Chuck Graduates!

>> Thursday, November 24, 2011 – chuck , service dog

Chuckles and his new mom are now an official team! The graduation ceremony for Chuck and 14 of his friends was this past weekend. We got to be reunited with Chuck before the ceremony and then walk him up the stage to hand him over to his momma. Chuck has already been living with his new mom for almost 4 months as they have been diligently practicing their skills at home and out in public.

Most of his job involves retrieving. He retrieves her crutches, her prosthetic leg, and things she drops. Chuck also braces to help her get off the floor or out of a chair, and opens doors using the push plates. And his absolute favorite task, and the one most helpful to his new mom, is tugging the laundry basket out of the closet, out the apartment door, down the hallway, and to the laundry room. That is quite the distance!!!

Reunited!

Some of the other puppy raisers/fosters with their dogs

Ninso – ( November 23, 2011 at 3:18 PM ): Yay Chuck!! Love that dog!
Dexter – ( November 23, 2011 at 5:49 PM ): What a wonderful movie. Congratulations Chuck and New Mom!

Mango Momma
Megan – ( November 23, 2011 at 7:01 PM ): You did an awesome job with Chuckles! :)

Way to go!
Cinnamon and Mint – ( November 23, 2011 at 7:05 PM ): Wonderful!!
Kathy Mocharnuk – ( November 24, 2011 at 4:20 PM ): That is so awesome, wow, talk about making a difference!!!
Muttsandaklutz – ( November 25, 2011 at 6:27 PM ): Awesome :-)
Jason – – ( November 25, 2011 at 8:40 PM ): Good boy Chuck!!! You did a wonderful job with him, Laura!
Lynnda L in Mpls – ( November 27, 2011 at 11:27 PM ): Thanks for the video. People forget that when someone is on crutches, it is difficult to carry things. Or bend down & pick things up.... Ever since my car accident -- when I was soooo glad my dogs could retrieve things for me [like a dropped oven mitt] -- I train my dogs to pick things up for me. Still haven't gotten around to the scent exercise of Find the Hidden TV Remote.
Achieve1dream – ( December 3, 2011 at 6:11 PM ): Chuck is awesome! You did such an amazing job with him. You must be so proud. I hope someday I can be a puppy home for service dogs. :)