First Day of School

Posted on May 18, 2012 by

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Four new puppies began their formal training to be service dogs today.  They went home with their new foster homes last Friday and today had their very first class session.  What do service dogs need to know?  Like all young children, they need to master the skill of paying attention.  Once they know that a click means a treat is coming, they try to get that click to happen a lot!  Eye contact is one of the first and most important skills they will learn.  And today, well Roger decided it was more important to take a nap and Alta thought chewing on her leash was great fun.  So off they go with a lesson plan and a homework sheet to be turned in every week and lots of training to be had.

Posted in Dogs In Training, Foster Homes | Leave a comment

Hardware, anyone?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by

The Monday classes went field-tripping to Menard’s last evening.  Groups of 5 – 8 Goldens in blue packs attract attention!  The Awesome Adolescents used an elevator – no tails

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 caught in the doors! – and practiced Go to Bed.  Afterwards a few went chillin’ on a patio.  Hard to tell who needed that last piece more…the dogs or the foster home trainers!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Our Newest Service Dogs-In-Training

Posted on May 14, 2012 by

Lola’s four puppies, the Superhero litter, packed their capes and moved in with their new foster homes on Friday. Aquaman, Mystique, Raven and Storm (their foster homes will give them their permanent names) are now officially service dogs-in-training. A great big thank you to the Voeller family and Lola for all the care and love they have given these four puppies.

Posted in Breeding Program, Dogs In Training, Foster Homes | Leave a comment

More birthdays!!!

Posted on May 8, 2012 by

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Two more litters celebrated 1st birthdays.  The Lola pups (Boomer, Percy, Cricket, Tate, Dexter, Sheldon, JoJo and Cowboy) turned one on April 16th, and the River pups (Winnie, Cash, Zephyr, Tango, Abraham, Boone and Turtle) turned one on May 4th.  Party hats and treats ruled the day for all!

Posted in Dogs In Training, Foster Homes, Volunteers | Leave a comment

Spring Team Training

Posted on April 26, 2012 by

Team Training Class of Spring 2012

We are just winding up our Spring Team Training class on April 26. During the last three weeks, we’ve had a wonderful time working with a great group of graduates and their new service dog partners.
Graduating are:

Bev Foster and service dog partner, Nala (successor dog)
Nala’s foster home trainers were the Joan Summerside & Matthew Mesnik family
and the Kim & Ray Torell family.
Nala is out of the Rudy x Cheers litter.

Tami Oothoudt and service dog partner, Izzo (successor dog)
Izzo’s foster home trainers were Maureen Fitzgerald & family and the Elaine and
Kurt Beckstrom family.
Izzo is out of the Rudy x Cheers litter.

Jenny Peterson and service dog partner, Aster (successor dog)
Aster’s foster home trainer was Joan Kurlander.
Aster is out of the Eragon x Sheba litter.

Ed VanDeventer and service dog partner, Zuma
Zuma’s foster trainers were the Darleen & David Lindgren family.
Zuma is out of the Bang x Faith litter.

Thanks to the support of our foster home trainers, olunteers, staff, Board members and Blue Coat benefactors, we continue to meet our mission of furthering the independence of individuals with physical disabilities through the use of  service dogs.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Posted in Dogs In Training, Graduate Teams | Leave a comment

Foster Home Trainer Recognition

Posted on April 16, 2012 by

Helping Paws recognized the foster home trainers for 4 graduating dogs, and 5 career change dogs, last week.  The balloon table decorations represented black and chocolate Labs and Goldens.  Aida and Carmen, Awesome Adolescents, demonstrated their prowess at Sit and Look Cute.  Percy and Cricket showed off their new skill Under.  And Ripken gave us a picture

of a Big Dog.

Posted in Dogs In Training, Foster Homes, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Happy Birthday x 3!

Posted on April 9, 2012 by

Three of the Goldens in the Monday Awesome (or not so much so) Adolescents classes turned one on March 28th.  Happy Birthday to Major (foster home trainer Marie Heikkila), Carmen (foster home trainer Kristie Niemi) and Aida (foster home trainer Katy Shannon).  Thanks to Katy for the homemade biscuits!

Posted in Dogs In Training, Foster Homes | Leave a comment