As many of you already know I’m a guide dog puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of America.  If you’ve been following our blog then you also know that my 3rd guide dog puppy in training, Dublin recently graduated.  Can I reiterate how proud I am of Dublin!

Since Dublin graduated I’ve received lots of emails and comments thanking me for being a puppy raiser.  I really appreciate all the nice messages from everyone, thank you!

Today I wanted to share one of the emails I recently received from a guide dog handler located all the way on the east coast (that’s far for us Californians)!

Thank You Email From A Guide Handler

We love sharing our puppy training tips, pictures, and videos from our experiences as guide dog puppy raisers.  We’re very lucky that we get to talk to many supportive people on our Facebook page, Twitter account, YouTube Channel, and right here on the blog.

Not that long ago we received a very nice message from Katie and her Guide Dog Bau.  We got an email from Katie on our Facebook page, but we asked her if we could share this private message with our readers and she said yes!

Here’s the email Katie and Bau sent us on Facebook:

Hi Colby and Pups!

I’ve posted on your Facebook page, but I wanted to send you a private message to thank you for all you do. To guide dog users, people like you are the real heros.

I live in Massachusetts, and am currently working with my third guide dog, a male black lab named Bau (italian for bark, or bow-wow). We have only been a team a few short months, but he is a great little worker that loves to please. He was raised by two actresses; Isabella Rosselini, and Linda Larkin (the voice of princess Jasmine on Disney’s Aladdin). I am in touch with them via email.

I retired my second guide, Traveler in the beginning of January. I had a great relationship with his raisers, a family that lives in Baltimore. Both parents were teachers, so he spend a lot of time in classrooms, which really came in handy when I was in college. All three of my dogs have been from the Guide Dog Foundation in New York.

I work at two different radio stations, and both Traveler and Bau love being in the studios with me.

In any case, I just wanted to send a message to thank you for all you do. I love watching your videos and seeing how the GDA puppy program works. It’s fascinating to see the different practices that each school has (most of the training elements are very similar to GDF).

Training with a new guide dog is a very exciting and emotional time. One of my favorite parts of the experience is getting to meet my dog’s puppy raiser. It’s great to hear stories about our dogs when they were pups, and to know how much they were loved. I feel like my dog’s puppy raisers are part of my extended family.

In any case, I just wanted to thank you so much for all the work you do as a raiser. You are truly a hero and you dedication is VERY appreciated by many. You are a true blessing!

I wanted to show you my boys, so attached you will find a picture of each.

Cheers, and thanks again

Katie and Bau Bau

Katie also shared pictures of her guide dogs: Bau and Traveler.

Here’s a great picture of Guide Dog, Bau on the train.

Bau On The Train

And here’s a nice picture of Guide Dog, Traveler smiling!

Traveler Smiling

Thank you Katie for the wonderful note and for sharing pictures of Bau and Traveler.  If you have a chance say hi to Katie on Facebook.

Thank you everyone for all the comments, notes, and emails you’ve been sending congratulating me and Dublin!  You’re probably going to get tired of hearing me say this, but I’m so happy and proud of my little boy.  I hope he’s having fun with Liz in Arizona.

Just in case you don’t follow us on Facebook.  I heard from Liz and and she said that Dublin did well on his first plane flight and passed his first test navigating through a crowd of 300 kids running around at school. Go Dublin!  Don’t forget to follow our Facebook Page!

Are you in touch with your guide dog pups and their handlers?  If so, what kind of things are your working guide dogs up to?  Tell us about it in the comment section below.

Post from: Puppy Training

A Thank You Message From A Guide Dog Handler

Related posts:

1. 13 Tips To Prepare You For Your Pups Guide Dog Graduation
2. Dublin’s Guide Dog Training Update
3. National Guide Dog Month

Better late then never!  When it comes to video editing and doing voice over I’m definitely the tortoise and not the hare.  As everyone already know 1 week ago Dublin graduated with Liz from Guide Dog College and the celebration was glorious!  I was a proud papa and detailed the guide dog graduation experience right here on the blog.

Today I finally completed the guide dog graduation video.  It’s also the season finale of Puppy In Training TV!  Don’t worry folks this episode is much happier then the the puppy turn in day episode.  Rather than delay any longer lets get to Dublin’s Graduation Day!

Guide Dog Graduation

Awesome! I’m so proud of Dublin! Congratulations to Liz and Dublin! Those 2 make an awesome guide dog team!

Guide Dog Graduation Transcription

PuppyInTraining.com Logo and Website Address

It’s been 6 months since Dublin started his formal guide dog training and today he’s graduating from Guide dog college! Welcome to this episode of Puppy In Training TV!

Guide Dog Puppy Training Starring DUBLIN

With Linus Aussie Shepherd Rescue

Also Colby The Human

And Stetson Career Changed Guide Dog

Guest Appearance Apache Puppy In Training

We found out a little over a week ago that Dublin is graduating. So I immediately started working on little package for Dublin’s new partner, Liz.

