*as of 12/7/2020
About Gracie
Hi, I'm Gracie, but my humans like to call me princess. I was born May 28, 2017. At 8 weeks old, I became part of the New Life k9s family just like all my friends. My favorite subject in class is nose work. I am able to find a ring that has been put in a bottle, and that has been hidden on a shelf. I love to play hide and seek and spend time at the beach tanning! I am now a warrior support dog!
From Gracie's Handlers
"The time that I have been able to spend with both Gracie and Eddie has been valuable with many lessons learned along the way. My mission as their handler was to help teach them to one day become a service dog so that they help a veteran or first responder who has PTSD. What is often not mentioned throughout this process is how influential the dogs can be for us and our own growth. Eddie was the first service dog I was placed with and as his secondary handler I learned how to be responsible. Eddie taught me that he had needs and relied on us to take care of him and set him up for success. I learned that I always needed to find time for him and put my own matters to the side and tend to him at that moment. Eddie, ultimately prepared me to eventually be a primary handler for Gracie. I have been Gracie’s primary handler since she arrived here at CMC west when she was 8 weeks old. Gracie has taught me so much during our time together. I learned how to be patient and understanding, while raising her from the young puppy to the beautiful dog she is today. Gracie has truly been here for me and has helped me get through some difficult times. Gracie’s love has helped me deal with my own issues of anxiety and PTSD." -Tony Urbina
See Gracie's Progress Below
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Hi everybody, it’s me Gracie again. There is a good chance that this might be the last time you hear from me. Earlier this month I took a trip to Channel Island University and everybody there loved me! It looks like I will get to be a therapy dog for college students at the University! College can be very stressful and so I am looking forward to brightening their days! I will have a buddy to run around with on the campus as well, my buddy Doc. I will definitely miss my teachers, my puppy parent and her family, and all of my buddies in the New Life K9 program. Being in the program has been a great experience and now I am ready for the next chapter in my life.
March 2019 Update
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Hey guys, can you believe all this rain? I have just been hanging out indoors and staying dry.
I haven’t been able to go on any outings, but I’m hearing whispers that I might be heading
to a University to be a Therapy Dog. Wouldn’t that be great?! I love being affectionate and
making people happy, so I’m really hoping it works out! In the meantime, I’m spending
time with all my friends. Check back in March to hear what happens!February 2019 Update
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Happy New Year everyone, it's Gracie! I hope this new year brings all of you happiness. As for me, I just got back from my Christmas vacation. I go to play in the snow and have a bunch of fun! Santa Claus was nice enough to bring me some little booties (doggy shoes) for Christmas to help me with my surface issues. It was a little strange to wear them at first, but I'm getting used to them. I've been doing lots of socializing and confidence building activities. My retrieving is also improving and I'm really good at playing hide and seek!
January 2019 Update
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Hello everyone, it’s Gracie! This month has been a little rough. I have been struggling with my self-confidence and have been scared to go to new places and walk on strange surfaces. So, my teachers decided I should go home with my puppy parent every night. They are hoping with more exposure to new things I will start to feel more comfortable. I’ve been going to all kinds of places with my puppy parents. We went to the movies, restaurants, and shopping. With all of the support from my puppy parent, I'll be able to keep improving and be more confidence!
I'll check back in with you guys next month to let you know how everything goes!November 2018 Update
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Gracie is doing good these days, she loves to have fun with NLK9S buddies here at CMC west Monday - Friday. On the weekend she has fun with her puppy parent, Nurse Bullock. Gracie's adventures on the weekend allow her to be the true explore she is. She has been camping, attended concerts & comedy shows, goes to the beach regularly, festivals, and many other places. She loves playing hide and seek.
We have been working on an alert where we put a teddy bear (that she absolutely loves) in elevated areas. She will go search for it by looking up and them coming to alert us that she wants her teddy.
OCTOBER 2018 UPDATE
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Welcome back everyone! This month flew by for me, I learned lots of complex things. My handlers are showing me I can help other people when they are in distress or need my help. It was hard at first for me to respond to the other people I don’t spend too much time with, but what made it easy is I help the new people by bringing my handlers too them. It is a work in progress for me. Since I am getting older and more than 1/2 the way through my learning process in becoming a service dog I am also maturing. Check in with me next month to hear more about my progress!
SEPTEMBER 2018 UPDATE
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I am lots of love and a cuddle bug. My favorite activity is doing nose work. I am very good at finding objects that are hidden. I have been told I am a natural helper, I love getting help when my handler tells me to go get help. What I do is I go alert a person that is nearby and walk him or her over to my handler. I am getting very good at it. I recently got to go to the Port San Luis Pier with my Mommy and the New Life K9s Team!
AUGUST 2018 UPDATE
