By Public Relations Coordinator, on May 23rd, 2012
Family finishes 3-year 17,500 mile bike ride from Alaska to Argentina
After nearly three years on the road, the Vogel family of Boise, Idaho is nearing the end of their epic quest. The Vogels – John (56), Nancy (50), Davy (13), and Daryl (13) left Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in June 2008 to cycle to the southern end of the Americas. The family is now a mere 350 miles from Ushuaia, the southernmost town of the world, and expects to reach their destination in mid-March………
Please follow this link: Ireport – Family on Bikes – to continue reading this story and vote for this Ireport which was written by one of GAP’S many supporters.
By Public Relations Coordinator, on March 21st, 2012
Wow! What a great training adventure. We started right off by working on the correct way for our service dogs to travel in a vehicle. Each dog was placed on the floor in front of their person. Being rather large at 8 months old, Doc took up 1 1/2 spots, but that worked out just fine. Several of our trainers also took advantage of this opportunity to work with their dogs on riding next to a power wheelchair. Ranger and Duntara were slightly nervous at first, but settled right in just like old pros.
Shortly after our arrival we were presented with an opportunity to take advantage of a great heeling lesson. If you missed this outing I will try to paraphrase the main point for you.
Remember: If your dog NEVER EVER makes any forward progress as long as they are pulling, they will stop pulling! So if your dog doesn’t pull for 30 days straight, then all the sudden tries again, and you allow them to make forward progress, you will have to start the process all over again. If your dog is pulling on their leash, just stop your feet. You may continue moving forward as soon as your dog returns to the “heel” position.
We headed inside, and took the elevator up to the furniture show room. The place was pretty busy, although I have heard it gets a lot busier. Personally I wonder how you would ever find anything if more people were there, because as it was you just had to keep moving in a forward direction, or find a convenient place to pull off to the side. All 6 dogs did very well, but especially Apollo, who was extremely brave on his first public outing.
After about 45 minutes we met up at the cafeteria style restaurant. Each of our dogs were well behaved while standing in line. I only saw a few “no sniff” reminders. After eating lunch, or breakfast depending on who was placing the order, we loaded up the van again, and wrapped things up with a short ride back to our vehicles.
By Public Relations Coordinator, on March 2nd, 2012
On February 11, 2012, we were presented with the keys to our new van. We can now accommodate 8 clients, and their service dogs. The impact on our program started immediately, and will continue for many years to come.
Thank you to everyone that voted for us, to our many clients for all your hard work, to our many supporters for everything you do to make opportunities like this possible, and to the businesses that provided the discounts that kept this project in our budget.
By Public Relations Coordinator, on March 2nd, 2012
I adopted Riley, an Australian Shepherd mix, from Dumb Friends League when he was approximately 1 year old. We had no history about him because he was transferred to Denver from another state. All I know is that he won my heart the moment I saw him! Riley has a gentle disposition and he loves people. Everyone who meets him likes him immediately.
It wasn’t long before I realized Riley needed an outlet for his energy, and most people say Australian Shepherds need a “job” to do. So I enrolled him in the GAP Service Dog program as a Therapy Dog in training in mid-2009. We worked on general obedience and commands until he was ready to begin his “therapy” visits at a nursing home. After visiting and becoming familiar with the nursing home and his role there, I found him eagerly zig-zagging from room to room down each corridor, expecting to meet the patients inside. He likes to quickly go in, greet the patient, and move on to the next room. (We’re working on spending some quality time before we move on.)
Yesterday at group we were working on “left” and “right” turns, and then we began to work on “heel” by walking down a long corridor with numerous doors on each side. I became confused when Riley began to cross back and forth in front of me, ignoring my attempts to make him “heel”. Then I suddenly realized what he was doing. He was going toward each door in turn as if he were at the nursing home visiting patients. That was such a tender, heartwarming moment for me to see that the work we’re putting in is worth the time and effort, and that Riley is truly taking on his role as a Therapy Dog.
I look forward to continuing with Riley in Therapy Dog training, and perhaps to branch out to other locations such as schools, libraries, or even the legal arena to give him an opportunity to visit people who can benefit from the kindness of a Therapy Dog.
