Ahhhhhhhh! This is the good life!

Good morning, my fellow guide dogs "career-changed,"

Ahhhh, basking in the winter sun in southern California. This is the life. I recall all that hard work while I was a puppy in training with the Johnpeers telling me not to do this and not to do that. I had to learn to sit and stay, not chew on the furniture, not jump into bed, not eat everything in sight, stay away from the socks (oh how I love socks!), just about anything I really wanted to do was a BAD idea.

Are you a career-changed guide dog? I hope you are having as much fun as I am. I get to play with this other puppy-in-training named Sayer and we battle over chew toys and plastic pipe and affection. BUT Sayer has to obey all those rules that I used to have to obey.

Ahhhhhhh, this is the life!

But it seems that I am still being taught commands. Can you believe it? The latest command that I have been taught is UP. Now that seems quite harmless right? Does that means I can jump UP on people? No. Does that means I can jump UP on the counter to rummage for more food? No. Maybe it means that I can jump UP on the couch and stretch out? No, but guess what, I do that now anyway, especially when no one is home.

This UP command is strictly enforced about my getting into bed!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh, this is the life.

But Gary wanted to make sure this was clear so he said, "Some clarification is needed with regards to Zane's bed-sleeping habit. You see, technically Zane is only there for a couple hours each night and maybe an hour each morning so he really isn't breaking the rules that badly."

Hmmmmmm, not breaking the rules that badly. Maybe, those rules that I learned as a pup are not as black and white as I thought they were? They are subject to some form of interpretation? I think guide dogs should maybe unionize and get one of those stinking lawyers to represent us. Yeah, I think his name is bad, bad, Leroy Brown!

Gary went on, "You see, Vicki usually retires before I do and when I go to up to bed there's usually a big black furry object in my spot. I guess he thinks he's warming up my spot, which he certainly does. But once I push him over (closer to Vicki who is already on the edge) so I can crawl in, he usually gets disgusted and jumps out of bed, onto the floor, and crawls into the cubby-hole of Vickie's office desk next to the bed where he spends the night."

OK, I'm a bed warmer now. Are you kidding? I was fast asleep when you go and push me over and then I don't have room to sprawl out on the bed. You know, this is just not right!

Gary continued, "Lately in the mornings, when he wants to get up for breakfast about 5:30 AM, he will begin to nuzzle Vicki, who has been heard to give a new command "Zane - UP". He then jumps up onto the bed and again snuggles between us, but he's obviously more interested in getting us woken up than going back to sleep (he has food on his mind by this time). He is a skilled rooster in some ways."

Well, there you go. The new command, UP. Of course, when I was back in Colorado, Dad never let me jump up on the bed. And he always got up by 6:00 AM to feed me. I miss the good ole days. But, at least, Gary does get up and feed me good. In fact, I think I'm getting a little fat and lazy.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh, this is the good life.

Zane

Oregon Campus Update

Good morning,

One of my new instructors at the Oregon GDB Campus, Jaymin, called to interview me and learn more about who I am, my work, my home situation and just get to know me and the type of dog that I might need. I learned about the Boring Campus which I understand is in a farm community where the town of Gresham is the "big city" in the area.

I asked if there were cows and horses that we would have to walk around, not to mention their droppings! She indicated that she could make that happen.

This will be a small class of 8 students, all re-trains! Many will be there for a total of 3 weeks and 2 or 3 of us will be there for 2 weeks.

I have my flight itinerary and I will fly to Portland on Saturday, 11/29, and return to Denver on Sunday, 12/14. I wondered if I should bring my brush, booties, rain coat, etc. and Jaymin said that I will get a bunch of new stuff, but we agreed that the booties may not fit my new dog and the rain coat will definitely be needed in the winter around Portland.

What is most exciting is that Jaymin said that she walked a dog yesterday that she thought would be PERFECT for me. I asked what kind of dog it was and she would not say, but after she thought about it, this string is all Labrador Retrievers. So, at least I know that I will be getting a Lab again, not sure the sex or color yet.

Thus, my excitement is now starting to build as I prepare for my new locomotive. Zane, stay tuned to hear who is coming down the track!

Love, Dad

ZTC5: College in its final phases

Good day fellow senior classmates,

Note: Zane requested Dad to complete this training update.

It has been quite a challenging pace of training over the past three to four months and it is so gratifying that we can now move into our senior phase of training to become a guide dog. We have passed the basic training, the intermediate phases of obedience, distractions and obstacles. We have passed the advanced phases of buildings, elevators, stairs, escalators, trains and so much more. Now we have entered the final phases.

Phase 9: Advanced overhead and obstacle training

This senior phase means that we have to take more responsibility in knowing when there is an overhead obstacle, narrow passage, traffic check or whatever it is. The instructor is blind-folded and we must do our job such that the handler is kept safe and out of harm's way. We must exercise intelligent disobedience and await the handler to recognize the problem before proceeding. Once we have successfully passed this phase, we can now move into the final phase of training in preparatiion for blind students.

Phase 10: Prep for Class Training with Students

Each one of us had to go through another thorough physical examination to ensure that we were heallthy and medically ready for the rigors of class training with a bunch of blind students. This is what we have been being trained since we were about six to eight weeks old. We have gone through all the training with our puppy raiser, the four months or so of training with our coach and instructors. This is the time to "fish or cut bait."


Our coaches and instructors now put us through all final testing to ensure that each one of us pass our tests with flying colors. I know I passed fudging only on sniffing some food, but I did not eat it! What was key is that all instructors were blind-folded for ALL tests, so we had to do very well or we could have not passed.


It might be worth recalling that only about 50% of the guide dogs that start the guide dog process, actually make it through to this point. So we went through all the final tests:

- final traffic checks and intelligent disobedience

- final obedience commands including food refusal

- final buildings and stairs and elevators and excalators

- final guide work using all commands and recognition of obstacles in all settings


Dogs that passed all these tests could be put in class-ready status. We do not get a diploma, but we do sort of graduate as "sum-a-good-doggie."

This was some really tough training, but I can attest that I have used just about every phase of the training in some form or fashion with Richard. I appreciate all the hard work that my Coach Jessica and all her colleagues put into making me a number ONE guide dog.

In class 680 (Dad's), there were 28 of us ready for prime time guiding. 18 studetns in total came to GDB that November, 2007 looking for a new set of eyes. 20 of us actually were used since two of us had to be career-changted. I'm so happy that I found Dad. He is such a great handler and my new friend.

Hoorah, throw my graduation cap in the air!

Zane

ZTC4: College Training - Phase 5 and 6

Good day college classmates and wanna-bees,

Note: Zane asked that Dad complete his training update, since he has returned to college!

