I will no longer be updating Iron Guide (see below). Instead, I am now writing at my new, personal blog. Though that will be about some of the newer things I'm doing in life, if you want to see updates about Louie, Lester, and now Dusky, add me on Facebook -- there's enough ridiculously cute pictures to go around.

A few people have gotten sneak previews, but, today, I'm happy to show everyone. Folks, I present to you Louie and Gail's five babies: Padma, Patrice, Pecos, Polo, and Pran.


I just love how the little yellows sleep against each other with their head squished up on the other. Here's the funniest thing: that's apparently normal! It's on two different days!

Gail had two black females, two black males, and 1 yellow female (little "Pran"). If you're wondering why there are 3 yellows in the pictures, it's because Guide Dogs sometimes combines litters if they're small. Brothers, sisters, step-sisters, and step-brothers are all doing well and have now been matched up with puppy raisers all along the West Coast.

Guide Dogs mailed me the pictures and letter a couple weeks ago, but I just hadn't had the time to get them scanned and posted. (I got physical prints and it turned out that Guide Dogs didn't actually have digital copies.) I finally got around to dragging myself over to Kinko's and getting them scanned today.

Out of the 151 (!) suggestions, I picked the following five:

• Parker
• Patience
• Pari
• Parvati
• Pran

It being that I haven't heard of -- let alone met -- another Indian raiser, Judy suggested and I agreed that an Indian twist would be nice. Both my mom and Judy suggested Pran [*], which roughly translates into "life" but has a somewhat deeper meaning of spirit and lifeblood that I can't easily put into English. I think my mom put it best, however, saying that these dogs bring life to their owners. Parvati got 3 votes and had a fun Harry Potter angle (that one's for you, Kim! :P). Parker was the clear favorite with 5 different votes, so that one was a no-brainer. And Patience just cracked me up, which Hobbes Dogs suggested because, you know, every raiser and handler "needs to be reminded to have some patience from time to time."

[* Pran is pronounced "pr-AH-n". The "a" is like the "a" in "Pa", as in what you'd call your dad. It does not, I repeat, not, rhyme with Fran.]

Combined with the other raiser's suggestions, ensuring that no other puppy or working dog has the same name, only one ended up making it through. It sucks a little, but I'm happy there's at least some Indian masala in the mix now.

Labels: Louie

Permalink | Written at 10:15 PM | Post a comment | 3 comments | Trackbacks

Thank you for sharing the pictures - the puppies are adorable. Good job Louie!

I am honoured that you suggested Patience, even if it wasn't chosen by Guide Dogs.
Permalink   | Posted by  Hobbes Dogs at October 3, 2007 6:38 AM

They all look just like their dad (even the yellow ones :-). Sorry Parvati didn't make it but Padma is almost as good Harry Potter-wise.
Permalink   | Posted by  Kim at October 3, 2007 5:09 PM

Those are great pictures. At least one of your names made it, and it sounds like it was the one that had the most meaning, and importance. Good job Louie!
Permalink   | Posted by  Kelsey and Spike at October 4, 2007 8:52 PM