I packed a bunch of puppy photos in a picture book, Dublin’s 2 original blankets that you might remember from Dublin’s pickup day, a DVD w/ all the Puppy In Training TV episodes, a toy for Dublin and a brand new blanket.

We arrived nice and early for an orientation before Dublin’s graduation. We were so early the front door was still locked…I guess I was over excited!?

That’s okay…we found the side gate open with a nice GDA welcome sign.

We had a short orientation and then had the opportunity to meet Dublin and his new partner for 30 minute before graduation. Here’s the program for the day…and look there’s Dublin’s name!

And there’s Liz and Dublin…who’s now a working guide dog…YAY! I’m so proud! He’s looking good in that harness! Nice! Dublin got some pretty awesome cheers from the audience.

A couple of Dublin’s siblings, Deco and Daisy graduated and were on stage with us as well as Gentry from our Disneyland episode of Puppy In Training TV.

The graduation goes pretty fast as each graduate and puppy raiser get a chance to speak during the graduation.

In no time Liz stood up to speak and she said some wonderful things.

Then it was my turn and I tried to keep it short…

It was a pretty touching moment to see that Dublin remembered me when I said his name. Technically he should have stayed down…but I guess all that work we put in on teaching his “name” and “recall” showed at graduation.

And in no time the graduation was over and we headed off the stage.

We caught a glimpse of Dublin working with Liz as they walked out for some pictures. I must say he’s looking mighty handsome in that harness.

We had the opportunity to take a few pictures with Liz and Dublin and then with liz, dubin, and her family. I was hoping the moment would never end.

I spoke with Liz while Dublin waiting patiently by her side and I knew that Dublin was going to a wonderful new home.

We had come full circle with Dublin. During our time we worked hard together and I was so proud of him.

Dublin’s adventure with me had ended and I was happy to see him move on to his wonderful new partner and start the next leg in his journey as a working guide dog.

As we say goodbye I’d like to thank you for joining us on Dublin’s journey to becoming a guide dog. I hope you enjoyed the Puppy IN training TV Series.

And as we hear news from Dublin we’ll make sure to keep everyone updated on our blog, Facebook, and YouTube Channel so make sure you don’t forget to subscribe.

If you’re interested in becoming a guide dog puppy raiser then feel free to leave me a comment or visit the GDA website at www.guidedogsofamerica.org.

Thanks everyone and we’ll see you soon!

My Final Thoughts On Dublin’s Guide Dog Graduation

Reserved Puppy Raiser of DUBLIN

Don’t worry guys it’s not the end.  This really is only the beginning for Dublin.  He’s reached his goal and is now a working guide dog.  Exactly what he was meant to be.  I can’t say it enough, but I’m so proud of him and quite honored that I was given the opportunity to be his puppy raiser.

As I said in the video I hope you enjoyed Dublin’s Puppy In Training TV Series and hopefully we can do it again if we decide to raise another puppy after Apache.

Please make sure you subscribe to our

Blog RSS Feed

YouTube Channel

Facebook Page

I’m sure we’ll continue to hear updates from Liz and Dublin and you definitely don’t want to miss out on their adventures.

It’s been nearly 2 years now since I picked up Dublin…quite a journey!  I want to hear some of your stories especially the stories about guide dog graduations.  Please tell us some of your stories in the comment section below.

Post from: Puppy Training

Puppy In Training TV – Ep20 – Guide Dog Graduation

Related posts:

1. 13 Tips To Prepare You For Your Pups Guide Dog Graduation
2. Guide Dog Graduation
3. Dublin’s Guide Dog Training Update

It’s been a whirlwind since about 2 weeks ago when I first found out that Dublin was going to graduate.  Excellent news I must say!  I started writing about it here on the blog, posting new pictures to Facebook, Tweeting little snippets here and there, and finally adding a new Puppy In Training TV episode to YouTube announcing Dublin’s graduation.

So you might have noticed that things slowed a bit here on the blog.  Not to worry…we’re back!  Now that everything has sunk in I’d like to share my experience with my first guide dog graduate, Dublin!

Liz and Dublin Guide Dog Team

Things To Do Before Guide Dog Graduation

Of course writing to my blog, emailing friends and family, posting to Facebook are all very important, but what did I need to do to prep for Dublin’s Graduation Day?

I put together a gift bag for Dublin’s new partner that included:

• Dublin’s first 2 blankets.  If you watched episode 1 you’ll see the 2 blankets I put into the gift bag.
• A Dog Toy – Dublin liked pretty much all toys so I included a nice durable Kong.
• Photo Book – I went to Costco and developed over a 100 of Dublin’s puppy pics and put it into a nice photo album.  I tried to do Shutterfly, but after 5 hours of work the book would not have been delivered until Monday after graduation.  If you want to do Shutterfly for your graduate make sure you have one ready to go before you get the call from the puppy department.
• A New Blanket – Dublin got a brand new handmade blanket for his kennel.

