More From Doodle-Ville

Ike and his new partner. I think it's love.

News From the Doodle

Today I heard terrific news about IkeyDoodle.

After going in for formal training at GDA last November, Ike decided he didn't want to be a guide dog. After a week at home with his puppy raisers, he went to Canine Support Teams, where he has since been showing everybody what he's made of.

Kari tells me that he is retrieving, turning lights on and off, opening and closing doors, and being used for stability...and that he is scheduled to be matched with the team training class that begins next week and finishes on March 3.

Sometimes a little career change is all it takes to find your place in life. Go Ikey go!!!

Ingrid "Crazy Legs" Bouvier

After I turned in Lomax last August, I went on a puppy sitting jag that lasted several weeks. One day I realized I'd had more time with other people's dogs than with no dog at all, and I needed a break. I haven't often, therefore, watched anyone's pup since about November (when I was busy writing a novel), in an attempt to get through the holidays with some semblance of sanity, as well as to prepare for the arrival of a new puppy.

I wasn't blogging much during that time, choosing instead to concentrate on enjoying everyone else's dogs and to spend my free time doing things in the real world. But I did take some photos! We'll begin with Ingrid.

You've already read a little about Ingrid, lovely Labradoodle and sister to Ike (who has since decided he doesn't want to be a guide dog but is now training at Canine Support Teams). Ingrid is sweet, like her brother, but also a real comedy act on four legs. My roommate fell in love with her immediately because Ingrid was just so...silly. The way she ran and played was hilarious, all legs and spring. I thought she should guard for the Lakers, because she looks good in purple and has mastered the art of forcing a five-second violation -- you should have seen her try to prevent my roommate from leaving the room.

Anyway, one evening during Ingrid's visit, Wrio's puppy raisers asked me if I could watch her for a few hours. Knowing my roommate was out for the weekend, but feeling confident, I thought, "How hard could it be?"

I had been warned that Ingrid could be a bit... not aggressive, but perhaps firm... with smaller or younger dogs. But the girls got along famously, I must say. So famously, in fact, that it was difficult to keep them separated in a down/stay for any length of time.

And guess who was the instigator? Ingrid was not the only one who slept soundly after Wrio went home that night.