On July 30th, nearly 4 months after he went in for guide dog training, I got "the call" that Paxton had been released from guide dog training.  Our local coordinator called me at work, so there I sat in front of my computer, crying and sniffling.  That was the beginning of my grieving process after having a puppy released from training.  Twenty-one months of work and hopes was now detoured and Paxton was off on a new life path.

After 4 months of training, the wheezing in harness, noted on his first month's evaluation was diagnosed as "soft trachea", a condition that is under investigation by guide dog agencies.  It is believed to be genetic.  There is no medical or surgical treatment.  It doesn't shorten their lifespan or limit most activities in any way, he just can't have pressure on his neck or chest.  Unfortunately the pull required in harness for a guide dog to communicate with his partner is too much for him.

I was faced with the decision I did not want to have to make.  I was able to say goodbye once, but now his fate was back in my hands.  I decided to have him evaluated by the Connecticut State Police, an agency that often employs released dogs from GEB.  He would be a detection dog, living with his handler's family and going to work daily with his officer/handler.  The CSP evaluator decided that this career was also not for Paxton.

I was not looking to add a pet dog to the family, but when it came right down to it how could I say goodbye again to those big brown eyes and sloppy pink tongue that I'd grown to love over our 18 months together?  The only "con" for me was that he could no longer come to work with me and I knew that it would tear my heart a little bit each day when I put Nessie (or future puppies) into the car and left Paxton behind.

After several days of thought and prayer and talking to friends (many of whom offered to take him for doggie daycare some days a week; a couple who offered him "day jobs"!), and discussions with Guiding Eyes about other potential adopters for him (there is a several year waiting list to adopt adult released dogs), I was still somewhat torn about what would be best for him.  In the end I let my heart lead my head and had him return home to me! (okay, who scrolled ahead to see what I decided?! *grin*)

The squeaky chicken is a favorite!

I think it was the right decision.  Paxton didn't miss a beat when we arrived at home and (after getting a lick on the head from Washington, the cat who thinks he's a dog) ran to the toy box and pulled out his favorite squeaky chicken.  He and Nessie ran around the house for several hours before we finally got to bed at midnight.  He's been very good at teaching Nessie to share and giving her more confidence around other boisterous dogs. 

Enjoying a rousing game of tug.

And while he still runs to the car after our last outing in the morning, and is very excited when he does get to go in the car, he is also quite happy to come in and get a stuffed bone before I leave with Nessie.  Like most dogs, he quickly adapted his body clock and naps during the day, even when I am home.  He is now a "Canine Good Citizen" and has passed the Therapy Dogs International, Inc. certification test.  We also started agility training and he's learning things that he wasn't allowed to do as a guide dog puppy in training (for example "shake hands" which it seems nearly everyone wants a dog to do!).

Nessie needed a little reminding of where to go during dinner, but they both settled quickly into place under my chair.

Nessie is growing like a weed and although she is a little ways from Paxton's 60 pounds, she is nearly as tall as him.   She (and probably not coincidentally, her brother Nanook) hit their puppy adolescence (and all that goes with it) a few weeks ago so the timing couldn't have been better to have a "helping paw" to supplement the extra patience required of me to get through this stage!!

I had to laugh and grab the camera when I saw Nessie follow Paxton into the little crate.
Nessie seems to be telling Paxton "No, seriously, if you move your paw over a little we can both fit in here!"

Since much of my blogging about Paxton was about the new experience of raising a guide dog puppy, I'm having a little difficulty in coming up with something new to tell you about her (even dogs have 2nd child syndrome???) so please let me know in the comments what you'd like to hear about Nessie!

Around 8 p.m. they both settle for the night, sometimes on opposite ends of the same bone,  with one last romp before we all head up to bed.

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