Day 11...A new home for Holmes

Holmes is very curious about his new home. He had tons of fun playing ball with the kids today and they love playing with him! We even did a small training session today...and I am sure Holmes is stressed, but he can still smell those peanuts :)

Day 10

Holmes takes a trip....we are headed home!

We were very excited to be able to head home 2 days earlier than planned! Holmes was extremely well behaved on the flight home. He got a bath then we headed home to suprprise the kids, they had no idea I was coming home early!! It was so cute, they were all completely shocked! After a quick hello and a couple of treats Holmes had dinner and went straight to bed. he was exhausted from the exciting day!

Training Day 9

Today one of my favorite trainers was sick, boohoo, so it wasn't nearly as much fun! We went out to the ranch and I got to see my amazing dog find every tree nut. Holmes still amazes me every day. After that we went to lunch, where Holmes checked the food, and worked very hard to resist taking a lick of one of the trainer's yummy bbq ribs! I signed all my paperwork, so Holmes is officially all ours! Sorry everyone else, but I officialy own the most awesome dog in the world. Tommorrow is going to be quite an adventure and a very busy day for Holmes and I, so I won't be able to post. What I am doing tommorrow is a big secret....sorry, I can't share but it would ruin the surprise for my very favorite little people!
I didn't get any pictures during training today but here is my puppy looking very cute while sleeping:

Training Day 8

We had company today, the other dog we are training with is Mr Moose...he is twice the size of Holmes...

This picture does not do much to show the size difference, but we have to keep them separated, they don't always get along! We learned how to search a hotel room, there is so much to search!

Then we went to the park and I got some great pictures of my cutie! He was tired from a very long morning and did not want to work at the park, who can blame him? He did have enough energy to be very cute!

Tomorrow I will finally be able to see my little detective find the 7 other nuts and seeds he has learned in addition to peanuts and we will work on checking people for nuts.

Friday is getting closer and closer, I can't wait to get home and see my babies, I miss them so much!

Training Day 7

Today we went to Target to train. We searched in electronics and girls clothing. Holmes found all the hidden peanuts, he really is amazing. Next we went to lunch, not sure where, somewhere with fish and Holmes detected a contaminated menu. He was really tempted by a trainer's clam chowder and took a little lick...naughty boy! He got a bit antsy and started mouthing, that really needs to stop before I leave.

I am very comfortable with his ability to smell peanuts so tomorrow we are starting to test his other nuts. We are going to see how he does with Macadamia nuts, Seasame seeds, cashews and almonds. The next day we will hopefully work on Pistachio, Walnut and Hazelnut. That shoudl finish up his list.

Tomorrow we will search my hotel room since I just switched rooms today and then will go to a movie, which I am very excited for. We have not done movies in a very long time and I am anxious to see how it will all work out at a theater. Later this week we will go to a hospital, day care and maybe some more restaurants.
Today's embaressing moment was when I noticed poop on my leash and thought it came from the dog...nope, it was on my shoe....yuck! Yesterday I was really slick, I lost my car keys at the post office...I panicked that I shipped them or threw them away with the dog poop, but no, I dropped them while cleaning up the poop and a very kind stranger found them and saw me searching like a crazy women and got them to me!

I am so messed up I keep thinking today is Monday...I wish, I would be one day closer to going home!

Day 6 - Our day off

Today we had our day off, we just went to the post office and some shops and took it easy. Holmes is tired and enjoying the lazy day! His trainer gave me a picture of him that is so cute. Apparently Holmes enjoys making up games. He is on the small side for peanut dogs and can fit in this wooden box and he likes to roll his ball on the lid and have someone else fetch it for him. Smart dog....teaching people how to fetch! He tried to get me to fetch his toy for him today, and the best part was that he is as stubborn as I am, I wouldn't get the toy and neither would he, so it just sat there. Here is the silly boy in his box:

Training Day 5

Today we went to the mall and shopped till we dropped! Holmes worked really hard and once again, did a great job finding the hidden peanuts. He is home with me and napping in his crate at the moment, he is exhausted. Tomorrow is our day off, so we will spend some time bonding!

