Cynthia Tickell

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Guide DogPuPPieS!

PuPPieS!

PuPPieS!!

PuPPieS!!!

Guide Dog PuPPieS!

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Southeastern Guide Dogs  ~  Puppy Starter Program

Love Puppies?  Have patience to teach the Basics?

Strong enough to Love & Let go?

After you prepare the Pup through the Kindergarten Basics for 3-8 weeks, he or she will be placed with a Puppy Raiser for 9-14 more months of Socialization and Training. The Pups then return to the SEGD Campus for Advanced Training.

Pups that master all the skills may be matched to be a Hero as a Guide Dog for a person who is blind or visually impaired, or as a Service Dog for a Veteran with PTSD.

Interested? Check out their wonderful website and testimonial videos:

 GuideDogs.org  ~  941-729-5665

CLICK on the first photo to Enlarge, then move your mouse over the photo for the Next button to appear . . . 

For more photos of Tuck, Crooner & Trey, see their Album:  TinyURL.com/SEGDpups

PuPPieS!

The Pups... 

#1: "Tuck"  (10A22), now: "Carter"

Born on 1/18/22 - his initial name was "10A22".

He was the tenth (10) of 12 puppies from the first litter (A) of 2022 (22). 

His parents were Emilie (Yellow Lab/Golden Retriever) and Tucker (Black Lab).

All 12 pups were solid black!

Pups are usually given their official name when issued their Guide Dog Coat at about 16 weeks. Until then, all the pups are called "Pup Pup".

I playfully gave Tuck a temporary name "Tuck-Em Javelin Primo". (Tucker/Emilie to honor his parents. His middle name was decoded from his initial code, 10A22: the 10th letter of the alphabet is J, the 22nd is V, = JAV, and when he starts running, he flies like a javelin! His last name means "First" in Italian. Surely he isn't the First dog to have such a long, silly name, but he is my First SEGD Pup!) (Tuck's OFFICIAL name is now "Carter".)

Tuck joined me on March 20th through April 22nd.

On the first day he was Sitting on command, entering his Kennel when prompted and (trying to) wait, while sitting, until after his Dinner was served. Soon, Christie Bane, Manager of Puppy Training and Development, was introducing new challenges and helping him meet milestones.

He was such a quick learner! From Housebreaking, Sitting, Crating, Walking, Heeling... it was a breeze training him. My neighbors, young and old, showered him with attention. I let him play in the dry bathtub to prepare him for a future bath, and, the next exposure involved letting him play with water drizzling out of the spout until only a gallon had collected. He loved snapping at the falling water and "digging" at the drain - splashing water everywhere.

I gave him a bath the night before he left and used a "Dog Licking Mat" (a suction-cupped, silicon mat to stick on the wall), smeared with peanut butter which helped keep him still for the bathing. I wish I videotaped his post-bath antics: spinning around in the drained tub and sliding the whole length - over and over!

The CHALLENGES:

⸫  Other than me foolishly creating a monster by taking him outside throughout the night every time he stirred and then rewarding him with hugs, massages, playtime and kibble every time he "did his business" outside, depriving myself of sleep, it was a blast! (Christie picked up on my exhaustion and informed me that 5 of his siblings were already sleeping through the night! The following night he started sleeping through too!)

⸫  Tuck earned extra nicknames like Hoover & Bissell - due to his ability vacuum up sticks, nuts and leaves before I could even see them.  Christie taught me to "Pez" him (rapidly feed him kibble similar to the way the children's Pez toy dispenses candy) to reinforce his ignoring such distractions.

#2: "Crooner" (9F22), now: "Wally"

Born on 2/3/22, the 9th of 9 puppies from "Sol" & "Blake", Yellow Labs

Crooner joined me on May 16th through June 27th. (6 weeks)

Amra Dillard Rickwa, SEGD Associate Regional Manager of Puppy Raising Services, dropped off Crooner, who, at 14 weeks was bigger than Tuck when he left at 14 weeks.

"Crooner" earned his temporary name after his melodic vocalizations on his first night. He continued to “talk” throughout his stay, making some pretty unique sounds.

