First Post

I am a puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB). GEB is an organization that breeds and trains dogs to become guide dogs for blind or visual impaired people. It is a wonderful organization and I love to puppy raise!So, I started this crazy, wonderful, exciting journey way back in 2004. I was flipping through an American Girl magazine (March/April 2004 edition) and came upon a story about twin sister's who were raising a German Shepherd to be a guide dog for The Seeing Eye. I IMMEDIATELY fell in love with the story and the whole puppy raising idea. I found out as much information about The Seeing Eye as I could and at some point (I don't remember if it was before or after my parents first gave me their response to my question) I found out that I couldn't raise for The Seeing Eye because of where I lived so, I moved onto GEB. Anyway, since I was pretty young at the time my parents weren't too thrilled with the idea so...... I waited..... and waited and then in the beginning of 2006 some friends of ours started to raise for GEB. I got to meet little Avalon (see picture below) now a guide, when she was a puppy and started to learn more about puppy raising through my friends. I even attended some classes with these friends which I enjoyed a lot! So I asked my Mom again in 2006 and she said no again. So I waited another year and in September 2007 I got permission from my Mom to puppy raise. I applied and started to attend classes regularly in October 2007. The end of January I had my Home Visit where little miss Omega (see picture below) now a guide, came with her starter raiser to see how our pet dog, Justin (black lab/border collie) would do with a puppy. Justin "passed" :) and I had a Pre-Placement class in February. For about two weeks in February I got to puppy sit a 15 month old black lab named Russ (released from training, adopted by raiser). I LOVED having Russ and it was so much fun to have a dog with me wherever I went! After Russ left I had my last Pre-Placement class on (I think) March 3rd and on March 8th I got my first GEB puppy to raise. He was the most adorable little yellow lab puppy who weighed only 9 pounds. He was 8 weeks old and his name was Beau (6B08, Thelma x Alex, born 1/9/08). I fell in love with Beau immediately and had so much fun training him all of the things he needed to learn. It wasn't always easy and I was frustrated sometimes, but that little puppy made me realize a lot of important things. That I need patience, that getting angry doesn't help the situation, that I need to not be so shy, that talking to adults at stores about how I can bring a guide dog in training into their store isn't so hard, and most of all that I can put hours of hard work and lots of love into one dog and then give him back to GEB. Beau went back to GEB on August 2nd, 2009. It was probably one of the hardest things ever. I sat in the kennel with him just holding him and cuddling him, but then when I got up to leave and I went to open the door the tears came. I almost couldn't open the door I was so upset. But, I made it. :) And Beau passed his In-For-Training test on August 4th. Beau was in training until March and was then matched with a man from Oklahoma. They graduated on March 9th and are doing great together. I hear from beau's partner about once a week and I love getting updates on him! About a week before Beau went back to GEB I got my new puppy. Dahlia (5DD09, Moon x Alex, born 5/15/09), a female yellow lab and she came to me at 15 pounds! She was 9 weeks when I got her and she was born in Minnesota instead of NY at GEB. She came to me on July 22nd, 2009. I had so much fun having her and Beau at the same time. It was great. :) Dahlia is now 13 months old and heading back to GEB in about 2 months! Dahlia & Beau are half siblings because they have the same dad, Alex. I loved Beau so much that I wanted another Alex puppy. :) I'm getting my 3rd puppy (a starter puppy that I'll have until September) on Tuesday (July 13th). I'm super excited and can't wait!!! Well, I guess that is my "story" so far. :) I'm going to be posting about when I had Russ (and I'll post pics) and then I will write a post about Beau and some of the big things I did with him while I had him and I'll post "month" pics of him and I'll do the same with Dahlia. :)

Avalon

Omega