Larkin's Life

Ok, Ok, Ok, I didn't get to eat cake on her Birthday...

2008-10-01T13:26:00.004-04:00

Ok, Ok, Ok, I didn't get to eat any of the cake... but it was beeee - u - ti- ful and I sneaked a lick when they took a picture of us. Can you see me with my head hung down... yup, guilty. Ha Ha.

We had a fun day & friends cooked dinner for Kimberley too. Everything was delicious and best of all the Cards were histerical. One special one looked just like me and she put it on her computer to admire.

Another one read, "It's your birthday, so party till the COWS come home... or until the cat call the cops, whichever comes first."

I say, "WHAT CAT??"

Here's some photos to share. Can't wait for my big day on Monday. We will be visiting some friends but I better have cake, yeah CAKE, mmmmm.

Happy Birthday to you!

2008-09-30T14:23:00.003-04:00

Today's Kimberley's Birthday - Hooray Hooray.

Her friends (& of course me) are sneaking around in the house trying to bake a cake. But she's onto us I think, so we'll just hang out on the porch for a while... until it's time to eat! It's a really nice day to do that anyway. Plus, hangin' out is one of the things I do the best.

Mmmmmm cake later - yeah right, in my dreams.

Maybe she'll let me have some on Friday - it's MY BIRTHDAY THEN. I'm gonna be 2 yrs old.

Such a handsome boy I am...

C ya,

Larkin

2008-09-26T11:00:00.000-04:00

HAPPY BOY, HAPPY BOY, HAPPY BOY...!!

2008-09-26T10:56:00.001-04:00

" IT TAKES A VILLAGE!! "

2008-09-26T10:56:00.000-04:00

See how well I'm mindin'!

2008-09-26T10:54:00.000-04:00

THE BROWNIE BAKER... mmmmmmmm!

Havin' Fun at the Horseback Riding Lessons!

2008-09-26T09:51:00.004-04:00

Well, yesterday was Thursday & we went riding again. Hooray.

I walked with my pal ( She's so patient with me & I do my best for her - I get a lesson too & she's good with the Cheerios thing to motivate me. ) while Kimberley rode a different horse named Matchbox. He was a good ole' boy that's a sure thing always, steady & predicitable and very willing. AND what a personality. [One of the side walkers say he "keeps everyone on their toes."] Being so gentle & willing's important for special needs riders & Matchbox is a trooper with a great attitude and can always be relied on for a good ride.

Kimberley stayed on twice as long & practiced the stops - starts and turns in the arena. Things are getting better for her. It's a slow process waking up those muscles affected by Muscular Dystrophy - not to mention being Out-of the-saddle for 27 years. But her instructors & helpers are very patient, kind & sooooo encouraging. They're all priceless.

We were so inspired & my owner almost cried when we watched all those dear little ( & big) children take their riding lessons. Some screeched with JOY and the smiles were bigger than TEXAS on their faces. There was a beautiful little girl about 4 yrs old, she impressed us the most. She was tiny, but that didn't stop her as she rotated around on the horse from front to side to back to front again then laid back on him for a good stretch. WOW she was precious. I think she was riding Gizmo. He was a good boy for her too. Her pleasure & tenacity was impressive.

There is another young boy, maybe about 10 or so that rides as well as a jockey even though he doesn't walk. He has great positioning and needs no extra help. As soon as he mounts, he's off. So bold & so happy to be riding. Horses bring such pleasure & a feeling of well being to those who love them. Just like dogs do for dog lovers & cats for cat lovers... hmmm. GOD got it right when he gave Us to Them, didn't HE. Oh Yeah.

We met so many new people yesterday that volunteer for this Riding program & ate the most delicious BROWNIES ever. (Of course I only got one crumb that slipped my way - before Kimberley could nab it, I did. Ha. Ha. What a great group to be with.

It was lots of fun & everyone is nice & love me. That makes my job easier, even if they can't love on me like they say they want to. The kids all know I'm working so they just look at me with kind eyes. Can't wait till next week.

Today is a rainy one, so we are gonna have to play with my tennis ball in the house instead of going for long walks with her on her scooter.

Oh well, a siesta isn't always so bad. zzzzzzzzz.

Good Evening!

2008-09-24T18:36:00.004-04:00

Lila Tov Everyone,

Good Evening to you - Can you guess what Language??

Checkin' in to say we had another fun day. I made my first trip to the Dr.'s office with Kimberley.
I was such a good boy & was very quiet during the entire visit. Then we went to fill her prescription & to the grocery store to get some organic stuff for supper. I think "GO" is my middle name, I know it's hers too.

