Social Media.... helping to bridge the gap

This week has been a busy week for little Bucky with posts on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you little Bucky for taking the time out of your busy schedule to post the "selfie" on Twitter!

I knew Bucky, (AKA: Buckaroni,  and Buckmonster, and Buckmiester, and Sweet Little Bucky,) was a quick study!

I also give many thanks to whomever on the "inside" has been teaching him how to use Facebook and Twitter.

Apparently he really enjoyed a good chew after training.

Smoooooooch.

Update: Photo and Posting on SEGDI Facebook Page

Gotta love Facebook.

It looks like Bucky is doing well and making new friends.

So happy to see this on SEGDI's Facebook page today - thanks so much Jen for posting:

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Bucky and Rugby making new friends in college!

A Call from the College Today

I have been thinking about little Bucky a bunch the last couple of days and have been really missing him.

And perfect timing, today I got a call from the Director of Puppy Raising Services at the College.

I just about fell off my chair, my mouth dropped and my heart missed a beat or two. YIKES!

She called to tell me that she knows its always hard to give up our puppies.....

Yesssss......

Soooooo..... she just wanted to let me know that Bucky is doing really well!!!

She said the CCT's love him and they said he is the snuggliest dog that just melts into them. (Let me tell you.... snuggling is the most efficient way to transfer the maximum amount of dog hair in the shortest time - he's like that!)

That really choked me up. I was so pleased to get the call, and just tickled with the news.

To be honest, I am not surprised he loves it. When we walked around campus with him he was so interested in everything and so intent - he didn't even notice that we existed. He especially loved the geckos - different than the ones in Houston.

Do you think that little BUCKY could take a few moments out of his busy schedule to give me a call, send me an email, text message me or send me a picture on twitter??? Perhaps, after he has wolfed down his food, before everyone else has even started to eat, he could take a moment to remember his dear Puppy Raiser Mom.

Geeeesh, dogs these days!

FEELING: Relief!!!! Happiness!!!! Pride!!! And a big goofy grin on my face.... with little tears hiding in my eyes and a lump in my throat.

Rejects.... Failures..... Career Changes....

Not every puppy that is born and raised as a Guide Dog Puppy becomes a Guide Dog. As a matter of fact, only about 37% of Guide Dog Puppies become a Guide Dog.

I have heard people refer to the dogs that do not become Guide Dogs as "rejects" or "failures".  To be quite honest, I find those terms "offensive". But I guess the people that use them are just "misguided" (pun intended) and uninformed to the intricacies, nuances and demands involved with training and working as a Guide Dog.

There are many reasons that a Guide Dog Puppy can have a "Career Change". (NOTE: the correct term is a "Career Change"! NOT "reject" and NOT "failure"!)

At 14 to 16 months old the puppies leave their Puppy Raising families and go IFT (in for training). They spend their first month at College in the Assessment Kennels with about 30 other Freshman puppies.

A Guide Dog is highly skilled and trained, at a cost of approximately $60,000 each, so the Guide Dogs need to have as long a career as possible. In Assessment they undergo rigorous medical tests and observations. The puppies have CAT scans, MRI's, and health checks that most dogs, and people, are never subjected to. They are looking for any health issues, including minute issues. These issues can be things that will have no effect on another Service Dog's career or a regular dog that is a pet, but that MAY have the possibility, in the future, of derailing a Guide Dog's rigorous and demanding career.

The kennel staff and trainers are also observing to see many other things. They look to see how the dogs adjust to life in a kennel, with 30 other dogs that have all left their loving Puppy Raising home, family and friends. They are watching to see what the dog's natural skills are, how do they react to meeting new people, situations, stress, abrupt and loud noises, are they keen to learn.... etc. etc.

There are numerous reasons a dog can be Career Changed after the first month at College in the Assessment Kennels. Reasons that are not important in the life of another service dog career or a regular family pet, but reasons that are not conducive to an elite career as a Guide Dog. And they may be reasons that make the dog a perfect Candidate for ANOTHER service dog career.  Or that make them the perfect family pet. All of those careers are valuable, they just may not be Guide Dog careers.

