A New Season

A new development has occurred!

I have a friend who's 8 year old daughter has sever autism. They decided to get a dog for her to be somewhat of an assistance/therapy dog. I volunteered to help work with the dog on basic skills or a few months.

The puppy is 8 weeks old and his name is Asa, which in Hebrew means "Healer". He's a Goldendoodle pup. I plan on taking him for 2 to 3 months to help build a basic grounding in commands, crate training, house breaking, and walking well on a leash.

This isn't something I planned on doing and isn't something I would normally jump at the opportunity to do, because I don't have the structure of CCI trainers and suggestions behind me,  but I feel like God has opened the doors so that I have the ability to work with a pup and I'm excited to play the part in raising a dog who will hopefully help change a life!

More updates in the next week when I get the puppy.

~Elijah

What it feels like to NOT have a puppy

These last few months have been the strangest of my life. With Hobart living happily on the sunny shores of North Carolina and Dembre continuing to work hard in Minnesota and no puppy for me to raise right now I feel kinda useless.

I'm getting another puppy in May, but that feels like forever away. After Hobart's release last month I felt exhausted and kinda disappointed after a year and a half of hard work and no graduation. Now I'm starting to realize how much I miss having a puppy around the house.

With all of Hobart's quirks and the business of life I lost my true puppy raiser's vision. I lost sight of the truth of why I was puppy raising. It's always been about being a blessing and getting to have something to remember. I don't want to waste my high school years doing normal teenage things. Making a difference isn't that hard once you take the first step.

I honestly haven't missed anything more than I've missed these last few months away from CCI. I really an looking forward to a NEW start in puppy raising and a new chance to reach out to someone who is really looking forward to some extra independence.

Dembre and Hobart are happy now and so am I,  but it's time for a new journey. This may be my last pup for awhile (due to school and work and travel) and I want to make it count!

I can't wait to begin again!!!
~Elijah (waiting patiently) 

a few more weeks

Hobart only has less than a month left with me... I feel kind of lost to be honest.
Time has gone so quickly that I don't feel like it's even started yet!
I feel privileged to have been able to raise Hobart and see him grow up so quickly!

though, I will be taking a break from puppy raising over the winter... I'll still make sure
to check in on updates about when the next puppy is coming and other details!

Thank you all for being so faithful in following me on my journey thus far! You've
all encouraged me so much... I look forward to puppy #3 and getting to read more
about all of your pups!

I'll be getting some new pics of Hobart and I before turn-in so we can remember him
even better!

God Bless,
~Elijah & Hobart II

A Long Awaited Post

First let me apologize for not blogging for SO long! I have been so busy with school and traveling that I just haven't had chance to sit down and write down my thoughts for you all!

I spent the month of August on the road, visiting 13 states and seeing numerous amazing things! For that month of travel Hobart went off to spend some time with my friend, and veteran puppy raiser, Marty. Unfortunately, his not as pleasant side was revealed and well, things don't look positive for him passing. I can't say I'm surprised. Hobart loves to play and be a dog.

Hobart is still an amazing dog! We considered having him evaluated for early release, but it was decided that it would be better for us to just hold off a few more months (until November) for Hobart to turn-in normally. I'm disappointed for sure, but not all dogs have the same future. We'll see what happens then!

He continues to be my boy and I love him to death!

In regards to the next pup... I'm really busy over the winter since I've chosen to do an intense speech and debate program and we decided it would be better to hold off on getting another pup until I have a little more time on my hands! Around New Year I'm hopefully going to start on puppy #3 and co-raise with my friend, Marty! I'm looking forward to that very much!

Hobart is now 15 months old and is just so grown up! Though, he might not hold up as a Service pup he'll make someone very , very happy!

I'm so sorry for not posting in so long! I'll be back with more soon :)

Hobart and Hobart

one arena for a very cute puppy!

Nebraska

big horn sheep in Utah

Bryce Canyon- Utah

Flagstaff, Arizona!

me (arches- Utah)

utah

Grand Canyon -Arizona

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado

best wishes and blessings!
~Elijah & Hobart II

Thoughts on Dembre's Graduation

Most of you probably saw my last post about Dembre graduating! I thought I'd come back and touch more on the emotional end of the graduation experience.

Until the moment I met Imelda the fact that Dembre was a service dog was hard to get a handle on. I had imagined that day for so long. The day that I picked up that cute little ball of fur (May 28th, 2010) I told him that I was going to try to make him graduate. I did and I guess it payed off. It's so amazing to be surrounded by your supportive friends and be holding the leash of the puppy that you spent the last 15 months loving and caring for and then getting to say, "Dembre is yours!"

I am so proud and thankful that I get to be part of such and amazing program as CCI

The thing that I love most about puppy raising from the eyes of someone who has had a puppy graduate is that instead of spending time and energy to better the lives of hundreds or thousands of people I get to put my life into raising one puppy who will drastically change the life of one person. I didn't get to watch Dembre do much for Imelda, but from what she's told me he provides a lot of independence. I love that I get to impact the world one team at a time. A lot of people are concerned about the numbers reached. For a puppy raiser the best possible feeling you could ever get is getting to watch the one puppy you raised become the "best friend" of one person.

It's amazing, especially watching Dembre, to watch the emotion in dogs that so many people cannot see

You might believe that now that I've seen puppy number one graduate and am only ten months away from saying goodbye to number two that I'm done, because I've gotten to see one life changed. I don't only want to change one life, but I want to change one life at a time. It's a personal thing (thankfully CCI sees it that way) and CCI allows us to become part of our puppy's partner's life.

I have helped people in other ways, but there is none that seems more amazing than this. I am now officially "addicted to puppy raising" or as I've heard it said, "Puppy raising is like eating potato chips. You can never just have one." 

Now more than ever I look forward to turning in Hobart and picking up pup #3, raising puppy #3 and then picking up puppy #4. It's a beautiful thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Elijah & Hobart II (so many dreams fulfilled)