Bryson and Pete's Story

Sponsor Announcement

I am excited to announce my Final Training Sponsorship from Chuck Dick! He provided Retrieving Freedom with generous support, which helped throughout my last stage of training and supported me through the placement with my fur-ever person! I am so thankful for Chuck and am proud to be sponsored by him!

Placement | September 2020

  

It is with great excitement that I announce I have been placed as an Autism Service Dog with Bryson! We have been working together for several months, finalizing tasks that I will help him with, day in and day out. We are truly the best of friends. Bryson, his family and I all passed our public access tests in September of 2020 and are looking forward to a lifetime of growth, happiness, and love.

Bryson's Story

Bryson was diagnosed with Autism at 2 years of age at Children's Hospital and Vanderbilt as well. We got concerned around 15 months of age after he quit talking and interacting with others. He also didn't play with toys correctly.

When Bryson turned 4, he was still nonverbal but loves to make noise. He is one of the happiest kids to be around and loves to laugh. He has lots of sensory issues, seeks lots of pressure, and loves to give pressure as well. Bryson is a runner and definitely doesn't see fear in anything. Bryson's care group and we as his parents believe he will benefit from a service dog in many ways. We are very thankful for family and friends who have supported us along this journey.

Pete's Journey

Stage 1 Introduction

Hi! My name is Pete. I am proud to have been selected to enter the Retrieving Freedom training program. My dam is "Faith," who is fostered in the Sanderman home. My sire is "Olaf" of Ridgeview Labradors. During this first stage of training, I will spend approximately 8 months with my volunteer foster, Kelley. Kelley and her family have graciously decided to teach me all it takes to become a great service dog.

I will begin with basic obedience, socialization, and appropriate public behaviors. I understand that it takes a very special dog to become a certified service dog, and there's always a chance I will be one of the dogs whose purpose is outside of service work. I will be updating you monthly on my progress!

August 2018 - 2 months old

I have been learning lots in my foster home! We go on nightly walks. I'm becoming very curious with my surroundings.

September 2018 - 3 months old

I'm a big fan of sporting events! I amaze mom every day with how focused I am on her in crowds and loud places (treats help!). 

October 2018 - 4 months old

People keep saying snow in October is not normal, but I don't mind it! Mom and I still go on our nightly walks. I'm getting big - one of the biggest in my litter. Everyone comments on how handsome I am. 

December 2018 - 6 months old

One of my favorite things lately has been going to work with mom. I learn a lot from everyone at her work, and I feel like I am teaching them a lot, too.

January 2019 - 7 months old

I have been working on socialization and appropriate behaviors both in public and at home. There's a lot to learn at this age! 

February 2019 - 8 months old

Look how big I am getting! I am so proud to be named after my foster mom's grandfather. Ironically, Pete is also my dog-grandfather's name. I think it's the perfect name for me.

May 2019 - 11 months old

Mom keeps saying I'm going to be a hard one to "give back." When she says this, she means turning me in for full-time training, where I'll work with a RFI trainer toward becoming an official service dog. I know this time is coming soon. It's bittersweet because I will miss my foster family but know that I was meant to change someone in need's life as a service dog!

Stage 2 Introduction

Woohoo, I'm in Stage 2! Over the past 10 months I have been working hard with my foster family and together, we have witnessed the RFI mission first-hand. I am excited to continue my training and see the mission in action some more. During this training stage, I will have a special role with the Impact Programs. There's a chance I could work with inmates, elementary students, at-risk youth, college students, and of course, my RFI trainer. Stay tuned to see how my important my role will become in these programs and if I am able to move on to stage 3!

July 2019 - 13 months old

 

This month I was able to participate in a super special week-long event called "Sit, Stay, Read!" It honored the memory of a young local boy who lost his life much too soon. Students from his school came to Retrieving Freedom every day and read books to me, painted with me, and learned about acts of kindness. 

August 2019 - 14 months old

I met my new teachers over the summer! I have 3 special teachers who will be taking me to their classes throughout the school year to work with their students. I am so excited to make an impact on these students' lives over the next year!

September 2019 - 15 months old

My RFI trainer has decided I will be best suited working with a child with autism. If you'd asked my foster family, they would've said that all along. I've always been extremely laid back, which is just what it takes to work with a child! Now it's time to begin task training specifically geared toward working with children.

October 2019 - 16 months old

  

Happy Halloween! I surprised my Wartburg student today by being dressed up as Superman when she showed up to train with me. We have been working hard in class and on Wartburg's campus. She says I'm easy to work with because as soon as we get to class, I settle in for a snooze.

November 2019 - 17 months old

My trainer says I've learned all that I can with her, and it's time to move on to Stage 3 where I can work directly with potential recipients. This is great news!! Thank you to all who have helped me get this far, let's see what Stage 3 has in store!

 

Stage 3 Introduction

With nearly a year and a half of hard work from numerous handlers and myself, I have received notification of my acceptance into the Stage 3 training course! This is the final training stage on my path to becoming a Service Dog for a child with autism. During this stage, I will begin to meet potential recipients, learn final training tasks, finish my role in the Impact Programs, and spend 100 working hours one-on-one with my hopeful recipient. This stage will take 4-6 months to complete, and I understand there is a still a chance I might not make it due to health or performance. I'm excited to share with you all I accomplish during this stage!

December 2019 - 18 months old

Even though I have been training with RFI handlers and in my impact programs majority of the time, I still find time to spend with my original foster home! I was thankful she took me home for two weeks over Christmas. It was fun to spend time with my new foster sister, too! 

January 2020 - 19 months old

My stage 3 trainer has been taking me all around the country to meet potential recipients. I enjoy spending time with each of them. When I'm not traveling, I am finishing up my school year with Wartburg students and in my elementary classrooms. My students have learned a lot from me so far, and I have learned just as much from them.

March 2020 - 21 months old

My time with my Wartburg student handler was cut short due to a global pandemic. I valued our time together and will miss working on campus with her! 

April 2020 - 22 months old

   

Hoppy Easter! With the quarantine, I haven't been able to work with clients or go into public. I've been working hard with the trainers at the facility, though, and it's looking good for a placement right around my second birthday! Fingers crossed!

May 2020 - 23 months old

  

On the first of May, I made the trip to the RFI location in Sedalia, MO to finalize my training. Over the last week I was able to say "cya later" to my breeding foster family, puppy foster family, and teacher foster family. A big thank-you goes out to all of you who helped me reach this point! As soon as quarantine bans are lifted, I will head to work directly with my client who is anxiously awaiting my arrival. That makes two of us.

June 2020 - 2 years old!

I celebrated my second birthday this month. I am super excited to begin working with my client SOON! I have been spending my training time while being quarantined with the trainer to perfect my tasks and skills.

July 2020

This month I participated in the Grand Opening event for the new Missouri facility, where I'm finishing up my training at. I was able to give demonstrations on how an autism service dog works. I showed off tethering and "crash." Soon I'll be leaving to train with my hopeful recipient. 

August 2020

One final trip to work with my favorite human. Wish us luck as we near placement!