This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Kibble, a black Labrador and a seeing eye dog in training.
Here is what he had to say about his life so far:
My name is Kibble and I’m a Guiding Eyes For The Blind puppy in training. Last August when I was only 10 weeks old, I came all the way from New York and moved in with my new daddy John, a volunteer puppy raiser in Shirlington.
Over the past year, I’ve been taught lots of obedience skills and house manners, and socialized in variety of environments. That’s because service dogs must learn to work around different people, places and distractions.
I get to go with my dad to stores, restaurants, offices and even ride the Metro. I especially enjoy my weekly training class where I practice my skills alongside the other guide dog puppies in my region.
But it hasn’t been all work and no play for me. I love to jog, hike, swim, fetch, tug, chew, cuddle and eat kibble! Dad keeps adding new things to my bucket list, but so far my favorite outings have been to the National Zoo and Nationals Park.
I became so smitten with my foster cat Betty that I convinced dad to adopt her. He calls us Kibble and Betts, and we’re in a relationship.
Now that I’m a big boy at 16 months, I’ll travel back to the guide dog school in October for a test that will determine my future career path. I could be selected for formal guide dog training, the breeding colony, or an alternative career such as a detection or autism companion dog.
But if I decide that I just want to be regular dog, I get to go home with my dad and help him train his next puppy. Wish me luck!
Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!
Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of six consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.
Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.