The bad thing about keeping oneself in a state of denial is when the reality comes, it feels ten times harder then it should have been. While I have already given up two puppies, it doesn’t get any easier. IMO. This time is especially hard, because I won’t have a new puppy to focus on. That really is the easiest way to puppy walk; just keep getting more! Oh, and have your own pet dog as well.
The reason I am taking a break now is because:
1. I refused to raise another puppy in the wintertime. (brrrrr)
2. My dad said that I had too...for my own good. But mostly because we are trying to sell our house and he didn’t want a puppy soiling the carpet.
3. We are moving and having a small puppy would be a little bit difficult
4. But mostly because of the cold...and my dad.
I’m just having a hard time imagining what I will do with my time for the next four months. No one to: walk, train, socialize, take to meetings, correct, play with, talk to, (well ok, with seven other people in my house, I have no shortage of people to talk to, but they all can talk back).
I know it’s hard for my family to really understand what raising means to me; because for the most part the dog is just a messy nuisance. I will say my mom has been the most supportive, she actually was the one who had the idea to start puppy raising. Before I could drive, she was the one taking me to all my meetings, taking the pup to the vet, watching the puppy when I couldn’t take it to school; etc..etc.. I LOVE YOU MOM!! Over the next four months I guess I will have to catch you guys up to how I began doing this in the first place. But I digress. What they don’t understand is I finally have my dream “job”.
When I was younger, I had many dreams and goals that I wanted to achieve when were got old enough to do so. For me; raising guide dog puppies is basically a dream come true. I’ve always loved dogs, and wanted to work with dogs when I was little. I can distinctly remember that I wanted to train dogs for somebody, not just obedience. And Now I am actually doing just that!
Just recently I had a first time raiser ask me some questions about turn ins, so I thought I’d share my answers with you all.
How did you feel when it came time to give your first dog up? “Jake was career changed/taken out of the guide dog program, at six-months-old, he had some things that GDF, didn’t feel were conducive in a guide dog. and placed with an adoptive family as a pet. We were shock and hurt by this, and I’ll admit to crying buckets for the three days it took, to find him a new home. But once I was able to meet his new family, I knew that he was going to be ok. And after my area coordinator assured me that I was eligible to receive another puppy, I felt worlds better. It still hurt, but I had something to look forward too.”
Since Midnight is your third dog, is it easier or harder to give her up? “ Both really and truly; its easy because I know what’s going to happen, and know what it feels like, to see the dog you worked with for a year, change somebody’s life...not once, but twice! But harder because I know I won’t be getting another pup right away, and so I’ll have to sit and wonder, how she’s doing, what she’s doing, is she sitting in a kennel? Is she out training?”
Does your relationship with the next ones get to be a little more "clinical" than the first one? “No if anything I believe it gets stronger...deeper... I know what to expect, how to handle different things as they arrive. I guess in away it does get more clinical at first, because I know we have to get through some things before the bonding starts. I try to go into each “relationship” with a clean slate, try not to compare the puppies with each other, because they aren’t. Each has their own quirks and things, and I’m always eager to see what the new one will be like.”
And just to make this long post, even longer.... today I found out that there was a lady trying to give away a four-month-old, dachshund puppy. Apparently its owners older dog, had bit it when it go to close to his food, and took out the pups eye; and now these “responsible” dog owners, are trying to find another home for the pup, because they don’t want it anymore. Now in light of recent events, you know what I’m thinking...how cool would it be..... And you can probably guess what my dad is thinking. Nope!
Sigh.
I was finally able to go a spend Midnight’s gift certificate, and I bought a collar for Bubbles and then two toys, for each of them. And of course Midi plays with both of them, and bubbles goes to sleep.
Sigh.
Does anyone have a dog I can borrow?
