Growing Up Guide Pup - Week 31 - Teeth Brushing

As we continue with the show, the constant challenge is figuring out what to talk about each week. We ask ourselves all kinds of questions. Should we cover training, or an outing? Should we try to cover a outing that incorporates training at the same time? Should we answer some questions from our fans? Should we go back and review progress Ricki has made on certain aspects of her life? Should we talk about the things Ricki is not doing so well with? And of course, should we simply update everyone on what we feel was the most important event of the week. These questions are always in consideration.

I enjoy the challenge of making this series, and also the freedom I have as the sole producer, and intellectual property rights owner. It is very liberating for our creative control, and I think will be a important factor in the long term for growing our series. Amie and I now are facing the challenge of where do we take this series next. It is growing on a slow, but steady pace. We think it has something to offer not only to people who raise service dogs, but also anyone who likes watching content about dogs.

So enough already with my ranting. This week was a review of progress, and we addressed a question about teeth brushing. Enjoy!

Growing Up Guide Pup - Week 27 - Rickey's Restaurant

This week has to be one of my favorites. I feel like it has everything. It covers an outing, some training, and even has a taste of humor with me dropping a piece of steak by Ricki's nose at the restaurant. As the show continues to evolve, we continue to improve our approach of video blogging with a twist.

I think it's funny how the episodes continue to get longer, and longer each month. The first couple months we had videos under 3 minutes. Then I felt lucky to get them under five minutes. This episode almost cracks the six minute mark. Ok, ok....enough is enough, they won't be any longer than that. Uhhh, actually I have no idea where things will go. I just keep going with my gut. As long as the video constantly moves forward I am happy. It seems we have more information every week resulting in longer episodes just by natural progression.

Anyways, here is our latest episode shot at Rickey's restaurant.

Growing Up Guide Pup - Week 25 - Guide Dog Fun Day

This week represents the premiere of several important steps in the evolution of our series. Number 1, it is the first time we filmed at the campus for Guide Dogs for the Blind. And two, we revealed the upgraded format of our show. I am really excited to see where this Ricki journey will take us, and don't see us slowing down.

When we first started this series, we were not sure if anyone would even be interested in watching. It was our way of keeping a video diary of the weeks events more than anything. I can't believe we now are into our sixth month with this thing and it is only getting better.

Special thanks to Guide Dogs for the Blind, Rendezvous, and Template Digital with their generous collaboration in helping make the series the best it can be.

Our latest episode is below.
Matt

Growing Up Guide Pup - Week 24 - Jelly Belly

This week I had the opportunity to take Ricki and Amie to the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, Ca. We have always known about the Jelly Belly Factory, but have never had the chance to visit. It is a really cool place. They were totally guide dog friendly, and even had a designated area for the dogs to go to the bathroom. How many places have a designated fire hydrant for the dogs? Special thanks to Jelly Belly and the Solano County Puppy Raising Group for setting up a great event. if you enjoy our webisodes, please don't forget to help support us by subscribing on youtube and telling your friends and family about us.

Cheers,
Matt

Growing Up Guide Pup - Week 21 - Guide Dog Joanie

This week was really fun cause i tried something different. I interviewed George while i was filming. This was different cause Amie is usually the only voice of the show, but we are talking about adding this twist to the format. I do the interviews if and when needed and she does the vlog hosting motif as always.

Please participate on our show by subscribing on youtube. Also try commenting under the video each week and leave us questions if you want to know anything. Amie does a good job of responding to most peoples comments and questions if needed.

Growing Up Guide Pup - Week 20 - 'Hide' N Seek

This week we played with Ricki and turned it into an episode. Hide and go seek is one of the best ways to bond with a dog, and we do it with all the pups we raise. Ricki picked up on how to play very quickly. It took her about 5 minutes to understand that she needed to wait in a down position until Amie released her with the "Ricki come" command. Good times as usual.

Growing Up Guide Pup - Week 19 - County Fair

Amie and I have been taking the dogs to the county fair ever since we first started raising guide dogs. It is a great place to get out and take the animals. Their are a million different things for a dog to experience, and we never see the same thing twice. This year was no exception and Ricki performed like a champ. She has still yet to have an accident on a outing. Fingers crossed on that one. Hit that subscribe button on youtube and participate in our comments section. Here is our latest installment.

Growing Up Guide Pup - Week 18 - Ricki's Mom

We have been raising guide dogs for the blind for a long time. In fact, we will be hitting 10 years in not too long. In all that time, we have never had the privilege of reuniting our pups with their mothers. This week was our first. The popularity of our web show is starting to grow and Ricki's owners heard about what we were doing through word of mouth. They contacted us and wanted to know if we would like to meet. Well of course we said yes!

Check out our new episode. Please subscribe to guidedogmaniac on youtube. Leave comments on the videos and get involved with our online discussions.

Matt (Chappy)

Growing Up Guide Pup - Week 16 - Mass Transit

This week was really fun for me. In fact the most fun i have had filming the show in a long time. It is because we got to film with our puppy raising group for the first time. It is so much cooler having 12 dogs to film as opposed to one. So many more shots and things to show always occur. Ricki did really good this week. i can't believe how lucky we are to have her for this show. This whole thing could of just as well been a big disaster. So many dogs just don't have what it takes to be a guide, but it seems like she is destined for greatness. She just continues to kick ass.

Raising Guide Dogs For the Blind

Amie and I have been raising Guide Dogs For the Blind for seven years now. We are on our 9th dog. Three have graduated to become guides (Macklin, Rennie, and Prudy), five have not (Clarice, Eli, Piedmont, Dakota, and Lewis), and one is currently in the process of growing up with us (Marianna).

Eli is our third dog, and we were more than happy to keep him when we found out that fateful day that he was not cut out to be a Guide Dog. We think he was too smart, and if he could talk would say that he would have a lot more fun as a pet. Not too mention he has become a pretty good movie dog. His childlike personality also seems to continue to get him into trouble even to this day despite being five years old. John Grogan has so eloquently displayed that all dogs have their pros and cons including our own "Marley".

People ask "how can you give them up? It must be very difficult." I will admit that giving our first dog Macklin back rendered tears out of these dry eyes. That is a small miracle, but it all seems worth it when you see how much your dog can help someone in need. I had the opportunity to film for Guide Dogs For the Blind a few weeks ago. We were able to get Macklin and his partner Jeannie to meet up with us at the campus so I could film them. What a surreal shoot that was. I was so proud of our oldest fur ball as I sat behind the lens of the camera and watched Macklin guide Jeannie around the streets of San Rafeal. It almost seemed like he was showing off; as I could read a big happy smile on his face that was saying "look dad, I'm a guide dog now, and very good at it too!" It was at this moment that any doubts for our charity were kicked to the curb. I will always think back to that moment when I have feelings of doubt for this cause.

Amie and I threw a new video together this week where I let her have some fun in front of the camera. We went out with our Guide Dog group and filmed away.