A few other things I did before graduation were:

• Speech Preparation – I didn’t prepare a formal speech because I just wanted to keep it short.  After all this day is about Dublin and Liz (his new partner) not me.  Basically congratulations to the new team and thank you to everyone who helped get Dublin this day.  However, I still mentally thought about it.  I think I might have been better off writing things down as I was quite nervous and felt like even my short congrats and thank you’s would be forgotten.  Luckily I think I did okay.
• Emotional Preparation – I wanted to enjoy the day and try not to get too emotional.
• Talk to as many Puppy Raisers about what to expect – I heard a lot of great advice from Facebook friends as well as OCGDA puppy raiser group and listed them in a blog post.

What Happened During Graduation?

I wasn’t too sure what to expect when graduation day came around, but here’s what happened:

I had trouble sleeping the night before graduation and probably only really got about 2-3 hours of sleep.  When I first got the call from the Puppy Department I was very excited for Dublin, but the day of graduation I was feeling pretty much every emotion in the book: happy, sad, excited, nervous, etc.

I got up early in the morning shot a little bit of video for Puppy In Training TV then drove off to GDA.  We arrived at 9am (1 hour before the start of graduation) for orientation with Louise from the puppy department.  She told us that we would meet with our puppies and their new partners for about 30 minutes before graduation.  After meeting for 30 minutes an announcement would come over the loud speaker letting graduates know it was time to harness dogs and come out of the room.  At that time we (puppy raisers) were to go into the hall, lineup, and start heading towards the stage.  Graduates would follow us after we were seated.

Orientation Before Meeting Liz And Dublin

During orientation Louse emphasized a couple things:

• Keep things positive – basically talk to your graduate about all the positive things your puppy has done and don’t talk about the negatives.
• Keep speeches short and positive – the day is about the graduates not the puppy raisers so keep the speeches nice and short.  If you say anything in your speech about your puppy then keep it positive.

So after about a 30 minute orientation we left the meeting room and waited to be escorted to our graduates rooms.

Meeting Liz And Dublin For The First Time!

I met Liz and Dublin for the first time and was uber excited!  Dublin might have been more excited because he was having trouble staying calm.  I just ignored him and tried to follow Liz’s cues and let her work with his training.

We entered the room and took a seat while Liz worked with Dublin.  She asked if the trainers said whether or not it was okay for her to allow us to pet Dublin.  He was already out of harness and just on his leash.  I told her it was up to her according to the trainers, but I would love to pet him and say hello.  So she let him come to me and I said hello to my little buddy for the first time in 6 months!  It was a great moment for me!  I was so proud and excited which was probably feeding into Dublin’s energy.

After saying my hello’s to Dublin I got to chat and know a little bit about Liz.  She’s from Chandler, Arizona is very close to my age and is married with 2 young daughters.  She asked me how much I wanted to be updated on Dublin and indicated that she was informed that some people didn’t want updates at all.  I let her know that I’d love to stay in communication and would appreciate as many updates as she was able.

I gave Liz the gift bag and explained which each item was.  She flipped through the photo book (she still has some vision) and took a peek at the blankets as I explained the significance of each.  Liz told me her family drove out from Arizona to see her at graduation.

30 minutes went by in what seemed like seconds and before I knew it they announced over the loud speaker that it was time to get ready for graduation.  I was ecstatic after meeting Liz and so happy that Dublin was with such a nice person.  Before I left we arranged to meet for pictures after graduation.

We exited the room and headed towards the stage for the graduation ceremony.

The Start Of The Guide Dog Graduation Ceremonies

Liz sat to my left on the stage and Dublin sat to her left so I couldn’t really see how well he was behaving.  Everyone later told me that he did very well.

After the formalities to start graduation each graduate and puppy raisers gets to do a little speech.  Liz talked about how life changing Dublin was and thanked us for raising him.  It was wonderful to here her talk about her first experiences working with Dublin at GDA.

I was as nervous as could be and worried that I would break down and cry.  However, I kept it together and started by saying: “Hi Everyone, I just wanted to say congratulations to Liz and Dublin…” and as soon as I said Dublin he stood up and walked towards me.  I guess he still remembered his recall.  Here’s a picture of the moment:

Dublin - Guide Dog! - wonderful photo by Laurel Schuman

Yep, he should have stayed in his down-stay, but I guess he still remembers my voice  Here’s what Janice said about it on her Facebook page:

“For those of you who wonder whether or not the dog remembers its puppy raiser… As soon as Colby started speaking and said Dublin’s name, Dublin came over to him (even though, technically, he wasn’t supposed to). You can’t help but go, “Awww,” when it happens And you can see how vigorously Dublin is wagging his tail!”