Crooner stood out as the sweetest, most affectionate Lab I’ve ever been around – including my childhood Black Lab “Dutchess” and my daughter’s childhood Caramel Lab, “Diva”. While Tuck was like a Bear Cub, Crooner reminded me of the Lion Cub, Simba. He also had the softest fur, and it hardly shed, even at 20 weeks!

Upon waking in his crate, he would slowly stand up, yawn, and then go limp - all four legs would splay until he was back down on the ground, reminding me of Bambi on the ice! He would repeat this several times until he was finally awake enough to stand and go outside.

As I prepared a meal or cleaned dishes, he would nap with either his head or a paw resting on my foot. When I sat down, he would put his paw or head in my lap. If I stretched out on the floor, he would drape his whole body over me, form-fitting like a large bean bag!

One day I mocked his yawn sound. He cocked his head, jumped up on me, then raced about the house like a Whirling Dervish. He also did this when I sang a single note – it drove him funny-crazy!

I almost forgot to mention one of the most endearing characteristics... Crooner seemed to be an old soul in the way he would motion to go outside, then just sit and just watch the clouds pass, the sun go down and calmly observe a bird soar from east to west. Inside, he would lock eyes on the TV and watch whatever was on PBS. Other times, he would just look up toward the ceiling, toward a corner and stare, seemingly watching something I couldn't see... ? ? ? ! ! !

The CHALLENGES:

⸫  Although "mouthy" (playfully grabbing at people with his mouth), he was gentle. But, to break him of his toothy-explorations, I reinforced him for poking me with his nose or snout instead of letting him take my whole arm into his mouth, accidentally scratching me with his sharp baby teeth. And, by his 17th week, he was so well-behaved, we went to visit fragile friends at two Assisted Living Facilities. He went into his first elevator and walked calmly beside a wheelchair.

⸫  He CHeWeD everything with the strength of much bigger dog! He went through 3 leashes, all of Tuck's baby toys and several of the special knotted Fleece toys that SEGD Volunteers(!) made (which I was taught to freeze to help with teething discomfort). He even tore apart the Kong Puppy Toys which were rated for up to 35# (he was 20-something). Amra recommended some more durable chew toys. His 3 new favorites: the wishbone-shaped Benebone (and he even roughed THAT up!), the black Kong Tire, and the Feeko Dog Chew rubber ring.

⸫  He PuLLeD to eat leaves and sticks while on our walks. Christie provided me with an Infinity Collar - a soft braided loop that slides over the pup's muzzle and causes the pup to resist pulling toward the many non-edibles he wanted. I learned to leave that device connected to his leash until he pulled, then I would flip the loop over his nose for just a couple blocks as needed.

⸫  Crooner was much SLoWeR than Tuck with house-breaking (getting him to relieve himself OUTdoors). I actually had to teach him to bark to show that he wanted to go outside. That was a sight – I’d ask him if he wanted to go “Outside” to “Busy Busy” (SEGD’s term, not mine!) and he’d just stare at me. So, I’d bark at him, he’d jump on me, I’d make him sit and I’d bark again. When he finally barked, I’d open the door and praise him after he raced outside and relieved himself.

On June 27th, Crooner was picked up by Amra to be united with his Puppy Raiser back on campus. That day, the precious lil’ guy left a Crater in my Heart as he left - and, I hope the Next Pup fills it back in. (Months later, Amra shared a photo of Crooner, now named "Wally". His Puppy Raiser posted a 6-month-old Birthday portrait, complete with hat and party favor! (Click on the link below to find his beautiful photo among the puppies...)

For more photos of Tuck, Crooner & Trey, see their Album:  TinyURL.com/SEGDpups

#3: "Trey"" (4X22), now: "Helios"

Born on 7/26/22, the 4th puppy from "Charm" & "Felix", Yellow Labs

I picked up Trey from the SEGD Campus on October 17, he left November 3rd. (6+ weeks)

He was 11 weeks old, turning 12 weeks the next day.

"Trey" looked like a clone of Crooner and, since he was my 3rd SEGD pup, I picked a name that means third in Old English.

