October 2017

October 17, 2017 - Nightmare Interruption

Charlie has been learning how to perform a behavior called nightmare interruption.  

October 2, 2017 - Wheelchair retrieval

Charlie is learning to retrieving a manual wheelchair

September 2017

September 25, 2017 - See Charlie show off his latest skills

September 21, 2017 - Refrigerator retrieval

Charlie has learned how to help get his veteran something from the refrigerator.

September 5, 2017 - Play Time

Charlie get's in his play time daily.

August 2017

August 23, 2017 - Emergency Button

Charlie has been working with an emergency response button.

August 15, 2017 - Phone Retrieval 

Charlie is learning to retrieve items by name.

July 2017

July 26, 2017 - Counter Transaction

Charlie is now combining commands to create new behaviors.

July 18, 2017 - Charlie "Leash"

Charlie has been working to expand his retrieving skills.

July 11, 2017 - Charlie "Shake"

Charlie has been working on his manners when greeting people.

June 2017

June 17, 2017 - Charlie "Up"

Charlie has been practicing on a behavior called "Up".

June 13, 2017 - Object Retrieval

Charlie has been working on picking up everyday objects that his veteran may need to him retrieve.  

June 7, 2017 - Charlie Follow

Follow tells Charlie to move behind a wheelchair when going through doorways.

May 2017

May 19, 2017 - Charlie working on carrying items

Have been working with him to carry a bag while walking next to Olivia.

May 15, 2017 - Charlie goes to the mall

Charlie demo's some of his skills while out at the store.

May 10, 2017 - Charlie's Hold Evaluation

Being comfortable taking a dumbbell from his handler and holding on to it without playing with it.

May 8, 2017 - Here's how you can support Charlie during National Military Appreciation Month 

In support of National Military Appreciation Month TODAY is highlighting the great work done by America’s VetDogs to pair veterans with service dogs that provide physical and emotional support.

May 4, 2017 - Charlie's day at the store

Charlie demo's some of his skills while out at the store.

May 1, 2017 - Support Charlie's Squad

In honor of Military Appreciation Month, Charlie wants to sponsor the next class of service dogs, but he needs your help. 

April 2017

April 26, 2017 - Charlie visits the ophthalmologist

Charlie gets a free eye exam thanks to AVCO. 

April 10, 2017 - Charlie is put to the test

Charlie is evaluated on his basic obedience.

April 9, 2017 - Charlie and friends visit NBC in Portland, ME

March 2017

March 30, 2017 - Charlie Gets Help

This behavior is critical to our veterans during emergency situations

March 22, 2017 - Charlie - Responding to Sounds

Charlie, Olivia and Katie have been working on hearing dog behaviors. 

March 8, 2017 - Charlie "Hold"

Holding a dumbbell is the first step in retrieving items.

March 6, 2017 - Charlie learns "Rest"

This skill helps help ground and center his veteran during times of anxiety.

February 2017

February 22, 2017 - TODAY celebrates 6 months with Charlie.

February 16, 2017 - TODAY puppy Charlie goes to his first basketball game

February 8, 2017 - Charlie "Push"

February 1, 2017 - Charlie is making big strides in his training: See what he can do!

January 2017

January 30, 2017 - Jump - Turn - Off

Charlie has been working on jumping up onto different objects.

January 18, 2017 - Charlie "Back"

Being comfortable moving in all directions is important for a service dog.

January 10, 2017 - Charlie learns wait

Learning the wait cue is a valuable tool for handlers. 

December

December 28, 2016 - Celebrate Charlie's half birthday!

December 23, 2016 - Come

Olivia has been teaching Charlie to come when she calls him.

December 20, 2016 - Touch

Charlie has been working on a behavior called Touch.

December 17, 2016 - There's a dog for that! 

Olivia talks canine career paths.

December 14, 2016 - Charlie and WWE's Tribute to the Troops

Charlie cheers on WWE's Bailey

December 13, 2016 - Under

Charlie has been working on a skill called "under".

