My husband and I were excited when we got the email from Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD), “Your puppy is ready to be picked up!” We were informed that the puppy was an 11-week-old, yellow, Labrador retriever male. Later, we learned his sponsor, Tree Lakes Resort, named him Argo. His official certificate reads, “This puppy is named after the ship that guided Jason & the Argonauts to their goal. And, it is also because the movie Argo shows Canadians and Americans working together for a common goal.”
Argo’s first week with us was rough. The long journey from Florida to Tennessee was hard on him and he had a physical set back for a period. Also, there were day-to-day adjustments to be made. My husband and I learned to get up in the night for “take-out.” I adjusted my work at home schedule to accommodate Argo’s nap times, training sessions, vet trips, play dates with other dogs, and family members that wanted to stop in and meet Argo. My husband took care of early morning feeds, fervently read the guidebook from SEGD, and shopped for approved guide dog chew toys, dog food, leashes, and collars. Trips to the gym and lunches out with friends were put on hold for a while.
That first week, we held and reassured Argo a lot. We all enjoyed that – the feel of soft fur, the puppy smell of his little head, the exuberance of his greetings with his whole body – head down, body wiggling, tail wagging.
We have had him 2 weeks now. He has been on walks around the neighborhood, trips to quiet restaurants, and short car rides. When riding in the car, he sits or lies on the passenger side of the car with a tie-down. The housebreaking is going very well and, most of the time, he sleeps through the night now (yes!) without making any noise. He loves to play and is already learning the commands of sit, stay, come, and down. He likes everyone and greets old and young alike with a merry tail and eager anticipation. He is learning not to jump on anyone and to keep his mouth under control. He is learning that to get attention he must sit quietly – no easy feat for a puppy!
Last Saturday, a neighborhood 8-year-old girl had a friend over to play. When the friend met Argo and learned what his mission is, she said, “Argo, you will be the best guide dog ever!”
©Rita Venable 2013
Tree Lakes Resort is in Florida. Here is their website: http://www.treelakesrvresort.com/treelakesrvresort.com/Welcome.html