Author Archives: Kassel Gill

OccuPaws

Skybreeze Rare “Quarter”

Male Standard Poodle
Bred by: Skybreeze Poodles of St. Simons Island, GA
Raised by: Bob & Joanne of Plain, WI
Blake of Milwaukee, WI
PawsForward of New Lisbon, WI
DOB: December 10, 2022

 

Training Stage: Puppy Training
Thank you to Cheryl for going to get these two poodle puppies from GA!  They have settled nicely into life in WI.  They have big shoes to fill as they are hopefully following Echo (guide dog in harness training)’s footsteps!

OccuPaws

Skybreeze Jazzy “Quincy”

Male Standard Poodle
Bred by: Skybreeze Poodles of St. Simons Island, GA
Raised by: Kati & Family of Fitchburg, WI
Patrick of Milwaukee, WI
Anna of Madison, WI
Lois of Fitchburg, WI
DOB: December 10, 2022

 

Training Stage: Puppy Training
Thank you to Cheryl for going to get these two poodle puppies from GA!  They two littermates have high expectations!  We are hoping that they follow in the footsteps of other guiding poodles.  

OccuPaws

OccuPaws I Want to Hold Your Hand “Ringo”

Male Black Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association  Olive x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Lindsey & Family of Cross Plains, WI
Keara of McFarland, WI
PawsForward of New Lisbon, WI
DOB: March 16, 2023

Training Stage: Puppy Training
Mr Ringo (Pink), the first born out of the litter.  He has a white spot on his chest!  He and mom gave us quite a surprise.  Olive was laying on the couch, all quiet but in a little labor.  When she got up and jumped off, there was a sleeping pup, all clean and dry, delivered by Mom without either making a sound!

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Force of Freedom “Rambo”

Male Yellow Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Olive x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Chris of Waukesha, WI
DOB: March 16, 2023


Training Stage: Obedience & Socialization
Mr Rambo, is the second born out of this litter. He has represented a blue collar during puppyhood.  Smallest of the litter, he got picked on a bit by Miss Red, so he got very good at the dash and hide.  He has more of Mama’s face than daddy Murray.

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Viking Hero “Ragnar”

Male Black Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Olive x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Jane & Family of Madison, WI
Gina of Waukesha, WI
DOB: March 16, 2023


Training Stage: Obedience & Socialization
Mr Ragnar, representing grey during this litter has been the sweetest one of the litter. He is a little timid, but quickly comes out of his shell with confidence.  He is also a pretty good problem solver, figuring out doggie doors fairly quickly.  Ragnar went onto his next raiser in Waukesha to enjoy the difference in the Madison life!

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Dynamic Artistic “Ruben”

Male Yellow Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Olive x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Julie of Fitchburg, WI
Jess & Russ of Lake Mills, WI
DOB: March 16, 2023


Training Stage: Obedience & Socialization
Ruben is another one of the 6 in the R litter. He spent some time at the emergency vet as a little pup as he scared us with some poop concerns, he was only a little dehydrated but he’s past that and on to do guide dog things!!

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Oldest “Rookie”

Male Black Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Olive x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Julie and Family of Verona, WI
Kassel & Taylor of Columbus, WI
PawsForward of New Lisbon, WI
DOB: March 16, 2023

 


Training Stage: Obedience & Socialization
Rookie, AKA Mr Brown is the last boy of the litter.  He is also a slightly smaller pup, and does look more like his Mama.  He is also a bit shy like Mr Grey, unless being attacked by Miss Red. After being raised with his daddy for a rotation, Rookie is heading to the big house!!

*have you caught on to the pattern yet of the R litter? Black, yellow, black, yellow, etc.

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Shannon “River”

Female Yellow Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Olive x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Kay of McFarland, WI
Julie & Family of Verona, WI
DOB: March 16, 2023


Training Stage: Obedience & Socialization
Surprise, surprise!!! A female to end the litter.  Although she was the last born, at her puppy check up, Miss Red was the largest puppy. She has learned over her first 8 weeks to tell her brothers to behave and stand up for herself.  We are excited to watch miss red grow up and be a great guide dog!! She was the easiest one to photo, but it is hard to see here in the photo but she has a darker side of her face and a lighter side which is split down the middle, we will see how that turns out as she grows!

OccuPaws

Cheerful Brilliant “Sunny”

Female Standard Poodle
Bred by: Puddle Jumpers of LaValle, WI
Raised by: Bob & Joanne of Plain, WI
Mark & Michelle of Wauwatosa, WI
DOB: May 5, 2023

 

Training Stage: Puppy Training
Sunny is a puppy coming with high hopes! She is joining us to fill big shoes, following a few other successful guide dogs from Puddle Jumpers!

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Guiding “Spirit”

Male Golden Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Willow x Teddy
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Kati of Fitchburg, WI
Anne of Fitchburg, WI
DOB: June 19, 2023


Training Stage: Puppy Training
Our first litter of golden retrievers!! Willow is a great momma.  Instead of puppies, these are little piggies – they are huge! and speaking of huge, Spirit is one big gentle giant.  He loves to play hide and seek in the tunnels in the puppy play area and then relax in your arms to cuddle.

