HOBART'S TURN-IN (THE OFFICIAL POST)

"So I guess this is goodbye." That's what I told Hobart II as I walked out of CCI's North Central Training Center today. You know what? I can say that I'm proud and have few regrets! I walked away from that kennel with my head held high, because no matter what happens I know that I have taken time to see Hobart from point A to B.

The day was beautiful. I went to the Dublin Rec Center and talked to some of my PR friends and let Hobart and his pretty sister Hoya hang out for a bit. We got some pictures (which you'll see below) and then we all went in for the ceremony. Today CCI has successfully placed more than 4,000 teams and I got to witness that milestone. It was strange for me getting up and receiving my flower and getting applause, because I still don't really feel like that turn-in time has come around again!

When Suzanne introduced Hobart and I she said, "Hobart was raised by Elijah and his family, but mostly Elijah." I found that quite amusing and so did my family ;)

During the ceremony some donors talked about their contributions to CCI and CCI's contributions to the world. We had a touching moment when one of the twelve service dog graduates asked the audience to give a hand to the puppy raisers and to the trainers. She thanked the Canine Companions staff for all their hard work and gave them all a gift :)

When we got back to the North Central center we got more pictures of Hobart (which you'll see below) talked to some of the other puppy raisers, who were turning-in puppies today and then said goodbye to Hobart. He hopped right on in to his kennel. When his kennel mate joined him they started to play.

It all feels very surreal. Hobart has reached his last bit of training with me, but I guess I know that his journey will continue either as a service dog or as a released pet. Either way I hope he finds a place to be happy. My emotions aren't really as worked up as I thought they'd be. I was smiling to much to even think about crying. Maybe when I wake up tomorrow I'll realize that it's over for a few months, but maybe it'll just sink in gradually and I'll be content with where things are now!

kennel time

pep talk .

~Elijah (with Hobart in my prayers)

Just today and then goodbye

Just today and then goodbye. That makes me feel a little strange. With Dembre I spent weeks of my summer preparing for turn-in remembering taking pictures and just trying to get the most out of our time.
Right now I'm dog sitting two other dogs and am just super busy and it feels very tough to just slow down and sit on the floor and talk to Hobart for awhile. Part of my lack of preparation would be my extreme surprise if he actually gets past week two. Second would just be that Hobart feels like he's so much a part of my family and life that he can't just leave.
There may be a few farewell tears, but I still look forward to the journey that God has ahead for both of us.

he's sad to have to leave too

Until tomorrow
~Elijah & Hobart II (for one last time)

Less than a week....

Today I was putting together pictures for the turn-in slideshow and it brought back so many good (and some not so good) memories. I got to see Hobart grow up one picture at a time. Each photo brought another memory. Since August of 2011 so much has changed! I've grown, Hobart's grown. I've gone through a year and a half of high school. Things are different, yet Hobart has been there all along.

I'm so proud of my baby boy! He's not perfect and he's not easy to work with all the time, but he's been with me through the thick and thin of the last year and a half. He was there when I handed over Dembre at graduation. He was there when I felt like giving up. It has been more than a blessing just to be a small part of Hobart's journey. I also feel so privileged that Hobart has been part of my journey.

I was raking up leaves the other day and I remembered that three years ago this fall I decided most certainly that I wanted to be a CCI puppy raiser. Now three years later I have nothing to regret and so much to remember. Though, it will be a few months before I'm able to get another pup, I'm still so happy that I get the honor of being a part of a community of people who love animals and care about people.

My journey has led me here just four days from saying goodbye to puppy number two. It's been a journey like no other, that I'll never forget. A journey that will forever be one of my proudest. A journey that has shown me so much. A journey where I have grown up and matured. A journey where I've learned to serve. A journey that I will always love and cherish. In a few years I don't know what I'll be doing. I'm not sure that I'll be puppy raising at that point. Hopefully when I'm settled down I'll be able to raise more pups, but all I know for now that I have two amazing stories to tell and soon a third and from there hopefully more!

Hobart outside today

If you've read this far, I want to thank you for being a lot of my support. When I read your comments & your blogs I'm encouraged to keep on changing lives even when it seems insignificant and too hard. I want to thank you for being part of the reason that I started raising puppies in the first place. You're blogs were the fuel I needed to stand up and say that puppy raising was something that I wanted to do. I appreciate all you've done. You made it possible for Dembre to graduate and for me to keep on raising!

I'll be back!

 thoughtfully
~Elijah & Hobart II 
P.S. I teared up while writing this :P 

Dembre's AT Report (1 week early)

I came home from a friends house today and was quite surprised to find a report on Dembre. I wasn't expecting it, because according to our schedule we were supposed to get in on the last Wednesday of the month. I guess his trainer just sent it early.

Dembre COMPLETED ALL HEALTH EXAMS!!!!!!!! That means his hips, knees, and eyes are all functioning well enough for him to be a service dog. Once again he has been mounting dogs in the play yard, but "will stop for a short time with correction." His trainer also mentions that she is "not terribly concerned" with this behavior. Still, I hope that he doesn't continue with this behavior. It doesn't seem like it will get him released, but it's still a negative behavior. Other than that he's doing really well! Dembre is reviewing basic commands and learning retrieve, get, hold, and push. I'm thrilled that he is progressing in his advanced skills. According to his trainer he has done great out on field trips!

His overall progress is mostly marked under moderate, which CCI tends to like. The only thing marked high is motivation.

I'm so proud of that dog!!!! I have prayed that he'll do well and so far he has, but there is still more than three and a half months to go. Wherever he is, is where he belongs.

~Elijah & Hobart II (With Dembre in our prayers)