It takes a Village...

Before we picked up Bucky many friends were excited and curious about our new adventure to raise Bucky from a Guide Dog Puppy to a Guide Dog Candidate.

Through "Bucky's Blog" I was able to capture our adventures for ourselves and at the same time it gave me the ability to share with interested friends. It was also a bigger impetus to explore with Bucky.

I know many of you enjoyed our simple adventures and watching Bucky grow into a smart, good looking well behaved and well trained dog.

I know many people's hearts ached when we had to take him back to his school, and they were just as anxious as we were while we waited for his medical results.

I have to say though, that I have been very overwhelmed by the interest and support from so many people - and surprisingly, so many from around the world. His blog has been viewed close to 5,000 times! His following came from the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Ukraine and Poland!

It has been fun seeing so many people interested in our simple life. It goes to show that so often the things that make us the happiest are merely uncomplicated events and relationships that create joy in our lives.

I thank you all for being so supportive of Bucky, John and me. It has been very humbling. I appreciate it very much.

Thank you!

And...... we will do it again.

Forever Family

After going through a long waiting list, the school has matched Bucky with his perfect Forever Family and home.

John and I are thrilled that Mark, someone who knows what a wonderful breed Golden's are, and someone that has been patiently waiting, has finally found Bucky. The school has not had many goldens over the last couple of years, so Mark has had to be very patient to find his way to Bucky.

I am confident that Mark has already recognized and appreciates what a smart, well behaved, well trained and loving dog Bucky is.

SEGD's protocol is that we now have to wait 3 months, to allow Bucky and Mark to bond, before we can connect with Mark. I look forward to reaching out to Mark in the new year.

Hopefully we will keep in touch over the years and he will keep us up to date on his and Bucky's adventures as they travel through life together.

It has been our pleasure to raise Bucky to be a confident, loving, well behaved and well trained dog. We did the best we could, despite our imperfections. We know that Bucky is an awesome dog.

We wish Bucky and Mark a great time together exploring life and all that it has to offer.

Lotsa love, 

Bucky's Puppy Raising Mom and Dad

Career Change

SEGDI has determined that the demands of a Guide Dog career could be too difficult for Bucky because of his mild hip dysplacia.

Therefore, Bucky has been Medically Career Changed.

They deemed that he would be better suited to be an adored family pet. Backyard Bucky. Lucky Bucky.

As Bucky's Puppy Raisers, he has been offered back to us for adoption. But because we are currently living in London, England, sadly it is not possible for us to adopt Bucky.

SEGD is now looking for the perfect person/family that has been patiently waiting to adopt Bucky and change their lives.

The school has a long list of people waiting to adopt a Career Changed dog. That wait can be one to two years! With so many applicants, the school is blessed with the ability to make the best match.

It will take SEGD about 1 to 2 months to choose the perfect person/family for Bucky.

After his forever person/family has found him, we then wait for another 3 months so that Bucky and his new forever family can bond. Then we can connect with them through e-mail.

I sincerely hope that they will want to know about Bucky's first year with us. I am sure they will be thrilled to know that Bucky had a team cheering for him throughout his training journey with us.

I hope that they will want to keep us posted about Bucky's life with them.

Maybe they will read Bucky's Blog and have fun seeing his adventures with us. And with a little luck, maybe they will provide updates for Bucky's Blog.

So now, our job is to wait patiently while the perfect person/family ends their search and finds their way to Bucky. I know he will charm them with his love, energy and devotion and they will cherish the day he entered their life. I truly believe that Bucky will impact their lives in a special way.

In the meantime, Bucky is in the Training Kennels, playing with other Career Changed dogs, maybe visiting with staff, maybe having sleepovers with volunteers, and probably going for walks on campus with volunteer dog walkers. Basically, I am sure he is loving life on campus. Hopefully the other dogs are not tooooo much of a bad influence on him and getting him into trouble.

I am also confident that little Bucky is oblivious to the plans being made for him.

I am envious of Bucky, because he has the ability to live in the present, not worry about the future and find the goodness in life and people.

We love you and are proud of you little Bucky.

BTW - I'll let you know as soon as we know who's life Bucky will change.

Official Harness Portrait

At 6 weeks old, all the puppies get their photo taken in a Guide Dog harness.

When they come back a year  later for IFT, and the harness actually fits, they begin their formal harness training with Certified Guide Dog Trainers. This is where the hard yards begin.

I might be biased, but I do think that Bucky is very handsome in his harness. He looks very professional.

But, I also think since he is so handsome everyone will want to pat him - which is not safe for a Guide Dog to be distracted by hordes of fans and paparazzi.

You look so proud Bucky.... and we are proud of you.