Bridget's Puppies

"R" Litter and Their Puppy Raisers

2010-02-22T10:23:00.000-08:00

Here are pictures of Bridget's "R" Litter pups with their Puppy Raisers, when they were first placed in their homes.
Racine
Raven
Reese Romeo

Rowena, with family members

Roy

Ruby

Bridget's puppies were placed with their Puppy Raisers when they were about ten weeks old. Each puppy was carefully placed in loving, safe homes to be trained with their raisers for about 18 months. These pups are halfway through their training and Canine Partners of the Rockies (CaPR) appreciates all of the hard work they have done in training these future service dogs.

We know the toughest part of Puppy Raising is letting their pups go on to Advanced Training, after having these precious pups become one of their family members. As we explain to our new Puppy Raisers, it is similar to raising a child, then sending them off to College, then they go on into their careers. As they leave to go into Advanced Training, the feelings Puppy Raisers have are bittersweet. There will be a void in their homes and hearts as the pups move on, but the purpose of raising these dogs is to provide them to someone who will be able to be more independent in their lives. The good feelings of helping someone are even stronger.

CaPR service dogs are placed with people in Colorado who have mobility limitations- so once placed with their Partner, the dogs will help with opening doors, picking up dropped items, turning on light switches, helping with balance and getting dressed, and much more. For someone with a disability, this means the difference between depending on others and being independent.

Rowena - Will You Be My Valentine?

2010-02-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

Raven - Growing & Growing

2010-02-16T12:34:00.000-08:00

Here are some great photos of Bridget's puppy, Raven, taken by his Puppy Raiser throughout the year.
Here is Raven, with his vet.

Getting bigger, look at those long legs!

Happy Halloween - Raven loves him some pumpkin

At the BCAP Holiday Parade in Boulder, Colorado (Hard to see him in the dark)

That's better

New Year's Day, took a lovely hike with his Puppy Raisers and met some new friends

Beautiful shot of Raven at the lake wearing his cape

We hope to keep getting great photos and progress reports from Raven's Puppy Raiser. We really love to know how all of the dogs are doing in the training program. Hopefully Raven will become a great service dog for someone someday!

Thank You!

2010-02-16T12:31:00.001-08:00

Canine Partners of the Rockies thanks everyone who helped with starting these puppies out with a great start to becoming service dogs! We would especially like to thank Joyce, Linda and Barb for all of their hard work with the beginning stages of these pups lives.

Rinker

2010-02-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

Canine Partners of the Rockies was not able to keep all nine of Bridget's pups in our program - a few of the puppies were sent to be trained by other service dog organizations. Rinker was chosen to be placed in the training program with Paws'itive Teams in San Diego, California (he preferred the warm weather out there.) Here are a few pictures of Rinker as he arrived with his new organization.

Racine

2010-02-03T09:36:00.000-08:00

Because Canine Partners of the Rockies only places service dogs with mobility limited Colorado residents, we name our pups after people, places and things that are in Colorado.

Bridget's pups names all start with an "R". This helps us to keep our litters together, by first initials.

Meet Racine! She was named after the Denver Restaurant Racine's

Here she is with the owner of Racine's

Ruby's Blog

2010-02-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

Check out one of the pup's own blog! Learn all about Ruby and her Puppy Raiser's journey to becoming a service dog. Now 9 months old, she has been on many outings and adventures. Be sure to follow her progress and see how she can someday help someone with a disability.

Practicing Wearing Capes and Being in Public

2009-06-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

The puppies are now practicing wearing service dog capes and have made their first trip into public. Last week, the pups were all taken to Barnes & Noble for some exposure outside of the home. Linda Port and Joyce Thielen continue to work with neuro stimulation and exercises with the pups everyday.

Puppies On CBS 4 News!

2009-06-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

Linda Port, CaPR's Program & Training Director, and Joyce Thielen, volunteer Puppy Raiser & Board Member, were interviewed by CBS 4 News on June 16, 2009. The news spot showed all of the pups from the litter and explained the need for new Puppy Raisers to train the puppies.

Read more here http://cbs4denver.com/pets/service.puppy.dog.2.1047496.html
and see the video here http://www.cbs4denver.com/video/?id=58442@kcnc.dayport.com

Exploring the Outside World

2009-06-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

The puppies are experiencing new toys, smelling flowers outside, romping in the yard, and exploring the cargo area of a car. They are getting used to different environments and objects.

Growing and Learning

2009-06-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

We have put bandanas on the puppies so they get used to wearing capes as they grow older. The pups have been introduced to new toys and have had many new visitors. The purpose is to expose them at an early age to many different kinds of people and objects.

Transition to Litter Box

2009-05-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

The puppies have started eating solid food

Transitioning to litter box - put pups in a bucket

New litter box, took out baby pool

Puppy cuddles!

Moving is so exhausting!!

Exploring New Surfaces

2009-05-22T08:52:00.001-07:00

The puppies are doing very well. They have opened their eyes and are starting to walk around, and are now learning how to walk on different surfaces.

A car mat

A tennis racket

A slippery surface

And now rest...

Lots of hard work deserves a break!

Pupdate!

2009-05-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

All of the puppies are now walking, they are a little shaky but getting better everyday. All but two have opened their eyes. Neuro stimulation is going well, one more day to go then we will begin environmental enrichment by introducing new items and sounds to the puppies including walking on varied surfaces.

Everyone is Doing Well

2009-05-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

Mama Bridget is happy, eating well and nursing babies. When she isn't with her babies she is enjoying play sessions in the back yard. The puppies are gaining weight and scooting around the whelping area with more vigor except . . . Well, see for yourself.

Denver Post Article

2009-05-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

Canine Partners of the Rockies is thrilled about our article published in Sunday's Denver Post! Check out the puppy article from May 10, 2009 about Bridget and her new litter.

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12334028

Starting Stimulation

2009-05-13T09:54:00.001-07:00

We started doing neurological stimulation exercises with the puppies on day three and will continue to do them until day 16. If you want to read about neurological stimulation exercises for puppies here is a link: http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/articles/early_neurological_stimulation_en.html

Day Three

2009-05-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

Day Two

2009-05-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

Bridget with the pups

Bridget's Puppies Are Here!

2009-05-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

The wait is over...
Bridget delivered 9 puppies - 6 girls, 3 boys.
Seven of the puppies look like Goldens, 2 look like black labs. All puppies and Bridget are doing very well. Puppies started arriving Monday night at10:06, the last one came at 1:46 a.m. Bridget was a star.

Waiting the Arrival of Pups

2009-04-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

Looks like she is getting close!

Bridget Blog

2009-04-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

Bridget is on loan from Indiana Canine Assistance Network (ICAN) (http://www.icandog.org/). Bridget was bred to ICAN’s Jammer in early March 2009. CaPR is whelping the litter which is expected sometime during the first week in May. Bridget is sister to CaPR’s assistance dog in training, Creede.

Here are some pictures of the Dam Bridget - Golden Retriever

Here is a picture of the Sire Jammer - Black Labrador

Retriever

It looks as though it will be a big litter!