KELDA'S ONE AND ONLY ANNUAL BLOG ENTRY

That's how it's turning out, right?  About once a year?  And there are some people (I don't know about dogs) who blog every single day.  Whew!  Blogging any day is hard work when you don't have fingers.

But I'm very glad to say hello to you, and I hope you're wagging your tail at me, if you have one.

I would have done this a little earlier, but I've been busy with March Madness.  I can't say anything about the winner because I wish a California team had won.  But we can't have everything.




So here's what else I've been up to since last time.  Last summer I was up to my ears, almost, in water.  It's not exactly my favorite sport.  But Grandma says I need to learn to handle myself well around swimming pools.  Maybe I'll save a life, or a bone, or something, one day.


So my friend Melissa Trisko started me out last summer.  You can tell just how thrilled I am.



I did well enough to have fun at Auntie Joyce's pool party for graduate CCI dogs, but Grandma decided I needed to wear my fashion-forward life vest.

Exercise is good for me, though. I definitely know that. I really like the new Zoom Room - I think a dog must have named that - where I get to learn agility with my buddy, La Russa.  (What do you mean, you can't tell us apart?  I have the beautiful Rose Nose!)










It's so much fun to learn what to do with all this equipment!

When the weather turned too cold for outdoor sports, Grandma and I went back to work indoors.  We did a classroom presentation at Mr. La Russa's ARF Foundation.  I'm talking about the person, not the dog.  I really get a kick out of being a teacher.


No, I didn't play in the snow for Christmas.  I live in California, silly!  Grandma and I actually went to Aunt Lori's in Carmel on Christmas, and we walked the beach in 75-degree weather.  But there was this photographer who knew about fake snow...

Here's the real California Christmas!

In February I said (sniff) goodbye to La Russa, who was going off to puppy college (CCI professional training) in Santa Rosa.  As you may remember, Grandma never misses an opportunity to dress me up, so we looked like this for the Valentine's Day matriculation ceremony!

I've met a couple of well-known people, too.  Cokie Roberts is a political commentator with ABC News.  I hear she is an Emmy winner (I don't exactly know what that is, but I hope it comes with dog treats) and an NPR contributor;  she has also just written a children's book called FOUNDING MOTHERS:  REMEMBERING THE LADIES.  She was the keynote speaker for the East Bay Women's Conference and, since I was on duty, we decided we should be seen together.  

This is Dan Ashley, an award-winning news anchor on ABC-7.  He was the MC (or emcee, if you prefer) at the East Bay Women's Conference. In fact, this dog-lover has offered to be MC for our CCI chapter's upcoming  fundraiser, which is titled Dog Fest 2014.  Let's hear it for Dan!  WOOF!  WOOF!  (wag wag wag)





Now I'm keeping busy raising money and recruiting sponsors for Dog Fest.  

Here's a picture from my photo shoot.  How could they ever have done this project without me?  

This is a photo-shoot shot of Tatum (a breeder girl), La Russa (in advanced training), and yours truly.  We've had a good time doing this.  I wonder if there's an advertising career in my future?

And here are Grandma and Kelda Jean as we practice.  Dog Fest happens the end of May, so you still have plenty of time to get yourself and your four-footed friends up to walking speed.  Come join us!

I love everything I do and everybody I meet, but I love my Grandma best!

KELDA RETURNS!

So it's been HOW long since I added to this blog?  Over a year??  Um... hello there.  I hope you've been well.  If you were raising a puppy for CCI when you read my last update, that pup has grown up now.  I hope he or she is very happy.

Grandma and I keep quite busy, both working and enjoying ourselves.  We're also great sports fans, so we can now brag about the WORLD SERIES CHAMPION San Francisco Giants, as well as the ALMOST SUPER BOWL CHAMPION San Francisco 49ers.

Just in case you don't remember, here is the logo for our winning team.


I spent Christmas in Carmel with Grandma and our good friend, Aunt Lori.  Here I am in the beautiful park across from Carmel Plaza.  Carmel is very dog-friendly.  I find water bowls and treats greeting me at most of the stores.  There are even restaurants that welcome dogs to their outdoor dining spaces.

Now, here I am, getting packed and ready to go to the Super Bowl - in hopes of bringing back the Lombardi Trophy.  How exciting it would have been to have two major champion sports teams in the SF Bay area.  It would have been the sixth Super Bowl win for the 49ers!  Oh, well, we tried.





March 2 was the birthday of Dr. Seuss.  It was also Read Across America Day!  So there I was in Ms. Dodd's first grade classroom.  The children were all very polite (I know all about good manners!); they waited patiently to meet and pet me after Grandma read them some books that the teacher had selected.  This program takes place all over the U.S. on Dr. Seuss' birthday.  It's aimed at getting children involved and enthusiastic about reading.  I did my part.




And here I am with the Easter Bunny.  Only by the merest coincidence was I dressed like the Easter Bunny, too.  We took part in the brunch for the children in Orinda, California.  Grandma taught everybody how to approach a dog they don't know (and who doesn't know them), and she shared with them what therapy dogs do.  No, I didn't get to hunt eggs with the kids.  They ran around like crazy, and I had to watch politely.  Sigh.





