[nagdu] Home with Diamond

[avapup.7 at gmail.com]

Dear Shanna,

Congratulations on your guide-dog-to-hopefully-be! I love the name Diamond, and I love Shepherds. Someday my goal is to have a Shepherd myself, though others don't seem to think I'm strong-willed enough when it comes to dogs to handle one! I think I'll prove them wrong, grin.

Good luck as you begin her training. My Cocoa is owned-trained and it's an amazing experience having an owner-trained guide I think. I've had Cocoa since she was 11 weeks old! I absolutely lucked out that she loved to work and was good at it too.

I can't wait to read updates from you as you begin training!

Ava and Cocoa

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 18, 2012, at 3:07 AM, Shanna Stichler <slstich at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
> 
> I wanted to write quickly and let you know that I have returned from the East Coast with my new dog guide in training, Diamond. She is, just to recap for anyone new, a black and tan German Shepherd I purchased from a private breeder to train myself.
> 
> She did very nicely on the plane, and so far is bonding to me very quickly. She's only 8 months old, so of course she still acts like a puppy now and then, but she really wants to please, and she's very smart.
> 
> My plan right now is just to get her settled in and used to my handling style. She also needs spayed, and we'll go from there.