Sunday 10 November 2013

Puppy Love

It has been 25 days since Eileen went home to the I.O.W. from having a wonderful holiday in Northern Ireland and I have been positing blogs on our birding adventures here since she left!!! 
 
I asked her to send me photos of her 'special new friend' and let us know all about him.  So this is exactly what she wrote. 
 
Also at the end of the post, I answer a question that was asked of me from yesterday's post about the Egret.  I thought you all might like to know the answer.
 
Meet Stevie.

 
Well at 60+ I should have known better. Puppy love is for the young.

It all began one Wednesday morning, a getting to know you session they call it. We have all been there or maybe not.
 
Quite innocent at first, we get on well, a smile, a touch and Oh! that blond hair who couldn't fall for that. I could hear my mother's voice, "It will all end in tears dear he is much to young for you". Well I am not quite as nimble now but I still feel 16, surely I can still keep up.

Head over heels, we agree a first date, you see! He likes me! Thinks I am a softy, soon we would be alone together sharing walks and fireside chats.

I expect you would like to know his name; it’s Stevie a very special nine month old Golden Retriever being trained by Canine Partners to be an assistance dog. He will eventually be helping someone confined to a wheelchair.

I have become his Foster Parent while his Puppy Parent has a few days away.

Just look below at the blonde hair, wet nose and brown eyes.

 


As you would expect he is a bundle of mischief and loves his latest toy, a fluffy octopus, which he shakes and throws around and plops in my lap when it is very soggy. But even at nine months old he is very obedient.

He will sit while having his lead attached, wait while I go through the doorway first, pick up dropped things and bring them to me. He really thinks it a great game and enjoys doing everything. He has also been trained to toilet in a designated area in the garden before going for a walk. What amazing achievements by the Puppy Parent.


This is the web site for more information
http://www.caninepartners.org.uk/Index.htm

 
 I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did and I thank Eileen for producing this for me.

The question from yesterday's post was,

"How do the Egrets manage to keep so white?"


The white color of Egrets absorbs less heat from the sun; darker birds heat up quicker. Being white helps keep this bird of the sunshine cool, but how does a Egret stay so white? It wades around all day in muddy water, yet never appears to have mud or stain on its feathers.
Four factors come into play.
  1. The Egret, like most birds, has an oil gland at the base of the tail. It gets oil from this gland on the bill and wipes it on its feathers. The oil waterproofs the feathers, preventing them from absorbing the muddy water. The smooth texture of the feathers helps prevent caking of mud on them.
  2. A Egret also spends much time preening, cleaning, and rearranging its feathers.
  3.  Herons and Egrets have patches of crumbly feathers called 'powder downs'. The birds grab some of these in the bill and wipe them on their feathers. This coats the feathers with powder. The effect of these adaptations gives the birds a somewhat teflon-like coat that seems to repel dirt.  
  4. While much preening is done with the bill, Herons and Egrets also have a comb-like claw on the middle toe of each foot, this built-in comb is used to preen and clean those beautiful feathers.
 
 
Thank you for visiting and for leaving comments.

37 comments:

  1. HI Adrian Indeed he is and thanks for comment.

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  2. Stevie is gorgeous, interesting facts on the Egret.

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  3. Hi Lynn. I thought you would like Stevie and I am glad you founds the facts about the Egret interesting. Thanks for comments.

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  4. Stevie is a great dog.
    A service dog for people in wheelchairs is perfect, he learns quickly.
    The information of the egret is very interesting.
    Greetings Irma

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    1. HI Irma Glad you liked Stevie adn that you found the info on Egretsinformative. Thanks for comment.

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  5. Beautiful dog, Margaret... I love Golden Retrievers--and it sounds like Stevie is going to help ALOT of people. I know you enjoyed being his foster parent... What a beauty he is!!!!

    Great info on the Egret also. Thanks!
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  6. HI Betsy It is Eileen who is his fosster parent. not me however I am very glad you enjoyed seeing him and indeed he is going to be a lot ofhelptosomeonein a wheellchair. Many thanks for your comment.

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  7. What a beautiful doggy, I AM IN LOVE.

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    1. HI Bob You and many more in love with Stevie. Just think how pleased the person who is in the wheeelcharir will be when he is trained and handed over. MAny thanks for your comment,

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  8. That is one Very Handsome boy :-)

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  9. they do make great partners , this breed of dog.


    peter

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  10. He's very handsome! Someone will be so happy to get him for a partner.

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  11. Those big brown eyes would make anyone's heart melt...

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    1. HI EC Yes those eyes are wonderful. Thanks for the comment.

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  12. Stevie is a beautiful dog, i love this particular breed

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    1. HI Stephanie Yes he is a beautiful dog and thanks for comment.

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  13. Stevie is beyond cute. Great shots as well. I have never heard of a teflon like coat on birds that repels dirt, but now that I have read about it it makes a lot of sense.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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    1. HI Mersad Yes beyond cute describes him well. Thanks for comment.

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  14. What a lovely, lovely dog! Long may Stevie live in a happy home with its permanent human companion, and what a great job this wonderful organization does, and an applaud must go to the foster parent also. Please thank Eileen for her kind heart and for writing such a super post. Stevie's photos do him justice. I also enjoyed the info about the egret and heron. Thanks Margaret for sharing another great post.

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    1. HI Denise Very many thanks for your comments and Eileen will certainly see all the comments. I amglad you liked Stevie and also found the infromation on the egret interesting.

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  15. What a beautiful dog and so smart. There will be heart break when he has to leave, but what a privilege to be able to spend some time with him. Eileen is young at 60 and a dog can keep her that way by stimulating her mind and keeping her moving ... not a bad idea at all, even if she were to get a permanent friend.

    Thank you so much for the information on the Egrets. I actually knew most of it, but hadn't given it a thought in terms of how white they are able to stay. I was not aware of the powder feathers ... that is a new bit of information for me and quite interesting. Once again, I have learned from you today ... Thank you!

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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    1. HI Andrea Eileen loves having Stevie and he is a great companion for her. WhenI put information in a post I know some people will know it all, some people will know some and the rest will know nothing because they are not bird watchers however there are always some bloggers that benift from the knowledge otherwise I would not spend so much time on that part of the post. I am glad that you usuall gain some info that you didn't know before and that is the very reason I hope to continue with the Wednesday Australian post and Saturday's posts on birds, I always learn something from others and my own blog! I appreciate your comments.

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  16. Stevie is indeed beautiful. May God bless those who raise these dogs only to have to give them up to their ultimate homes as assistance animals.

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    1. HI Linda I will say Amen to that. Thanks for your cmments

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  17. What a pretty pup. How sweet of your friend to help out.

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    1. HI PattisYes he is very handsome and thanks for your comment.

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  18. Stevie is an adorable Golden! They are obedient dogs and learn very fast, I can see why they are used as an assistance dog. Cute photos.

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  19. Beautiful dog and some great photos :)

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  20. What a gorgeous dog! I wish Bracken was that well behaved! Interesting egret fact!

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