Welcome Miss "C"! :)

Joanne went back the middle of May and another dog from our club, Valentino, is currently down there too. I didn't get the Phase Report this week, but Valentino was in Phase 1 and Joanne was in Phase 0 the week before. That left us with only one dog in our club (Trinka) until 2 weeks ago when a little puppy arrived to our club. :)

Welcome Cadence!! :) She was born on March 16th, 2011 and her parents are Simon and Leslie. She is 3/4 lab, 1/4 golden and an adorable little thing! She is very light in color (almost white instead of yellow). I spaced on bringing my camera (I know, me of all people) so thanks to someone else for getting these pictures!





Our leader (who had Joanne) is getting a puppy sometime in July. I'm secretly hoping it will be a dog from Petal's litter. Petal was Donata's mom and both Donata AND Petal were raised by our leader. We shall see!! :)

Sibling Update (As of 8/16/2010)

Topeka's Siblings:
Tallulah-Graduated (Working in Toronto, Canada)
Tara-Graduated
Toledo-Career Changed
Trevor-Career Changed
Trishna-Graduated
Tropic-Graduated
Tulsa-Graduated (Working in Battle Ground, WA)
Topeka-Graduated (Working in Little Rock, Arkansas)

Donata's Siblings:
Damara-Graduated (Working in Wheat Ridge, CO)
Dexter-Graduated
Dotty-Graduated (Working in Eureka, CA)
Digby-Career Changed
Derica-Phase 8
Dot-Graduated
Dubai-Graduated
Donata-Graduated (Working in McMinnville, OR)

I would have to say both of them came from VERY successful litters. I'm so proud of both of them!

Sibling Update (As of 7/1/10)

Topeka's Siblings:
Tallulah-Graduated (Working in Toronto, Canada)
Tara-Phase 10
Toledo-Career Changed
Trevor-Career Changed
Trishna-Phase 10
Tropic-Phase 8
Tulsa-Graduated (Working in Battle Ground, WA)
Topeka-Graduated (Working in Little Rock, Arkansas)

Donata's Siblings:
Damara-Graduated (Working in Wheat Ridge, CO)
Dexter-Graduated
Dotty-Phase 10
Digby-Career Changed
Derica-Phase 7
Dot-Phase 8
Dubai-Phase 8
Donata-Graduated (Working in McMinnville, OR)

Puppy Updates!

Marlin: He apparently got neutered this week. Poor Guy. :( They weren't at our last meeting so I haven't seen the guy in awhile.

Jessa: She is being picked up today after being in heat for the past couple of weeks. Before our CFR left, she wanted to see if going into heat a second time for her would maybe help with some of her distractions. She doesn't have a re-call date yet but will probably be sometime in the fall/late summer.

Loyola: She is graduating (again) this Saturday down in California! I'm so happy that her raiser and her mom are able to make it down there to see her graduate again. It is the first dog ever from our club to 1) Graduate twice and 2) Have a graduation down at the California campus (as all of our dogs go back to Oregon). Though someone asked, if she graduates twice, does that mean she got her Masters? :) I'm hoping she doesn't got back for her PhD! She is being placed with a 30 year old guy who is attending college in the fall. He is completely blind and Loyola will be his first guide dog. I'll be sure to post more when I get pictures and the full story.

Valentino & Joanne: They are getting bigger! :)

And I can't forget the siblings of Topeka and Donata:
Topeka's Siblings:
Tallulah-Graduated (Working in Toronto, Canada)
Tara-Phase 10
Toledo-Was in Phase 10...Not sure if career changed?
Trevor-Career Changed
Trishna-Phase 10
Tropic-Phase 8
Tulsa-Graduated (Working in Battle Ground, WA)
Topeka-Graduated (Working in Little Rock, Arkansas)

Donata's Siblings:
Damara-Graduating this weekend in Oregon! :)
Dexter-Graduated
Dotty-Phase 10
Digby-Career Changed
Derica-Phase 5
Dot-Phase 8
Dubai-Phase 8
Donata-Graduated (Working in McMinnville, OR)

Sibling Update (As of 6/3/10)

Topeka's Siblings:
Tallulah-Graduated (Working in Toronto, Canada)
Tara-Phase 10
Toledo-Was in Phase 10...Not sure if career changed?
Trevor-Career Changed
Trishna-Phase 10
Tropic-Phase 7
Tulsa-Graduated (Working in Battle Ground, WA)
Topeka-Graduated (Working in Little Rock, Arkansas)

Donata's Siblings:
Damara-Phase 10
Dexter-Graduated
Dotty-Phase 10
Digby-Career Changed
Derica-Phase 4
Dot-Phase 7
Dubai-Phase 7
Donata-Graduated (Working in McMinnville, OR)

Donata's Graduation

I was SO happy we were able to go to Boring to see Donata graduate! My niece was born on the 4th of May so we headed south to meet her and to see Donata graduate last weekend. It was the first graduation I've attended since starting to work with Guide Dogs almost 2-1/2 years ago. It was pretty quick considering there were only six dogs. Donata will be living with a lady in McMinnville, Oregon. She was the first of her litter to graduate and has two other siblings in Phase 10 currently.

I was hoping to get there early and get a great seat but traffic through Portland was HORRIBLE (as in stopped) so we walked in during the opening video. We were standing in the back when Jim Dugan (Class Supervisor) saw us and told us we could sit right up front even though it said reserved. Needless to say, we probably had some of the best seats in the house right in front which provided us with some great pictures of the dogs graduating.