If the Guide Dog Candidate can make it through the first month of rigorous tests and observations they can proceed to the Training Kennels for another 4 to 6 months. Here is where the elite training begins, and the demands and expectations rise to extremely high levels.

The Guide Dog Candidate will learn the super tough stuff and be able to guide a Vision Impaired person to safely use escalators, enter revolving doors, move around obstacles, look UP for obstacles (i.e. tree branches) and countless other skills to aid a vision impaired person's ability to be mobile.

The Vision Impaired person and the Guide Dog have a strong partnership. A vision impaired person's responsibility is to know and give the commands to the Guide Dog, and the Guide Dog's responsibility is to follow the commands and keep the vision impaired person safe in the process.  Because lives are literally entrusted to  the Guide Dog there is zero room for mistakes - which makes them the elite of Service Dogs.

The final test for a Guide Dog Candidate is "Intelligent Disobedience". That is when a Guide Dog will consciously DISOBEY a command because the command will put the vision impaired partner into a harmful situation. This is an incredible feat considering the dogs are taught to OBEY commands! They need the intelligence and confidence to recognize and reject an unsafe command and then chose an alternative and safe action.

Passing all these demanding criteria, the Guide Dog Candidate then has to wait to be matched with a vision impaired partner to make a perfect and compatible partnership. Compatible in size, gait, pull, lifestyle, energy level, personalities, etc.

Sometimes a Guide Dog Candidate has perfectly passed the rigorous tests and would make a fantastic Guide Dog, BUT, will have a Career Change ONLY because there is not an available vision impaired person to make a perfect match with, at that time. (The College residence can only accommodate and graduate a maximum of 9 people per month. Generally 30 dogs return to College for IFT per month. You don't have to be Einstein to do the math.)

So please, do not refer to a Guide Dog Puppy or a Guide Dog Candidate that has had a Career Change as a "reject" or "failure" without understanding what all is involved to become an elite Guide Dog.

FEELING: a bit sensitive about calling a Guide Dog Puppy or Candidate that has a Career Change a "reject" or "failure".

And missing little Bucky.

Being Blind

While on campus we listened to a Graduate Guest Speaker - Suzy Wilburn with her Guide Dog, Carson.

They have been partners for 3 years.

Suzy very kindly shared her story with us.

She had been a very athletic teen and grew into a fiercely independent woman. At the age of 27 her vision started to decline due to a recessive genetic disease. She denied it as long as she could, but eventually had to succumb to the reality of being blind. It lead to 8 years of isolation and depression. 

Finally she reached out for help and eventually landed a job at Guide Dogs for the Blind. She is currently the Director of Admissions and Graduate Services. She loves it - because she is the Gate Keeper and closely screens the applicants. As a Puppy Raiser, that makes me happy to know that she ensures our Guide Dogs go to the best candidates that will take care of our puppies. 

A couple of things hit home for me. One was that she had worried about meeting her Puppy Raiser at Graduation... What if her Puppy Raiser was disappointed in her - that she was not the person that her Puppy Raiser wanted the puppy to go to. WOW! I had looked at it as being nervous if Bucky gets a match - would Bucky remember ME. Not that his Vision Impaired/Blind partner would be nervous meeting me. So it was an interesting perspective I had never thought about. 

The other thing I found interesting was that as good as Carson is, he was not perfect while she stood and spoke to us. But she accepted his occasional fussing and fidgeting with great humour. There is gentleness and clearly love and devotion from both dog and handler, both accepting the small foibles that each of them brings to the partnership.

She said something that I found very touching - she said Carson's Puppy Raiser was a 17 year old girl. She credits that 17 year old girl with saving her life. Suzy said she could not have continued on her life as she was going before she met Carson. Her Guide Dog has given her so much independence and helped her regain her self esteem and self confidence. Not only does she have more independence, it has given her family more freedom too. 

As a Puppy Raiser that had just handed over Bucky's leash to the school, it made me happy to know that if he becomes a Guide Dog, Bucky will dramatically change someone's life..... perhaps even save someone's life... in many different ways.

And that is why Puppy Raisers are able to give their puppies back to the school. It still leaves a sadness in our hearts, but it gives us optimism and pride to have a small role in changing the life of someone we have never met.

There but for the Grace of God go I..... 

Bucky's Name

Friday night before Bucky went to College he met his "Sponsor". 