It feels good to have passed my sophomore phase of college. I have really learned my guide work cammands and stopping where I am supposed to stop for my handler. Even with lots of distractions, I am doing about 75% of my commands without getting distracted. Then I passed the test while my coach was blind-folded executing all my commands while being distracted. I was feeling like pretty hot stuff!

Phase 6: Advanced Training - Buildings, stairs and more!

Well, that feeling of being HOT stuff quickly dissipated when we began entering big buildings with lots of stairs and doorways and elevators, oh my.


Our coaches first introduced us to working in buildings and targeting doorways, stairs and elevators. I had no idea that we had to learn so much. But a few days of clicker training and great kibble rewards, I learned when it was appropriate to stop at a doorway to ensure that my handler had room to clear.


Then we started going up and down stairs and this was very tricky. I wanted to just take off and run down the stairs, but I had the instructor hanging onto my harness and I had to go up and down these stairs at a pace that would not make them fall. You should try that some time, it's not that easy!


And next were elevators. No problem, right? We just walk up to these HUGE doors and wait for them to open. And then we had to march across this crack in the floor and make it inside before the door closes on our tail. This took me a few tries to learn to do this, but I finally got it and I was always ready to get out of that elevator without too much prodding.


The biggest challenge of all for this phase was learning intelligent disobedience. Is that an oxymoron?


Initially, the instructors started with narrow clearances and taught us that we should not continue our guide work until the handler found the obstacle and praised us which acknowledged that the handler was aware of the obastacle. Now to be clear, we could not move foward even if instructed until we were sure that the handler was well aware of the narrow passage.


After passing this specialized disobedience training, then we were prepared for a more advanced level of disobedience around traffic issues.


Phase 7: Traffic Training

As a member of the Junior class, the training was now getting more intense. We now embark on traffic conditioning and training. You ask, what's a traffic check? We learned the following: when crossing a street and a vehicle makes a left turn in front or at you; when walking down a street sidewalk and a vehicle backs out in front of you; when walking down a sidewalk and a parked car starts up and may potentially back up; when crossing streets and someone turns near you or crosses the street at the wrong time.


We had to learn about all of these and how to respond by turning to the side or pulling our handler back to clear safely or putting our head in front of the handler and not moving. We would repeat this process for days until we passed 100% of the time. There could be no errors in this training.


We did most of our training in San Rafael with some work in the neighborhoods. In addition to this very crucial training, we also began to do some overhead training, which means we have to be aware of tree branches that hang down and can whack our handler in the head. Also, signs or other low hanging obstacles are very important for us to learn that they are there and we should stop or go around them if it was safe to do so.


Phase 8: Escalators & Subways & Trains

After passing those tough tests, we moved forward to learn escalators, subways, trains, buses, etc. When we were introduced to escalators and learned the technique for riding them and exiting safely, we also had to learn to wear those funky booties on our feet. I felt like a Budweiser Clydesdale horse, since I was a high-stepping dog.


When getting onto the escalator, the handler would approach the moving stairs and when I was ready, she would say, "OK, let's go!" I would jump onto the moving stairs and try to stay put while she was holding onto my leash very tightly. I watched as she would put her hand onto the moving hand rail to be ready when it flattened out which meant it was time to exit. She would say, "Ready, Ready, Let's go!" I would then leap off the moving stairs and land safely outside in the hall. Boy, was I happy to be off that moving monster!


Plus I would give a little high-stepping dance to acknowledge that I had safely made it. We also learned how to go from the escalators to the subway platforms and operate safely getting on and off the subway trains. I have used this training a lot with Dad when we are traveling through airports. I really appreciate this training. The one big thing we learned on the subway platform was to be intelligently disobedient when asked to move forward when that would take us closer to the path of the train. NO WAY! I'm not moving over there!


If all that was not enough, we learned to work on sidewalkless streets in the neighborhood near the campus. I know that sounds kinda funny, a sidewalkless street. That's just what it was. A street that did not have sidewalks so we had to move in and out of parked cars. Dad and I use this a lot where we live in Denver. We live on a sidewalkless street.


Wow, I am tired just sharing all this stuff we learned in our Junior phase. I passed again, but this phase took about three to four weeks to complete.


We are almost cooked! Stay tuned as we get close to meeting our new partners.

Zane

Zane returns to San Rafael

Good morning fellow handlers,

Zane is not here to write about this new development in his life. Therefore, this is Richard, with a very heavy heart and a very SAD disposition, bringing Zane's fans up to date.

I flew with Zane on Tuesday, 9/16, to San Francisco to return Zane to GDB so he could be rehabilitated. Zane has not been working in harness, in fact, flat refusing to work. Therefore, I had to use my white cane as I healed Zane through the airport to meet the volunteer for his return to San Rafael.

It was a very difficult moment when I finally had to turn the leash over to the volunteer. I cried my eyes out as Zane gave me BIG LICKS and hugs, but this had to be done so that he could be restored to his normal self and returned to me ASAP.

What happened? On 9/3, while visiting the park where the Colorado VisionWalk will be held on Sept. 27, Zane and I were startled by a big dog. I'm not sure if that is exactly when it happened, but I noticed that he started working faster than normal and not responding to commands as he normally does. He worked erratically after that moment, in fact, sitting down and not wanting to work at all.

A former GDB instructor who lives in the Denver area, came out the next week to work with us and Zane would not work in harness. Therefore, it was decided that he had to be returned to San Rafael for rehabilitation.

Master Instructor, Brenda Schafer, is now in charge of rehabilitating him. Paolo will be giving me weekly updates on Fridays and this past Friday only had a short report because Brenda had worked with him for only one time. Zane was nervous and lacked confidence in harness. There are many factors that they could attribute to this, but let's pray that it is the change of scenery and handler.

Next Friday will be a critical report to see how well he has recovered. I ask everyone to pray for a quick recovery and restoration to his normal self and be returned right away to Denver and ME. His entire family mises him, including Claudia, Grandma and Cuzzie!

I know yesterday that I wanted to call Zane on my cell phone to see how he is doing. It's tough not being able to communicate, hug, kiss and love up Zane.

Wishing Zane much positive energy and restoration,

Love, Richard

ZTC2: 10 Phases of Guide Dog College Training

Fellow Classmates & Collegians,

It was really tough to make that transition from the constant love and attention that I received with the Johnpeer family as I returned to San Rafael to begin my college training experience. It was great to see my brothers again, Zippy & Zeus, plus all the other pups that I frolicked with during those first few weeks before I was shipped off to Brea, CA. Guess what, we're not pups anymore!

But now I hear the coaches talking about all the work that they are planning for su. I know that my future is to be a guide dog for people like my Dad, Richard, so I'm sharing my training stories to let everyone know what I had to go through to become a guide dog.