Anyways, I continued with my speech saying: “…I’m so happy and excited for both of you.  Dublin was a great dog and I feel very honored that I had the chance to be his puppy raiser.  I’m going to keep it nice and short and just say: thank you to my friends and family and everyone here at Guide Dogs of America and of course the Orange County Guide Dogs of America group who without their support this never would have happened for us.  Thank you!”

After The Graduation

The graduation ended shortly after the last speech Liz and Dublin headed back to their room and I left the stage to talk to friends and family.  I was beaming!  I was so happy that Dublin had a wonderful partner and was ready to start his career as a guide dog.  Shortly after I walked off the stage I saw and met Liz’s husband and 2 little girls.  They were all very nice and very appreciative that I raised Dublin.  I was very excited that Dublin was going to such a wonderful home.

After receiving congratulations from everyone we met up with Liz and her family for a few pictures.  I asked if they’d like to go to lunch with us and they agreed.  At lunch I had an opportunity to learn more about Liz’s 2 children and her husband.  It was a wonderful time.  Eventually Liz had to get back to GDA so we exchanged contact information and we said our goodbyes.

Oh and guess what else…

Arizona Memorial Day Weekend – Meet Dublin – Working Guide Dog

Every Memorial Day weekend for the past 4 years I’ve gone to Scottsdale, AZ and this year I’m also planning on going to Tucson…and guess what?  Liz and her family live in Chandler, Arizona which we will pass through on our way to Tucson.  I already asked Liz if we could stop by and she said that would be great!  I’m so excited now for Memorial Day weekend!  Not only am I excited to see Dublin again when he’s not working, but I really want to see him on the job.  I caught a glimpse of him and Liz in action walking around the campus, but I really am excited to see a little bit more.  Maybe even shoot a little bit of video if that’s okay with Liz…which means after graduation episode maybe, just maybe 1 final episode of Puppy In Training TV showing Dublin as a working guide dog…my fingers are crossed!

I got home and I was absolutely exhausted…emotionally and physically.  It was an awesome day!  I didn’t really know what to expect going in and I came away excited for Liz and Dublin as well as happy and proud of Dublin and the things we accomplished.

So that’s my (and Dublin’s) graduation story.  In the next few days we’ll have Dublin’s Graduation video posted and you can see a little bit of what I just talked about.

I know a lot of you out there have 1 or more guide dog college graduates.  I’d really love to hear everyone else’s experiences.  Tell me a little bit about your story in the comment section below.

Post from: Puppy Training

Dublin Graduated Guide Dog College! YAY!!!

Related posts:

1. Dublin Is Graduating Guide Dog College!
2. 13 Tips To Prepare You For Your Pups Guide Dog Graduation
3. Guide Dog Puppy Evaluation – Dublin

If you’re still following me on Facebook…thank you!  I’ve been re-posting all of Dublin’s Puppy In Training TV videos as well as providing updates including this handsome picture of Dublin wearing his harness:

Dublin In Harness

Awww…I’m so proud!!!

One other thing I’ve been doing is trying to find out from all the veteran puppy raisers (those who have had graduates) what should I try to do to prepare myself for Dublin’s big day.  Here are some of the things I found out:

How To Prepare Yourself For Your Pups Guide Dog Graduation

Here it is a list of things that will hopefully help me at graduation and maybe also help some of you guys with future graduates waiting in the wings:

1. Prepare a photo book for your puppy’s new partner.  She can show off the puppy pics to her friends and family.  I selected about a hundred of my favorite Dublin photos and put them in a nice photo album.  I’m also packing Dublin’s 2 original puppy blankets along with a brand new homemade blanket.
2. Pack your puppies favorite toy.  I think all of Dublin’s toys were his favorite.  However, he’s the first dog I’ve raised who absolutely loved his sterilized hollow bone so I’m going to pack one of those for his new partner.
3. Make sure you take time to enjoy the experience.  Everyone has told me that the day will just fly by before I know it.  I’m going to do my best to take time to enjoy the moment.
4. Bring Kleenex.  I’m not much of a crier, but I will have my dark sunglasses on and put some kleenex in my pocket just in case.
5. Keep the speech on the shorter side.   It’s really about Dublin and his partner not me.  I plan to congratulate the new team and thank my GDA, friends, family, and all of the puppy raisers from our OCGDA group.
6. Be ready for your heart to burst out of your chest when you see your puppy in harness for the first time.  I’m really getting excited for graduation.  I can’t wait to see Dublin as a working guide dog.
7. Take lots of pictures and from different angles.  I have my mother and girlfriend there.  Mom is in charge of the main photography and Ali is in charge of video for my next episode of Puppy In Training TV!
8. Have your name, address, email address, and phone number ready to give to your pup’s new partner.  I will definitely have that information ready and will also put it in with her photo book and blankets.
9. Ask for their information as well so you may correspond.  I need to make it a point to ask her for this information.
10. Ask to pet when you go in the room before ceremony.   Yes! Yes! Yes!  I mustn’t be shy…
11. This is a time for a little more “letting go”.  Be sensitive to the blind graduate’s feelings and try to emphasize the positive aspects.  I must always remember this is a graduation for the new guide dog team and not me.
12. Plan ahead for lunch with the new guide dog team.  I didn’t do this and don’t plan on doing this.  I’m pretty sure her family is going to be there and if so I’d like here to enjoy the day with her family.  If the family is not there then I’ll be sure and ask her if she’d like to join us for lunch.
13. Remember to breath.  Good advice…I don’t want to pass out!

