Volunteers Host Open House, Puppy Trials

Guide Dogs of America’s Ventura Puppy Raising Group recently held the 2016 Ventura Open House and Puppy Trials. The event theme was “Dog Days of Summer-Costa Rica Edition”

More than 50 GDA puppies-in-training and their GDA volunteer puppy raising families and friends attended from all over southern California. The fun-filled day included a BBQ lunch provided by the Camarillo/Somis Pleasant Valley Lions’ Club, a puppy clubhouse for the baby puppies, games, a photo booth, raffle, bake sale, and lots of socializing and camaraderie.

The day’s main event was the Puppy Trials that offered obedience practice for GDA puppies-in-training in a festive setting. Puppy Trials activities included heeling around distractions like the monkey tree, a “vet” exam, walking on stairs and different surfaces, and settling by their puppy raisers near the goats.

Congratulations to our winners in the Puppy Trials! The Highest Score overall in the Trials was awarded to GDA volunteer puppy raiser Richard Stevens and GDA puppy-in-training Bill. Here are the Puppy Trial results listed by age group:

13-18 months
1st: Patton
2nd: Tennyson
3rd: Tolkein
4th: Smitty		 13-14 months
1st: Vinnie
2nd: Varsity
3rd Bruin
4th: Abby
9-12 months
1st: Bill
2nd: Elara
3rd: Eloise
4th: Felix		 5-8 months
1st: Aspen
2nd: Piscar
3rd: Nava
4th: Mitzi

Guide Dogs of America is grateful to Ventura Area Leader Debbie Prince and the Ventura Open House and Puppy Trials Committee for hosting this fantastic event for the third year. And thanks to all the volunteers, including the Puppy Trial Judges, who pitched in to make the 2016 Ventura Open House and Puppy Trials a great day for all!

Bob handling GDA puppy-in-training Patton. Brian with his GDA puppy-in-training Vinnie. GDA puppy-in-training Nava poses in the photo booth.
Trials participants perform obedience. GDA volunteer puppy raiser Richard Stevens and GDA puppy-in-training Bill were awarded The Highest Score overall in the Puppy Trials. The “Vet” Exam event with Guide Dogs of America graduate “Dr. Adam.”
GDA puppy-in-training Fina relaxes with friends. Trials participants perform “heeling past the Monkey Tree.”
Tammy with her GDA puppy-in-training Aspen. Trials participants perform “up the open stairs.”