Service Dog Foster

26/08/2024

Halen here, no major changes happening. I had my 2nd vet visit, then Lean and I went to Tiffin to support Canine Companions.

23/08/2024

IMHO the best job ever!

18/08/2024

My turn! Halen here this time. I, on the other hand, have had an exciting time here at the Northern Ohio Training site and Spa!. Been working on my sits, downs, and waits. Trying to sleep the night without getting up (I’m only getting up 1 time). Today is my 3 month birthday, see my picture. I hear we have an outing this week, so I Have to bone up on being good!

18/08/2024

Leah here, Halen can post after me! We have had a calm week here at the Northern Ohio Training Site and Spa! I did get to go to the high school band practice as Foster dad said I needed to hear the drums before school started. When they started, I did an under between his legs!

31/07/2024

Leah here, I know its a little over 3 months before I start final training, but its time to get my final vaccinations, and Halen has to start hers. We went to the vets and I am weighing in at 55 pounds, while Halen weighs in at 15 pounds.

28/07/2024

Good Sunday morning everyone! Leah here, and I am back. No more quarantine for me! Halen and I have been busy this week going to the library and a nursing home. And of course, I have been helping out teaching Halen the ropes! Halen was a hit at the nursing home as you can tell in the pictures. She does pretty well for about 50 minutes, then, she zonks out, again you can see her sleeping in the pictures. Ah, it is good to be back and out seeing the sites again!

19/07/2024

8 weeks old & box drills

16/07/2024

Boy, being a service dog in training is both fun and exhausting at the same time! Since Leah is in quarantine, I was able to go to the BCI crime lab in Bowling Green today. Spent an hour working with the staff and didn't have an accident (thanks foster dad, you knew what to look for and got me outside in time), performed a sit, and wore my halti for a bit. After an hour, I was so tired, I crawled up in foster dad's lap. They knew it was time to go and I slept all the way home!

15/07/2024

Introducing Halen III, born 5/18/24

15/07/2024

Look at the time stamp. Funny story, well I think so, foster parents don't, but I do. We went out to potty for the last time around 9 pm Sunday night, and as usual, foster dad escorted us out. We did our business and went in like every other nite, except not all the doors were closed like every other nite. We could run through out the house. Well I decided to play hide and seek! They called my name, looked everywhere and still they could not find me. I stayed quiet and hidden until foster mom let the little ones out at 4 am, and then I showed myself. I was hiding in the house for 7 hours! That's when I found out they called Canine Companions to report me missing, texted the neighbors, called the sheriff and the dog warden. Heck, foster dad was still awake. Its sweet they missed me sooo much!

03/07/2024

Foster dad posted earlier that they were getting the next pup to follow me. Well today they got the name, its a Halen, from the Flint XI H litter. Not the litter they thought, but they are happy non the less. They also said I would now be in charge of teaching her the ropes! Hmm

01/07/2024

Foster dad says Your a WOMAN now! He saw evidence on the kitchen floor, numerous places. He also said I was confined to home for 3 weeks, 3 weeks, yuck!

01/07/2024

Been a busy past 2 weekends. First, we had a great seminar in Medina with the one and only Suzanne from CC. Then this past Saturday, I along with other pups in program, visited the Fremont Fire Department.

17/06/2024

Foster dad told me that we may be expecting. Not sure what that means, but he said July 12th is the day. More when I learn more.

15/06/2024

Foster dad said he felt guilty about not taking me out much, so we went to the downtown farmers market this morning. After walking around, he found a nice bench and made me do my do nothing exercise for about 45 minutes. I was ready for a break anyway!

11/06/2024

I got the best compliment yesterday. Foster dad had doctors appointment and he took me along. When we went into the exam room, I voluntarily did my under the chair. Nurse came in and they talked, then the doctor came in, after some more talking, foster dad had to go to the exam table, he told me to stay, which I did. After the exam, we were ready to leave, foster dad released me and the doctor said 'I didn't know why you said stay, I didn't know you had a dog with you'.

29/05/2024

My 1 year birthday picture!

14/05/2024

As promised, pictures from Garbanzo's Graduation!

10/05/2024

Garbanzo update: we had the honor to meet Garbanzo`s forever person today. The match was, in my opinion, spot on! She is a very positive, energetic young lady. We feel that Garbanzo is going to have an exciting and wonderful life going forward. Its been a long, emotional day, pictures to follow.

30/04/2024

Garbanzo Update:
He has matched! Garbanzo makes the 3rd of 4 dogs we have fostered for Canine Companions that have matched and gone on to assist others. We and Garbanzo would like to thank everyone for your support and encouragement on this amazing journey!!

He matched to a young lady from KY who is very active, works with horses and likes to hike.

Since many of you can not attend graduation physically but would possibly still like to 'see' the graduation, here is the invite and link for the May 10, 2024 graduation ceremony.

We invite you to join us for our upcoming National Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 10. Help us celebrate our newest program graduates in the North Central Region during our ceremony, set to take place beginning at 1 p.m. ET. If you aren't able to attend in person, don't worry! You can tune into our live stream and witness the magic from the comfort of your home.

Canine Companions for Independence graduation ceremonies occur at least four times a year in the North Central Region. Learn more.

26/04/2024

Garbanzo update: just found out that Garbanzo is set for team training next week. If he matches, as a service dog, graduation is set for May 10th.

Go team Garbanzo!

21/04/2024

An afternoon at the horse farm.

27/03/2024

Garbanzo update: he is transitioning to team training next month!

26/03/2024

We, as puppy raisers, get asked many questions. One of them is, do we get to stay in contact with our puppies after they graduate and become a team. Simple answer is, it is up to the team if and/when they stay in contact. We have had the pleasure of following one of our pups after graduation from Fort Wayne, IN via FB. Nikki came to us in 2014, a sweet black lab that always made us smile. We found out that Nikki crossed the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. While the is a strong bond between the puppy raiser and the puppy, it can't match the bond the puppy and their team member has. May you Rest In Peace dear Nikki. Know that you have done your job, very well and will be missed for a very long time.😭

21/03/2024

Not that I have been slacking, but life is a bit slow right now. Here are some pictures for you to see that I am indeed working!

03/03/2024

It's photo dump time!

14/02/2024

We, us, pups in training were invited to the Tiffin Oh Fire Department the last couple of days. We had a great time!

14/02/2024

This is from our visit today to the Tiffin Ohio Fire Department.
Thanks for inviting us!