That’s it!  Those are the 13 tips I received on how to prepare for my puppy’s guide dog graduation.  One thing almost everyone mentioned was to make sure to take it all in and enjoy the experience.  I know the day will go by fast and I can’ t wait to see my little buddy Dublin.

Do you have any other tips for Guide Dog graduation?  Is there anything special you did before, during, or after you puppy in training graduated?  I’d love to hear about it in the comment section below.

Post from: Puppy Training

13 Tips To Prepare You For Your Pups Guide Dog Graduation

Related posts:

1. Guide Dog Graduation
2. Puppy In Training TV – Ep 16 – Guide Dog Pups Visit The Fire Station
3. Guide Dogs Of America Graduation

Why I Am A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser

Dublin and Colby at GDA

It was nice to hear everyone’s answers and it also gave us a chance to know each other a little bit better.  One thing that I thought was nice was the fact that some of the puppy raisers came to our group from events we’ve attended in the past.  It felt good knowing that getting out into the public and telling people about guide dogs produced results in the form of new puppy raisers.

So why did I decide to become a puppy raiser?  Unfortunately, it’s not for some awesome reason, but instead my story is very similar to many other puppy raisers in our group.

Becoming A Puppy Raiser

There are several reasons why I became a puppy raisers.  Here’s today’s list:

• I wanted to volunteer and give back to the community.
• I had volunteered for many other charitable organizations, but this time I wanted to volunteer to help animals.
• I wanted to raise another puppy after Linus (my rescue pup), but I knew I could not spend time with a new pup at home because of work.  Raising a guide dog puppy was a nice solution as my office allowed me to bring my guide dog pups to work every day as a part of their training and socialization.
• I wanted to be a part of a group working towards a goal.  I love our OCGDA group and all the people involved.

I had actually been thinking about becoming a puppy raiser for a while after the April, 2006 OC Pet Expo.  However it wasn’t until after my ex-girlfriend broke up with me in the summer time.  That’s when everything changed.  I started by fostering puppies for a local rescue called Cuddly Canines.

After fostering over a dozen puppies and dogs I decided that I’d give puppy raising a try which is a much more long term commitment.  As a foster I usually had puppies or dogs for no longer than 3 months.  However, as a guide dog puppy raiser I receive a puppy at 7 weeks of age and raise them until they are around 18 months of age.

Today I’m raising my 4th guide dog puppy in training, Apache a Golden Retriever.  My 3rd puppy, Dublin is currently at guide dog college and I’m hoping that he graduates this month.  My 2nd guide dog pup, Derby was career changed and adopted through the Guide Dogs of America adoption program.  Finally, my 1st pup in training, Stetson was also career changed and lives at home with me where he loves to eat, sleep, and work on his K9 nosework training.

Becoming a guide dog puppy raiser has been a successful venture for me and if you’re a dog lover than I highly recommend you look into becoming a puppy raiser.  It’s definitely a very rewarding volunteer activity.

If you’re interested in puppy raising for Guide Dogs of America then check out their webpage at http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org.

Post from: Puppy Training

Why I Decided To Be A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser

Related posts:

1. Are You Interested In Becoming A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser?
2. Top 5 Questions People Ask A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser
3. Interview A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser

Today I came across this wonderful link from explore.org.  I don’t think it’s been posted to the GDA facebook fanpage yet, but I’m pretty sure it will be soon.

It’s a very cool video showing a little bit of insight into how the GDA trainers work with the students and handlers.

Guide Dog Training Video

Here’s the link to the video: Guide Dogs of America

Unfortunately I’m having some trouble embedding the video in my blog post.  Maybe I’ll get it figured out sometime in the future.

This is the little synopsis from the Explore.org web page: Guide dogs grant the blind a chance at freedom and improved quality of life. Learn about the important role Guide Dogs of America plays in granting the blind with independence.

Dublin A Puppy In Training

Some other cool things in this video:

• They talk about how dogs are matched with their visually impaired handlers at guide dog school
• How the dogs perform intelligent disobedience.
• Some insight from some of the Guide Dogs of America trainers.
• A little bit about how the entire Guide Dog program reaches full circle

Sorry, I’d love to get you the entire transcription, but that is not accessible to me right now.  Just go on over to the video: Dog Bless You: Guide Dogs of America and check out the video.  I promise you it’s something you don’t want to miss.

Did you learn anything new from today’s video?  Tell us about it in the comment section below.

