You Know You're a Puppy Raiser When. . .

*You have crates, collars and Gentle Leaders in every size, style and color.
*You accept dog hair as an accessory and a condiment.
*Dog crates double as end tables.
*You have more "dog towels" than "people towels" in your house (and your spouse knows the difference.)
*You purchase a car based on how many dogs and/or crates it will carry.
*Your co-workers know all the CCI commands and there's a chorus of "DON'T!" when the puppy dives for a tidbit on the floor.
*You have photos of your puppy on your desk but none of your spouse or kids (unless they happen to be in the photo of the puppy.)
*The various snacks you keep at your desk consist of chicken, liver or beef flavors.
*The contents of your purse, backpack or briefcase include hand sanitizer, poop bags, a Nylabone, dog cookies, a water bottle and a collapsible dish.
*You automatically wait at doorways, even when the dog isn't with you.
*You attend an event because it's a good training opportunity for the puppy, not because you have any real interest in the activity.
*You cheerfully sing out "Let's go!" as you grab a grocery cart, forgetting that you left the puppy at home in his crate.
*You reflexively say "Good under!" when a child crawls under a bench at church.
*You can scoop poop in public without embarrassment and while maintaining a conversation about CCI.
*At a restaurant you can simultaneously carry on a conversation with your dinner companions and monitor your puppy's behavior under the table.
*You watch Animal Planet because the puppy enjoys it.
*People don't recognize you without the puppy and/or know the pup's name but not yours.
*You're overheard telling your kids "Drop it" or "Leave it" or snapping "Don't!" in your best puppy raiser correction voice.
*Your kids know it's bedtime when they hear you say "Kennel!"
*You look for a parking place near a good "Hurry" spot rather than near the store.
*You plan vacations around the pup's Turn In and possible graduation dates.
*Your holiday wish list consists of gift cards to PetSmart and Petco and/or donations to CCI.
*Your birthday presents are all dog-related.
*You keep a ready stash of gifts on hand to welcome a new puppy, send one off to CCI College or as a graduation present.
*You buy Nature's Miracle by the gallon.
*Every pocket of every jacket, vest and sweatshirt has dog cookies in it.
*While folding laundry you're found Milk Bones (intact) in the pockets of your jeans.
*Your four-year-old can deliver a near-perfect CCI spiel, knows the proper use of all the CCI commands and can take over for you in puppy class.
*You've answered the question "Isn't it hard to give him up?" approximately one million times.
*You've burst into tears listening to a sad song on the radio because it reminds you that Turn In is approaching.
*You've shared a full-size box of Kleenex with other puppy raisers at Graduation.
*And last but not least, you know you're a puppy raiser when your greatest joy in life is handing over your dog's leash to a perfect stranger at a CCI Graduation.

from Ross' Dog Blog http://www.thedenverchannel.com/family/18970875/detail.html