My coach Jessica was very helpful in providing a lot of this information. Thank you, Jessiva. I want you to know that I miss you very much. Your dedicated efforts really paid off. I love what I do!

The training is divided up into phases, instead of a number of weeks or months to complete the training. That means that each of us have to successfully complete each phase before we can move on to the next phase.

There are 10 phases and each one lasts one to three weeks, depending on what the coaches are able to get done each week and how well twe adapt and learn what they are being trained.

Phase 1: Physical exams

I got to know my doctor, a veterinarian, very well. She gave me a complete physical exam and took lots of
x-rays to make sure my bone structures were in top condition. But the most fun part of this phase for me was being introduced to our community run. Man did I love that! I got to run like a wild dog, up and down the length of the run, trying to take the toys away from my classmates.

I really looked forward to the two or three group play sessions each day as the coaches watached us to ensure that our play behavior was enjoyable, but controlled. Those of us who get a little bit too excited & aggressive and get angry are put into a different session so their behavior can be modified and improved. The coaches were taking us on walks all over the beautiful campus at San Rafael. This is such a lovely place with lots of walks that curve all over the place. I really needed to learn my way around, especially to the play areas!

We were also given lots of kennel enrichment. This allowed us to get to know all of the kennel staff who took such good care of us. They took care of all of our medical needs, groomed our coats, cleaned our ears and brushed our teeth. I really like my teeth brushed, because I love chicken!

My puppy raiser Dad, Gary, did such a good job of preparing me for college, I passed Phase One with flying colors! Mainly black.

Phase 2: Basic Obedience Training

Now that we have been certified to be in great shape and great health, it's time to begin basic training. Gary and the Johnpeers did a great job because I recalled many of these commands!

All of my classmates and I were given intensive training on the clicker and how to respond to the clikcer when doing what we were told and receiving our reward kibble. I really enjoyed this training because I LOVE kibble, so I made sure I did what I was requested to do.

The coaches taught us how to respond to collar pressure. I think everyone knows that we wear these loose fitting chain collars when tightened, get our attention. The coaches show us how to respond to a "light yank" of the chain which means "obey." There is a "hard yank" of the chain which means "obey NOW." I learned to respond very effectively with the light yanks.

Now, this training was really tough. Can you believe that they would put food at our feet and then tell us not to eat it? What, are they crazy? I'm a Lab and I LOVE to eat! But, with lots of practice, we were taught not to teak the food and wait until commanded to do so. Heh, I got it eventually, as long as I listened!

We then moved into basic obedience comands like Sit, Stay, Down, and Come. These were easy because the Johnpeers really drilled me on these commands.

But, the final part of this phase, was really challenging. Can you believe that the coaches put us on a treadmill so we could get the feel of pulling into the harness while maintaining a consistent pace? I had never been on a treadmill and it was a little scary. The surface kept moving under me so I had to keep walking or fall on my muzzle! It took me a few days to get this process down, but I finally got the swing of it and it was kinda fun. I kept telling my coach to "speed it up!" Let's go faster!

This is just a couple of the phases, but you can see that we go through some very intensive training.

Stay tuned for additional phases. College is tough. But now I know it was worth it. So I guess I made it through my freshman phase!

Lots of Greek love, you know our fraternity! (Zeus would get that)

Zane

Sense - Abilities # 9 - Approval Process at GDB

Happy Days are coming soon,.

Dad submitted his application for a guide dog in July. He had no idea how long it would take to get an answer. He had discussed it with his company and felt the mid November class would work best for his schedule.

In early August, a representative from Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) called to confirm they had received his application and had a few more questions.

In early October, GDB sent a representative named Emily to our house to meet Dad, Mom and Cuzzie, my soon-to-be doggie sister. (See how excited Dad was about getting a guide dog?!)

"Emily wanted to learn more about where I would live and work. She wanted to assure herself that I could provide a good, healthy and safe living environment for my guide dog," said Dad.

She also wanted to learn more about Dad's eye condition, how well he could use his cane and did he have the required orientation and mobility skills?

She checked his orientation and mobility skills while walking with him around the neighborhood. He was very nervous as they walked down the street, with Emily right behind him watching his pace, the sweep of his cane, his skill at crossing streets, how he handled changing grades along the way, and much more.

"Emily also wanted to know how well I monitored the traffic flow at intersections to determine the best time to cross the street," he said.

She also wanted to see how he negotiated obstacles and how well he knew the streets in the area where a guide dog would regularly walk with him.

In addition, Emily wanted to know the type of work he did, what types of mass transit he might use, the frequency of his out of town travels and the size of the cities that he visits as part of his job.

Before she left, Dad said that she did “Juno training” with him, which means that she pretended to be a guide dog, named Juno, and asked him to give her the commands like the ones he would learn at guide dog school.

When they got home, Emily said, “You really learn fast!” That made Dad feel very good.

The interview took about three hours and Dad passed the test.

Emily told him, "Only about 35% of the students that apply actually qualify for guide dog school.I think you have an excellent chance of being accepted, but the ultimate decision is not up to me. It's decided by a committee that weighs all the factors.

"A board reviews all applications and your application will have to go through the normal process."

However, she felt very positive and said she would "pencil" Dad in for the mid November class.

There was yet another call from GDB late in October. All they needed was for Dad to pass a physical. He got a physical the next day, and the doctor faxed the report to GDB.

Then the wait began. It was already late October and the class would start on November 19, so time was short.

Well, we all know what happened, right? Dad was approved on October 27. He recalled the emotion and excitement of being approved.

He screamed out loud in the office and his assistant wondered what was going on.

"I'm just excited and thrilled. I have been approved for guide dog school!"

Ah, isn't that nice!

Zane

PS One of Mom's friend's said, "Gee, I didn't know Richard wanted to be a guide dog." (ha ha ha)

Journey to Grand Junction, Colorado

Colorado National Monument, SW of Grand Junction

Good Morning from Colorado's Western Slope!

I have been well-trained to ensure that Dad does not step into any holes and to let him know when there is a grade change along the walk way. Check out this picture of Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction. Dad didn't even let ME out of the car here! It was a VERY long way down.

Last weekend, Mom, Grandma, Dad and I really enjoyed our trip to the Western Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The purpose of our trip as to enjoy the Palisade Peach Festival. And we did. We went to Palisade on Thursday night for peaches and ice cream. I did my best to get a lick into that bowl, but was not successful. Darn!

There was a big band orchestra playing on a stage set up right on Main Street, swinging a lot of tunes that Mom & Dad really enjoyed. (They took dance lessons when they lived in Pagosa Springs.) Mom and Dad went right out into the street and were swinging all over the place.

Dad kept tapping his foot really close to my right paw and I had to keep an eye on that foot.

