Where Oh Where Will My Little Dog Be Going?
Cabana's information packet from Guide Dogs for the Blind included a letter stating that her litter has been set aside for possible international placement. I don't know much about this at all, but my puppy group leader mentioned that GDB has a relationship with South Korea to help increase their breeding stock and that South Korea only uses yellow labs.
I did a bit of online research, and it looks like Cabana, if selected, will be going to the Samsung Guide Dog School. Sure enough, they only have photos of yellow labs on their site.
Ironically, I myself am Korean and was born in Seoul, Korea. I came to the U.S. when I was 2 years old, so my Korean language skills are embarrassing. However, I wondered if I should start teaching Cabana a few commands in Korean, so she'll have an inkling of what people over there are telling her to do. "Chokoman gang-aji, ahn jyuh ra!" (Don't worry, I'm not really going to do this.)
It makes me sad to think of Cabana going that far away. Even the thought of her being on an airplane, flying away from our home at hundreds of miles per hour makes me tear up. But that's what we signed on for when we decided to be puppy raisers. We can't choose where these dogs end up. And we have to trust that no matter what, Cabana will bring hope and help to people in need.
Amen!
The good news for you is that I have not been asked for any Cabana updates for international breeding so far. Poppy has been here almost 2 weeks and my behavior updates have been passed on because they are asking about her. Typically, we don't hear anything other than the designation of being a potential international breeder. If they do get flown off somewhere, it is my understanding that they have a human escort and fly in the cabin of the plane. That makes me feel better!
When I heard that they wanted Poppy's update, I was sad at the thought of her flying away. But, I was wounded when I heard that they decided to pass on her for now! How on earth can they not want to know my baby better??
Another double-edged sword in the puppy raising world.
I wouldn't worry too much about her being on the international donation list. Hobbs' litter was being considered too, but I never heard anything from GDB about additional tests and such.
So don't get too upset over her flying to South Korea yet!
Don't worry too much - even if they do pass all tests they still might not be chosen as an international breeder. The school will send a representative to select 1-2 dogs out of 3-5 dogs (although this is not a set fact or anything - only from what I've heard), so not all dogs that are in GDB's international litters may become international breeders, even although they may have passed all temperament and health tests.
And of course- if she is chosen, it will be a great honor!
That is cool that Cabana is an international litter, as Focus is as well. It makes me wonder if thier dad was an international dog and they are giving breeders to his school? A I can totally realate to you not wanting her to go hundreds of miles away as I don`t want Foucs to do that either, but I just gotta trust what GDB decides and hope it`s the best for Focus!
Avery and Adeline's litter was also an international litter! They have the same mom though!
That's great! Arturo was an international option, too! Very very few of them are selected, though.
Well, it sure sounds like I worried for nothing. I didn't realize so many were international litters and that so few actually get sent. It's good news to me!
For those organizations that only use yellow labs, what do they do with litters that include blacks & chocolates?
K9, I was told on my GDB tour that chocolate is the most recessive gene, so chocolate pups only come from chocolate parents. Guide Dogs for the Blind doesn't care what color the dogs are, so they don't have any chocolate ones at all. As for the Samsung Dog Center in Korea, I don't know what they do when they end up with a black pup in the litter. It's a good question. I hope they just give it to a family who wants a pet.
I just read that yellow to yellow breedings will only produce yellow puppies... don't know if that is true as I don't trust everything I read on the web, but if that is the case then the Samsung Dog Center may never produce blacks or chocolates. Interesting!