Colt

Placement | June 2020

Some are scared of change, but I am excited for the future! Due to health reasons, I am unable to continue down the path to become a service dog. My fosters decided to adopt me, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my days relaxing and loving on them! Thank you to all who helped me throughout this journey!

Sponsor Announcement

Retrieving Freedom staff have been working closely with the American Legion Auxiliary to help sponsor my training. The American Legion Auxiliary graciously donated toward a sponsorship, which provided them the opportunity to give me my wonderful name! I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for their generosity toward my training. I hope to make them proud!!

Colt's Journey

Stage 1 Introduction

Hello, I am Colt.  I am proud to have been selected to enter into the Retrieving Freedom training program.  My parents are “Zia” and "Dovah" of Golden Rule Retrievers. During this stage of training I will be spending approximately 8 months with my new volunteer foster, Andrew. 

Throughout Stage 1, I will learn the basics obedience, public behavior, and a lot of 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. 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 on a monthly basis for all that would like to follow my journey through the program.   

July 2019 - 3 months old

   

My foster brother, Wilson who is a service dog from RFI has been showing me the ropes during my first month in my foster home. 

August 2019 - 4 months old

 

I was able to spend several days at the Missouri State Fair with my foster parent and RFI family. I worked on many different commands, while impressing the fair-goers! Although the socialization was fun, I was exhausted by the end of the trip.

September 2019 - 5 months old

 

I have been mastering my basic commands and I am a very good boy in public. I do have a hard time with duration, but who doesn’t when your this age and the world is full of wonder. I'm feeling fresh after a new haircut!

October 2019 - 6 months old

 

Andrew, his service dog Wilson, and I have been enjoying going on walks in the cooler weather. I'm very well-behaved and ignore strangers who come up and try to greet us!

Stage 2 Introduction

Wahoo!!!  I have officially been entered into stage 2 training, and I am so excited!  Over the past 8 months I have had the opportunity to see the RFI mission first hand, and can’t wait to dig deeper in the mission of changing lives through my training for veterans with disabilities and children with autism.

During this Stage, I will 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.  Follow me through this stage learning how I continue to make an impact! 

January 2020 - 9 months old

  

This month I traveled to Mississippi to begin training in a correctional facility. I am very thankful for my foster families and all they've taught me over the last 7 months! I hope to make them proud as I continue my training!

June 2020 - 14 months old

 

This month I transitioned from the correctional facility in Mississippi back to the training facility in Iowa. Time to begin working with the RFI trainers to see what path I will go down - veteran or autism!