A Puppy Story

Hello Friend! It's Renee the Seeing Eye Dog here! I am so excited to tell you about my life as a puppy and my journey to becoming a Seeing Eye Dog! My puppy raisers helped me write down some of my favorite things about growing up. My new mom won't get to have contact with my puppy raisers, but she says she's going to try to get some puppy pictures of me by having the Seeing Eye staff send a letter from her to my old family. Here is what my old family and I wrote together:

"I was raised by a family of five people. There were Mom, Dad, two college age brothers, and a 17 year-old girl who was a senior in high school and who was my main puppy raiser. Mom and Dad would take me for walks and hikes when my girl was in school. When my brothers came home from college, I loved being with them, too."

"I grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey. My home was a house with a fenced yard. I used to love to run around the yard full speed. There was also an in-ground pool. In the summer, I loved to stand on the steps and play in the water. I liked to get wet, but I wasn't much of a swimmer."

"I was raised with a female cocker spaniel. We enjoyed playing together, taking walks, and just watching our yard. I would always make sure I got my puppy raiser's attention by placing myself between the cocker spaniel and my raiser. I grew up in a litter of eleven and during the year I was with my raiser I got to interact with six of my siblings."

"I lived the life of a high school senior, going to school, peoples' houses, to the fire department, sporting events, restaurants, hikes, to Newark Airport, the Morristown St. Patrick's Day parade, carnivals, school talks, on buses, trains, the monorail, YMCA, office buildings, college campuses, college soccer games, to relatives' homes, college family days, and puppy club meetings."

"I'm described as extremely lovable. I will make sure [my new mom] loves me. I will constantly come up to [her] to be petted. My family says I love to be brushed and will just lay there...I'm very smart and watch everything that is going on. I will carry things to people if you ask me to. They used to put a magazine or water bottle in my mouth and the person who wants it would call me to bring it [to them]. I'm secure with thunder. If I have to park (go outside to do business) I will nudge you with my nose, but I really keep to a park schedule."

"I love stuffed animals and like to carry them all over the place. Nylabones were also one of my favorites. I don't like fetching things, although one of my older brothers did teach me to catch a frisbee."

"My family has so many cute stories, but their favorite was when I was about five months old and went to watch Brett (the brother who taught me frisbee) play his soccer game in college. When we arrived at the field about 2.5 hours away I got out and decided to first sit with the girls' softball team who were watching the game. I later decided to sit in the middle of a couple...of course getting a lot of petting from both and keeping them at a proper distance apart. I always enjoyed going to those games."

As you can see from my story, I am a fun little pup. I spent about eight weeks at the Seeing Eye when I was born. I was cuddled and cared for with my mom and litter. Then, I spent a year with my puppy raisers. Being a high school girl was fun! My puppy raiser taught me basic obedience and helped me with my manners in all kinds of places. After that, I had about four months of training at the Seeing Eye where I lived in a kennel. I enjoyed socializing with the other dogs. I still get to see Colin, one of my kennel mates, in class each day now!

I am about 22 months old and will be 2 years old on April 15. My mom says that makes me a Tax Day pup. I have no clue what that means, but that's okay! I weigh 52.5 pounds and am 21 inches to my shoulder. My mother and father were named Freedom and Sunshine. My mom's parents said that means I'm a hippie dog. Once again I have no clue what they mean, but I do love being free to play with my toys and enjoy chasing things in the sun.

I'm a very happy girl, but I am kind of confused right now. I have moved a lot for only being a puppy! I keep getting attached to people. I haven't seen my puppy raiser girl in so long. I love my new mom, but I miss my old family, too. It's also really confusing to be away from my trainer so much. My trainer's name is Joan. I think she's kind of my mom's trainer now, though, since I already know what I'm doing. My mom has a lot to learn! I'm so exhausted right now. My mom has to be trained so much and we are constantly working. I used to only work about 30 minutes a day when Joan trained me. My mom learns slower than me I guess...We work for hours each day! But she cuddles me and praises me, so I really don't mind. I love working together!

I love life and am excited to go on many adventures. I'm looking on the bright side to see all the new people who will love me!

Happily Yours,
Renee the Seeing Eye Dog.