The Puppy Project
- Feb 25
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 11
I am blissfully in a room full of puppies. Puppies! Yellow and black labs that are three months old. Three months old. You know what this looks like-Puppies! Seven labrador puppies. All in various positions of alert, sleepy, or curious. Their puppy raisers are tuned in to the trainers as well as their puppies.
This is the National Park litter at Champ Assistance Dogs (https://www.champdogs.org/) and I am a guest.
Completely lost in this puppy heaven, I’m trying to pay attention to the trainers while not being too apparent that all I really want to do is sit on the ground and hug a puppy. Rub a tummy. Scratch behind a few ears. Nuzzle a muzzle.
The idea to reach out to Champ came slowly and steadily. My friend Holly is a whelper helper spending time cuddling puppies. She often sends photos which always make me smile. The last round of photos hit the target on the mark, and I began thinking about how to get involved. How to get my puppy fix AND use whatever skills I have to collaborate with Champ Assistance Dogs.
While not set up to take on a puppy, what could I do? I let the thought come and go until I had the idea. I had met Pam Budka, the Executive Director of Champ at a West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce meeting the year before and then once again sometime this year we sat together at a Chamber meeting.
I reached out to Pam via email and asked if she had time to chat about an idea I had.
When we spoke, I explained my idea. “I’d like to follow a puppy from the time she is in training with a puppy raiser through her placement as a service dog. Get to know her and write about her journey.”
Credit to Pam Budke for even listening! She liked the idea and from experience suggested, “Would you be willing to follow the litter? That way if a puppy doesn’t make it, (and there are reasons this happens-blog to follow) you will have more opportunity to see what happens.”
“Yes, I like that idea even better.”
“Let me talk to a few people and I’ll get back to you,” she said.
“That sounds good. I appreciate it. I’d love to come to a training and/or meet the litter as soon as possible,” I added.
Because of timing, small space and the priority of the puppy raisers, I wasn’t going to be able to meet the tiny pups until they were with their puppy raisers. Puppies and programs are on their own timing.
Good lesson for me to practice patience.
The Universe works in mysterious ways. So does St. Louis.
While waiting to hear back from Pam Budke, my friend Jenny and I planned a birthday outing to a restaurant in University City so that we could stop by the STEM Open House at the Engineering School at Washington University.
While wandering around, Jenny and I headed to pick up boxes of water, and I spotted what looked like a puppy. Walking over to her, I asked if I could pick her up.
“Yes, we just picked her up from Champ this morning,” her human said.
“Are you a puppy raiser? I’m going to follow this litter!” Even though it hadn’t been approved and I didn’t have a green light, I felt good about the idea. Holding Denali, smelling that puppy smell, and hugging her, I knew I was supposed to somehow be involved with this litter.
That week I sent a photo of myself with Denali to Pam and said, “Look who I met at Wash U this weekend!!!”
The week of December 1st, Pam reached out and asked if I could attend the training class that Saturday on the 6th.
Yes!
And so, on December 6th I made my way to Champ Assistance Dogs in Creve Coeur and found myself in puppy heaven. I met a number of the pups outside and then accompanied them into the facility. The entire environment speaks of dogs, puppies, training, and love. It felt relaxed and charged in the room as the puppies and their puppy raisers took seats around the room and started the training.
I reminded myself to mind my manners. The puppies were here for a reason, and the reason was not so that I could hug them all.
Pam introduced me to a few of the puppy raisers while the trainers took turns explaining techniques, demonstrating what they were looking for and encouraging the humans and puppies to give it all a try.
Sitting next to Julia who had one of the pups as well as the momma dog to all the puppies I asked a few questions, and she showed me pictures of the dogs at home. This was her second round of being a puppy raiser.
Truth be told, I loved the training. While there is much for both the puppies and puppy raisers to learn there is also support, encouragement as well as confidence in the puppies and their humans. While the group was training, volunteers were also trimming nails and weighing the pups. Puppy raisers were picking up supplies, too.
Trainers Christina, Nola and Katie demonstrated with great skill techniques they wanted the puppies and puppy raisers to practice. Every movement, every request is important for the eventual life of these service dogs. Honestly, I would have been nervous, however, the goal was straightforward. The trainers patiently demonstrated the techniques, and it was fascinating to watch the puppies at three months respond.
These puppies would one day be service dogs and starting them off on the right paw was imperative. Yes, they were puppies and needed a lot of love as well as the training that would one day be called upon to help and assist someone live a full life.
As the training wound down, I tried to meet as many puppies as possible and introduce myself to their humans. There is a lot going on in a room full of three-month-old puppies. Moving them in and out on their leashes, asking questions, gathering supplies.
I thanked the trainers and asked questions. I also asked how they felt about talking with me about this Puppy Project (if we got a green light!) as well as a visual podcast. Everyone was very excited about the possibilities.
While I headed out smelling like a puppy, I was very happy to have met the National Park litter and hoped that Champ liked this idea.
Circling around, Pam and I emailed and arranged to meet after the December Chamber meeting. Ironically, we both won prizes that day. Heather from the Chamber walked by while we were talking and said, “It’s good to be a Pam today.” We both laughed.
Pam asked me a few questions about the idea for The Puppy Project. “What can we do for you?” she asked. I was ready. “Honestly, you are providing a puppy fix for me and I’m using the skills I have to write stories. Thanks for supporting the idea. Also, can you put me in line to get a puppy?”
She smiled. And then said, “We would love for you to do this project with Champ,” and the deal was sealed! I was more than happy that this project was a GO.
The next week she emailed:
I am so grateful to you for planning to feature CHAMP Assistance Dogs and follow our puppies and puppy raisers as they progress in our training program. This will be wonderful for CHAMP. I look forward to meeting with you again, after the first of the year.
Knowing that CHAMP was moving, Pam had alerted me that it would be a few weeks into January until they would be in training again.
I was looking forward to this project and truth be told, everyone I mentioned it to was also very interested. Seems that puppies hold a universal appeal. And puppies being raised to be service dogs was even more interesting. Stay tuned for updates on The Puppy Project. I hope to make you laugh, cry, and become invested in the National Park litter.
Thanks to Pam Budke, Executive Director CHAMP Assistance Dogs.
Thanks to Christina, Nola and Katie, the trainers I’ve met who are willing to share their expertise.
And many thanks to the puppy raisers and the puppies.
Thanks too, to Holly for the initial idea by sending pictures of these adorable puppies and for encouraging me in this idea.
For more information: https://www.champdogs.org/
Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON! More puppies please!
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