Grandma watched with joy on her face as she comfortably relaxed in her new transport chair that we had bought for her earlier in the day. Now, she can just keep rollin' along and not get tired!

We drove up to the Grand Mesa and saw many beautiful high mountain lakes. We were at 11,000 feet and I was really high on the fresh air and all the great smells. I found a great bush to crawl into and go potty. Ah . . . heaven.

That afternoon, we attended the Peach Festival again in the town's park. It was fun checking out all the booths and goodies. I got to drink some water from a water fountain that had a doggie bowl at the bottom. Cool beans!

As the sun set in the west, we visited the Colorado National Monument which was unbelievable. I had to keep pulling Dad away from the edge as he tried to look down into the canyon to see the amazing rock formations.

Gary, the geologist, (and my puppy raiser Dad) would have been in heaven! For some reason, he loves all rocks! I was so scared that Dad was going to get too close. That's a BIG hole Dad!

At one of those high mountain lakes, Dad let me off the leash for a while and I found some kind of strange tasting stuff. Mom saw me eating it and I had to cough it up. My tummy was a little upset that night. Ugh.

The trip back to Denver was exciting for Mom and Grandma. As we drove up over Vail Pass, it was snowing, sleeting, raining and the roads were slushy. Mom said that her hands were sore from gripping the wheel so tight.

Grandma was amazed at all the white-covered mountain slopes that had been green on the way out. Remember, she's been in Texas for quite a long time, so seeing snow in August was quite an exciting sight.

As they say in Colorado, if you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes and it's sure to change!

Check out our photo gallery of our trip at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/TheRowdyGirl/AGrandTrip

It was good to be back home and fight Cuzzie for chew time on the bones. (MY bones, by the way. I'm such a prince when it comes to sharing.)

She came home from Aunt Jenny's with a brand new stuffed bunny. My eyes just lit up at the sight of this new toy! I got my mouth on it after a while and was running all over the house, keeping it away from Cuzzie. She chased me, and Dad finally took it away from me. Bummer. I was having such a good time.

This was a great getaway weekend for all of us. It's really a great state, Colorado!

I think I want to see the beach next . . . like in LA! How about it Gary?

Hugs and Licks,

Zane

Sense - Abilbilities #8 - Is a guide dog for me?

Dad in Georgetown, CO, at the edge of a cliff - YIKES!
Boy, did moments like this make Mom nervous!

G'day mates,

I bet you're wondering how Dad ended up at guide dog school in the first place. It's not like you just arrive at the front door and announce you want a guide dog! There is a process that can take many months. Here's how it happened for Richard.

He went to a business meeting in Ogden, Utah, and several working guide dogs were there. There were also some puppies in training from the Guide Dogs for the Blind school in California.

Different guide dog owners shared what a difference having a guide dog had made for them, such as how their lives had been saved so many times when the dog did "intelligent disobedience" and disobeyed commands that would have put their partner in danger.

"Wow," Dad thought, "what a sense of safety and security that would give me."

He knew it was time to get serious about applying for a guide dog. He had a few near misses with cars at intersections, run himself into some sign posts . . . you get the picture. Ouch!

But getting a guide dog is a BIG decision. Any dog requires 24/7 maintenance, lots of grooming and weekly care. Having a guide dog is a whole new level of responsibility.

"With a white cane, you just fold it up and put in the corner of the room. You can't do that with a dog!"

But Dad loves dogs and felt that the responsibility would not be anything new (he already had one dog, my sister Cuzzie), and decided to go for it.

He picked up an application for Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) from Mr. Boulter, an alumni student right at that meeting in Ogden.

When he got home, he told Mom, "It's time for me to get a guide dog. What do you think? I feel that this will provide me with more independence, freedom, a sense of security and safety."

Do I feel proud! I provide all of that for Dad. I'm so glad that he chose to come to guide dog school and that I was the one that got to go home with him.

Claudia, my new Mom, was thrilled and relieved as this would give Dad not only more freedom, but make his life safer as well.

You see, it's not just the blind person who is taken care of by guide dogs like me. "The family members get their stress levels reduced when their loved one is protected," Mom said.

By mid-July he had completed his application and mailed it to GDB. He was so happy that he had started the application process because he knew it would change his life forever.

The initial application has several parts: a section that requires information from an eye doctor and three references of people that know you. He got that complete, faxed it in and waited with intense anticipation.

Gosh, how long do we have to wait to know when Dad got approved?! This suspense is killing me!

Thanks, Dad, for having confidence in Guide Dogs for the Blind, the college that I graduated from.

Lots of Big Licks,

Zane

Visions Conference, Washington DC

Hail to the Chiefs,

Dad and I flew to Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, and spent four days in Crystal City, VA participating in and supporting the Foundation Fighting Blindness with their annual Visions Conference.

It was an EXCITING time for Dad because he learned about many new advances that have been funded by the Foundation which are having remarkable success in restoring or saving sight . . . not in the future, but right NOW!

Dad asked me to share some of these with you:

1. Gene Therapy - sight was restored in three young adults who have LCA and they can see again after being blind for almost 20 years. This gene replacement therapy is only in phase one trials, so the future holds great promise.

2. Dr. Radtke announced last week that his retinal tissue transplantation trials were successful in improving visual acuity in two adults from 20/1000 to 20/160 in one adult; and from 20/1200 to 20/400 in another.

3. Dad spoke with one individual in the encapsulated cell therapy trial where a small device is implanted in the eye and continuously provides new proteins to the retina. His visual acuity has improved in both eyes from 20/30 to 20/20 in one eye; and from 20/40 to 20/25 in the other eye. Also, a great side effect is in light adaptation time, as in when entering a dark restaurant; it has gone from 3 minutes to 30 seconds in this one person. AMAZING!

I was in heaven at the conference. There was a hot-looking Labradoodle, several good looking Yellow Labs, a frisky German Shepherd, and some lovely Golden Retreivers. There must have about 25 dogs at this conference, so I felt like a stud in a diamond mine.

On Sunday, Dad and I took a cab to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. Wow, this was one BIG place, with big airplanes hanging from the ceiling. So that's how we got here . . .

We were given an escorted tour of Orville's Kitty Hawk, Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, the first Ford Tri-Motor Tin Goose, a DC-3 (Dad said that he has flown in one), a 747 front end, the X-15, X-1 and the Apollo 11 capsule that went to the moon. Wow, someone flew to that "white dot" in the sky?!

We took a trolley tour around the area and saw the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, White House, Capital Building and much more. In fact, we got off the trolley at Ford's Theater where President Lincoln was shot. For me, it was a much needed potty stop!. When you gotta go . . . .

We took the trolley to Union Station and Dad had lunch in the big hall. I was so hot that I laid on the marble floor to keep cool. We passed the Pentagon on the way back to the hotel - that is one BIG building!

