Alda's - Breeding
  Alda homepage | Early Years | Presentation Ceremony | Breeding | Movie "Sit" |
   

2003 | Season | Alda breeding with Dylan | Pregnancy | Ultrasound | Birth | Pups 10 days | Pups 17 days |

     

| Pups 24 days | Pups 31 days | Pups 38 days | Pups 45 days | Pups 52 days | Pups 58 days |

      The Pups | Cynthia | Covina | Cairo | Chuckie | Carmel | Carob | Chardonnay | Coralee | Clarabelle |
     
 

Covina graduated on Nov 19, 2005

 

Tattoo number: 467B
Shaved patch while in the kennels as a puppy was Left Shoulder Female (LSF) or second heaviest born female.

   

Mariea and Covina
Mariea and Covina

 

Covina and I graduated on November 19th. I only had her for a week before the graduation. I was originally paired up with another dog, but she began showing signs of unacceptable guide dog behavior and the head instructor decided to retire the dog. So, Covina and I have time to make up. lol. She is such a sweet dog. She loves people a lot too. You are correct about the playing tug. She absolutely loves playing tug. She doesn't tug too hard and I end up pulling it away from her. She'll then try to grab it. I have to watch that though, because she will try to jump for it. Normally that might be ok, but since I cant see her jumping, I'm afraid she's gonna accidentally scratch me or something. She also loves to put her front paws in my lap when I'm sitting in a chair. She'll do this funny little head dive thing. It looks like she is trying to stand on her head in my lap. She does like to jump too, as I've mentioned some before. When I first go to her in the mornings she will try to jump up. I'm trying to break her of this though. She is an excellent guide dog as well. She's already stopped in a crossing to keep a car from hitting us. My boyfriend and I were standing at an intersection and we both have dogs. Anyway, we heard the traffic for us and we told them forward. The next thing we new, they'd stopped and cars were turning in front of us. The cars were just inches from their noses. We were very proud. She loves to work. When we go walking places she walks really fast and wags her tail. She also crosses the streets like a little rocket. She guides me around most obstacles very well. She sometimes doesn't clear my right side though. I love how affectionate she is too. I'm teaching her to give kisses, but she loves to shove her body into you. She'll knock you over if you aren't careful.

   

9 Sep 2005 - Covina is in Phase 7

 

Jonathan holding Covina as a small puppy, while standing next to his mother
Dec 2003

Covina is being raised by Jonathan, a 13 year old young man in Tacoma, WA. They are members of the club "Pooches with a Purpose." The raiser writes, "Covina had a rough trip up to WA on the puppy truck due to the severe snow storm in OR and WA. We were supposed to get her on Thursday, but did not receive her until late Friday. At that, some leaders had to drive down to OR and bring the pups up. Covina is really small and sweet. She loves being close to us and has had problems with whining in her kennel when she is left alone. It looks like all the puppies in Alda's litter take after Dylan."

Later they write: "Covina has greatly matured in the last 2 months, especially this last one. She is really coming along in her training and house behaviors. A friend who trains hunting dogs says she would make a perfect hunting dog because she exhibits those traits of alertness and always sniffing. He always calls her a hunting dog and we always contour with "No she is going to be a guide dog!"

7 Aug 2005 - Covina is in Phase 3
16 Jun 2005 - Hi thought you would like an update. Mid March, Covina went to another family, in another county, that had more time to try and work out her relieving problems. Now, three months later she is on her way back to school for formal training. The other family really enjoyed Covina and said what a treat it was to have her. We saw her off at the Puppy Truck this afternoon. Also returning was Covina's brother Cairo. We will get weekly updates on which phase she is in at school. Cross your paws and fingers for her.
From Jan 3, 2005: Hello and a Happy 2005! Covina is still with us. Her training has gone well, but she has had medical issues. Ever since we have had her, she has had a staph infection on her skin. Last summer it got really bad and the vet tried giving her antibiotics. Unfortunately she is very sensitive to that type of antibiotics which caused severe diarrhea. We dealt with the diarrhea and skin problems for months until GDB had her down at the Oregon campus for a month in Oct/Nov. They switched her food and did medicated baths. Her health is great now and we took her to the local vet to get spayed last week. We think she will be recalled in February or March. Here is a picture from our club's December outing on a local "Santa Train."
    Covina as a puppy lying down in grass   Covina as a puppy looking at camera while sitting
 

 

Website links
- Guide Dogs for the Blind Breeding Program
- Contra Costa East Guide Dog Raisers
- University of Cal article about being a Breeder Keeper

     
             
             
 

website updated on Jan 3, 2005

         

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