After the ceremony, we (my husband and I) were able to meet Donata and her new partner. We weren't sure if Doanta would remember who we where (even though we had her quite a bit) but she did. :) As we were walking up to her, she started with the tail then it became the full body shake: We didn't even have to say her name! Needless to say, it pretty much made my heart melt knowing she remembered. My leader introduced us to her new partner and I asked if I could say hi to Donata which she said, "Of Course!"

Now I'm not sure what kind of shampoo they use down at Guide Dogs, but Donata had to have been the BEST smelling dog there. Shoot, she didn't even smell like a dog! Her hair was so fluffy and soft (she's a cross so 1/2 Golden, 1/2 Lab) and she looked beautiful in harness.

It was so good to hug and see her (even though it was short). If you have never been to a graduation, I HIGHLY recommend it. It makes raising a puppy come full circle and to be able to hear from the blind people who get these dogs how much of a HUGE change they make in their lives.

The first two are of just her and the last two are of us. She was being her normal "I don't want to look at the camera" self. Some things never change with those dogs. :)

Sibling Update (As of 5/15/2010)

Topeka's Siblings:
Tallulah-Graduated (Working in Toronto, Canada)-She actually graduated with Donata!
Tara-Phase 7
Toledo-Was in Phase 10...Not sure if career changed?
Trevor-Career Changed
Trishna-Phase 7
Tropic-Phase 7
Tulsa-Phase 10
Topeka-Graduated (Working in Little Rock, Arkansas)

Donata's Siblings:
Damara-Phase 10
Dexter-Phase 10
Dotty-Phase 8
Digby-Phase 7
Derica-Phase 1
Dot-Phase 4
Dubai-Phase 4
Donata-Graduated (Working in McMinnville, OR)

Thanks again to Maddie and Besty for sending me the full phase reports!

My little niece FINALLY decided to enter the world this afternoon so we will be heading down to see her AND for Donata's graduation. It will be the first graduation I've attended since I started working with Guide Dogs for the Blind and am SUPER excited!

Donata in Class :)

I got the email this morning that Donata is in class and will be graduating on the 8th of May in Oregon!! :)

I'll post more about Topeka's graduation tonight.

Sibling Update

Topeka's Siblings:
Tallulah-Phase 10
Tara-Phase 4
Toledo-Phase 10
Trevor-Was in Phase 8...Not sure if dropped or graduated.
Trishna-Phase 4
Tropic-Phase 1
Tulsa-Phase 10

Congrats to Topeka for graduating today and becoming a working Guide Dog!! :) (That's another post...)

Donata's Siblings:
Damara-Phase 9
Dexter-Phase 10
Dotty-Phase 6
Digby-Phase 4
Derica-Phase 1
Dot-Phase 1
Dubai-Phase 1

Doanta is currently in Phase 10 waiting to be placed and will hopefully be graduating in the next couple of weeks!

Thanks again to Maddie and Besty for sending me the full phase reports!

Small Updates

First off, Topeka is going to be living in Little Rock, Arkansas with her new partner. I'll find out more after her graduation this Saturday.

Secondly, Donata is class ready and just waiting to be placed with a partner.

I have a couple of new pictures of Joanne and Valentino I took last night at our club meeting I need to post. :)

Phase 10!

Donata is in Phase 10!! :)

I had high hopes that Topeka and Donata might graduate together, but it looks like Donata will graduate shortly after. It's rather exciting to have two dogs graduating so close together. :)

I love Thursdays :)

I have decided Thursdays are currently my favorite day of the week because Phase Reports come out!

Topeka is still in Phase 10 and Donata has moved up to 9. I think it would be awesome if they ended up being in the same class and graduating together. :)

Nothing New Here

Thanks so much to Maddie & Betsy for sending me the Phase Report! :)

Unfortunately, there is nothing new to report. Topeka is still in Phase 10 and Donata is in Phase 8. It is very cool to see how their siblings are doing though.

For example with Topeka here is who we have:
Tallulah-Phase 10
Tara-Phase 1 (I believe she may have been back for breeder eval)
Toledo-Phase 8
Trevor-Phase 8
Trishna-Phase 1
Tropic-Not Sure
Tulsa-Phase 9

I have to say that litter has a rather awesome streak going on!

For Donata, I don't know all her litter mates but here are the ones I know:
Damara-Phase 7
Dexter-Phase 7
Dotty-Phase 1
Digby-Phase 1

Update: (These puppies are Donatas' Siblings that I am not sure about) Thanks Mary for the list!
Derica
Dot
Dubai

I did see that Donata has some more siblings (her mom Petal had another litter). I'm excited for hopefully not one but TWO graduations coming up. I have never been to one and am hoping to make it to hopefully at least one.

Donata moved up a phase to 8 and Topeka is in 10! :)

Getting SO close! :)

Got the word this morning that Topeka is in Phase 10!!!!!!!!!! :)

Donata has moved up to Phase 7 so she is also getting close.

Phase Reports

Donata has moved up to Phase 5 and Topeka is still holding at Phase 8. :)

I got the Phase Report this evening and Donata has moved to 3 and Topeka is in 8. I don't think Topeka likes odd numbers as she is skipping all the odd phases. :)

I love Thursday evenings!

Skipping Along!

Topeka apparenty likes to skip along and is in Phase 6 this week! :) Donata is still in 1.

Topeka is in Phase 4 & and Donata is in Phase 1. :)