Post from: Puppy Training

A Little Bit of Insight Into Guide Dog Training

Related posts:

1. Dublin’s Guide Dog Training Update
2. Puppy In Training TV – Ep15 – Guide Dogs Of America Open House
3. How To Sponsor A Guide Dog Puppy In Training

Just in case you haven’t been following us on Facebook (if you aren’t then you should) Dublin also sends us a postcard just about every month.  Like I said in case you missed it here’s an image of the 4 postcards I’ve received so far.

Guide Dog Training Postcards

Postcards from Dublin while he's at Guide Dog College

It’s a little small and blurry so here’s what Dublin has to say in his 4 postcards:

Postcard #1 (received around December 2011)

Dear Dad,

How are you doing?  I’m great!  I am learning how to walk with a special black n white harness on.  Boy do I look handsome!  Next I will be learning how to make right and left turns.  Hope you are well.  Take care.

Wags + Kisses

Dublin

Postcard #2 (received around January 2012)

Dear Dad,

It’s me again from Guide Dog College.  I have learned right & left turns and how to cross streets safely.  Soon we will start walking in busier areas with more to watch out for.  It’s not all hard work though.  I get to play with my friends and chew on all sorts of bones.
Hope all is well!

Wags & Kisses

Dublin

Postcard #3 (received around February 2012)

Dear Dad,

My trainers tell me I’ve completed my first set of test wearing my harness!  I got to guide my trainer while he was blindfolded!  It sure was fun!
I know I still have lots to learn and soon will learn to guide on stairs, elevators, and even escalators!
We have fun when we’re not working too.  The kennel staff gives us bones and toys to play with.

Wiggles & Wags

Dublin

Postcard #4 (received around March 2012)

Hi Everyone!

Here’s an update from Guide Dog College

I am learning new things everyday and we go to exciting places each week.  The other day we rode the subway!  Some of my friends have decided to go home but I want to stay and learn more.

Hope you are well!

Wags

~Dublin

More Dublin Updates

I’ve been hearing good things about Dublin and I’m hoping for an April graduation.  However, you never really know, but just in case I have my fingers crossed and Sunday, April 22nd 2012 (date of the next GDA graduation) is circled on my calendar just in case Dublin graduates on that day.  As soon as I hear news on whether or not Dublin is a part of the next GDA graduating class I’ll let everyone know here, on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.  Hopefully some of you out there can join us at Dublin’s graduation.

By the way I plan on putting together some bonus Puppy In Training TV videos with some extra never before seen footage in the near future leading up to hopefully Dublin’s upcoming graduation (and graduation video).  As an added bonus I’m going to add short bonus segment at the end of each episode with the Adventures of Apache my most recent guide dog puppy in training.

In case you don’t know about out Puppy In Training TV series…way back when I first picked up Dublin I decided to create video episodes chronicling his journey to becoming a guide dog.  Here’s a list of the 18 episodes we produced:

Episodes

Episode 1 – Picking Up Your Puppy

Episode 2 – Take Your Dog To Work

Episode 3 – Guide Dog Puppy Sitters

Episode 4 – OCTA Service Animal Training

Episode 5 – Halloween Dog Costumes And Dog Car Reviews

Episode 6 – Los Caballeros Tennis And Puppy Training

Episode 7 – Puppy Training Ride

Episode 8 – The Getty Museum

Episode 9 – Scavenger Hunt At Fashion Island

Episode 10 – Puppy Training In The Snow and Bass Pro Shop

Episode 11 – Guide Dog Pups At The Movies!

Episode 12 – Orange County Pet Expo

Episode 13 – GDA Puppies And The March of Dimes

Episode 14 – Trains, Trams, Buses, And Puppies

Episode 15 – Guide Dogs of America Open House

Episode 16 – Guide Dog Pups Visit The Fire Station

Episode 17 – Dogs At Disneyland

Episode 18 – Puppy Turn In Day

So…hoping for an April graduation and stay tuned for upcoming Puppy In Training TV episodes.

As I mentioned I started shooting video with Apache.  If you have an idea for one of Apache’s bonus segment videos then please leave us a comment and let us know what you think in the comment section below.

Post from: Puppy Training

Dublin’s Guide Dog Training Update

Related posts:

1. Puppy In Training TV – Ep 16 – Guide Dog Pups Visit The Fire Station
2. Puppy In Training TV – Ep 18 – Puppy Turn In Day
3. Formal Guide Dog Training

I searched Google and came across 3 different guide dog training schools in California: Guide Dogs of America, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Guide Dogs of the Desert.  I also researched 1 service dog school, Canine Companions for Independence.  After much research and applying to all 4 schools I narrowed my list down to 1 and as most of you know I’m currently a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of America.