Carol named him "Bucky" after her father - a strong, kind, giving and generous man.

I am confident that Bucky will make both him and Carol PROUD!

Blindfold Walks

Part of the Guide Dog U inductions was the opportunity to have a Blindfold Walk.  I jumped at the chance to understand what it feels like to be blind/vision impaired and how the Guide Dog is trained to lead a blind person safely on their route.

I put completely blackened glasses on and took the handle of the Guide Dog, Cash.

The trainer walked with me and explained what was happening and how to hold the handle in my hand and relax my arm. It wasn't easy to not be able to see anything and just move forward - trusting that the dog (and trainer) would keep me walking on the straight and narrow.

As I was walking I know I kept leaning and pulling Cash to the right. Now that I look at the pictures I realize why - I was trying to walk straight, but the path was NOT straight. Cash was doing the right thing by following the path. But I now realize I wasn't following him and allowing him to take the lead. I needed to learn to trust Cash.

 After what seemed like a LONG (and unnerving) walk, Cash just - stopped!

As a "blind person", it was MY responsibility to figure out why he stopped.

I was then instructed to feel the pavement with my foot and/or sweep the air.

Sure enough, with my foot I found we were at the curb and we had stopped before we crossed the street into traffic.

Just as I had taught Bucky - to stop and sit at street corners!

Then to turn around and go back I said "RIGHT ABOUT" - and around we went.

Just like I had taught Bucky to do!

The walk back to our starting point was much easier, because I knew Cash had got me there safe and sound, and I felt more confident he could get me back safe and sound.

Plus I wanted to get back and take off those black glasses!

The walk gave me insight and helped me understood and put together why we taught some of the commands that we had. Now I was using them on my Blindfold Walk.


At the end of my short walk, I was thrilled to be able to take the glasses off and see again - a luxury that a blind or vision impaired person does not have. But with faith in their Guide Dog, a vision impaired person can trust that they will get to their destination safely.

That is why we Puppy Raised Bucky.

And that is why John and I are so proud of Bucky and his future career - wherever it will lead him.

Puppy Hugging

The school knows how to help ease the Puppy Raiser's pain of returning their puppy to the College.....

 ........with a good dose of PUPPY HUGGING!!!!

 And then there is the potential of a Puppy Raiser taking home another puppy to raise....

........this is just NOT fair!

And away they go...

Many thanks to John for standing back and taking photos..... I know he would have loved to get into the fray and snuggle a puppy or two.

Bucky is a Freshman at Guide Dog U - Saturday August 9th, 2014

Little Bucky was officially inducted as a Freshman at Guide Dog U on Saturday August 9th. There were 28 dogs that came back the same day and are Freshman in his class. 

The school did a great job of easing the sadness and anxiety of "the hand-over." They had a program that lasted 3 hours and helped alleviate the worry of sending Bucky "back home". (The "Welcome Home" sign choked me up - very sweet, BUT, I thought his "home" was with US!)

Bucky posed in front of his picture that was taken in his harness at 6 weeks old. He's grown a little bit since then....

                                                                         
We got a chance to check out the Assessment Kennels and the dorm where Bucky will be staying for his first month at College. It is a great brand-spanking-new building. 

Bucky's roomate is Zak - a yellow lab that's been raised in Ocala, Florida. I didn't get a chance to meet Zak, but I certainly hope he's a good boy and doesn't lead little Bucky astray. If I hear any bad reports about Bucky..... well..... ahem.... Actually, I'm sure Bucky is totally capable of getting himself into trouble....


The CCT's (Certified Canine Technicians) and Trainers were all so nice, happy and friendly when they proudly let us check out the new dorm. I am sure they must be excited about the new crop of Freshman and optimistic to check out the awesome dogs they will have to work with...... as we sadly hand over our little bundles of joy that we have been treasuring for a year.

Now.... for the hard part..... the actual hand-over.

We all got called up - alphabetically - to hand over our puppies. With the name "Bucky", he was number six. We walked to the front of the class, I swapped collars and leashes with the Trainers/CCT's (Canine Care Technicians) and little Bucky happily trotted off to his dorm! Without even looking back!!!!

