Cohen and Boo's Story

 

Placement | April 2021

   

We are excited to announce Boo's placement with a special girl named Cohen! They have passed all necessary testing and are an official Service Dog Team. Cohen's parents say that Boo fits in 'like she's always lived here and was coming home,' and has helped Cohen become more active and responsible. Congratulations on your placement, Cohen and Boo!

Boo is Cohen's successor Service Dog as she was previously placed with a Service Dog named Pressley. You can read their story here: https://www.retrievingfreedom.org/blog/post/cohen-and-pressley

Sponsor Announcement | 2018

Retrieving Freedom staff have been working closely with Juanita Reynard to help sponsor my training. Juanita graciously donated toward a Puppy Head Start Sponsorship, which provided her the opportunity to give me my wonderful name! I want to thank Juanita from the bottom of my heart for their generosity toward my training. I hope to make her proud!!

Sponsor Announcement | 2021

Many thanks to Jim and Linda Spurling for their Final Training Sponsorship, which helped Boo through the last leg of her training. With their assistance, she made a successful placement with Cohen as an Autism Service Dog. Thank you for your support, Jim and Linda!

Boo's Journey

Stage 1 Introduction

Hello, I am Bichette, but my friends call me Boo. I am proud to have been selected to enter into the Retrieving Freedom training program. My parents are "Winnie," (Kerrybrook Labradors) whose breeder foster is the Epley Family, and "Prince" or Ridgeview Labradors. During this stage of training I will be spending approximately 8 months with my new volunteer handler at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (IMCC).

Throughout Stage 1, I will learn the basics of obedience, public behavior, and spend a lot of time working on my socialization. I understand that it takes a very special dog to complete the program, as there is a high standard to become a service dog at Retrieving Freedom. I am aware that I may be one of the dogs whose purpose is outside of service work, so I will be updating my profile regularly for all who would like to follow my journey through the program.

september 2018 - 2 months old

I just left my mom, Winnie and all of my littermates. I was raised by the Epley family in Iowa. Now that I am ready to start my training I will be heading to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (IMCC). I will be training with my handler for the next 8-10 months along with many other RFI service dogs in training. 

november 2018 - 4 months old

I have been in training for 2 months at IMCC. I have been working on perfecting my basic obedience skills such as "sit", "down", "place". I am often referred to as a "very smart girl" I have been practicing walking on a lose leash through crowds, and I have been going into weekend foster homes to get more public exposure and socialization. 

Stage 2 Introduction

Woohoo!! I have officially been accepted into the second stage of training, and I am so excited! Over the past 8 months I have had the opportunity to see the RFI mission first-hand at IMCC and can't wait to dig deeper and witness it further. This training stage will be another 8 months of working within the Retrieving Freedom Impact Programs. Currently, these programs include working with college students, at-risk teens, summer campers, and elementary students. They also work with inmates, but I'm already a pro in that department. During this stage, I will also work closely with the RFI professional training staff to solidify my understanding of intermediate tasks and the foundation of future commands to help mitigate a disability. Keep following along my journey through this stage to see how I help make an impact!

December 2019 - 17 months old

I spent the holidays with a foster family and had so much fun! It's nice to have a relaxing break from training. I wouldn't let this tennis ball out of my sight the whole time!

Stage 3 Introduction

Over the last year and a half I have been working diligently to get to this part of training... Stage 3! I switched to my Stage 3 trainer at RFI and he has confirmed that I will be working toward becoming a service dog for a child with autism or a veteran with a disability. During this stage I will begin to meet potential recipients, learn final training tasks, finish up my role in the impact programs, and complete the 100 required one-on-one hours with my future recipient. This stage is a 4 to 6 month process, and I understand there is still a chance that I might not complete the program due to health or performance. I'm looking forward to sharing with you about my first visits with potential recipients, trips into public, and other highlights throughout my final stage of training.

March 2020 - 20 months old

I am nearing the end of my training. My trainers take their time perfecting my tasks for my future recipient. This photo was taken after a fun, yet exhausting, play session after I worked on tasks.

April 2020 - 21 months old

 

Due to the quarantine, my training continues to take place at the RFI facility. I am looking forward to the day that I can work with clients again! 

June 2020 - 23 months old

When I'm not busy training, I make sure to have plenty of time to rest and play. Pictured here, I am playing with friend Finley! We are so excited to begin working with clients and weekend fosters again! 

July 2020 - 2 years old!

It's been so nice to work with clients again! I'm close to placement (woohoo!). I was able to celebrate my second birthday this month.

August 2020

It's healthy to get a good play session in after a long day of training!

September 2020

   

You could say these two are my best friends - Finley and Wrigley. I love to "hold" items in my mouth!

October 2020

 

I spent a week in a foster home this month where I was able to go to work at Wartburg College. I spent time in various environments on the college's campus and did great! I also attended soccer games where I whined just a little. Can you blame me? Chasing balls is my favorite! I thought they might pass it to me to play at one point, but had no luck.

November 2020

 

I've been working on final task training this month while I prepare to transition to the other Retrieving Freedom training facility next month. There, I'll begin working with new clients!

December 2020

    

This month I transitioned to the Missouri facility to begin training toward a placement. My trainer has a client in mind and I am so excited to focus my training toward the goal of being placed as a service dog very soon!

January 2021

  

The weekend homes I travel to after long weeks of training continue to note my fascination for tennis balls. I could play fetch for hours on end!

February 2021

  

I met with a perspective client. My trainer thinks we will be a good match, and I enjoyed spending time with them. Here's to more training sessions together and forming a bond!

March 2021

   

I had the opportunity this month to go with a few of my buddies in the training program to a baseball game! The training staff took us to work on actively ignoring sights, sounds, and smells. We all did great!