Today I was wondering about all the other guide dog training schools across the United States so I decided to do a little more research and see if I could find other schools across the nation.  I’ve already heard of many others through my blog, youtube, facebook, and twitter such as KSDS, The Seeing Eye, Guide Dogs of Texas, and Fidelco, but I wanted to create a list with addresses and links just in case someone on the other side of the U.S. is looking for a local guide dog training school.

List Of Guide Dog Training Schools

Dublin and I in front of the GDA sign - our guide dog training school

California

Guide Dogs of America
13445 Glenoaks Blvd.
Sylmar, CA 91342
Phone: (818) 362-5834

Guide Dogs for the Blind
P. O. Box 151200
San Rafael, CA 94915-1200
Phone: (800) 295-4050

Guide Dogs of the Desert International
P. O. Box 1692
Palm Springs, CA 92263
Phone: (760) 329-6257

Connecticut

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Inc.
103 Vision Way
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Phone: (860) 243-5200

Florida

Southeastern Guide Dogs
4210 77th Street East
Palmetto, FL 34221
Phone: (800) 944-3647

Kansas

Kansas Specialty Dog Service
124 W. 7th Street
Washington, KS 66968
Phone: (785) 325-2256

Michigan

Leader Dogs for the Blind
1039 S. Rochester Rd.
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
Phone: (888) 777-5332

New Jersey

The Seeing Eye
P. O. Box 375
Morristown, NJ 07963-0375
Phone: (973) 539-4425

New York

Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind
1210 Hardscrabble Rd.
Cassville, NY 13318
Phone: (315) 822-5132

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc
371 E. Jericho Turnpike
Smithtown, NY 11787-2976
Phone: 1-800-548-4337

Guiding Eyes for the Blind
611 Granite Springs Rd.
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Phone: 800-942-0149

Ohio

Pilot Dogs
625 West Town Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 221-6367

Oregon

Guide Dogs for the Blind
32901 S.E. Kelso Road
Boring, OR 97009
Phone: (503) 668-2100

Texas

Guide Dogs of Texas
1503 Allena Drive
San Antonio, TX 78213
Phone: (210) 366-4081

Those are the 12 guide dog training schools in 13 states that I was able to find using Google.  I’m not sure if there are others, but if you’re a guide dog training school and you’d like to be listed here then please leave me a comment below or contact me through my contact form.

If you’re a puppy raiser or guide dog handler and you are raising for one of these guide dog schools then please leave me a comment below and let me know a thing or 2 about yourself.

Post from: Puppy Training

Dog Training Schools – A List Of Guide Dog Schools

Related posts:

1. A List Of My Fellow Guide Dogs Of America Bloggers
2. Guide Dog Training – How To Become A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser
3. Grace A Puppy In Training For The Guide Dog Foundation Rings NASDAQ Closing Bell

I’ve been working furiously these past couple weeks gathering photos, writing short paragraphs, and putting together a little photo album about Apache, my guide dog puppy in training.  I’ve been raising guide dog puppies for over 5 years and I’ve been talking about my experiences as a raiser almost equally as long, but this is probably the first time you’ve heard me talk about putting together a photo album for one of my pups.  Why you might as?  Well it’s because Apache is a sponsored guide dog and as the puppy raiser of a sponsored dog I’m required to put together a quarterly report that includes written updates and pictures of Apache’s training.

Golden Retriever Puppy - Apache First Dog Toy

So now you’re saying that you’d like to sponsor a guide dog, but you don’t know what to do, how much will it cost, and where do you start.

How To Sponsor A Guide Dog Puppy In Training

The first thing you can do is visit the Guide Dogs of America Puppy Sponsor page.  There’s some great information there about some of the different levels of sponsorship.  Here’s a brief summary of what’s on the GDA website:

Puppy Sponsorship – $5,000 Donation

Here are a few of the benefits for a puppy sponsorship which covers all the expenses from breeding to 18-20 months:

As a sponsor, you will receive photographs and a written update quarterly, and your name will be embroidered on the puppy jacket. Your puppy will be thoroughly evaluated at 18 – 20 months of age to determine if it is eligible to continue on to formal guide dog training or be selected for our breeding program. Finally, if your dog successfully completes its training course, and is scheduled to graduate, you will receive an invitation to our Awards Ceremony with special recognition of your generosity.

Newborn Puppy Sponsor – $2,500 Donation

Here’s are the benefits and list of what this sponsorship covers:

You will receive a certificate with a photo of a newborn puppy. Covers the cost of breeding and delivery.

Sponsor a Litter of Puppies – $1,000 Donation

Here’s are the benefits and list of what this sponsorship covers:

You will receive a certificate with a photo of a mother and her litter of puppies. Covers the cost of breeding, delivery and all expenses up to 7 weeks of age.

Of course Apache’s sponsor donated $5,000 to Guide Dogs of America which is great and that is why I’ve been working on his sponsor report these past few weeks.  So what exactly am I doing for his report?  I’m putting together a little 8×8 hardback photo album from Shutterfly and I’m also going to try and put together a DVD video with some of the video I’ve taken of him on our outings.  I’m hoping to finish both projects by the end of this weekend.

