, I tried to prepare Adian for the new adventures that await her. Of course, we also goofed off and had some wild times (there was, um, what my humans are calling the 'feather incident'), but she's a very smart girl and already knows how to 'sit' like a professional. I'd say she's chip off the old block!

The past week was not all fun though. I had an itchy spot which became a nasty hurty spot, so my humans made me wear a funny thing around my neck. They also gave me something to make me feel a bit better, but really, the collar is terribly humilitating.




Adian wondered at first what the silly thing was on my head. She even started to tease me a bit.




Little did she know that no silly collar can stop . . .THE TICKLE MONSTER (ha, ha, ha!).




Sigh, how I will miss playing with my pups! They really do keep one feeling young.