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Interstellar “Star”

Female Golden Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Willow x Teddy
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Diane of Mequon, WI
DOB: June 19, 2023


Training Stage: Puppy Training
Miss pink was the first born of this litter of three. Until Spirit was born, Star was our largest ever puppy, weighing in at 18.4 oz.  Unlike most newborns, she did not need to be helped to start nursing, she crawled on her own, right to Mama and started to nurse.  As an 8 week old puppy, she and her siblings are the quietest, yet playful litter yet.

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Healing Herbal “Sage”

Female Golden Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Willow x Teddy
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Bob & Joanne of Plain, WI
DOB: June 19, 2023


Training Stage: Puppy Training
Miss purple was the last born baby, even bigger than her sister at 20.2 oz.  Again, a strong pup like her siblings, she had no trouble growing quickly.  She is the most curious and adventurous of the three, always being first to do something new, except she is less fond of being held and prefers to run and play.

OccuPaws

Bringer of Joy “Twixy”

Female Chocolate Standard Poodle
Bred by: Puddle Jumpers of LaValle, WI
Raised by: Jim & Kris of Cobb, WI
Lora of Madison, WI
Anna of Madison, WI
DOB: July 20, 2023

 

Training Stage: Puppy Training
A chocolate standard poodle has joined us for training! She is heading to the “Zoo” of Kris & Jim’s to start out her training. We are looking forward to her future of guide work!

OccuPaws

“Tilly”

Female Black Labrador Retriever
Bred by: ClearCreek Labs of Northern, IL
Raised by: Taylor & Kassel of Columbus, WI

DOB: August 3, 2023

Training Stage: Puppy Training
Liz from ClearCreek was debating between two pups for show and miss Tilly was not the chosen one so she came to us to jump start her life into Guide Dog training!! Taylor and Kassel are raising their first baby puppy.  She gets to hang out with her “Uncle” Murray.  Wish Tilly (and well Taylor & Kassel) good luck!!

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Thor’s Defender “Thurman”

Male Yellow Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Roxie x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Kate of Merrimac, WI
DOB: September 12, 2023

 

Training Stage: Puppy Training
Named after one of our Guide Dog Mobility Instructors, meet Thurman! Not only did it line up perfectly with sharing GDMI Jennifer’s last name, they actually share a birthday!! Coming in first in the litter, with a red collar.  Mr Thurman is also the boldest and confident of the pups.  first to try anything.

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Leaping Water “Tula”

Female Black Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Roxie x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Chris & Family of Waukesha, WI
DOB: September 12, 2023

Training Stage: Puppy Training

Tula, Miss Orange, was second born.  She has all the elements to make a good guide dog, especially her attachment to humans.  She will ignore food (usually) and her siblings to gaze at a human.  She loves 15 seconds of cuddling, then wants to sit and look at people.

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Beloved Friend “Taffy”

Female Yellow Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Roxie x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Julie and Family of Waunakee, WI
DOB: September 12, 2023

 

Training Stage: Puppy Training

Miss Yellow was named for litter mom Roxie’s  owner’s first dog.  Grandma Michelle has picked the most level, even tempered girl from the litter.  She has all the early traits of a good guide dog.  We hope this continues!

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Harvesting “Tessa”

Female Yellow Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Roxie x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Roxy of Arena, WI
DOB: September 12, 2023

 

Training Stage: Puppy Training

Taffy, Miss Green was the 4th born pup and was quite shy at first.  She would sit in the corner and observe rather than participate, think rather than do, wait rather than charge in.  Now she has started to blossom, still relaxed, but not much more engaging and playful.

OccuPaws

OccuPaws Gigantic “Titan”

Male Yellow Labrador Retriever
Bred by: OccuPaws Guide Dog Association Roxie x Murray
Raised by: Mark & Barb of Cross Plains, WI
Julie & Family of Verona, WI
DOB: September 12, 2023

 

Training Stage: Puppy Training
The last in the litter, Mr Blue, Titan.  He was born via C section because Momma Roxie was exhausted birthing the other puppies, she did not have enough left to push him out.  When going to the vet, they didn’t think Titan would be alive, but born via c section, he made it!!!

OccuPaws

“Uri”

Male Black Standard Poodle
Bred by: The Silver Collar
Raised by:
DOB: September 22, 2023

 

Training Stage: Puppy Training
A poodle puppy with really, really big shoes to fill!! We are very excited in welcoming two sibling poodles from a new, to us, breeder.  They breed poodles for service dog organizations and we are lucky to have them!  Mr Elvis, now Uri will be joining us in December.

OccuPaws

“Una”

Female Black Standard Poodle
Bred by: The Silver Collar
Raised by:
DOB: September 22, 2023

 

Training Stage: Puppy Training
A poodle puppy with really, really big shoes to fill!! We are very excited in welcoming two sibling poodles from a new, to us, breeder.  They breed poodles for service dog organizations and we are lucky to have them!  Currently named Elvira but she will be Uri when she joins us in December!

OccuPaws

Susan Elder

Director
October 2023 – Present
Susan joined the board in October of 2023 in conjunction with being a long term volunteer puppy raiser/sitter!