Private is a sponsored service dog in training for a Veteran through our Dogtopia Foundation partnership with K9s for Warriors. All proceeds from our weekly treat days, photo parties and other exciting events go directly towards this incredible Foundation! Here is the most recent update on Private’s training:

Hello, Sponsor Friend! It’s Private from K9s for Warriors with another exciting update. I’ve been busy being a great working pup and spreading my friendly black lab vibes to everyone I meet.

 One of my favorite activities lately has been visiting different offices on campus and showing off my skills. It’s always a blast to strut my stuff and impress everyone with what I’ve learned. Plus, working for my trainer is extra rewarding because he always has the best treats as a tasty incentive! I’ve also been hitting the road for our public access training in the van quite a bit. We’ve visited outdoor shopping centers, which has a wide variety of stores that my future warrior might frequent. I’ve been keeping my cool amidst all the hustle and bustle of downtown Jacksonville streets like the confident pup I am.

 One of the highlights was a big test we did at a department store. There were customers and employees watching as I showed off my skills. My trainer was really pleased with my performance overall, especially my heeling, down stay duration, stand and brace commands, and various positions like front, side, and under. I’m aiming to improve my sit stay duration, look command, and stay longer on my trainer’s lap.

 After the test, my trainer told me how proud he was of me, and I couldn’t help but wag my tail in delight—especially when I received extra treats!

 I’m looking forward to sharing more exciting progress with you in the coming weeks. Thanks for your support, and I’ll talk to you soon!

Wags and kisses, Deputy