News on the puppy (Yohan) that I raised for Irish Guide Dogs;
They are selecting his new forever buddy right now. They think he'll do well in an energetic home that doesn't have lots of clutter (he's a chewer).
He'll be placed with his new owner at the end of September. They then start a residential course at Cork to get used to each other. That takes 2 weeks.
After that staff travel to the owners home to continue training in new environment.
Brace yerselves...
As promised, here is the next generation of Irish Guide Dog pups. Meet the 'Q' litter. Born at the end of May, here they are 7 weeks old. They're about to start their year long puppy training adventure with 9 puppy raiser families.
(More details in the thread above)
This is Lacy, as pictured in this year's Irish Guide Dogs calendar. She was puppy raised by my friends who live 10 minutes away and also raised Yara her daughter (and Yohan's brother).
She's a beaut. You can see why she made January.
The calendar is still available to buy on their website https://www.guidedogs.ie/ BTW
Other rolls you can volunteer for at IGDB include puppy raiser, puppy boarder (short stays for holiday cover for eg), fundraiser etc. Or you can donate or buy merch.
All of these directly help IGDB provide more dogs for people who need them.
If you're interested check out their website, who knows maybe you'll be covered in puppers one day...
Yohan's mom is Lacy. I believe this is her 4th and final breeding cycle. She will then stay with this family as their forever pet.
Anyone can volunteer to do this BTW. Obviously they'll come and check out your home and suitability. But if you pass you get a fully puppy trained breeding dog from Irish Guide Dogs. You get all the food and equipment you need and all the support and training too.
I have video and pics of Yohan's latest brothers and sisters which are currently 7 weeks old and about to be paired off and house trained. There are 9 in a mix of colours, some all black, some all fawn.
I'm DESPERATE to show you the CUTEST videos. Currently trying to obtain permission.
They are owned by Irish Guide Dogs but they are being raised by a family who volunteered to have these little tykes jumping all over them.
Update on Yohan's classmates from my neck of the woods from Irish Guide Dogs
Yohan with his new training buddies at the guide dog centre in Cork.
Update from Irish Guide Dogs in Cork on Yohan18mo puppy in training:
Pupdate: images from Yohan's trainer with him sporting his snazzy new guide dog harness.
Update on Yohan the guide dog puppy in training. After 1 month in advanced training at the national centre:
He's in the assessment phase of his training at Irish Guide Dogs. This is where his new trainer introduces new eqpt and he becomes familiar with the new arrangements and area. This is no small step, he's gone from a family home away from other dogs, into kennels where he's bunking up with Valko, a dog 1 month older than him. 1/n
Update from Yohan's trainer:
He's settling in well. Mixing with other dogs nicely. Got two goes around the centre on a long lead to get used to the new sights, sounds and especially smells.
He's kenneling in with Valko, a dog he knows from before he went into the centre. Boarding with Vicky didn't work because she very sensitive.
Throughout the call she emphasised how much they have their welfare at heart.
7 dogs went in to advanced guide dog training yesterday. 2 litter mates to Yohan (Yam & Yasha) - they knew each other instantly though they haven't seen each other in over a year.
He's in the same kennel as Vicky, another new arrival that day. They're getting on well. And Valko is her litter mate who arrived as we were handing over, he was brought up within a couple of miles, so they know each other through fundraising.
This part is hard. But we did it. We are strong. And those pups are so needed.
It was always about getting to this point for me. Now I'm here I actually have no idea what to do next.
My friend and puppy raiser legend phoned this morning to check on me. They raised Valko who was being taken into the kennels at Cork at the same time as Yohan.
She asked how I was doing, I said OK, but to be honest I'm struggling. She said she spent the last day crying and tidying the house.
Valko was their 9th puppy. It never gets easier judging by what she said. I asked her to give her other dog a cuddle from me.
We left the call crying.
#IrishGuideDogs
#MastoDaoine
#DogsOfMastodon
Yohan is now in kennels in Cork to begin the next stage of his training. The next video is a compilation of some of the lovely images my husband and others made of him over the year with us.
The time he ran up the garden with a mug is the moment we knew he was in our hearts forever.
7 puppies went into Cork today to begin the next part of their adventure. Best wishes to those puppy raisers. Every one a broken heart tonight.
Yohan and Yara, siblings of the 2024 'Y' litter spent their last free run together today.
They've already had a year of intense training. We lived about 10 minutes away from each other.
Yohan enters advanced guide dog training this week. Yara enters next week.
Our last go through the shopping centre we've done our weekly training in. And our last goodbyes at the other centre which helps people with intellectual disability.
Yohan has now completed his year long training with me as his puppy raiser. We have one more event which is a fundraiser. Then he'll head in to big (guide dog) school.