December 7, 2016 - Side and Heel

"Heel" for Charlie on the left, and "side" for him on the right.

November 2016

November 29, 2016 - Charlie and "Settle"

Settle helps Charlie focus on being calm in different situations.

November 22, 2016 - Say Hello

Charlie has been learning a new command called "Say Hello".

November 16, 2016 - Head In

Charlie's service dog vest is an important part of him becoming a service dog.  

November 11, 2016 - A Veterans Day update

Charlie and Olivia gave an update during a special Veterans Day segment

November 10, 2016 - Charlie visits the Naval Academy on first major road trip

November 7, 2016 - Charlie's Feeding Routine

Teaching Charlie to be a gentleman at mealtimes.

November 2, 2016 - Charlie learns "Place"

Place is like a very advanced “stay” on a specific “thing”.

October 2016

October 24, 2016 - Charlie and "Kennel"

The most recent  behavior that Charlie have been working on is Kennel.  

October 18, 2016 - Walking next to mobility devices

Katie and Olivia introduce Charlie to walking next different pieces of equipment

October 17, 2016 - Behind the scenes - How Charlie and Olivia spend their mornings

October 14, 2016 - Loose leash walking

Walking on a leash is a simple concept but an important foundation behavior for a service dog.

October 4, 2016 - Introducing Charlie to fetch

One of the foundation behaviors a service dog has is retrieve.

September 2016

September 30, 2016 - Exposing Charlie to service dog sounds

Katie and Olivia introduce service dog sounds to Charlie.

September 27, 2016 - Exposing Charlie to hearing dog sounds

Katie and Olivia introduce hearing dog sounds to Charlie.

September 21, 2016 - Introducing Charlie's service dog trainer - Katie Ruiz

Olivia and Charlie starts working with a service dog instructor.

September 19, 2016 - Charlie steps it up!

Olivia took Charlie out to work on stairs.

September 15, 2016 - TODAY three-week update

It's been three weeks since Olivia and Charlie joined TODAY.

September 12, 2016 - Charlie's big weekend out

Charlie had a busy weekend of seeing new places and learning new things. 

September 9, 2016 - Charlie and the clicker

Charlie is learning about clicker training.

September 1, 2016, 2016 - Charlie takes his first swim

Dogs love to swim, and Charlie is not one to disappoint.

August 2016

August 30, 2016 - Charlie makes a visit to the vet

Charlie had to get a 9-week checkup by the VetDogs veterinarian. See how he did.

August 26, 2016 - Charlie had an amazing a first week on TODAY

Get this week's Charlie check-in from studio 1A.

August 23, 2016 - Charlie's sisters are getting a little playtime with their famous brother

Charlie loves to play with his 5 sisters.

August 23, 2016 - It's Charlie! Our "Puppy with a Purpose" now has a name

America has spoken, and the name for our puppy is Charlie. More than 20,000 votes were cast.

August 22, 2016 - Meet Olivia Poff, the raiser of TODAY's new pup

If you thought you heard the patter of little puppy feet this morning on TODAY, you weren't imagining it.

August 22, 2016 - America's VetDogs Announces Partnership with NBC's TODAY

Our little pup is about to take on an amazing journey with NBC's TODAY. This opportunity is a win-win-win for all parties involved, and VetDogs is excited to share information about who we are, who we serve, and how to be a part of our community. This puppy is going to have an amazing experience. 

August 15, 2016 - Temperament Testing

When our pups are around 4 to 6 weeks old we evaluate their temperament using various stimulation tests and tools. This allows us to determine which puppies have the greatest potential to one day be a guide, service or hearing dog.

August 11, 2016 - Getting Socialized

Puppy socialization includes taking me to restaurants, libraries, the mall and as many different environments as possible. I need to be safely exposed to as many different environments and situations as possible. A well-socialized puppy will have fewer adjustments to make when they come back to VetDogs for formal training.