The flight home seemed to take forever. Dad said that we were having to wait for thunderstorms to pass, both in DC and in Denver, but finally got home safely.

Boy, I was tired. I did not get to eat until 9 PM which was 11 PM on the clock that I was coming from!

I have heard a lot about presidents lately since I think I heard there is an election coming soon. They have a pretty cool place to do work and it was great to walk around Washington, DC.

Hail to the Chiefs, and may we all be wise in our decisions,

Zane

Sense - Abilities # 7 - Sense-Abilities Tested

Good day fellow canines,

These guys and gals with their white canes were all over the college campus as we were training and going through our paces to be top-notch guide dogs.

Some were tapping, some were sliding back and forth and others were just rolling them along. I really wondered what was going on here.

Now, as Dad shares his stories, I can really appreciate the change from a cane to a guide dog. Here he is with his cane, walking to work, before he found me,

Dad said that he carried and used a collasible white cane. Why? It made it easy to put away when he got to wherever he was going. Dad shared about some of his experiences while using the white cane.

His first experience in a shopping mall was very funny. Dad said that he was walking through a mall around the Christmas shopping season and the aisles were very crowded. As he walked and moved his cane back and forth, feeling his way along, the crowd would just start parting in front of him. He said that he felt a lot like Moses parting the Red Sea.

I wish I had that power some times when I have to chase toys into the water. It would have been nice to just walk out to them and not have to go through all that water to get them.

OK, OK . . . the truth . . . I'm a Labrador Retriever who doesn't like to swim or get wet. So what?!

It was now much easier for Dad to go into restaurant. Most of the time, as he moved through a dark restaurant or bar, he would run into or bump people and they would see his cane and say "excuse me" to him!

"It was pretty funny," he said, "I ran into them and they tell me, "Excuse me." Dad was quick to point out that he replied, "No, please excuse me!"

Some other funny times happened when Dad would be standing in a long line, as in for a movie. As the line would snake forward, Dad might get too close and his cane would come between the legs of the person in front of him. They would go, "Wooooh!" He was embarrassed, but did not realize that it had happened until it was too late.

One time he was walking and his wife was on his right side. He uses the cane in his right hand. As they were walking, the cane hit a big crack in a sidewalk and stopped the cane in its tracks.

Unfortunately, the cane spring back and hit his wife in the belly. It happened so fast that he could not stop it. He then began holding the cane closer in to his body so it would hurt anyone, including himself.

The sense of touch is very strong with a white cane. You can feel the grade change, up or down, you can feel holes, bumps or cracks as they are coming at you and be ready for them. You have to concentrate pretty hard sometimes, especially at night, if you have some vision, and this can get pretty stressful if you are not really sure where you are.

Dad shared that the sense of hearing is also at play. You are hearing the sound bounce off of objects that you are passing or sensing as you get near to them. You are constantly monitoring what you hear as clues as to what is going on around you.

The sense of smell becomes very acute, also. You can smell cars that you are getting close to, restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries . . . any place that has a distinct odor. That lets you know that you may be close to your destination.

"We use our "sense-abilities" in many ways when using a white cane," he said.

After 16 years of using a cane, Dad said that he made a decision to upgrade from a cane to a guide dog.

Oh boy, now I get to find out why he came to Guide Dogs for the Blind looking for me!

Lots of puppy love,

Zane

Sense - Abilities - #6 - White Cane is Able

Howdy all y'all doggies,

As I listed to Dad sharing with Mom about going blind, he started to talk about making that BIG move to a white cane.

After he signed a purchase agreement to buy Uncle Walter's business, Keith Distributing, Dad hired two sales people to take over the daily sales calls.

"Anthony, my driver, became my warehouse manager. Now I could stay at the business as president, sell from the inside and manage the operation."

Dad said that this worked well as the years went by and the business doubled its sales volume.

He joined a Houston Rotary Club in 1987. He went to many meetings, struggling with not being able to see in lowly lit rooms and restaurants, often with bright sunlight coming in the windows.

"It was tough," he said, "I ran into people all the time and banged into chairs as I tried to negotiate tables at lunch."

My wife asked me, “Why don’t you consider learning Braille and maybe even using a white cane?”

His first reaction was swift and direct.

“I can still read fine and I don’t need that stinking white cane!”

This is a typical reaction for someone losing their sight. Those who are dealing with vision loss are more worried about what everyone else will think about them rather than the benefit that a white cane might provide.

Dad thought that everyone would wonder, "What's wrong with him?" or "Why does he need that cane?"

Dad’s reaction was based on what he thought every one would think. He was worried about “looking good, and not disabled.”

“Wow,” he said, “the stories we make up!” He knew that no one actually said that, but he had made up a lot of stories about what he thought people were saying and thinking.

This sounds like some of the stories I make up about big dogs when they are barking at me. "They must want to eat me alive!" Silly, huh? But it sure feels real at the time!

Dad said that it’s amazing how many stories we can make up . . . stories that end up controlling our lives and separating us from reality. And for him, not having the independence and freedom he could have had if he were using the white cane and not worrying about what anyone thought.

Finally in 1991, he called the Lighthouse of Houston and made an appointment with an orientation and mobility instructor to learn how to use a white cane.

"Wow, what a change that made in my life!" he exclaimed.

Oh boy, I can't wait to hear what happened next. This is the step just before he got me!

big licks and lots of belly rubs,

Zane

Sense - Abilities #1 - Before RP

Greetings Fellow Doggies!

Here's what I heard Dad share about learning he had an eye disease.

“In the winter of 1970, I received my draft notice from the U.S. Army. I was one of those 18 year olds who watched on TV from my college dorm room as the federal government drew the birth dates, lottery style.

This was before there were so many lotteries about winning money and one time I did not want to WIN the lottery!"

Dad's "lucky" number came up: 39. His heart sank, he turned pale and fear crept into his mind at the thought of being shot at or even killed in Vietnam.

"But, I love my country and if this is what my country asks me to do, then I will do my duty."

“I knew that I would certainly be going to Vietnam when I graduated from Georgia Tech. I had a very heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach."

Dad has been a good athlete all of his life. He played baseball since he was eight years old, playing Little League, Pony League, Colt League, high school and also in college at Georgia Tech. He was a pitcher in both his freshman and sophomore years. He loved playing shortstop and pitching. He was an All-Star.

Dad also played football and basketball in junior high, and mainly played basketball and baseball in high school. He learned to play tennis and golf at age 18 with his brother, Roy, who is five years older than him.

Being very competitive, Dad said that the challenge to beat his older brother drove him to get better and better. He shot golf in the low 90s and got pretty good at tennis, winning several tournaments.

