Toga's Journey

Toga is a puppy in training for Guide Dogs for the Blind. She arrived in Denver on May 17, 2013 and here's what she's been up to.....

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Are you raising again? I'd love to follow your new puppy's journey!

No puppy at the moment.... Maybe next year!

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the call

yesterday i got the call from my group leader.  i was surprised to hear from her so quickly after toga had been recalled and thought she might have news about toga's status as a potential breeder.  instead she was calling to tell me that toga had minor cataracts and would be released from the program.  with her temperament and training i know she's well suited to be a service dog and i've decided i'd like to see her placed with one of Guide Dogs for the Blind's partner organizations that need dogs like toga and where the minor cataracts won't be an issue.

it's hard to smile through the tears as i think about how hard she worked and how amazing she's become.  it's time to find that girl another job. 

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super awesome traveler

i decided to fly toga out to san rafael for her recall for evaluation as a breeder and/or harness training.  she did fantastic on the flight to california.... she's been so easy to travel with!

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light rail

Toga missed out on a light rail training our group did several weeks ago so we took 30 minutes today to ride  -  just riding one stop down and returning a couple of times.  i wanted to be sure that she was comfortable entering and exiting because the steps are quite steep.  she's did fantastic and stayed in position the whole time.  in this picture she sits while a noisy train goes through the station.

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one last tag

Toga found one last tag that had to be separated from the garment.  just chewed the tag right off - didn't eat anything.

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toga with her favorite toy ... the goughnut stick

thanks Brian http://bkvidera.smugmug.com/ for the great photos of Toga.  she will be off to campus in three weeks so i'm thrilled to have some great professional photos to remind me of the year we spent together.

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toga enjoying a beautiful day on the porch

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the final report sent to GDB

Toga's spent the last 7 months with me but the first 7 months transitioning between the coraiser homes. I call her my big ol sack of love because she's spreading joy everywhere she goes. She an engaging and playful pup who is super smart - I think I'm still smarter than Toga but she may just have me fooled on that point.

Toga's been an easy puppy to raise and in part I attribute that to her outstanding relieving. Her control from an early age provided her handlers with the confidence needed to expose her as appropriate to new experiences and environments. As she has matured and spent more time with me, she has developed a strong handler bond and awareness. She doesn't exhibit any fear with new or unusal experiences and at this point she's able to go anywhere. She's has lived in an urban environment and is comfortable and confident with all types of transportation.

Toga is a high energy dog and very sensative to her environment. Toga's and I struggled with the dog distractions and at about 8 months I began working consistently on a daily basis to improve. Lauren's been involved in her ongoing progress which now hovers between 'acceptable' and 'ideal'. Otherwise, Toga knows ALL of the commands and is compliant.

Unlike other puppies I have raised she does not come running when the puppy coat comes out. She has improved significantly in acceptance of the coat and head collar but will occasionally back away. Toga handles her outings extremely well and at this point does not wear the head collar on most outings.     

As I expect Toga will continue to improve her dog distraction behavior over the next few weeks I do not have any concerns over behaviors that need to flagged at this time.

Health & Heat: In her first months Toga had multiple medical issues requiring treatment including UTIs & Diareaha in part attributed to having an inverted vulva. She has been without health issues since 6 months old. She is intact and has not been through a heat yet.

[streetdogmillionaires]

“We hoped we’d get the same performance, but a happier dog. What we didn’t expect was how much better the performance would be.”

This doesn’t surprise me one bit, but the statistical evidence makes it even more amazing: “Using traditional methods, roughly 45 to 50 percent of the dogs entering the formal training process made guide dog status. With the incorporation of clicker training (one type of positive reinforcement), 60 to 85 percent graduate and are successfully paired with a blind partner.”

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It works!

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toga's recall date scheduled

wow.  it's been almost a year that Toga has been in Denver - she arrived on May 17.  now the date has been set for her to return to Guide Dogs for the Blind for the next part of her journey.  once the date is scheduled every moment becomes a possible 'last memory'.

this is one of those times you have to smile through the tears.  we've all become attached to Toga and love her dearly.  that is balanced with the knowledge that she's a special dog with a mission and we celebrate the milestones she's achieved so far along her journey.

the last week of June, Toga will return to Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, Callifornia for the next phase of training.

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crashed after a playdate

my normally hyperactive girl was actually worn out this weekend after a playdate with Aruba.  she found a sunspot on the floor and didn't move for 30 minutes.

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http://www.9news.com/story/local/2013/05/14/1859954/

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2014/04/22/detroit-unveils-restroom-for-dogs-in-delta-terminal/8009575/

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Cinnamon

Cinnamon is another puppy that was raised by our group for Guide Dogs for the Blind and has gone on to a different career.

http://www.9news.com/story/local/2013/05/14/1859954/

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boston marathon

congratulations to Maya and all the other vision impaired runners who completed the Boston Marathon yesterday.  here's a link to the full article on Maya .... http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_25606162/cluett-aiding-blind-toronto-woman

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easter egg hunt for blind children

every year there is a easter egg hunt for blind children that we participate in.  it's a great event and the kids love to play with the dogs.  the eggs have pingers in them so the blind children can find them.

there's one volunteer who brings it his really cool train that pulls the kids around center.  makes me wish i could fit in the train cars.

[gotoga]

13 months old