5th week update on Henry

This is an email we puppy raisers love to get:

September 17, 2015

Dear Puppy Raiser,

We wanted to let you know that Henry, #16112, has been in training for 5 weeks and has completed the first phase of training.  The instructor working with Henry has made the following comments about the puppy you raised.

Some of the things that Henry is doing well at are:

1.       Engaged with the handler and training

2.       Learning early stages of guide work well

3.       Obedience

Some of the things that the trainer is working on with Henry are:

1.       Minimizing his distraction level for blowing objects (ex. leaves)

2.       Heeling

3.       Minimizing  his distraction level for dogs

Along with this update which lets you know how Henry is doing at this point in training we have attached a photo of Henry in harness.  Thank you for raising Henry for our program!  Should you have further questions, please don't hesitate to contact Puppy Development.  You will also receive another update during the 13th week after Henry has completed their 12th week of training.

Henry in harness!

Oh, Henry, please leave those leaves alone!

None of these things are a surprise to me (ack, we worked so hard on ignoring blowing leaves!), but I am particularly pleased that Henry is "engaged" with learning! And he looks happy...

Keep it up boy - you make me proud!

Puppy update - Dutch is in Phase IV!

I received this email yesterday from Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Dear Puppy Raiser,

The dog you raised Dutch, D-14157, has been in training for 13 weeks and has completed the third of four phases of training.  The instructor working with Dutch has made the following comments:
Some of the things that Dutch is doing well at are:
1.       Obstacle avoidance

2.       Straight line travel


Some of the things that the instructor is working on with Dutch are:
1.       Obedience

2.       Positioning next to the trainer

3.       Turns


This update lets you know how Dutch is doing at this point in training.  Thank you for raising Dutch for our program!  Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Puppy Development.  You will receive another update once this special dog completes training and is placed with a client.  The journey is almost complete!

Puppy Development
Leader Dogs for the Blind

Way to go Dutch! Our paws are still crossed for you!

FLD Dutch is ALMOST to the top!

Puppy Update! Dutch heads for Phase II

Dutch's 5th week update arrived at last, if a bit over-due...

The dog you raised, D#14157  Dutch, has been in training for over 5 weeks and has completed the first phase of training.  The instructor working with Dutch has made the following comments about the puppy you raised:
Some of the things that Dutch is doing well at are:
1. stairs
2. proper behavior on the training truck
3. name recognition
Some of the things that the trainer is working on with Dutch are:
1. obedience
2. elevator work
3. getting accustomed to the harness
This update lets you know how Dutch is doing at this point in training.  Thank you for raising Dutch  for our program!  Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Puppy Development.  You will also receive another update during the 13th week after Dutch has completed their 12th week of training.
Puppy Development
Leader Dogs for the Blind

Hooray!

No photos with this report. But here are two of Dutch taken one year apart...

FLD Dutch snuffs his nose into an early snowfall, November, 2012.

FLD Dutch, one year later, still trying to snuff up a dusting of snow!

Puppy update!

Received this email from Leader Dogs for the Blind today! An update on Dutch!

Dutch has passed his vet physical and has been neutered. He has been doing well with his playmates and has been spending time with our dogcare and volunteer team members. One stated that he likes to roll around on his back & stretch and is very talkative. I have attached some pictures of Dutch spending time in the enrichment room with one of our volunteers. He is quite gorgeous; takes great pictures!  Hope you enjoy!
Dutch is also scheduled to start phase 1 training on Monday, Nov. 25th.

Thank you for your hard work, time, & dedication to raising Dutch for Leader Dogs for the Blind!
Have a great day!

They even sent along these photos...

Dogspeed, my golden boy!

SCOUT UPDATE #4

When nine-week old Future Leader Dog Scout took it on herself to waddle over to the Iraqi veteran I was interviewing and snuggle up between his feet, I knew she was a special puppy. She was "on assignment" with me for the first time.

How did she know that was just what he needed? He smiled, and visibly relaxed as he bent over to pet her.

FLD Scout cuddles up at the feet of the veteran.