Dad loved learning to drive a car at age 17, enjoyed the freedom of being able to drive anywhere he wanted to, and especially liked taking girls out on dates!

“Then, late in 1970, I received my draft notice from the U.S. Army requesting my attendance for a physical examination and review for potential military service.”

Dad was not surprised because he was number 39 out of 365. Heck, he was like a football draft prospect - one of the top draft choices!

Dad had big dreams of being a pitcher or short stop in the major leagues and now he was a first round draft choice. But not for the Houston Astros . . . for the Army!

Dad's eye doctor told him at his last eye exam, “Richard, whenever you receive your draft notice, just come see me and I will write you a letter to give to the draft board when you take your physical. You will not have to serve in the military.”

“At that time, I did not ask why I would not be eligible to serve. I just figured that I had poor eyesight. My right eye was 20/800 and my left eye was 20/400, both correctable at that time to about 20/30. Just call me FOUR EYES!”

Wait until you hear what happened next!

I hope you are enjoying this series . . .

Big licks and belly rubs,

Zane

"Sense-Abilities" From White Cane to The Zane Train!

Good morning all,

This will be kinda fun and different. I have heard a lot of stories about Dad and his vision loss that I want to tell you about.

Dad was sharing about what it's been like going blind slowly and all the adjustments he has had to make in his life over the years.

It brought a tear to my eyes as I listened, but guess what? He would not need me if these things had not been happening to him. I get to brighten up his life and bring him independence and freedom. That makes me pretty special!

This series of stories are what I head him say about his changing "senses," what it's been like learning about vision loss . . . going from his old way of getting around with a white cane to what it's been like now that he has the Zane Train . . . about his ability to cope and experience these changes . . . about his "sense-abilities."

I’m starting to feel like I am really making a contribution to my partner. As chief engineer of the Zane Train, I am always watching out for bumps along the road including cars, trucks and buses.

Richard now gets to enjoy the scenery, what little of it he can still see. He gets to enjoy the sounds of the city, the smells of the roses and - is able to be more present to the world around him . . . not worrying about bumping into things or getting hurt.

Wow! I provide that! It gives me such a sense of pride to know that all of the extensive training I got at college was for this!

Dad says, “Walking has become an entirely new experience. While on board the Zane Train, I can just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

He also says that he now has much less stress than he had when walking with his white cane. (See the picture above of Dad walking to work before I arrived.)

He says that he has much less concern about what is going on around him. Though he still needs to stay alert, the ride is so much smoother.

The Zane Train pretty much put the white cane into moth balls. Dad says it's a whole new world using a guide dog versus using a white cane, which he did for 15 years.

What was a really big deal was for him to make the choice to give up the cane and get a guide dog. Boy, is he glad he did!

So hop on board the Zane Train as we learn more about Dad's loss of vision, all the challenges he faced and how he has coped with it.

If you have had similar experiences, please share them!

Revving up the engine and toot, toot - Zane Train is one the move!

Lots of Licks,

Zane

Zane Train Part 8: Departing Home Depot for College

As the sun sets on Brea . . .

My puppy raiser experience was one that I would never forget. The top picture is Gary & Vicki, the bottom Kim & Kate, not too long before I headed off to "college" in San Rafael, CA.

Overall, I recalled the Johnpeers would give me a high “B” at this point in my career. "B" ... that stands for Brainy, Brawny, Beautiful, and Bubbly!

Time was flying and as my 18-month birthday approached, Gary and Vicki knew that the day of my ultimate recall to San Rafael was approaching. That would indeed be a milestone in my life and in their lives, too.

They have seen other dogs recalled and knew that the likelihood of my failure as a guide dog was moderately high, as only about 40% of the dogs made it to become guide dogs.

Wait a minute, what's this about failure? Ain't no way that's going to happen to me! I plan to graduate "summa-good-doggie!"

The Johnpeers have seen several dogs given a “career change” which is a fancy way of saying that, for one reason or another, they were dropped from the guide dog program and would not end up as a working guide dog for a visually impaired person. But they have seen other dogs in our puppy group pass and that kept their hopes up.

I guarantee, I'm a "Diamond in the Ruff!" You will someday see me sparkle and shine!

They seemed fully prepared to say goodbye to me some day, and I sensed the sadness that losing me would cause them. They said that their reward for all the time they have invested in me would be the happiness and freedom I would some day bring to a person who was blind or in need of a service dog.

And that's Dad, Richard, and I love taking care of him. He loves me so. Dad has told me many times that Gary has said, "if you don't want Zane anymore, you can send him back and we will be glad to take him!" You know, it's great to be LOVED that much. I really feel special.

It’s almost time to leave my first home depot. It’s now early summer 2007 and the heat has made it toasty in southern California. Even with my black coat that is shedding a lot due to the heat, I hope I never have to be where it is cold.

Can you believe it? I ended up in Colorado and I LOVE it!

Gary brushed me a lot, my coat was so shiny and smooth after it had been brushed. A dog is no different than a human; both look good when they are in public. And sometimes, I even looked better groomed than Gary!

Well, as I have got older, I heard comments from Gary and Vicki that my remaining time with them was getting short and that big changes were in store for me. Their biggest wish was that I would do great when I was recalled for my professional training.

In July, I knew that eventually I would graduate to become a working guide dog for a blind person. I wondered who they would match me with once I was trained?

I was sure all the other puppy raisers felt the same. All have grown attached to their incredible dogs who would go on to provide so much freedom to those that were visually impaired, giving them a new kind of life than they may have ever known.

Yes, we have a higher calling than just being a pet.

I climbed into the Cadillac for the last time. Off to the kennels and the puppy truck for my return to San Rafael.

"Good-bye Gary, Vicki, Katie and Kim. College awaits me."

A little tear passed down my muzzle.

Lots of love, Zane

Zane Train Part 7: One Year Under My Fur

Happy Birthday!

On February 23, 2007, I became one year old. I was getting very used to my routine. I had grown a lot and now, as a 60-pound dog, I had outgrown a couple of Gary’s old cars. I weigh 65 1/2 pounds today, at 2-1/2 years old, so I'm still a lean and mean loving machine!

I could no longer fit into Gary's 1928 Model A Ford. Dad even got to drive that old car around the neighborhood. Amazing!

Even the front floor of the old Jeep that Gary uses so much was getting hard for me to get into but with some wiggling and adjusting, I still could. Today Mom's Subaru, she put a nice pillow on the floor that really gives me a comfy ride for long trips.

On weekends, I usually road around in the old Cadillac. In early Spring, I got to go to a “Fun Day” at Disney Adventure in Anaheim. There were about 75 other guide dog puppies there and it was a time for me to be compared to them. Can you believe people get so nutzo over a Mouse?! I know a cat that would love that mouse.

