About Me

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I am a male yellow Lab. My birth date is September 4th 2011. I am in training to be a guide dog for the blind. (guide dog school -Southeastern Guide Dogs) I'm my raiser's fifth guide dog puppy. She will keep me for (about) 1 year, then I will head off to harness training! Please feel free to follow my blog and keep up with: Brandon's Life... As a guide dog in training

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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Paw Prints on her heart...

My Raiser likes to remember the dogs she raises. Besides the hundreds of pictures she takes, there is 1 other thing she uses to really remember us by.
When she had her first dog Brax she was given a "stepping stone kit" for Christmas.
She decided to use it with Brax a couple weeks before he left. She took a paw print from him and his name tag - she put those items in the stepping stone for a nice memory.
The following year before Frankie returned to school my Raiser remembered to buy a stepping stone kit. After she took Frankie's paw print she decided to start a tradition - every guide dog she raises will have a stepping stone with their paw print in it.
Well my time has "come" for me to return, I leave THIS Tuesday, so the beginning of April she bought a stepping stone kit for me - and it soon came time to use it.
Beside my paw print she also put my almost new name tag (we got it back in February) in it and even used mini rocks to spell out my name.
I'm happy my Raiser will have this to remember me by, I know she will really miss me and cry lots, so I hope this helps :)
See pictures below of the cool stepping stone!
I can't believe I will only be doing 1-2 more posts before I'm turned in, I will treasure each word I type knowing I won't be on this blog anymore :(
With the wait being 2-3 months before my Raiser receives another puppy this blog won't be updated nearly as often as I've been posting. My Raiser would love to post each day, but she won't have many things to post about.
Please note that she is NOT abandoning this blog, and she does plan on updating it frequently.
This blog will also be used for updates about ME.
So when she receives ANY information on how I'm doing, what career I may have chosen or just a random update it WILL be posted!
I hope you guys will continue to follow this blog whether or not it's updated often, because one day... their will be another puppy!
My Raiser is planning on doing the giveaway drawing next week (April 18th - Sunday), so if you haven't already entered please make sure to!
I won't be here to draw a name, so early congrats to the winner!
I plan on doing a picture post tomorrow, and hopefully 1 more Tuesday (before I leave for FL, or maybe once we reach FL).
My Raiser has many pictures of me (and will have many more) so she plans on doing some pictures posts for me.
Happy Sunday, this is my LAST EVER Sunday with my Raiser... :(
Enjoy the pictures below!
Toby
The dog with a blog
Actual picture of Toby's stone, this is when it's finished and out of the mold. It has his paw print in the middle, with his red name tag to the left, below the paw print his name is spelled out in rocks. In random places there are rocks & dog bone imprints.  It also says April 10 (2010)Picture of the concrete in the mold before anything was put in it
Picture of Toby's head beside the paw print stone, after it was taken out of the moldFull view picture of Toby, his paw is on the stone where his paw print was made, and he is looking at the camera

Picture of the things I was going to put on the stone - Toby's red name tag, some small rocks and the dog bone stamp

29 comments:

the booker man said...

oh, toby, we are gonna miss you soooo much!! :(
but i have to remember that you are gonna make someone's life so special. you are such a good boy!
i really like your raiser's idea of doing the stepping stones.
*woof*
the booker man

Deborah said...

Hi Toby: That is so sad but it awesome how you have your very own stepping stone. I would love to read your updates as they come in. Good Luck at your new home!
xxoo
Deborah

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

What a wonderful lasting way to remember you, Toby. We sure are going to miss you.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Lauren said...

What a nice way to remember you, Toby. I'll miss you tons, but I'm sure you'll enjoy training. Go and show them what a good guide dog you'll make! And of course I'll continue reading, even if there aren't as many updates. Looking forward to more news about the new pup. Good luck at doggy school.

Anonymous said...

Aww, Toby. Your post made my mom leaky! We think you are Most Special and your Raiser is just as special as you are! We thinks she has a great big HUGE heart to do what she does. I promise that we will keep checking this bloggie for pupdates on you and the next little one.

Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie

Dexter said...

That is a wonderful idea. Gosh, I am really going to miss you. Maybe Miss Liberty can fill in until the next dog in training shows up. Can't wait to here about your job with your new human.

Slobbers,
Mango

Beth and Alfie said...

The stepping stone idea is cool. We'll keep checking back because we're sure you're going to make great progress in your advanced training, Toby! Goodbyes are hard though... :( ...but I bet you make your raiser proud!

houndstooth said...

I think you did a very nice stepping stone! We'll miss you when you're gone, but know that you have important things to do.

Perhaps one of the dogs who shares a life with your raiser could fill in for a while. We'd love to read more about Fresca, too!