FLD Scout returned to Leader Dogs for the Blind last September to begin the advanced training necessary for her to become a working guide dog. She made it through four phases, successfully passing intermediate standards along the way.

This week I received a much-anticipated email from Leader Dogs.

Dear Puppy Raiser:

The puppy you raised has been issued to a student in the current class.  This is no guarantee of graduation however, it is another step in the training phase and hopefully if all goes along as planned we will soon be able to let you know of the puppy's graduation.

Future Leader Dog Scout is about to become LEADER DOG Scout!

The February 2013 class of blind or visually impaired persons is now training with their new partners at Leader Dogs. The dogs were issued last Tuesday. If Scout and her person are a good "match", she will go home with her new person at the end of the month. 

If Scout's partner agrees, we will be able to meet him or her (and see Scout again) next weekend.

WAY TO GO SCOUT!!!

(We are very proud of you.)

FLD Anie (on the left) hangs with her sister, FLD Scout during puppy counselor training at Leader Dogs for the Blind last summer. Congratulations are in order for Anie, and her puppy-raiser Cheri, too. Anie was issued to her person in the same class as Scout!

SCOUT UPDATE #3

Yay! Received the following email from Leader Dogs for the Blind today. Sounds like Scout is doing us proud.

The dog you raised D#13647  Scout has been in training for over 13 weeks and has completed the third of four phases of training.  The instructor working with Scout has made the following comments:
Scout is doing well at:
1. settling
2. great social behaviors
3. great personality
Scout is working on:
1. being consistent in her work
This update lets you know how Scout is doing at this point in training.  Thank you for raising Scout for our program!  Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Puppy Development.  You will receive another update once this special dog completes training and is placed with a client.  The journey is almost complete!
Puppy Development
Leader Dogs for the Blind

Let's all keep our paws crossed for this special puppy! (And hope she gains consistency.)

FLD Scout and I cast a shadow a few days before her return to Leader Dogs for the Blind. Dogspeed Scout!

SCOUT UPDATE #2

A second email from Leader Dogs for the Blind came with news on FLD Scout...

The dog you raised D#13647 Scout has been in training for 5 weeks and has completed the first phase of training.  The instructor working with Scout has made the following comments about the puppy you raised: 

Scout is doing well at:

1.   takes treats nicely

2. being attentive to handler

3. has picked up curb work

Scout is working on:

1. vocal behavior

2. jumping on the handler when excited

3. scent distractions

4. has exhibited food possessiveness over food towards other dogs

This update lets you know how Scout is doing at this point in training.  Thank you for raising Scout  for our program!  Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Puppy Development.  You will also receive another update during the 13^th week after Scout has completed their 12^th week of training.

Well, it's nice to hear. The things that Scout "is working on" is a bit worrisome to me, but mostly not a big surprise.

1. VOCAL BEHAVIOR

Remember my Tuesday's Training TIP: BE QUIET? FLD Scout was the noisiest puppy I ever raised. But she did come around with some "work."  Now that she's off to Leader Dogs, where her life might be more of a challenge, I'm not surprised that she's letting them know SCOUT IS HERE.

2. JUMPING WHEN EXCITED

Hmmmmm. This was a thing she started not long before she left for her formal training at Leader Dogs. We did our best to ignore this attention-getting behavior.

3. SCENT DISTRACTIONS

I don't know how many times I thought, "Scout could be a search and rescue dog" when she stuck her nose into the air to catch a scent. Sometimes I wondered if she was part bloodhound her nose was so busy!

4. FOOD POSSESSIVENESS

I didn't see this problem with Scout and food (check out my post about Labrador vultures).  But she was always quick to steal another dog's toy--except for the old girl, Gypsy. I never felt like she was aggressive about darting in to take a Nylabone away from Gus, or cc'd Rosie, just very, very fast.

Keep up the good work my little Scout. And mind your P's and Q's!

Here sits a very well-behaved FLD Scout in a one-room school house at the Ogemaw County Fair last July. Natalie and Sofia sit too.

At 2 weeks...

