Lassen "Peek," a look at a GDA puppy-in-training

We already knew that Lassen was super, but he's showing everyone now! Happy Halloween!

This big boy is making a career change! It's been decided that Lassen is better-suited to the service dog track, so next week he'll be leaving our home and transferring to GDA's Tender Loving Canine Assistance Dogs program. He'll be assigned to a highly-trained inmate team at a prison in NorCal, and begin training to assist a child with autism or to be a facility dog. We will definitely miss him but agree that this career is better-suited to Lassen's strengths. Make us proud, Lassen!

We TRIED to practice in the rain today, but alas, there were only a few sprinkles here in southern San Diego. We had to settle for shopping at Target instead (which is fine by Lassen - he has quite the fan club there!).

Lassen is one year old today! We're so proud of this big cuddle-bug and grateful to the Knisely Family Foundation for their support that makes his training possible!

"Which way do I go?!" Did you know that guide dog users have to be experienced at Orientation and Mobility (O & M) before they can effectively use a guide dog? Regardless of how smart we know guide dogs are, they don't know how to get places (and they can't read signs!) - their handler has to tell them. Many thanks to the Knisely Family Foundation for helping a visually-impaired person have more independence!

I put together this fun video to show how quickly puppies grow! https://youtu.be/R4uZHwYkWl0

Handsome boy Lassen shows off his "close" command at the park. Good boy, Lassen!

The photo didn't turn out well but we did some nighttime training with Lassen. Guide dogs work at all times of the day and night, so it's important that we work with them at different times. (Naughty doggos in the foreground are our family pets.)

Happy National Black Dog Day from Lassen (left) and Navi (right, our career-changed family pet)!

About a year ago, this sweet baby boy joined our family and began his training as a guide dog puppy. There have been ups and downs, but yesterday, he joined his FUR-ever family! We pray that he'll be happy there, and hopefully we'll get updates and photos that we can share here with you, our supporters. We love you, Lassen, and know that you'll bless your new family!

Super-Lassen wasn't thriving in his new environment so GDA/TLCAD has made the responsible decision to remove him from training. He will now be adopted into a loving home and bless someone as their family pet. We hope and pray that all the love and training that we poured into him will stick with him and that he will be happy in his FUR-ever home. GOOD BOY, Lassen!

Lassen left today to begin his training with Tender Loving Canine Assistance Dogs. We'll sure miss him! We'll keep this page updated as we hear about his progression toward becoming a service dog for a child with autism, a veteran with PTSD, or a facility dog. We're so grateful to the Knisely Family Foundation for their support that makes this training possible.

Lassen's last outing with us: we hope everyone voted!