A fashion note:  This (below) is a new one.

No, I didn't design it.  Really over the top, huh?  The tutu is so big I can hardly walk.  Grandma didn't make me wear it for very long, bless her.  For costumes like this I should get extra cookies!

Along the way, I managed to find time to celebrate my fifth birthday on May 13.  Can you believe it?  I got gifts, of course, and I wore the silly dunce hat that Grandma made my PR Dad wear when he came out for a visit back on my second birthday!  (That's the picture up on the top.)

My buddy La Russa (a CCI puppy in training) came over to help me celebrate.  He got one special cookie from the doggy store, but I didn't share my new toys with him (all right, call me selfish.  I prefer to think of myself as, um, forthright).  We did run about the yard chasing tennis balls and one another.  And I shared one of my dunce hats with him.  I thought that was nice of me.




On my actual birth date, I went to the Livermore Library for a Paws to Read session.  Grandma dressed me up - of course - and all the children made a fuss over me, which was certainly appropriate.

Here I am making my appearance for the children who stay at George Mark Children's House.  You may remember that this is a place where terminally ill or very sick children go for respite care, and their families can stay right there with them.  Once a year they have a huge picnic.  Miniature horses come to visit them; they can have their faces painted (the children, not the horses); there are clowns making balloon hats, and of course there are water balloons, and there is ME.  Everyone laughed and smiled and enjoyed themselves.  All the kids love it when I visit them.

Another of my favorite places is Camp Arroyo.  I'm with one of my special friends who comes to camp every year and always wants our picture taken together.  This is a special camp where special needs children can come and stay and just be themselves with whatever disability they may have.  Everybody is a special guest.  Grandma organizes visiting therapy teams twice a year - usually in August and November.  Everybody says how much fun it is.  They just love having us dogs come and visit - and we love visiting with them.

Finally, here's one of my favorite places to be - and, incidentally, Miss Kelda's new part-time job.  Grandma's good friend Kathleen has a big boat, and she invites me over to visit.  I enjoy dinner, watch the sunset, and - if I'm really good - get to help her navigate the boat.  I wonder if I need a special boat-driving license?

That brings everything up to date - but I don't want you to worry about my future.  I will post again - at least by Christmas!  Promise!

Kelda Keeps Busy in 2012 (So Far)

(This is one of Grandma's favorite photographs of me.)


Hello, folks!  It's Kelda again, woofing in to let you know that I'm alive and well.  


Living in California is still great.  I love my Grandma and my MEE-YOWS, and I never get bored.  I'm still letting children read books to me at the libraries, I'm still volunteering at the George Mark Children's House, and I'm still doing my public relations "meet and greet" events.  Not to mention the occasional hosting of CCI puppies-in-training, or sending them off with farewell parties when they go on to Puppy College.





Grandma has lots of friends.  Two of them are Mr. and Mrs. Jennison.  Early in 2012 they came to visit.  I wanted to be in charge of reveille, but I didn't have a bugle, so I did this instead.

I did a presentation at the Special Needs classroom at San Ramon Valley High School.  I especially liked this boy, so I wanted to show him that I still remember how to do a Lap (if you don't know what a Lap is, get a CCI dog to show you).  Somebody took this picture just as I was on my way up to put my front feet in his lap.  It made the kid, the teacher, and everybody else smile and laugh.  WOOF!  That's what it's all about!

Here's a picture of Grandma and me being official greeters at Stars to the Rescue, a fundraiser of the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF).  I like being in this group, helping provide a home for other dogs - or even MEE-YOWs.  Last year I was even a greeter at the Celebrities for ARF golf tournament.  I met professional baseball players, football players, and just general celebrities who were out to help save animals.  Oh yeah!

And here I am at an ARF birthday party.  If you live nearby (or even if you don't), you can arrange to have your child's or grandchild's party here.  These little girls learned how to treat animals properly - which is always more fun for them than treating animals improperly!  They went to a pretend grocery store to shop for pet food.  They went to a vet's office for a checkup.  Most importantly, they learned how to approach a dog who doesn't know them.  Then they got ice cream and cake!  I don't get any of the ice cream and cake, and I don't get to take home any of the birthday presents.  But Grandma brings me home and I get some of my own special treats.




I am doing a fabulous Sit... on a wall, with my Aunt Lori.  A well-mannered dog is welcome almost anywhere - especially in dog-friendly Carmel, California.

One of my special buddies is a CCI pup named Stanford (like the school).  He's a real character.  We have so much fun together.  Here, Stanford is the one in the yellow CCI pup-in-training cape, and I'm the one in the pearls.  We were at the East Bay Women's Conference.  With us is Jan Wahl, a TV personality from KRON-4 of the San Francisco Bay area of California.  I was there as an ARF "Pet Hug Pack" member (that means I'm part of a therapy team).  Stanford was there as my buddy, and also as a guest of the kind ARF folks who said he could hang out at their booth.  A handsome pup like Stanford is always good at creating interest in CCI.