I'm so happy to be going everywhere she goes now that we can be in public together. (I passed the Mall test just fine so 'Public, NO PROBLEM for me'.) She never leaves me in the kennel any more & I'm good with that. It's kinda hard to to walk past all the friendly folks that stop to smile & want to pet me though. I can always tell a dog lover, they usually smell yummy, but when I'm working I have to pass them by with just a WAG of the Tail. They're polite when Kimberley tells them I'm working.

Off for a snooze now. Tomorrow - HORSEBACK RIDING.

C ya

Horseback Riding Pics!

2008-09-22T18:51:00.002-04:00

Well, finally some new pics to add to the horseback riding day. It was fun, see what you think.

Here's the whole crowd & wasn't I wonderful?

There's Kimberley's Riding Instructor who made this all happen for us. She is a wonderful lady as are all these great GALS & a big blessing too. They make so many special needs kids happier than you can imagine in this program. It has been going for 5 years so far. Here's to another 5.

Can't wait till Thursday comes round again.

Going Shopping Tomorrow...

2008-09-20T20:04:00.000-04:00

Hi there,

Well, it's finally the day before my big day to go to the MALL. We are very excited to give the public a whirl. Hope they're ready for us.

My field trainer from Paws is bringing Nitro her 'demo dog' to join us. I get to be friends with another 4 legged fella at last. So far I just get to walk past them and grin. Wonder if Nitro likes to shop?

We'll take lots of pictures. C Ya!

P.S.

2008-09-19T09:40:00.001-04:00

P.S. We also met a new friend, a volunteer at Hearts & Hooves who has been accepted into the Leader Dogs Program in Michigan, to be a puppy raiser for guide dogs for the blind. She will be getting a 6 week old puppy soon. Can't wait to meet the new pup. Hope she brings him to riding class.

2008-09-19T09:40:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone.

I have had some big adventures & am doing so well training my owner. She is catching on & we are starting to have some very cool times together. Like yesterday we went to her 1st horseback riding (hippotherapy) lesson together. I could tell she had the best time ever & so did I. She's been out of the saddle for 27 yrs and along with her special prayers to get me, she prayed to get to ride again... So both prayers were answered at last. All things come to those who wait - not to those who hesitate - so Trust GOD for all things, HE always comes thru.

We will be posting lots of pics when we get better at bloggin'. I got to go into the arena and walk with a hippotherapist who has a therapy boxer & loves dogs while she rode Kaluha & I was soooo good. It was quite the experience. We are working toward her getting her "seat" (balance) back so she can ride w/o side walkers & we will can go out on the trails together one day. I could tell she was feeling a little shakey at first, but Kaluha was a good horse & so patient as we walked around in the arena. I even licked his nose & he snorted at me.

The ladies that do this program have been helping special needs people ride for 5 years. They are all wonderful gals & loved me too.

This Sunday I get to visit with Nitro my field trainer's dog from Paws With A Cause and we're all going to the MALL together. This is gonna be fun & after that, we can go as a team to public places together. All good practice for our certification. She says we are doing great so far.

Thanks for all the posts from my family at Paws. It is great to read about them all & see their pictures. I'm lovin' this & so is Kimberley. I even got to see a picture an artist drew of me in July - before we teamed up, on her website. Check the link out, she's GOOD.

Well, pictures are coming later... C Ya

HELLO

2008-09-09T10:27:00.000-04:00

Hi there everybody!

I'm so new at this blogging thing, I hope I'm doing this right.

Thanks for all the input & comments. Updates coming.

C Ya - Larkin & Kimberley

Pictures!

2008-09-07T19:32:00.001-04:00

Hey, everyone! Here are some pictures and videos for you to enjoy!

Intent eyes on my owner...

Doggy Smile!

Working on "Move", the command to pull my owner's wheelchair.

I love my tennis ball!

Opening the door

Closing the door

Retrieving a pen for my owner

- Larkin and Kimberly

Hi!

2008-09-07T16:41:00.000-04:00

Hi, my name is Larkin! I'm a black Labrador Retriever, a service dog from Paws with a Cause in Michigan. I came to live with my owner after completing training August 15th. Today, we had our second lesson with the field trainer to teach my new owner how to work with me! I worked on pulling her wheelchair today (after they finally got my harness on correctly...), and we worked on retrieving objects she drops. My command to pull her chair is "Move", and my commands to retrieve objects are "Take It", "Hold", and "Give". I'm doing very well! I also "Heel" very well while she's on her scooter. Long walks are my favorite!

- Larkin and Kimberley