Overall, I did well, but I did eat some scraps off the floor at a restaurant where we were being observed by a dog trainer. There were a number of other exercises that day and I did well at most. Gary’s greatest wish was that I succeed in my training after I am recalled sometime in the summer of 2007.

I'm one year old now and really getting my wheels under me. It won't be long before I will be going to "college." I now know that all the training and exercises that Gary put me through was well worth it.

I really want to thank the Johnpeers for their dedication and support. Everyone who does puppy raising knows how important it is. But do you understand HOW important?

Maintaining the tough discipline that really kept me, a wild Black Lab, under control and well-behaved, was extremely important. Some people may have thought they were being TOO TOUGH, but that's not true.

I need to listen to my partner when he barks out a command and respond appropriately. I may even have to "disobey" them to keep my partner safe. I can do that because I am SO well trained by my puppy raisers.

Thanks again Gary and Vicki for providing insights from the days I spent with you. Thanks for making me such a well-disciplined and effective guide dog.

Now back to the birthday cake. Yum, banana cake, don't tell anyone!

Zane,

Chief Engineer of the Zane Train

Zane Train Part 6: Career Change in the Air

Good morning canines,

It is summer in Colorado right now and the cool nights are just great. Back in the Fall of 2006, I was adjusting to a time of change.

The leaves were starting to change colors and by then I was in a regular pattern of socialization and began to realize I was somehow different than the other “pet” dogs at the house.

That's when I found out that Marcel, my black lab buddy, was a “career change” dog. Does this mean that there is a “career” for me?

I began to sense that there was something else being planned for me. My puppy raiser family, even though clearly in love with me, seems to be preparing me for something other than living with them for the rest of my life.

In late autumn, while leaving a department store with Vicki and Gary, we met a man and lady in the parking lot. The man had a large black Lab dog with him and he could not see at all. His name was Alex. His dog's was named Rocca, and he was a working guide dog for the blind.

Alex was very friendly to me and a half-hour-long conversation followed. During that conversation, I observed that Rocca was more interested in Alex than in playing with me.

I couldn’t understand that at first. How could another dog prefer a person to a fellow puppy?! Rocca’s interest was totally focused on the needs of Alex. Was this the plan for me?

Gary later told Gwenn, the puppy raiser group leader, about his meeting with Alex and Rocca. Gwenn knew Alex from her work with the Guide Dogs for the Blind school many years before and asked Gary to see if Alex would attend one of our bi-weekly puppy club meetings.

Alex agreed and one day, we picked up Alex and Rocca at their house in Berea. Gary took the old Cadillac convertible that day. (I LOVE that car! Lots of puppy room on the floor and such a pretty shade of blue.)

Alex enjoyed looking at it, but I noticed that his way of looking was different than mine. He ran his hand all along the side of the car, along the front where he saw the headlights and large bumper.

He than felt the interior fabric and finally got inside with his dog. I let Alex and Rocca sit in the front that day, where I usually ride. Alex reminded Gary of his mother, Nanny, who is also blind. I could tell right away that he liked and respected Alex a lot.

We had a great meeting that day at a park, where the sun was warm, and Alex gave stories about his life with his guide dog, Rocca.

That day, I learned more about my new career of being a guide dog like Rocca. Gosh, that looks like a lot of work!

It is a lot of work, but that's what I do - provide vision for Dad and show him the way. And hey, I do get time off and Dad plays with me a LOT!

It's great to know that my eyes can make such a difference.

Big licks and belly rubs,

Zane

Zane Train Part 4: Field Trips & College Classes

Happy 4th of July weekend,

I know I'm a little late with this wish, but Mom & Dad took me out of town to the mountains and with no internet, I could not share any more of my puppy raising experiences.

But I'm back now, so Happy 4th of July weekend! I even attended a fireworks extravaganza in Idaho Springs and it was awesome! I slept through most of it, but everyone else was yelling and screaming, ooohing and ahhhhing, so it must have been good.

Mom says the MOST exciting part was when they set the woods on fire - we never heard any more about that on the news, so we think that the Idaho Springs Fire Company was able to put it out before the forest went up in smoke.

When I was about 5 months old, Gary took me to his work for the first time. His work is a strange mix of what he calls “geologic investigation” mixed with a bunch of office work that he does right at home. He also takes me to classes that he teaches at several nearby colleges. But I really enjoyed the field work the best.

It was fun to ride in his Jeep (one of his five cars) on the freeways and back roads. I feel pretty special because none of the other dogs get to go with us. The equipment operators in the field liked me a lot and took time now and then to pet me. Gary won’t let them give me any treats, but he did let them love me up.(See the picture above - Gary & I are on site and on the job! "Macho, Macho Men!")

At the college classes, I must lie quietly while he lectures. I'm not saying he was boring, but I did get plenty of sleep. . . . zzzzzzzzzz.

Fortunately, Gary brought me a throw-rug to sleep on since most of the campus floors are hard and cold and his classes last about three hours.

I liked being with Gary while he taught, but I must admit this geologic stuff is boring to a dog! He gave me short walks during breaks in the class so I could go outside, check some p-mail, and do my business. He was so proud that I never had an “accident” in class.

Oops, I just remembered a story. One time, I threw up a bunch of food under a student’s chair, the night Gary showed a video, shot from an airplane, about the Grand Canyon. Well, can you blame me? That’s a mighty big rut in the road and that plane ride made me sick!

I soon settled into a routine of getting fed and walked each morning and getting a ride either to a college or to a field location where Gary would study lots of dirt and rocks. I thought only dogs liked checking p-mail?

Days are sometimes long with plenty of visits to drive through restaurants, car parts stores (got to keep his old cars running), grocery stores and more. I go everywhere with him.

I got to go to Cal Poly Pomona one day with the youngest daughter, Kim. Her professor had a guide dog that experienced a career change. That means they will lead a different path than being a guide dog. The professor still brings the dog to his class and he looked forward to meeting me. It was a fun day for me and Kim.

As you can see, I have had many adventures as I grew up in Berea, CA. This taught me a lot about being around noisy equipment, large crowds of people and being still for long periods of time. I really enjoyed these adventures and thank Gary so much for sharing them with me.

Here's wishing firewords in all your lives!

Big licks,
Zane

Zane Train Part 2: Cage - Home Depot

Good morning puppy lovers,

As you recall from my story yesterday, I was trying to get my little feet up some stairs. The Johnpeer home has two levels, which means it has a set of stairs that lead to the upper level, where Step Dad and Mom and I sleep.

With my short little eight-week-old legs, I couldn’t even get up to the first stair. Gary tried to get me to walk upstairs on my own, but I kept falling down.

