What’s in a Name?

Wes wants YOU to name a puppy! Wes’ name is more than a fleeting fancy. He was named after the founder of our advocacy partner Littler Mendelson. Have you ever wanted to name a Canine Companions puppy? In the spirit of National Puppy Day, we are giving YOU a chance to submit a great puppy […]

dog sitting on ground

Let the Commands Begin!

Learning commands Since Bogo arrived in Florida several months ago, he is now old enough to go out in public, and many people are surprised at how well behaved he is. “He obeys his commands very well,” says Martha, his volunteer puppy raiser. Some of the commands he is currently working on are: let’s go, […]

yellow puppy wearing glasses and a bandanna on

Growing Up in a Newsroom

Newsroom puppy Buckeye began joining the Friday morning NBC4 team on-air as a 9-week-old puppy. From that day on, he started learning what it takes to be a newsroom puppy star as well a future Canine Companions® assistance dog. Growing up in a newsroom has given Buckeye many unique opportunities for socialization and training. He’s […]

yellow dog wearing a yellow Canine Companions puppy vest on red dog with newsroom in the background and dogs toys around

Beach, Babies, Baking and Barking

Puppy Alexis is now six months old and has been learning and experiencing new things every day in sunny San Diego! This month she went in the ocean for the first time and loved playing in the water. She’s also learned that young children share the same interest in toys as she does and has […]

Growing Like A Really Cute Weed

Now three and a half months old, Zari is growing like a weed and learning new things every day! This month, Zari has been busy learning various commands, meeting dogs and people, and taking in all the sights, sounds and smells she’s being exposed to. She’s quick learner who’s already mastered “sit” and is working […]

Foley, the “Almost” All-Weather Pup

Have you ever wondered what happens to an assistance dog when the weather turns wet, cold and blustery? Or when temperatures rise and things start getting a bit hot? The simple answer is, they carry on. As part of the training process, Canine Companions® puppies are introduced to various circumstances, including weather. Foley has experienced […]

Insights from Our Volunteers Puppy Raisers

While each of our volunteer puppy raisers is unique to the organization, they all share a common goal – to provide the love, dedication, sacrifice and joy it takes to raise a future assistance dog. The messages below express how and why our puppy raisers decided to join our organization and give a large piece […]

When Disaster Strikes

Everybody knows that natural disasters can strike at any time. However, nobody would have predicted that in the last four months of 2017, natural disasters would threaten three out of six of Canine Companions for Independence’s training centers. September brought Hurricane Irma, whose high winds and rains caused downed trees and loss of power at the Southeast […]

Twelve months with Foley

Pacifipuppy Foley celebrated his first birthday in December, and his volunteer puppy raisers have been marveling at how much he has learned, how many places he’s traveled to, and how attached they’ve become to this very sweet pup. “Foley is a quick study! He’s super smart, game for any adventure and a pleasure to have […]