More than Puppy Love
 

     Goldens. They are so much a part of my life now. I'm involved with the wonderful Golden Retriever breed in a few different ways so I get the unique opportunity to see different sides of the Golden breed. I'm a foster home for Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue and also do transportation for them. I see a lot of neglected Goldens that just want to be loved. I also am a puppy raiser for The Seeing Eye. It's amazing to watch a sweet little ball of Golden fuzz turn into a beautiful and intelligent dog guide. My last involvement with the wonderful Golden breed is as the proud owner of two Golden girls.
     I wasn't sure what I wanted to write about because I have so many stories and tales about my babies. I've decided to share my experience as a puppy raiser. I feel that is what has had the most impact in shaping me into the person I am today.
     My family hasn't always had dogs. It was only 7 years ago that we got our first dog and 5 years ago that my first Golden made it's way into my life. I have always loved animals of all kinds since I was little. We only had a cat until I was 6 years old. I was finally allowed to have a rabbit although I still wanted a dog. When I was 8 years old, I heard about the 4-H project of raising Seeing Eye puppies. My mom was a cat person and didn't like dogs back then. My dad didn't want the extra hassle but they let me raise a puppy since it was going to be a "temporary" dog.
     My first two puppies were German Shepherds. The first one went on to be a guide dog and the second one was "career-changed" and is now our family pet. In between the first and second puppies, we also got a Siberian Husky named Katie as a "keeper dog." By now, my mom had become a dog person and my dad had pretty much given up trying to limit me on the number of animals in our house! When I received my 3rd puppy to raise for The Seeing Eye, we now had three dogs.
     My 3rd puppy was a Golden Retriever named Ivy. She's the one who made me fall head over heels in love with the breed. I had wanted to raise another German Shepherd, but someone who was supposed to co-raise with me wanted a Golden. That girl moved out about 2 months after the puppy arrived so Ivy was soon my full responsibility. Ivy chewed up more stuff then any of my previous puppies but her goofy personality and love for life made me fall in love with the breed. It was Ivy that made me see that the Golden was my breed of choice!
     Ivy returned to The Seeing Eye in November, 1996. I cried for weeks. When I received the phone call in January 1997 telling me that Ivy had been chosen as a breeder I was ecstatic. That meant I would get to raise her offspring! Between 1997 and 1999 I raised three of Ivy's daughters or my "grand puppies." They were Quannah, Blair, and Irena. Blair was also chosen as a breeder and I raised her daughter Zinde who is currently in training at The Seeing Eye. Ivy was retired from breeding in June, 2000 and she is now home with me as my "forever dog." I am now raising Echo and Ilsa, both female Golden Retrievers.
     I truly believe puppy raising has really shaped me into the person I am today. As a puppy raiser, my job is to teach basic obedience commands, house manners, and to socialize the puppy. I am given the puppy when it is seven weeks old and then the adventure begins! Puppy raising had taught me a great deal about responsibility. The puppy is totally dependent on me. In a way, it's future lies in my hands.
     Puppy raising isn't all just puppy breath and Golden fuzz! I learned a lot about patience! Housebreaking, crate training, leash manners, etc. all take a great deal of time and commitment. The puppy doesn't learn overnight! One myth a lot of people seem to believe is that these puppies are born "perfect." This is not true! They are very intelligent but it takes a great deal of work to get a well-behaved puppy and even then you can't expect a puppy to always be perfect!
     My puppies go almost everywhere with me, ranging from the local Wal-Mart to my church. These experiences help to teach the puppy how to react in those situations (slippery floors, loud noises, crowd, etc.) and they also teach me how to handle the public! Having a puppy in Wal-Mart always earns me several weird looks and many questions! This has helped teach me to be outgoing and to love talking! I love telling people about my puppies and educating them about dog guides. I let the public pet my puppy (if they ask permission) and this gives me a great opportunity to teach them about how to react around a working guide dog (don't ever pet a working guide dog or distract it in any way!). When I have a puppy with me, there is no such thing as a short shopping trip! I suppose I could make it short, but I really love talking about my beautiful Golden girls and showing them off!
     Puppy raising is a lot of work, but I love doing it. It's second nature to me now and I feel naked without a puppy by my side! My puppies seem to know what I expect of them and they do their best to live up to those expectations! The question I'm asked the most as a puppy raiser is "How do you give up the puppy?". I guess you could say that puppy raisers are a unique breed of people. We love the puppies so much that we're willing to let them go and achieve their potential by helping a person with a disability. It is hard to give up the puppy, but I would never trade the joy, fun, love, and experience of raising a puppy just so I wouldn't have to experience the tears when they leave. When your puppy graduates as a guide, there is no words to express the pride and joy a puppy raiser experiences.
     That is why I keep raising. Not everyone is meant to be a puppy raiser though, but I'm sure glad I am one! Puppy raising is so much a part of who I am. I am known as "the dog girl" wherever I go. Some people don't recognize me without my puppies! It's really hard to put into words what puppy raising is all about or what it's truly like. It surely is a one of a kind experience! I can't even imagine what type of a person I would be if I hadn't become a puppy raiser. I know I wouldn't be the Golden lover I am today if it wasn't for it. Puppy raising has taught me so much about love, commitment, and serving others. I am thankful that I have been given this opportunity.
     As I reflect back on the past seven years, I can't believe that I have had seventeen dogs in my life as either a foster dog, puppy in training, or as a keeper dog. Out of those seventeen, twelve of them have been Goldens and one a lab and golden cross. Some of these dogs were with me for only a few months while others a year or more, and some are still with me now. Every single one of these dogs has left paw prints on my heart and given me memories that will last a lifetime. The Golden Retriever breed has truly changed my life and made it better than I could imagine.