I made one stair only because that’s as far as I could climb. It made Gary happy that, after the second day, I actually made it up one stair on my own. Gary would carry me the rest of the way. After about 10 days, I found I could get all the way to the first landing, but he took sympathy on me and carried me the rest of the way up.

It was about two weeks before I made it all the way up and it seemed to make everybody in the house happy and they all took note of my achievement. Dad (Richard) said that must have been what Erik Weihenmeyer must have felt when he reached the top of Mt. Everest. I sure was proud of myself.

Dad tells me that Erik lives in Boulder and has a guide dog. Dad met both of them a couple of years ago at a Swing for Sight event when Erik spoke about his Everest climb. I can't wait to meet both of them and take a hike up a mountain. Heh, I made it to the second level, why not the top of Mt. Evans?!

Back at my first depot, when not working with me, they kept me in a cage which was both good and bad. I really wanted to get my teeth on some of the good stuff I could see through the bars. You know the feeling, right? You are in your yard and you see others playing next door and you long to be able to get over there!

That dirty, smelly sock that they didn’t know was under the couch that I could see . . . yum!

I was shocked to see that they had not one, but two cages. One for me and one for Marcel, my new buddy. Ane they had one upstairs, too.

Seems like they really want to control me. Am I in jail? Am I a criminal?

Well, yes I guess I am a little bit of a sock criminal. I LOVE SOCKS! I steal them from Mom's laundry basket all the time. I even took a pair off her bathroom sink counter the other day.

I learned from watching the pet dogs that, at meal time, scraps would sometimes drop to the floor and the other dogs would eat them.

To me, it seemed it would just be a matter of time until I, too, could sit by their table and eat table scraps. To my surprise, I have never been allowed to eat those scraps, although I have chewed my fair share of dirty socks when they weren’t looking.

Seems that the other dogs have a whole different set of rules than I have. Even my buddy, Marcel, seems to get special treatment.

Is there a doggie lawyer in the house? I need to check out my canine rights!

My cage has become my friend in a lot of ways. I can go there whenever I want and I feel very secure in there. Sometimes Harvey likes to sleep in my cage and, because he is getting old, I just let him. But I kick Marcel out when he gets near it. He has his own cage!

At night, the cage is mine alone and everybody knows it, even the other dogs, except Marcel. He seems to get special treatment and had a piece of carpet in his cage. I kept picking it up and dragging it to my cage.

Gary and Vicki got an old piece of scrap carpet to put inside my cage. It was soft and warm on my bald pink belly. I just love my cage, my little "home depot."

Lots of puppy love to all,
Zane

PS Mom posted a new photo album of pictures of (mostly!) me. Click the link, "My complete profile," then click the link marked "My Web Page." Enjoy!!

Zane Train Part 1: My First Depot

Howdy Guide Dog Puppies,

Good morning, fellow pups.

So you want to be a guide dog? Have you really thought this through? I bet you are having some fun and probably lots of work at your first depot - your puppy raiser home.

This is your cuzzin, Zane, and I want to share a series of thoughts over the next few weeks on what it takes to be a guide dog, which I consider to be the highest calling for Labrador Retrievers.

I was born in February, 2006, I can tell you that once you leave your real Mom when you are about 5-6 weeks old, it's time for basic training with your puppy raiser family.

That's me in the picture with my new puppy rasier Dad, Gary - ain't I cute?! I was only two months old - still a baby!

I think I had the best family, but I have heard from several of your Moms and Dads that they are raising my cousins and this is an important part of your training. Let me share my story.

When I arrived at the Topanga kennels in mid-April, 2006, I was fed and given a room for the night with a few other lab pups. They barked a lot and I didn’t sleep well that night. The next day, my puppy raiser family, the Johnpeers, arrived to pick me up.

I met Gary, the Dad, Vicki, the Mom, and Katie and Kimberly, their daughters. Such a warm friendly and loving group of people - they just kept hugging me and really making me feel special.

Well, if I have to leave my Lab Mom, Kauai, these people sure seem like a great new family and the life of ease and relaxation, playing all day, eating all day, ah-h-h, this will be the life!

Boy, was I wrong!

They kept me on the floor of the car all the way home, although I really wanted to be on the seat where I could see better. They spoke softly to me and petted me a lot and kept saying “you are a handsome boy, Zane.”

They thought I might be scared, but it was not as bad as leaving my mother in San Rafael or the ride to Topanga inside a cage in a van or the night I spent at the Topanga kennels with all the other barking puppies and dogs.

What a surprise when we got home about an hour later to find that they have five other old cars! Maybe some of these other cars don’t smell so bad or make as much noise.

I felt like a movie star - pictures were taken upon my arrival and I soon pooped on their floor, which didn’t seem to make them too happy.

In fact, they wouldn’t let me pee inside the house either. Heh, what’s up? I usually just go potty when I need to. This is not fair!

They took turns taking me to the back yard to try to get me to go potty outside. They kept repeating “do your business” over and over.

"Do your business?"

I don’t even work yet . . . I’m too young . . . I don’t have a business!

I finally went potty just to shut them up. Then I heard them say “Good Boy!”

I heard someone else say they wanted to house break me. Sounds bad, but then after “doing my business” and getting that “Good Boy” response, I figured out going potty outside was a "good thing."

I especially like checking p-mail. Lots of good messages have been sent in their neighborhood. Oh, I sure would like to meet her! I could not believe that so many different dogs were on our street!

I learned quickly that I was not the only dog in this household. The expectation that I would always be the center of their attention quickly passed when I found out that the Johnpeers had other animals in the house.

Their pets, as they referred to them, include a big large eared Basset Hound and a fuzzy bob-tailed Cocker Spaniel. Harvey and Homer ware their names and they didn’t seem at all like the animals I had seen at San Rafael and Topanga.

But then I met my new buddy, Marcel. This guy looks just like my Dad, Baker. And he is so much fun! I get to run around and play hard with him, bite his ear, try to steal his toys. Wow, I’m really going to enjoy this new home!

My Step Dad, Gary, seems to treat them differently than me, something about them being pets while I’m supposed to be a “service dog”- whatever that means.

Oh yea, they also have something they call James, a yellow cat. Looks just like a fur ball to me. And this strange fuzzy thing doesn’t seem to like me much (or anyone else in the house for that matter), except maybe for Katie, the oldest daughter that feeds him.

Their house is an interesting place. It has two stories which means it has a set of stairways that lead to the upper level, where I sleep. With my short little eight-week-old legs, I couldn’t even get up to the first stair. Let me share more about this in Part II.

If those of you reading this would like to share your stories about being a puppy and going to a new home for training, as I am sharing, please do. I would love to hear from you!

Becoming a guide dog is a special calling. It took a community of LOVE to make me who I am today.

Big Licks & Belly Rubs,
Zane