Leader Dog "mom" Amber is being an excellent mommy. She keeps the puppies clean and fed. Their eyes are still closed.

And mostly, when they aren't eating, they sleep.

PHOTOS

LD mom Amber takes a rest in the whelping box after most of her puppies had dinner. They eat, they fall asleep, they roll off mom.

They also like to sleep in a row.

Phyllis picks up a puppy so she can clip her nails. Eyes and ears are almost open and their snouts are getting longer!

Clip, clip, clip! This puppy is learning early not to fear the nail clippers.

The puppies doubled their weight in a week.

Aren't they precious?

SCOUT UPDATE

YAY!

Just received this email from Leader Dogs for the Blind:

Patti,

I hope you are enjoying our autumn weather. I would like to update you on Scout is doing here, she has passed her entry physical, her hips are both good and elbows normal. They spayed her on the 26th and she is recovering nicely from the surgery. Our volunteers have commented that she is a very nice girl, she really likes to please people. Soon she will be back to playing with the four other dogs that she was playing with before the surgery. She is still due to start her phase one training on October 8th. You should be proud of her.

Thank you for all you have done in preparing Scout for this next stage in her life.

Lynette Brink
Kennel Administrative Assistant

(Guess my post from yesterday worked!)


I took the following picture of Scout on September 3, 2012, hanging out near our garden. I thought I remembered taking a similar shot of her one year ago...

FLD Scout, maturely resting near the garden.

...but once I found it, I realized the pose was a just little different. 

FLD Scout, getting crazy near the garden in 2011.

You've come a long way, puppy!

 

No news...

FLD Scout and I pose together on the day of her return.

After leaving FLD Scout at Leader Dogs for the Blind last week I took the long way home. 

The road, somewhere between Rochester Hills and northeastern Michigan.

Well, actually, I rode my recumbent bicycle home.

Here I am, waving good-bye to my folks at the start of my 180 mile, 3-day journey.

The ride was a good way to not think about things. Now, nine days later, no word from Leader Dogs if Scout has passed her physicals.

No news is good news, I guess.

Fourth Puppy Syndrome

I think I'm suffering from "4th-puppy-syndrome."

Not taking as many pictures of FLD Scout. Not blogging as often.  Just going with the flow.

I could rationalize it.

Frequent trips downstate. Puppy-counselor duties. Too busy with writing assignments for the Ogemaw County Voice. Cutting and stacking wood.

But I won't. FLD Scout is a very easy puppy, and now that Gus is home the two of them keep each other amused.

In photos, let me show you how my 4th Future Leader Dog puppy has grown--and some of the places she's been!

SEPTEMBER

FLD Scout at a puppy-outing to Lake Superior State College, posing next to a Leader Dogs for the Blind working harness. She looks as if she's thinking, "I can do it!"

OCTOBER

FLD Scout makes herself comfortable in the sometimes-very-uncomfortable stadium, arena, or gymnasium stands!

Here FLD Scout snoozes through Elaina's Cousino High School Marching Band performance. Drum lines, no problem!

FLD Scout yawns with a wee bit of "stress" after walking around the Lake Superior State hockey arena--blaring music, thick crowds, food distractions on the ground, all while passing other Future Leader Dog puppies walking the other direction. (Puppy-counselor Tammy holds FLD Scout so I can take a picture.)

That little bit of stress wasn't enough to prevent FLD Scout from taking a nap in the stands during the game. Even with slamming hockey pucks and players checking each other into the boards right in front of us!

FLD Scout followed the basketball for awhile during the benefit game between the Habitat Hoops and the Harlem Ambassadors at Ogemaw Heights High School. But then, nodded out again!

NOVEMBER

FLD Scout is suddenly big enough to wear her baby-blue "Leader Dog in Training" jacket. No more tiny bandana for her!

A group of FLDs and their raisers pose at the MBS Airport near Midland during a recent outing. We all got "patted down" in security--including the puppies!

FLD Scout in a nice "down/stay" while I re-lace my boots after going through security at the airport.

No Scout, we already went through security. The nice TSA man just wants to pet you.

