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~Topper

Oh, that's really cool. I didn't know that you raise guide dogs. Anyway, I wish Lancer a Happy Birthday and hope that he has many more. ;D (Cute name, by the way :) )

Thanks so much guys!  I'll tell Lancer what you said when I get home on Saturday. ;)  Oh yes, Megan, I do raise guide dogs for the blind.  If anyone's interested, the whole process of raising is in the next paragraph.

We get these puppies when they're about 8-10 weeks old and pretty much immediatly start training.  We teach them basic commands such as sit, stay, down, come, etc. and socialize them.  This includes taking them to restaurants, grocery stores, parks, etc.  When they're about 14-18 months, they go back for formal training.  Yeah, it's hard to give them up (this is the #1 question people ask us) but we know that it's for a good cause (and this is the answer I always give).  They go through 10 phases of training to become a guide and at any time, they could be dropped or 'career changed.'  Then they can train for community placement: dogs for diabetes (can tell when insulin levels are low), search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs etc.  They can also become pets.  The raiser gets first dibs and they can give the dog to good friends or family, but then the dog is given to someone from the general public who has put their name on the long list to get a dog.  Even though these dogs haven't made the cut, they're still fantastic dogs.  So that's basically the whole story.

Lancer is a sweet, adorable dog!!  In public, he is so calm and good, some people don't even notice him.  At home, he loves to be with us.  If my family is sitting around, and one person leaves the room, he will follow them.  He loves to go through our legs and we usually do 'tunnel' with him where my mom, dad, and I stand in a row and he goes through all of our legs.  He also loves to play with his toys and have us play with him.  Sometimes he gets a little overexcited and runs around our family room with a bone.  It's so cute - but we don't want him doing that too often with a blind person if you know what I mean.....  He also likes to settle down in our laps when he especially wants to be with us and is tired, and though this is so sweet, my legs can get tired. ;) 

Anyway, thanks agains guys.  You are all so nice!

~Leaf♪❁♥☾

Say happy birthday to Lancer when you see him for me!

I'm back home with Lancer!  I said Happy Birthday to him and he wagged his tail.  Thanks again to all of you!

~Leaf