By Public Relations Coordinator, on December 5th, 2011
On December 4, 2011 GAP Service Dogs went to the Englewood Fire Station. 21 Service and Therapy dogs were in attendance. This is always such a fun trip for everyone. A huge THANK YOU to all the firemen and women who made this years visit to the fire station possible.
By Public Relations Coordinator, on November 11th, 2011
While my family and I were living our dream of biking to the far corners of the world, my sister and her husband were living a different kind of dream – the getting-a-guide-dog kind of dream.
My sister’s dream started off in an unlikely manner. As Glenda Sathre and her husband, Rory Greenway, walked across a WalMart parking lot, Glenda leading so she could alert her husband to possible obstacles, they met a woman with a service dog heading towards a vehicle that had Guild Assistance Dog Partners, Inc. (GAP) decals on it. Click here to read the rest of the story….
By Public Relations Coordinator, on October 25th, 2011
Congratulations to the class of 2011!
Volunteers are the backbone of Guild Assistance Dogs Partners. Without the incredible dedication and generosity of our incredibly dedicated volunteers we honestly wouldn’t be able to do this. It takes each and every volunteer at GAP Dogs to make this organization work. We have volunteers that; raise puppies, train older dogs, staff educational booths, write articles for our website, return phone calls, instruct classes, answer emails, raise necessary funds, drive the GAP van, and so on and so on.
This year in addition to graduation we held a special ceremony to honor our puppy raisers, and present them with a certificate of appreciation for their years of service. Mary Ellen was presented with a special gift for raising 7 puppies for GAP Dogs, in addition to her other duties. Yes you heard that correctly. 7 puppies! With tears in her eyes she said, and I quote, “It was worth it, every tear and every smile!”. Then when someone yelled out from the back, “And even every pile?” She said, ”and yes, even every pile”. I think everyone would concur. It is definitely worth it!
In honor of each and every volunteer that makes our program successful, I present you with some of our puppy raisers, and the class of 2011! Thank you, all your hard work made this day possible.
By Public Relations Coordinator, on October 18th, 2011
GAP Dogs had 9 service dogs out training in the Southwest Plaza Mall last night. We started out at the entrance to Sears where we were given our instructions. “As always feel free to support these businesses by shopping in their stores, but remember your first objective is training. Please enter at least 2 stores while you are here. We are working on heeling, long stays, and leave it. This is also a great opportunity to practice using an elevator and there is a pet store located at the other end of the mall. Okay everyone have a good time!”
Everyone walked clear down to the other side of the mall. All the way to the pet store. It was full of all kinds of puppies. While I personally don’t like to see puppies for sale at the mall, it was a great opportunity for all the dogs to work on ignoring distractions. So of course we took advantage of it, by touring the store a few at a time. Most of the dogs did pretty well.
On our way back, we found several benches that were perfect to have the dogs practice lying beneath them. We put each of the dogs under a bench, asking them to stay. A few dogs weren’t too sure they wanted to get under those benches. Once they were under the benches though they all did an excellent job on a long down stay.
By Public Relations Coordinator, on October 13th, 2011
On Saturday October 9, 2011 I awoke to pouring rain. Everything was drenched which meant lots and lots of mud. At my house that means you might not make it out of the driveway. After I survived the driveway it was only a little over a mile until pavement. The further I drove the harder it rained. As I looked to the west I saw a wall of gray clouds.
So I honestly thought to myself, “Oh well, today will just be a show and go!” In case you haven’t already figured it out, what I mean by that is we show up, walk around for a 5 or 10 minutes, and then go because the weather was too crummy for anyone else to make it. Of course, I should never count my chickens before they hatch, because to my surprise 10 people were there! Great job everyone! Your dedicaton to GAP Dogs is incredible.
By Public Relations Coordinator, on October 12th, 2011
The Denver, Colorado Challenge Air Fly Day is a program that gives children with disabilities the opportunity to fly an airplane. For most of these kids it is truly an experience of a lifetime. My daughter has been flying with Challenge Air for the last 2 years, and while she may not be able to do a lot of the things other kids her age are doing, last Saturday for 30 minutes Caitlin was a pilot! The experience is priceless!
Gap Dogs was invited to attend this special event with several of our service dogs. We spent the day discussing the many benefits of service dogs and allowing the challenge air participants to pet some of our four legged friends.
