E. John Graichen

Hi! My name is Abbott II. I'm John's specially bred and trained Canine Companion. I'm a golden retriever and was born on February 18, 1994. When I was just eight weeks old, I was placed with my loving volunteer puppy raisers. They took really good care of me, taught me some basic commands and ensured that I became socialized and well-mannered. They took me out to restaurants, shopping malls, the movies and most every other place they went, to prepare me to be a good service dog, so I would be steady, reliable and confident in new situations and around strangers.

When I was 16 months old I was sent to Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) in Oceanside, California, for advanced training. During the next 8 months, I learned more of the 50 commands I know, as well as how to be a good assistance dog for people with disabilities. I was matched with my leader John during a three-week Team Training course at CCI. We became good friends and graduated as a team in March of 1996. I've been John's constant companion and helper ever since.

When I'm on duty I wear a vest that identifies me as a service dog. Some of the things I can do to help John are retrieving objects he drops, fetching items out of his reach, opening doors for him, carrying his briefcase, bringing in the newspaper, turning lights on and off, pushing elevator buttons and just being there for him. We enjoy our time together and take good care of each other.

When John says "release" I'm off duty. Then I like to be a typical dog and have fun. I love to fetch balls and Frisbees, gnaw on my favorite chew toys and play tug of war. I also enjoy playing with other dogs, especially Aleida's toy poodle Mocha. We always have a good time together. You can see more of me in my photo album.

Send e-mail to abbott@ejohn.net

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