{"id":26184,"date":"2018-04-06T19:22:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-07T03:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/?p=26184"},"modified":"2024-02-23T16:08:55","modified_gmt":"2024-02-24T00:08:55","slug":"will-my-dog-remember-me-after-a-month-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/will-my-dog-remember-me-after-a-month-a-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Will My Dog Remember Me After A Month? A Year?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

…It’s time to turn your service dog puppy in for formal training A.K.A. “Service Dog College”. As you hand your leash over to his new trainer it flashes in your mind…will my dog remember me after a month? a year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s one of the most difficult parts of puppy raising, but you’re a grizzled veteran of 11 puppies in training<\/a> and it’s a happy time because your puppy is taking the next step in his journey to becoming a service dog…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was me yesterday. I handed Charlie’s leash over to Sharon from Cascade Service Dogs<\/a>, we took a few pictures, I told Charlie to do good, and I waved goodbye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sniff, sniff…<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Will<\/a>
Will my dog remember me after a month?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

QUICK TIP:<\/strong> We like to keep something that reminds us of our puppy. If you’re a puppy raiser and sending your pup off to college then you might keep their pet tags<\/a> and favorite collar (we are pretty basic with our nylon buckle collar<\/a>, but you can find some great custom collars on places like Etsy) like we do and make sure to snap a few farewell photos with your smartphone.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will My Dog Remember Me After A Month? A Year?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In my experience, the short answer: is YES! Your dog will definitely remember you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I mentioned earlier after raising a puppy for 12-18 months, puppy raisers have to return their puppies to school for formal training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puppy raisers may not see their puppies again for 6-12 months, sometimes even longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are my stories as a service dog puppy raiser and the long answer to: Will my dog remember me after a month? a year?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Charlie<\/a>
Charlie in his Cascade Service Dogs puppy jacket<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Will My Dog Remember Me After A Month?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

STETSON’S STORY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s start off with my first guide dog puppy, Stetson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I picked up Stetson from Guide Dogs of America<\/a> (GDA) as a 10 lb, 7 1\/2-week-old puppy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One word describes him: ADORABLE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since day one Stetson was attached to my hip. We had adventures to Disneyland, train rides, Knott’s Berry Farm, movie theaters, shopping malls, you name it we did it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he turned 16 months old GDA called to let me know it was time for Stetson to start Guide Dog College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not every puppy in training makes it as a guide dog and after 2 months of formal training, I got the call that Stetson was going to be career changed (the nice way of saying he was being dropped).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would Stetson remember me after being away for 2 months? An emphatic YES!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember walking into the kennel area waiting for the techs to bring Stetson out for our reunion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They came out with three very similar-looking black Labs, possibly two of Stetson’s siblings. One of the three charged toward me with unbridled enthusiasm and I knew Stetson didn’t forget me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will My Dog Remember Me After A Year?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

DUBLIN’S STORY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you guys remember Dublin? He was my third puppy in training and my first guide dog graduate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We documented a good chunk of Dublin’s journey to become a guide dog on our blog<\/a> and YouTube Channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you ever wondered if a puppy will remember you after 6 months or longer then check out the 2:30 mark in Dublin’s graduation video<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n