We had an incredible opportunity to spend some time visiting with Canine Companions for Independence. CCI is a very large service dog organization that places dogs all over the United States. So it was great to spend some time exchanging ideas. We even took advantage of an impromptu training opportunity.
As always it was a pleasure to take part in another event that benefits Colorado communities!
By Public Relations Coordinator, on October 12th, 2011
On September 30th 2011, the members of Puppy Rescue Mission must have been absolutely ecstatic. I can only imagine how exciting it must be to hear that your 25K Pepsi grant idea will receive its funding. That said, I hope that by the end of 2011 everyone at GAP Dogs know exactly what that moment feels like!
The volunteers at Puppy Rescue Mission are doing a great thing! They are rescueing dogs and supporting our soldiers. I think we can all agree that returning home from an overseas assignment should be a time of happiness. But honestly how can you possibly look forward to going home when you feel you are leaving your partner behind in a very dangerous place? And let’s be honest here – a soldier’s dog has a job over there too!
Way to go, Puppy Rescue Mission! Keep up the great work!
By Public Relations Coordinator, on October 12th, 2011
On Monday, September 21st we held our annual public outing field trip at Petco. The turnout was excellent! 7 service and therapy dogs were able to attend this outing. Four of the attendees were puppies out of GAP’s last litter of service and therapy puppies. It sure was nice to see how well they are maturing. I can see that they are getting close to moving into their forever homes.
As soon as we arrived 18 month old Talia started practicing her long down stay out on the sidewalk in front of the store. She did a very good job staying put while her handler took pictures of everyone as they walked in from the parking lot.
As we ventured inside the store the real fun began. I don’t know about your dog but my dog loves to go to the pet store! It’s his favorite place in the whole world and he is just sure that he should be able to pick out his own treats, toys, and a new kind of food while we’re there. Service and therapy dogs must learn to resist this temptation while they are working. So we walked up and down aisles practicing commands such as “leave it” and “no sniff”. We also took our dogs over to politely investigate the ferrets.
Of course, Robin decided to put a tennis ball out in one of the aisles so we just couldn’t resist showing how well our dogs could walk by that ball. Everyone of the dogs did a great a pretty good job ignoring it too! Except maybe Ranger, who walked right past it. Then on the third time his handler walked past the tennis ball he turned around and grabbed that ball so fast she didn’t even notice he had it! Oh, well better luck next time! Besides that is exactly how they learn. Yes, you heard that right! Like people, dogs learn by making mistakes and having their person remind them that they made the wrong choice!
We ended our visit with a long sit or down stay in front of the toy aisle, during which time not a single dog broke their stay! Considering the fact that 5 of the dogs in our group were under two years old, I think that is awesome!
By Public Relations Coordinator, on October 12th, 2011
Jasper, one of the dogs in our program, recently had the opportunity to spend a few days visiting the sights near Pueblo, Colorado. He and his family had a great time traveling from place to place experiencing as many attractions as possible during their visit. However I am sure that in Jasper’s mind one moment in particular was the absolute best time.
We had just finished dinner at a restaurant located on the river walk when we decided it would be fun to take a walk around the river. As we walked it started to rain. We came upon a bridge, but since we pride ourselves on being rather tough country girls, we decided to continue walking. Just as we reached the end of the river walk, the sky opened up and a flood of rain was unleashed. We were soaked within seconds and began to run for the bridge. I watched as Jasper excitedly leaped forward and then proceeded to jump straight into the river, pack and all!
Oh! The fun memories we make, traveling the planet, with our service dogs by our side.
By Public Relations Coordinator, on October 12th, 2011
The Colorado Cross Disability Coalition holds an annual awards ceremony to honor those whose work improves the live of persons with disabilities. On July 26, 2011 GAP Dogs was presented with the non-profit excellence award by the CCDC. The people at GAP Dogs are honored to have such an award bestowed upon us.
Thank you Mark and Joe for the nomination. Thank you to all the financial contributors, puppy raisers, trainers and volunteers that make GAP Dogs possible. Without all of you we never would have made it this far.
I would also like to thank the recipients of our service dogs for becoming a part of the GAP family. It is an honor to have the opportunity to watch as the team work between you and your k9 partner improves one class at a time.
