DENVER -- April 11, 2008

TRADED!

One of the oddest things puppy raisers do is trade pups.

Even Marianne says that if you'd told her before she started puppy raising that she would willingly, nay cheerfully, hand over her pup's leash to another puppy raiser, she wouldn't have believed you. She recently admitted how peculiar this practice might seem to outsiders when my Auntie Jennifer came to get me for a sleepover. Seems she was in town for the weekend and CCI-puppyless, so she called Marianne and asked if I could spend the weekend with her. Within 15 minutes my bag was packed and we hit the road. I had a wonderful time, too.

Which brings me back to the topic of trades. Marianne asks for trades! She initiates trades! I can't tell if she wants to get rid of me, or get her hot little paws on someone else's puppy, or both.

I was a bit nonplussed last week when I was traded with a 6-month-old puppy named Oden. Usually I have some inkling of a trade, but this one took me by surprise. Other trades have been to puppy raisers I know from class. This time I went to a whole new city to puppy raisers I'd never met before! I found out this was because Marianne wanted to see how I'd do in a "completely new environment."

Huh. Parker as Lab Rat. I feel so unloved.

OK, I exaggerate. Truth is, I had a fabulous time with puppy raisers Susan and Dave in Colorado Springs.

At first I worried that maybe they weren't real CCI puppy raisers. Would Suan and Dave know the commands and all the rules? Turns out they've raised lots more pups than Marianne and John, so they not only know all the commands and rules, they know how to deal with super-smart, too-big-for-his-collar pups like me.

Rats.

So, we had several discussions about inappropriate barking and how "Speak" is a command, not an option. But on the plus side, we had a ton of fun. They loved the stuffing out of me, and told Marianne "Parker should toot his own horn about how everyone was so impressed by his quiet demeanor and excellent commands." HA! I repeat, HA!

I got to play with a CCI puppy named Bannon and two CCI service dogs, and a tiny puppy named Sampson (Marianne says that's called irony), and go for some long walks and go to work and shopping and attend puppy class. Whew! It was a blast. I LOVE SUSAN AND DAVE. Maybe more than Marianne and John, but don't tell them I said that.

I wondered how Oden had fared at my house. I had a chance to talk to him briefly about his week with Marianne and John. He said they loved the fur off him (fickle puppy raisers!), and he went to work and shopping and played with the keeper dogs and cats and had a wonderful time.

However, he said the week was not without its lessons. Oden told me that he learned the following things this week:

1. Barking at the cats and doing a play bow will not entice them to play, nor are they pleased to have a toy shoved in their faces.

2. Marianne does not need help fixing dinner; putting one's paws on her waist to better see what delicacy she's preparing is not allowed.

3. Fits of temper in the crate at bedtime are useless. Marianne knows the difference between "I don't want to go to bed yet!" and "Hey, I really need to go outside right now!"

4. Madeleine the Greyhound does not share toys. Trying to steal a toy when she's dozing will result in a sharp correction. She may be old, but she's still fast!

5. Dash the Cat taught him to play a game called Hide and Seek. Dash runs into the bathroom with Oden in hot pursuit and they shut the door. Then they sit really quietly while Marianne hunts all over the house for them. *snicker*

6. Barking to tattle on the cats when they sit on the kitchen counter is unnecessary because the cats are ALLOWED on the counter by the sink. And to add insult to injury, they smirked at Oden when Marianne told him to be quiet.

7. Everyone loves a goofy puppy. The people in Marianne's torturous exercise class were highly amused when Oden whined and moaned along with them. Oden's new nickname is 'Wookie' because of his amazing vocal range.

8. Curling up in John's lap and snoozing quietly for a whole hour while he reads the morning newspaper is a nice way to start the day.

9. However, leaping into Marianne's lap for a cuddle is not a good idea if she has a cup of *HOT HOT HOT* coffee in her hand at the time. Oden learned some new words, but Marianne told him he was not allowed to repeat them.

Marianne and Susan are planning another trade in a few weeks. Oden and I can't wait!

Chow for now!

Parker

Would you like more information about Canine Companions for Independence, or how to become a puppy raiser? Call 1-800-572-BARK or go to www.cci.org for details.

Questions or comments for Parker? Send them to Call7ForHelp@TheDenverChannel.com.