And here we are at the same conference with author Gloria Steinem.  I don't know if she's into dogs or dog rescue, but Grandma says she's into doing things about people - which is OK too - and she seemed to like us.  You're also seeing Stanford's puppy raiser, Kristen Trisko.

All these public appearances are tiring after a while.  I love chilling out in the back yard with my toys!

Even though I'm not an official CCI dog, I have lots of tail-wagging CCI buddies, and sometime I go to their classes.  In this picture, I'm on the far left, with a red Gentle Leader on my muzzle and a big fellow sticking his nose into my face.  He's not a CCI pup, but he comes to classes, too.  Some of the others are Stanford's sister Sorrel, Nicole, and Brody - all part of the East Bay chapter of Northwest CCI.  I try not to get in the way at puppy class, but it brings back good memories to see them go through their paces.  This picture was outside a Whole Foods store, where they held a CCI fundraiser called "Nickels for Non-Profits."

In May, ol' buddy Stanford was ready to go to professional training.  So we had a party for him, of course.  Parties are among the things Grandma and I do best.

He wanted to get into Grandma's spa.  I thought that was a no-no.  Don't, Stanford!  Maybe he thinks it'll be his last chance.  As I recall, there isn't a puppy spa at the training center in Santa Rosa.  Bathtubs, yes; spas, no.

May 13th was my birthday!  I am now four years old!  (But, as you can tell, I don't look a day over three.)  I love birthdays.  I love birthday presents.  Well, who doesn't?  The only thing missing was - you guessed it - the guy who always calls me "Big Ugly."  But I hear that my PR dad, back in Colorado, remembered me on my new-puppy day.

And what would my birthday be without a silly costume?

All you people and puppies (and MEE-YOWs), enjoy your summer!

Kelda the Therapy Dog

Remember my saying that I passed the test for my Canine Good Citizen certificate?  Well, I've done more.  Attention, please:  Kelda the Wonder Dog is officially Kelda the Therapy Dog!

The proof is in the picture above.  (I have certificates, too.)

When you are any kind of service dog, you wear a cape.  That's so people know they can let you into their building.  (All dogs are too cute to keep out of any building, but there are rules.)  I'll wear the red cape for the Paws to Read program at the Orinda Library; I may have an adult day care job, too.  The Purple vest is for the Valley Humane Society Pet Therapy Program; I'll be in Paws to Read (yes, I like books) and hopefully some other activities.  The summer-yellow one is for Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation Pet Hug Pack.  I'll be part of birthday and learning-center parties that promote animal awareness, and other events, too - like Stars to the Rescue, where I may meet some celebrities!  Rrrrrowlf!  Is Rin Tin Tin still around?  Marley?


I'm going to love these jobs!  I can hardly wait to get to work!


Speaking of being official, three of my sisters have graduated from CCI puppy college and become Canine Companions:  Keilus, Kerris, and Kiwi.  Way to go, Special Ks!

Here's what else has been happening.  I have a friend at the fire department now.  We met at the Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival in April.  I don't know if that will make any difference if my MEE-YOWs should set Grandma's house on fire.  (But why should they do that?  It would burn up their dinners as well as mine.)



In May I went with Grandma to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, to meet my Aunt Lori.  We had dinner at the Cypress Inn, which Grandma says is owned by an animal-lover named Doris Day.  I'd never heard of her, but maybe you have. 

Carmel is a town that loves dogs.  Here I am on the famous Carmel Beach Walk (yes, that's really the ocean back there)... 

...and on the dog-friendly beach!









There was another special day in May.  It was my birthday!  I am now two years old.  My age count is half my paw count.  Once you read down to the bottom of the page, you'll see my official birthday portrait - complete with pearls.

I had a party with Grandma and my buddy Alexis, whose PR is named Deb.  We had permission to do Ups on her!  I received a "cool" collar (Grandma can soak it in water and it will keep me cool)...






... and the inevitable, um, hat.



Then I had a big surprise.

My PR Dad walked in the front door and said, "Hello, Big Ugly!"  I hadn't seen him since last August when I started puppy college.  (Don't worry about the "Big Ugly" business - he says that to any dog who is a Lab instead of a Golden Retriever.  We must forgive him for not being too bright.)

I got to sniff my car again, and even get in it (actually, it's my mom's car).  It had fragrances not just from Colorado but also from other dogs.  My dad had brought five CCI dogs out to California so they could start their advanced training.  Too bad I didn't meet them.

Then we had another party, and there was a cake just for me which Grandma had bought from Dog Bone Alley!  It was made with things that are yummy and safe for dogs to eat.  It was as hard as a hockey puck, but Dad pretended he was going to share it with me.

Then he helped give me more birthday presents that Grandma had picked out.  I love how she spoils me.

This is the best one.  It plays, "Happy Woofday to You."  Oh, wait... that's "Happy Birthday."  Sorry.

After my party, we went to my class.  Dad got to take me through my paces.  I don't think he expected to do that, but he remembered everything.  I taught him how to go around the cones.  That was new for him.  He did well, don't you think?


The summer should be fun - stay tuned!