There are currently three ways a dog can "graduate" from guide dog school.
Working Guidess - After 6 months or more of formal training, the dog is matched with a visually impaired partner. Up to 4 more weeks of training is done together on campus before the new team is presented at a graduation ceremony. Often times the puppy raiser has the opportunity to attend graduation and meet the new partner.
Breeder Dogs - After returning for formal training, those dogs still under breeder consideration are carefully observed by the trainers and the breeding department. Only the most exceptional dogs are chosen to join the breeding colony. These dogs are also presented at a graduation ceremony and will live with a foster family in between litters of puppies.
K-9 Buddies - This is a new program that matches a suitable dog with a blind child to provide companionship, increased social opportunities, love, and experience caring for a dog. If the child later chooses to be matched with a guide dog, he or she will already have experience with dogs.
Dogs not selected for one of these three jobs are said to be career changed. Career changed dogs go on to work as therapy, search and rescue, diabetic detection, hearing, or of course they can be pet dogs! Check out Boulder's wonderful career change dogs!
Dallas
Dallas is a female, yellow labrador. She was born on May 9, 2008 to dog mom Debra and dog dad Eric.
Ellis
Ellis was born on June 20, 2006 to dog mom Bayla and dog dad Kinsey. He was raised by Emily.
Ellis graduated as a working guide in March 2008, but he has since retired and moved back in with Emily. Ellis enjoys being a pet now, and loves his "sister" Angel (now called Gelly).
Dori
Dori graduated as a working guide in May 2008. She was born on July 3, 2006 to dog mom Doralee and dog dad Baker.
She was raised by Tara and family.
Bryant
Bryant graduated as a working guide in October 2007.
Bryant was raised by Frances, Lucia, and family.
Prada
Prada graduated as a working guide in May 2006. She was raised by Jill, Kirsten, and their families.
Lenny
Lenny graduated as a working guide. Lenny was raised by Erin and Matt. Lenny is now retired and is back with his raisers.
Juana
Juana graduated as a working guide, but is now working as a therapy dog. Juana was raised by Jill and Don.
Vasser
Vasser graduated as a working guide in 1998.
He was born on February 12, 1997 to dog mom Hazy and dog dad Signal. He died in 2008. He was brothers with Valor, also raised in the club. Vasser was raised by Karen.
Surfer
Surfer graduated as a guide dog in 1997. He was a big, yellow, male labrador. He was rasied by Lauren and is now retired.
Dart
Dart is a male, yellow labrador born on October 18, 2015 to dog dad Tiburon and dog mom Nilla. He is being raised by Cece, Sol, and Tom.
Rhythm
Rhythm is a female, yellow labrador born on February 10, 2015 to dog mom Cava and dog dad Keno. Rhythm transferred into the club and is being raised by Claire. Rhythm graduated as a breeder dog.
Ostend
Ostend graduated as a breeder dog and then graduated again as a working guide. Ostend was raised by Doreen and Aaron.
Mona
Mona graduated as a breeder. Mona is a female, yellow labrador who came to the club on October 14, 2011. She is being raised by Anna and Levin. Her dog mom is Fiji and her dog dad is Nevin. Mona's birthdate is July 28, 2011.
Kristoff
Kristoff is a male, yellow labrador being raised by Tom&Sara and Matt&Sharyl. Krostoff's dog dad is Vikram, also raised by Matt and Sharyl. Kristoff was born on December 24, 2014 to dog mom Belize.
Kristoff was donated to the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind. They gifted 2 females and 1 male out of his two test litters to other service organizations.
Waikiki
Waikiki is being raised by Maddie. She is a female, black labrador that joined the club on 8/21/2015. Waikiki was born on June 16, 2015 to dog mom Irene and dog dad Nevin. Waikiki is littermates with Willoughby and Wilmette, also being raised in the club.
Una
Una is a female yellow labrador born on August 15, 2014 to dog mom Jerianne and dog dad Keno. Una is being raised by Terry and Megan. Una graduated as a breeder dog.
Eski
Eski is a male, yellow labrador born on July 6, 2016 to dog mom Taipei and dog dad Magic. He is being raised by Lauren. His brothers are Eagle (the black one) and Enzo and Eragon (the yellow ones).