Its sorta sad, but actually really good. It means he has confidence to head out on his own and not be worried about me coming with him. So, it means we have raised him well.

But he could have at least given me a quick kiss good bye or a longing look of love. The other dogs might not have noticed. Little Brat!!! Sniff!!!!!

  Awaiting him in his kennel was his Kong, stuffed with all kinds of goodies and treats that we had prepared when we arrived. I am sure when he got there and found them, he snarffled them down and kept himself occupied - for a short while. He probably didn't even notice that I wasn't there to give it to him.

Such a mixed set of emotions. Incredible pride and optimism for his future. But sadness to let him go, especially when he was becoming a fantastic, smart and well behaved little dog. 

And then of course, there is the inevitable worrying about him.... Will he miss us, will he be okay, will he like his roommate, will he like the other dogs, will the trainers and CCT's (Canine Care Technicians) be good to him... 

And most importantly, will they all recognize what a special, smart and good dog he is??? 

I worry about his first month in the Assessment Kennels. 

My biggest worry is if he will he pass the first month of heavy duty medicals. He will have MRI's and CAT scans, checking his hips, elbows, eyes, heart.... and probably many other body parts known to vets and canines but unknown to me. 

It would be so sad and disappointing if he has a medical issue that will not allow him to progress further in his training as a Guide Dog. 

But there is nothing that can be done about that. So no need to worry..... (That's John talking!) 

No need to worry...... much..... (That's Linda talking!)

So on Saturday, they got a great dog (back), and we got an empty collar, a heavy heart and fantastic memories.

Go little Bucky - we hope we have given you a great start with the love, confidence and skills you need to do your best and follow the path that makes you happy. 

Love from your Puppy Raising Mom and Dad.

Last Day in Houston

It is Bucky's last day in Houston today.

We took him for a big walk in his/our favourite park - Memorial Park.

Little Bucky will be missed.

Street Walking

Raising a Guide Dog puppy has made me more conscious of what it would be like to be blind.

I know my thoughts only scratch the surface of what it would be like, but one thing I have noticed is navigating streets and traffic.

 In Houston, where we live, the condition of sidewalks is.... well, pretty bad in some spots.

Cracked and uneven sidewalks that - just end - are common. I can not imagine how tough it would be to walk on them without clear vision.

Guide Dogs need to be smart and determine what is the safest route to navigate their partner around obstacles.

Like cars that are parked across a sidewalk blocking a clear path.

Or a gushing water hydrant.

Or puddles.

Or Bus Stops in front of puddles.


If little Bucky becomes a Guide Dog he will have to make some tough decisions for a safe route on a daily basis.

Cat Date

Bucky needs to be exposed to as many things as possible so that when he encounters them in his future career he will just take them all in stride.

Cats..... wellll.....

He hasn't met very many, but when he does, they certainly grab his attention and hold his fascination. He is very focused as he watches them, and given the chance, I am sure he would have a grand old time chasing them.

This is not a good trait for a Guide Dog to have.

So I asked around if anyone has a cat they would be prepared to place in a Sacrificial Lamb position.

Bucky had three Cat Dates with two amazingly calm and patient cats.

The first date Bucky was totally focused on the cat and I could not get his attention, period, even with treats! He sat still and did not take his eyes off the cat. He would try to get closer but also patiently watched.

I was totally impressed with Lulu the cat for sitting quietly while he hovered so near to her.

With each date Bucky got progressively better. By the time he had his third Cat Date he would take his eyes off the cat - to take treats. Then he looked around the room to watch other things. So I figured he could come off his leash. I held my breath.

Bucky sat and watched, and eventually he even walked away!

Now, I'm not saying he won't chase cats again, but I am saying he could learn to ignore cats.... probably.

Now I just need to learn how to transfer those training skills to work on training John to be well behaved.....

BTW - many thanks to both cats for being so patient. And many thanks to their owners who had confidence in their cats, Bucky and me to not destroy their homes.

"Good Looking Companion"

Bucky is really growing into a very handsome boy.

We were out for the day and at least 8 people said to me "he's a really good looking dog."

Then when we were in Costco a man sidled up to me and said "You have a really good looking companion".

I looked at him and asked "Are you talking to me, or, the dog?"

At least he laughed.....