- Birth date: September 3, 2001
- Sire: Les (yellow lab)
- Dam: Dancer (yellow lab)
- Recalled to GDB for formal training: January 5, 2003
- Started season: January 29, 2003
- Began tests for breeding stock: February 13, 2003
- Placed in Breeding Custodian home: April 19, 2003
A puppy is placed in the home of a volunteer raiser when it is at least eight weeks old. It usually remains in the puppy raiser home until it is between 14 and 18 months old. The length of time may vary, however, depending on the individual puppy's development or Guide Dogs for the Blind's need for dogs. A Guide Dog puppy should be exposed to a variety of socialization experiences. Puppy raisers take their pups to malls, grocery stores, school and work, among other places. Many times, the puppy raising group's regularly scheduled meetings will include outings specifically designed for puppy socialization. Leaders also teach the raisers appropriate ways in which to expose the puppies to a wide range of socialization experiences.Puppy raisers do become very attached to their puppies; however, they are comforted with the knowledge that their dogs will go on to become loving partners for people who are blind or visually impaired. At special graduation ceremonies, all puppy raisers are invited to formally present their dogs as guides, share their puppy raising experiences and develop friendships with their dogs' new partners. (from Guide Dogs for the Blind)
Oakland Airport visit with Trish
Marikay, Bev, and Trish shared these pictures with us. They were part of the team (Contra Costa East Guide Dog Raisers) that raised Alda from September 2002 to January 2003.
Bev and Marikay with Alda at
Union Square in San Francisco.
Marikay and Alda at the California
Palace of the Legion of Honor.
Havana as "Bat girl" and Alda as "Bumble bee"
Marikay was as herself.
website
links
-
Guide Dogs for the Blind Breeding Program
- Contra
Costa East Guide Dog Raisers
website updated on May 9, 2006
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