Here’s a little sample of Apache’s Puppy Sponsor photo album:

Apache's Puppy Sponsor Photo Book

As I mentioned I’m also trying to put together a few short puppy videos for Apache’s puppy sponsors. I’m working hard to get it done in the next couple days. By the way there are other ways to help out guide dogs like becoming a volunteer or even a puppy raiser. In fact there are also other ways to sponsor a guide dog through donation.

Sponsor A Guide Dog

Here are some of the other guide dog sponsorship opportunities through Guide Dogs of America.

• Student Accommodation Sponsor: $3,000 - This sponsorship covers room and board expenses for 28 days in the student dormitory, travel expenses and guide dog graduation kit for one student.
• Training Sponsorship: $10,000 - Covers all costs while a future guide dog is in training for approximately six months, including all evaluations, medical care, and food.
• Guide Dog Sponsorship: $21,000 - You can sponsor a guide dog from training to graduation (approximately 6 months).
• Student Sponsorship: $21,000 - This sponsorship covers all the expenses of a student during their 28 day in-residence training program as well as their transportation to and from the school.
• Team Sponsorship: $42,000 - This is our highest level of sponsorship. It covers all expenses of both guide dog and student.

Of course you can make a donation of any amount.  I often times make smaller donations anywhere from a couple dollars to a couple hundred.  It’s up to you.

If you have any additional questions about sponsoring a guide dog go to this the sponsorship page on the GDA website for contact email and phone numbers.

Have you sponsored a guide dog puppy in training in the past?  If so tell us about your sponsored puppy in the comment section below.

Post from: Puppy Training

How To Sponsor A Guide Dog Puppy In Training

Related posts:

1. Puppy In Training TV – Ep3 – Guide Dog Puppy Sitters
2. Puppy In Training TV – Ep11 – Guide Dog Pups At The Movies
3. Puppy In Training TV – Ep 16 – Guide Dog Pups Visit The Fire Station

Canadian Guide Dog Postage Stamps

Several years ago our friends, Anne and Jim visited Canada and returned with a special gift for me and the doggies.  I was quite excited to find a set of Canadian Guide Dog Postage Stamps.  They were super cool because not only did the stamps celebrate guide dogs with a picture of a working guide on the stamp, but it also featured Braille on the stamp.  Here’s what the accompanying information pamphlet said about these guide dog postage stamps:

“The Guide Dogs stamp, the first Canadian stamp to feature Braille, is issued on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Montreal Association for the Blind.”

Here’s a picture of the Canadian Stamps:

Guide Dog Postage Stamps From Canada

Sorry for the lousy picture, but the stamps are pretty cool.

USPS Working Dog Postage Stamps

Now back to the aforementioned United States working dog postage stamps.  Here’s what they had to say at the USPS website:

The U.S. Postal Service® celebrates the enduring part­nership between dogs and people with this set of four dif­ferent stamps depicting dogs at work: a guide dog assisting a blind woman; a military dog scouting and track­ing; a therapy dog visiting an elderly woman in her home; and a search and rescue dog in a field, ready to tackle the next assignment. Artist John M. Thompson created original paintings for the stamps, which were designed by art direc­tor Howard E. Paine.

The stamp will go on sale nationwide January 20, 2012.

And here’s a peek at what they look like:

Working Dogs On Postage Stamps

Starting in the upper left hand corner of the image and going clockwise:

1. Guide Dog – I’ve been volunteering at Guide Dogs of America now for over 5 years and I’m hoping my latest guide dog puppy in training, Dublin makes it as a guide…hopefully 3 more months!
2. Therapy Dog – Stetson has already taken his first step towards becoming a therapy dog and passed his Canine Good Citizen test.  I’ve been thinking about getting him involved with the Beach Animals Reading with Kids (BARK) group.
3. Military Dog – The dog in the image is scouting and tracking.  Although we really don’t know too much about military dogs, Stetson has been working on his sniffer dog training at K9 Nosework classes.
4. Search And Rescue Dog – Some of the dogs from our guide dog school career change and become search and rescue dogs.  In fact, one of our good pals, Nicholas is in the middle of search and rescue dog training.  Go Nicholas!

The denominations for these stamps are kind of odd since the typical letter can be sent for 44 cents.  Maybe if you have an over-sized letter you can put these working dog stamps to use.  As for me I think I’ll pick some up at my local post office and put them beside my Canadian guide dog postal stamp.  Hopefully in the coming years we’ll see something in the U.S. like they produced in Canada with Braille on each stamp.

I don’t recall seeing dogs on stamps too often.  What about you?  Are you going to go out and buy some working dog postage stamps?  What do you think about the latest 65 cent stamps?

Post from: Puppy Training

Working Dog Postage Stamps Now Available!

Related posts:

1. Guide Dog Advertising
2. Guide Dogs Of America Graduation