He was also very much like Crooner, ever-sweet, affectionate and floppy. But he was so much easier to train than Tuck or Crooner! Amra said she worked with this litter while they were on campus and I think that made a big difference. Although younger than Crooner, Trey had very few indoor accidents, was already sitting for his meals and was perfect sleeping in his crate through the night.

Trey was the quickest of the 3 pups learning all of the commands except for Down and Stand. He seemed more like Tigger the Tiger with 4-legged hops during those exercises!

Although he rarely barked, when he did, it was SO loud. So, I taught him to whisper. It only took 15 minutes of reinforcing quieter noises. It sure paid off when I was on the phone!

I had picked up a pair of Little Tykes toys: The Green Turtle Swimming Pool and Sandbox. Before Hurricane Ian, I pulled them indoors where they stayed after I saw how much he loved them! He would jump in one to chase his tail, then run and jump into the other to play with his toys or take a nap.

The CHALLENGES:

⸫  Trey would gently take my hand (or arm) into his mouth and not clamp down, but those sharp Shark's Teeth would leave a dent. So, I played a game, "Bump", with him similar to kids High-Fiving each other or adults doing a post-COVID fist-bump greeting. I reinforced him for bumping my hand with his closed-mouth snout. 

⸫  He, too, was a Power CHeWeR. The Red Kong treat holder was halved by his powerful jaws and sheer determination. He even made a dent in the large Benebone and black Kong Tire! The little white Nylabone did hold up. So, I have restocked with sturdier toys and will remove the softer ones as the next pup starts making a dent.

⸫  After Trey got his 12-week shots, he experienced 2 weeks of lose stools, often needing to go out multiple times at night. It was exhausting. After using SEGD-Vet-approved meds that helped, the real fix came in the form of the probiotic powder they sent. First dose, fixed!

⸫  He FLeW DoWN STaiRS, leaping, 3 steps at a time. I slowed him down by placing kibble,  zigzagged on alternating steps to practice the left-right twist so he would take one step at a time. But Amra corrected me to keep leashed and practice descending more slowly, one step at a time.

⸫  Although many of our walks were in the dark - before sunrise and after sunset, one night while outside, Trey had a wild reaction to a neighbor who was rollerblading past our house while singing/chanting. He reacted before he could see her by pulling to get back in the house. Even after she passed by, he continued to pull and kept looking left and right. Once back in the house, he kept looking over both shoulders as he ran room to room. I sat on the floor and, instead of curling up in my lap, he climbed atop my HEAD. I pulled him down onto my lap and sat with him for 2 hours while I watched a movie - giving him a chance to self-soothe. But even the next morning he wasn't quite himself until the afternoon.

⸫  Trey would go limp like a 30# Bean Bag if he was enjoying being outside when I needed to go back inside or when it was time to get in his Kennel at night. I'd have to keep kibble on hand to bribe him indoors. And, most nights, he would go in his Kennel after he Bribed Me with his aDoRaBLeNess for one more massage or a 5-minute hug.

⸫  Although I did a lot of body-handling activities with him, including swiping inside the ears with a tissue, after he received treatment for yeast in his ears, he was not easy to hold for his exam and shots. If I had him longer, we would have done additional Vet visits just to take his weight and practice exam-holding while getting treats.

On December 3rd, Amra  picked up Trey for the ride back to the Campus before his trip to North Carolina for his year with his Puppy Raiser.

(((Although I was aching to request a 4th Pup, it was time for me to return to New England and I had to start downsizing and prepping my house for sale - limiting my time and the attention a new Pup needs.)))

For more photos of Tuck, Crooner & Trey, see their Album:  TinyURL.com/SEGDpups

PuPPieS!

I'll bet You know Someone who Loves Puppies and could dedicate a few weeks to get a pup off to a great start! Please do share the link to the Southeastern Guide Dogs website.

 GuideDogs.org

Thank you!

Cyn

CynTicKeLL@gmail.com

813-767-7549

www.CynTicKeLL.com

 Revised 2025-12-23 WED 0023h