CONGRATULATIONS OLLIE! You have the sweetest face! I love how your tassle matches your collar. If your mommy doesn't make you some dog biscuits, let me know, because I have her recipes and I'll take care of you.

Oh Lee, What a handsome boy. Congratulations to Ollie and to you and Max.

Ann

Poodles rule!!

Ollie looks like a real love...congrats to all!

Nancy

He is soooo classy! I just love poodles. I really want to meet him someday. I think my dog would like him, too. She's attracted to "men" with black curly hair. Her favorite neighbor was a black Portuguese Water Dog. He moved to Napa a few years ago, and she really misses him. They were BFFs!

Aw Congrats to Ollie he is adorable :-)

Alexa

He looks so dignified! Congratulations to Team Ollie!

Oh, tall, dark and handsome, my kind of guy!

Congratulations!

Are you planning on put an obideince title on him?

How adorable! I have a picture of my old Siberian Husky wearing his mortarboard at graduation. That was the last time he obeyed anything I said. He's been gone for many years.

My sister trained poodles and took them to obedience shows. No one would dare not to obey my sister. She was the ultimate control freak.

Good dog, Ollie!

Thanks everyone!

Peppi, when we adopted Ollie last fall at his second birthday, he was house broken but completely untrained. The simple command to sit had no meaning for him and he was a totally food driven dog so just getting his food dish in its stand before he had eaten half of it was a challenge. On the plus side he was and is very affectionate and has a basically calm personality. So our goal was simple manners and training him so he didn't rush with joy at every person and dog he saw. At 57 pounds when we got him and 72 pounds now he could easily knock over an unprepared person. After just a few sessions of the beginner class he was well behaved enough to take to outdoor coffee shops which we did every weekend that the weather was nice. We want to be able to travel with him. We can now open the door with him sitting about ten feet back waiting to be told he can greet the person who has arrived. I don't think we will go beyond the advanced class, but you never know. He really has fun with the other dogs in the class and its good socialization for him.

Dlynn, when the weather warms up a little we should arrange to meet for lunch and maybe a play date at a dog park. Ollie loves to ride in the car and as long as the weather is OK to leave him in a car or we chose an outdoor restaurant, he would be fine while we ate. I know he would love your dog.

LOL Linda, yes poodles rule but only when they follow the house rules, and there are no cats around.

Lee

awwww...he looks so proud! congratulations Ollie!

What a handsome guy he is. Congratulations to Ollie on his graduation and his very happy adjustment to his home and family.

Lee, Cooper is like that with food, I'm still working on it....

Annie

Brockley would be proud! I'm glad that you have Ollie and vice versa.

Congratulations to Ollie!

He looks proud and happy to be a grad.

SharonCb

That is adorable!
Sherry

AAhhhhh, that is so cute! Congratulation to Ollie (and you!).

/tricia

My God!! A 72 pound poodle? Even a standard....and a male....that's one biiiig poodle!
The biggest I knew was Nicholas at about 60 pounds..
Yep...if he attempted to give me a hug I would land on my butt! LOL!
Glad he's learning manners....Chabby has none!
Linda c

Oh Cathy, you tugged at my heart when you said Brockley would be proud. Yes he would have been proud and they would have been the best of friends.

Linda, Brockley was 67 pounds most of his adult life, he was a little taller but much more slender boned than Ollie. Ollie has a longer and broader face, a broader chest and thankfully, much sturdier legs. We love big dogs but our house and yard couldn't handle a dog much bigger than Ollie. The downside - big dogs mean big poop! Fortunately he has never jumped at anyone, but just the act of running up to someone can be intimidating. He does love to sit on Max's lap in the evening and has learned that if he does that, no part of him can be on the chair, he can only be on Max. It's a sight!

Today in our first advanced class, the dogs worked on ignoring other dogs that were walked by them, The trainer used another staff person to walk dogs that were being shown for adoption past the dogs in the class. The other new skill was sitting at the guardian's side (remember we are not pet owners in Boulder) while a stranger comes up and talks.

We went to a dog park after class.

Lee

Oh Lee he is so adorable, such a face! He must keep you thoroughly entertained. Also sounds like you are doing well. What a rough year or two for you and Max. Lovely to hear you are having fun!

Congratulations Lee, on passing a big milestone! (I absolutely love that picture.) I remember my first golden didn't actually graduate her first obedience class, and was invited back for the next one. Since she was only four months old at the time, I didn't feel too badly, but I did wonder at times how things were going to go from there. Ollie looks very pleased with himself, as he should!

That is the CUTEST picture! Thanks for posting it! Who would have thunk it huh! I'm so happy for YOU and for Ollie!
:)

Not sure how I missed this Lee but a big congrats to Ollie! He sure is a good looking boy and I'm sure you and Max are proud and very happy to have him be a part of the family.

I'm still home alone as of now. Not sure how much longer that will last.....

David

What a great photo! Congrats to you and Ollie. Poodles are so smart and tend to do great in obedience.

Sue

Just have to tell you that I haven't been feeling well lately, but I have come to the CF quite a bit just to look at Ollie's picture --- he brings a smile to my face and makes me feel a little better just to see him. Oh, the power of pets!

Dlynn, I'm so sorry you aren't feeling well I hope it isn't serious and that you will feel like yourself again soon. You are so right about the comforting and healing power of pets - they bring an immense amount of love and laughter to our lives.

David, don't be alone to long!

Thanks Chase, it has been rough and we still have some tough times ahead but Ollie is good for both of us.

And thank you all again, for sharing in our lives.

L