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| Iola |
| Iola in jacket at 4 months old. |
| Date of Birth: September 17, 2001 Parents: Spring (MYL, sire) and Gloria (FYL, dam) Raised: November 19, 2001 to November 18, 2002 |
| About Iola: In July of 2001, I started to learn and train on how to be a Puppy Raiser. My friend |
| just finished raising her dog, suggested I start raising because she knew how much I loved animals. I was hooked. It all began on November 19, 2001 at approx. 10:30pm off of the Bountiful/Woods Cross Exit. More precisely at the Motel 6 that is right by the exit. I was going to pick up my first guide dog puppy to raise. The Friday before, I had found at that I was going to receive a female yellow labrador whose name started with an "I". Actually, the way I was told was by my family and a few other people from my club had come into Pizza Hut, the place I worked at the time, and started screaming the news . It was a huge suprise that was so unexpected. They also had a bouquet of balloons with a small, red baby kong attached. I was told that my puppy was going to be coming in Monday during the day. It turned out later to be the night because of bad weather in Nevada that held the "delivery service" up. I could not shut up the entire time until I was ready to get my puppy. Iola was just as cute in real life as she was in her picture. She grew fast into a mature dog that was ready for training. She went off to formal harness training on November 18, 2002. After a long wait and constantly checking the Phase Report (the weekly report on training dogs sent out by GDB), Iola did it! She graduated on January 29, 2004. She is now currently working and doing well in Kentucky with a wonderful woman named Deena. Iola is working hard and keeping Deena busy. She never misses a step, even when it comes to food! |
| Some Interesting Titbits (SIT): When people see a guide dog working in public, many are impressed by how well behaved and trained the dog is. However, it is not always known of the actual requirements and work that go into making these dogs what they are. Behind every working guide that Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. produces, there is a large group of individuals that took part in the dog becoming what was. There are many volunteers that contribute to these dogs. From the puppy socializers and Breeder Keepers in the beginning and ones that help the dogs when they come in for their formal training. Puppy raisers help lay the fundementals the pup will need later in life to be a successful guide. These include basic commands and obedience, socialization skills, house manners, and how to be a loving companion. We can't forget the fantastic staff at that work for GDB. From the ones in the office, to the people in the kennels. It is a large group that is required to turn out a dog that will make the difference to at least one person. |
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| The Offspring of Sprig. Sprig, the sire of Iola, also fathered the other pups in this picture. Many Sprig pups carried the face of their dad. Going from left to right: Hatari (1/2 sis.), Tobin & Texas (1/2 bros.) and Iola. |
| It was once said that he was the breeder with the most successful stock at his time of producing. Sprig was retired a few years ago and recently died due to health problems. But even after retirement and death, he still fathers pups (weird). Sprig was also the brother to a guide named Sunshine (who also has passed on) She belonged to a good friend of mine at Guide Dogs. |
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| Iola's mother, Gloria. She was retired shortly after Iola was whelped |
| Iola in harness. She graduated Jan. 29, 2004 to work in Louisville, Kentucky. |
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| Iola at 14 months, just before she returned for formal harness training in Boring, OR. |
| Iola at 8 mon. |
| Best Friends |
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| First time in the snow. Iola was about 9 wks. here |
| There were 3 pup's in Iola's litter. Her brother Iowa, at right, graduated as a guide. The other, Indio, I had the plesure of meeting at the 2002 Fun Day in CA, |
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| Origin: Welsh, means "Violet Colored Dawn" |