Life With A Guide Dog Puppy

9.14.11

kaitlynelizabeth — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:14:15 +0000

Hi All,

It has been weird taking a break from puppy raising! I have had a puppy for as long as I can remember. But I have been able to help other people with some in-home training and also training Zoe, a Belgian Malinois for my boss, Erin. I absolutely love this dog and she is the perfect Malinois for someone with no experience with the breed! She is being trained to be a Mobility dog.

Persimmon Update & New Puppy!

kaitlynelizabeth — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 05:07:57 +0000

Hi All,

Thank you for your continued support! It is much appreciated. Persimmon had a blockage from something she ate in her new home. She had to have surgery to remove the obstruction, which caused the family to surrender her back to Guide Dogs because they could not afford the care. For this, I am thankful, as she was very close to death.

I was lucky enough to be able to foster her for three days after her surgery. My poor baby girl Persimmon had a 12 inch incision down her belly and was in a LOT of pain, despite wearing a pain patch and being on pain medication. Celeste took her back to GDB campus where she was supposed to be placed in a foster home. I later found out that there was trouble with her sutures and a small infection, so she was kept (and is still) at Guide Dogs campus, getting several warm packs on her tummy a day. I am worried about her and I miss her so so much but I am glad she is in good hands. Hopefully she will be placed in a great home with people who will keep in touch. She is an amazing dog and I will miss her!

Meanwhile, I have #10 Guide Dog Puppy Nivia. She is a female yellow Labrador, born 2/24/11 to Jenkins and Dia. It was a small litter-3 puppies and I still don’t know where the others are or what their names are yet. I love Nivia already! She has been an easy puppy from day 1 and has a great temperament so far! She has very nice parents too!

Here is a picture of her

Nivia at 11 weeks sleeping on Gatsby

5.8.11

kaitlynelizabeth — Mon, 09 May 2011 00:53:11 +0000

Sad news…Persimmon was career changed after only two weeks of being in the kennel. She didn’t pass her Physical test and Xrays showed that she has 8 vertebrae in her back. Normal for dogs is 7. The vet said that this normally does not cause a problem and there are working guides with 8 vertebrae but one of hers had narrowing of the bone, which caused discomfort.

I placed her with a family here in the Sacramento area. She is very happy with them and I think it was a good fit. They changed her name to Bella, for unknown reasons to me. I’m still adjusting. Honestly it feels like a slap in the face. But I have to let go.

Good news is, I got a new puppy. Welcome Nivia, Guide Dog Puppy #10 for me, and #12 Service Dog, #15 for my whole family. Nivia (Niv-ee-ah) is 10 weeks old. Born 2.24.11. She has two littermates, one boy and one girl. I’m not sure where they are or what their names are yet. The parents are Jenkins X Dia. Both very nice breeders!

Here is Nivia!

Persimmon

kaitlynelizabeth — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:34:57 +0000

Little update on Miss “P.” Her fear issues have gotten a lot better! She was evaluated by our CFR and she thinks Persimmon would be great for an older, or laid back person. Or there’s a possibility of her becoming a breeder too.

She finally went into heat and was at Guide Dogs boarding when the whole Parvo outbreak happened. Yikes! I got her back 2 days before they officially announced that it was a Parvo outbreak. She was on quarantine for about a week at my house before they took all adult dogs off of quarantine because it had only affected the puppy kennels.

Persimmon will be 14 months on 2/11/11. I can’t believe it. This year has gone way too fast! Our CFR said she will probably go back for recall in two months. I hope and pray that she is not career changed for health issues!

Oh, and her dad, Danny (who I raised) was retired. He had a benign lump on his leg so they decided to neuter him when they did surgery to remove that. Plus they’re using his brother Denzel and his sister Dale for breeding as well. Denzel produces some nice pups!

That’s all for now,

Kaitlyn, Gatsby, & Persimmon

Growing Up Fast!

kaitlynelizabeth — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:37:06 +0000

Persimmon has (for the most part) grown out of her fear issues! Yay! She does occasionally balk at something or show a lack of confidence but with a little “happy talk” she is prancing on her tip toes throughout the store. She is so cute. I love this puppy so much! She will be 12 months on 12/11/10. Happy birthday Persimmon, baby! The past 8 months have gone by so fast!

Gatsby (L) and Persimmon (R)

Persimmon 9/19/10

kaitlynelizabeth — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 03:38:12 +0000

Just a quick update…Persimmon is 9 months old! We had a great time at the Old Town Sacramento Funday put on by the Elk Grove Puppies With A Vision club. Persimmon got to see her brother Plato again (who is probably 2x her size!). She wasn’t too crazy about the train ride, or the train museum, so I have been working on building her confidence in public places that may be stressful.

Here’s a picture of her at the Firestation

GDB Funday 2010

kaitlynelizabeth — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 02:29:29 +0000

Hi All!
This year Guide Dogs Funday was Western themed! It was pretty…well..fun! They had some new things that were pretty cool. I liked the grooming under blindfold, puppy races, and of course the Juno walk! (Where the instructors lead you with an empty harness around an obstacle course).

It was neat to see Persimmon’s littermates. We met Polar, Purdue, and of course Paprika and Plato were there! Persimmon is the smallest. I never realized how petite and feminine she is!

Here are some recent pictures of Persimmon. She will be 8 months old on August 11th, and Gatsby will be 4 years old on August 12th! For those of you who don’t know, I adopted Gatsby from Dogs4Diabetics officially as mine and registered him as my service dog. The very last picture is Gatsby.

Victor – D4D

kaitlynelizabeth — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:35:05 +0000

Hi All,

I will be working with Victor until January 1st, 2010. At that time, D4D will then evaluate him again and see where we should go from there. Hope you all had a great Thanskgiving, and if I don’t update, have a very Merry Christmas!!! I love this time of year!

Always,

K & V

Puppy Update!!!

kaitlynelizabeth — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:18:32 +0000

Hi all!

Sorry to all of you who have been following my blog! I’ve been away from home for quite awhile….read more about that in my personal blog! kaitlynjoseph.wordpress.com

Columbo did eventually go to D4D! Yay! As far as I know he’s placed with a woman in Fresno, CA. He will most likely be graduating February 20th, I can’t wait!

Sadly, I have been away from puppies for a few months, but I have finally gotten a new one! He’s not a GDB puppy though. His name is Victor and I’m raising him for D4D. He was given to them by GDB when he was nine weeks old for pigeon toed feet, but he’s mostly grown out of it. He’s 10 months old and he’s a black lab. His parents are Tate and Michelle, anyone heard of them?

Life is good, now that I’ve got a puppy again

Always,

Kaitlyn

Columbo…

kaitlynelizabeth — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:10:15 +0000

Well, Columbo went back for formal training on May 2nd. I was called three days later with news that he was career changed for a luxating patella. Apparently when they put the dogs under for xrays they twist their knees around to see if they dislocate or not.

I wanted him to go to D4D but Guide Dogs is being difficult and saying that I cannot specify which community placement he goes to…that’s not even half the story.

After all of my dogs (but one) having health issues I’m not sure breeding is not to blame. They really need to widen the gene pool a little bit.
So, we’ll see what happens with Lumbo.

Later,

Kaitlyn