Training Day 4

We started a bit later today at 12:30 and had lunch at a steakhouse. We learned how to have the dog scan food and Holmes did a wonderful job. He found the peanut quickly! He was trying very hard to get my attention and being all silly, it was very cute but I had to ignore it. I just love Holmes, his personality is so big and I really enjoy him. He will be very loved at home. Next we went to Walmart, now I knew when I first walked in to that Walmart that I was no longer in Florida, it is big, bright and beautiful, I would shop there. I refuse to shop at our Walmarts because they are so nasty and I feel like I need a shower after just stepping through their door. Once again Holmes did a great job detecting nuts, he found the ones we were searching for. He was a bit silly at that point, and a bit distracted but I was happy with the work he did. I still have a lot to learn but I am feeling more comfortable every day. It looks like he may start staying with me all the time starting tomorrow. We are working at the mall tomorrow, hope Holmes likes to do some shopping!

I took a short video today of how Holmes acts when he is agitated, he gets this way when the other dog we are training with gets to search and he is having some down time. He seems to be quite competitive and a bit impatient in case you did not nootice! It is really short because he started getting quite loud so I had to stop, you can even hear me tell him to be quiet!

Training Day 3

We had a busy day today. We trained at the Ranch in the morning and at Lowes in the afternoon. We worked on finding more peanuts and worked on the Heel command. He is so stinkin smart I can't get over it...and a bit sneaky at times. He was in my car today and very cutely put his chin on my shoulder, not safe, but cute! He is supposed to start staying the night with me tomorrow, which I am a bit nervous about, I hope I am ready!

As much as I read about these dogs I was still not prepared for how well he finds peanuts, especially the trace amounts! It is amazing to see him in action. He LOVES to search, for him it is fun and not work...we are so lucky he is going to be our dog!! Tomorrow we are going to have him check the food we order at a restaurant!

Training Day 2

Today we started at the library where the trainer hid peanuts and we learned how to search. Holmes did not do very well to begin with but when I relaxed he did a great job. We had some other issues we had to work on with behavior, he is still challenging me. Next we went to lunch where I was happy to find they had a fruit cup. Holmes was very well behaved there. Finally we went to Home Depot...on the ride over he slept on my legs and was well rested. He found every peanut with me very quickly and I was really happy. Afterwards he got a bit too excited playing, but on the whole it was a good day. He is really sweet.

Just a few more pictures of Holmes from yesterday. Today we are heading to the library to train! I had homework to do last night learning commands and spent a while working the leash, it is leather and really stiff since it is new and it was burning my hands yesterday, hopefully it will be a bit better today!

Training Day 1

Today was the first day of training at the ranch. It began at 9 am and there is one other parent training with me. I got to finally meet Holmes and see him in action. He demonstrated how he could detect peanuts and I was very impressed. We got to meet the trainers and they are all very nice and wonderful with the dogs. I spent some time playing with Holmes and getting to know him. He is very cute and sweet, but a bit stubborn. He tried to test his limits with me to see if I would correct his behaviors so I began to learn how to do that...apparently I have the mean voice down, but still struggling with being firm enough. I learned how to get him to heel and down. We went for a walk in the park where he tried to chase a squirrel, ducks and geese, and the trainer tried to provoke the dogs so we could work on getting them to not chase them. With the geese Holmes got down when asked but he was agitated, he really wanted to go play with the geese. Finally we went to lunch and I got to be the Handler at lunch. Holmes was on his best behavior (perhaps because he was so tired from the walk.)
Holmes has a hot pink service vest, and he is masculine enough to pull off that look! Amanda picked it out for him :)
I can't post many pictures, I do not have wi-fi to connect to and my cell phone coverage is horrible (and I was supposed to be using that as a modem) So, to sum it up, no phone, no Internet, and no TV...and I am alone in a travel trailer in an RV park that gets spooky at night...so to everyone who said I would enjoy the time away once I got there....ummmm, not so much! I miss my family, it's too quiet and lonely here!!

I am leaving tomorrow afternoon for Texas to go to my Handler Training and will finally meet Holmes! I will post some pictures and update as soon as I can!