Bunny

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! OH! MY ... Gonna miss you n what a pawsome idea. Happy Sunday n sending you my Golden Luck. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

the magic sleigh said...

Wooos Toby! We are certainly going to miss woo! But I know woo raiser will miss woo the most! Mum has a friend who is also a raiser (and she says she cries and gains 10 lbs fur each puppy that leaves her), but she has done it over 15 times! Woo raiser is one very special human!
~husky kisses~
-Kira The BeaWootiful

Raising Addie said...

Oh that is soooo sweet!

Toby, you are going to improve someone's life. We are very happy that we got to know you!


Lots of Luv & Kisses
Addie, Lucie and Hailey

Smushie Ranch said...

Toby, we can imagine your raiser is crying bunches right now, cause our mom is teary eyed thinking about you leaving too. You're raiser is a very special person and she helps make the world a better place with special dogs like you.

Best of luck in college and in your new home.

Much love,
Stella, Gunther and Betty

Erin said...

Aww tobs! GOod luck we can't wait to here about your raisers newest puppy!

Sonic said...

Oh Toby!

You are going to be really missed around here. Do write us at your new home, ya? And be the bestest dog you can be! As sad as your raiser is going to be, you're going to make someone else really really happy! And that's always a good thing.

Sonic

Heather and Kelly said...

What a great idea!
Toby, be sure to pass advanced training so you can make your trainer proud! Good luck, I know you can do it!

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

That is khwite the pawesome way to remember woo!

We know woo will write when woo khan!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Sarah and Romeo said...

That is beyond cool! Love the idea, wished I had thought of that for my first one.
Good luck Toby! We all know you will do great "in college"

Martine said...

Oh Toby, your stepping stone is fantastic! We know you are going to go have a the best time in your new career... but we feel very sad for your raiser, we hope she gets a new pup soon to fill your void.

xo martine & the kiddletsl

JD and Max said...

Oh Toby, it's been great getting to know you, even for such a short time! That's a cool idea your Raiser has, you'll live in her heart forever. You are such a special boy - you're going to make such a difference in life! We'll definately keep this blog on our roll and will be eagerly looking out for updates. You've left pawprints on our hearts too! Huge schnauzer snuggles to ya - JD and Max.

Lola and also Franklin, too said...

Ummmm, this might be too much to ask, but Toby, do you think your Raiser would let us have a picture of the pawprints to put in a special place on our blogs if we want to. I want to have a page for special things and it would be extra special to have a remembrance of you when you're off to your new life. I haven't known you long, but I will most definitely miss you.

wags, Lola

Kari in Alaska said...

we will miss you Toby! Your stone is beautiful

Wilma said...

How bittersweet thinking of you leaving your raiser,but knowing you will move on to be such a gift to whomever you land with. I love the stepping stone and will most certainly keep up with the blog. I only just met you and will need to hear more about your progress.

Kapitein Haakje said...

woooow that a great idea toby :)
we gonna miss you but we know your gonna do great and make some humans very very very happy peppy! :)
ofcours we will check you blog if there is a new pup
so good luck and let us know how thing is going be

Kissslobbers
El'bow & Hauwii

3 doxies said...

Oh Tobster this is such a brilliant idea of your Raiser...awesome! Yea,yea, knowws yougonna change somebuddy's ife remarkably buts...I GONNA MISS YOU terribly. I justs gots to know you and nows you leaving. That's da part of life that in't fair.
Puddles

Peggy y Mhathy said...

We're going to miss you, but we know that you are going to go the best guide dog. Mom made me my own profile so I can follow and leave comments in my friends blogs. Peggy and Mhathy

Unknown said...

Dear Toby, I have treasured our time together. We're forever furiends now and nothing can change that. I've been counting down the days too, so, even though I'm terribly busy at the moment, I made sure to stop by to give you a shout!!! Apparently I'll be getting your news right here! xoxoxo
Twinkie

Anonymous said...

Aww this post made me sad! Very cute stepping stone though-I'm glad you'll have it for memories!

Pat Wahler said...

This post made me cry. It's hard to see you go, Toby (and how much more difficult it must be for your raiser), but I know you'll have a wonderful life with someone who loves and needs you very much.

Piappies World said...

Hi Toby,

This post has Mommy in tears and she's at work. Waaaaah It is such a touching moment that you and your Raiser shared today. The stepping stone is so precious.

In as much as we wish you fun as you move to college, we could not help but feel bad that we will miss seeing you.

Be rest assured that we will be here ALWAYS for you and your Raiser. Do drop a post ANYTIME for your blog always gives a smile on our faces.

Keep us in your memory as we will not forget you both as well. Do stay in touch, Toby and dear Raiser.

-Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai, Wai-Max & the Piappies