Doshi, My GDA Pup

This is Doshi. He is a black Labrador Retriever, and he came home on July 28, 2000, when he was 8 weeks old. Doshi is a Japanese word that means loyal companion.

The second week

I'm a volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of America . Guide Dogs of America trains dogs to guide visually impaired individuals. These magnificent dogs are provided at no charge to the approved applicants!

The training to become a guide dog is very difficult. Less than 50% of the dogs are successful in becoming working guide dogs.

Ska and Doshi

Doshi has done well, although I could have been a bit more consistant with his training. He has been to many exciting places! Doshi was able to travel to Catalina Island several times on a boat. He went to LAX to pick up friends, saw a movie, ate (actually slept under the table) at many fine restaurants, shopped at the local malls, attended a couple of school board meetings, visited an elementary school, and even had a school assembly dedicated to him!

Doshi, Ska, and Baloo

For the most part, our community supports our pups in training, so they are allowed access to most places. Doshi has been a perfect gentleman on his outings with no accidents!

Doshi returned to GDA for formal training on November 10, 2001. For Doshi, along with 4 other pups from our South Bay Puppyraiser Group, this was the BIG day or turn-in day. My old roommate and I drove to Guide Dogs of America on this morning to drop Doshi off at the kennels. This was Jacquie's first time to GDA, so she was able to see how nice the campus is in real life! Ten minutes later we were walking Doshi to his kennel. There was a little sign on the last door that read, "DOSHI, MBLR." I gave him a kiss on the top of his fuzzy block of a head. The clang of the closing door said goodbye louder than I had wished. He didn't seem sad though, maybe because he has been there numerous times before for "practice" time at the kennels. I guess he figured I'll be back in a day or so, and this made me a little sad.

Ska and Doshi November 2001

Doshi, along with all of the other dogs, stood up in their runs to get a better look. The barking was getting to be a bit much. Only he wasn't barking, just watching. Hopefully this is a good sign for our very active little big man.

Doshi at graduation. He did it!!!

Doshi did it! The official graduation ceremony was held on Sunday, May 5. He has bonded with his new companion, and we all hope Doshi will guide him well.

Many people ask how I can spend 18 months with a dog and then give him up. In theory, Doshi was never "my" dog. I knew from the start that my goal was to help prepare him for his future career as a guide dog. Basically, I feel the most important things in life are often the most difficult and/or take more effort to attain or achieve. Sure this was a lot of work, but this dog will do more for society than many people. Okay, I'll get off my soap box now.

Updates:

11/10/01 Turn-in
11/18/01 Passed health, temperament, and stress tests
11/30/01 Working with a trainer
12/07/01 Working in a harness
01/30/02 Doing very well and is the "teacher's pet"
02/12/02 Received a written puppy letter and picture from GDA.
04/02/02 Will be matched with blind partner this week
04/22/02 Placed on list for May 5, 2002, graduation (class #334)
05/05/02 Doshi and Mr. Edwards graduate!
05/06/02 One more week of "customized" training
07/15/02 Working very well

Here are more pictures of Doshi as he was growing up:

Last update : July 2002
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