Checking out the moving luggage turnstile. FLD Scout acts like she could have a second career as a bomb-sniffing dog.

It's not ALL work for FLD Scout!

Gus looks like he's advising FLD Scout...

...Gus says, "Look Scout, you get a BIG stick, like this!"

"Like this?" Scout asks.

Gus shows Scout what to do after playing all day.

Scout is learning!

The following two photos were taken during a recent visit at my sister's home downstate.

Scout thinks, "THIS is more comfortable!" Gus isn't convinced.

But maybe THIS is! Gus and Scout pile up with Sofia and Natalie.

Little Scout is growing up!

Guster Buster

In a gleeful mood visiting family downstate for Halloween, ironically on "issue day" (see note below) at Leader Dogs for the Blind, I received the dreaded call.

"I'm so sorry to tell you," the Leader Dog employee said, "but Gus was career-changed today."

No matter what they tell you, it is never enough information. Questions abound, you just can't believe it. MY puppy???  He was GREAT!  What happened?

You second-guess yourself.  Where did I go wrong in raising him?  Should I have done something different?  Did I take him into the woods too much?  What more could I have done to switch on the working-gene in this dog?

You can't help but think back and try to identify a clue that this was coming.  Those times he hesitated getting out of the van and then when he did he bolted to the end of his leash.  Maybe it wasn't that he was trying to avoid my bag banging against his head, maybe he didn't really want to get that working vest on and come with me into the grocery store/bank/library/restaurant...

You can go crazy thinking about it.  You can despair for the puppy you are raising now.  All your effort, all the hope.  For naught.

You second-guess the training protocol at Leader Dogs.  But you have to trust that this organization, in the business of training guide dogs since 1939, knows what it is doing; that the trainers understand the dogs and do their best to bring them along; that they've used all their tools in their training-box.  That they gave him every opportunity.

In the end, the dog decides.  It's like the rest doesn't even matter.

Two months into his formal training at Leader Dogs for the Blind, Gus decided that a job as a guide dog wasn't for him.

The official reason?  Gus "lacked responsibility" and his "body sensitivity was too high."  Simply put, he shied away from the harness and didn't want to work.

So.

GUS IS BACK!

Gus found his old bed, but he almost doesn't fit in it anymore. What do you suppose he is thinking?

Gus can hardly keep his eyes open after several hikes through our woods this day. On our first walk, on the way back, he suddenly grabbed up a HUGE tree limb, breaking it in two between two standing trees, and merrily dragged it back to the house. FLD Scout assisted--with the tree limb, and the nap. She is very happy to have a playmate now.

Waiting for the "OK" at breakfast, FLD Scout and Gus share his old mat, while Gypsy sits closest to the food dishes.

"Issue day" is the day each month that the blind and visually impaired "students" in class at Leader Dogs for the Blind first meet their new four-legged-furry partner.

FLD Scout at (almost) 11 Weeks

A busy, busy six days in the city for FLD Scout.

FLD Scout finds nature in the city.

Visiting friends, mall-shopping, restaurants, doggie play-dates, soccer games, Home Depot trips, Lab-wrestling at the Bicegos, a meeting at Leader Dogs for the Blind, walking with traffic, hanging out with my nieces.

FLD Scout gets thirsty at Elaina's soccer game.

On our way back north, a quick stop back at Leader Dogs for puppy-shots.  All is good.

In just less than four weeks, FLD Scout is DOUBLE the puppy she was.  

Weigh-in = 15.8 pounds!

Puppy Update 2: FLD Gus

STATUS:  

FLD Gus passed all his physicals with flying colors!  All is good.  He's just about his ideal weight of 64 lbs--weighed in at 63.8.  He's been neutered, and now is playing with his puppy pack at Leader Dogs for the Blind.

NEXT STEP:

FLD Gus and his group will be evaluated by the trainers at Leader Dog, and assigned to a team.

LET THE TRAINING BEGIN!

YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, GUS!

(now go show 'em how it's done)

This picture of FLD Gus was taken just about one year ago!