Zander the GDA Pup

Zander the GDA Pup Hi my name is Zander with a Z. I’m in college "Guide Dog Track" for Guide dogs of America/ Tender Loving Canines. I was raised by Nicole Burke & Sean Logal.

Follow my training to become a guide dog for a blind/visually impaired

www.guidedogsofamerica.org

Celebrating Dotty’s Graduation!We received wonderful news yesterday!My Hooman’s first Guide Dogs of America puppy in tra...
08/19/2026

Celebrating Dotty’s Graduation!

We received wonderful news yesterday!

My Hooman’s first Guide Dogs of America puppy in training, Dotty, will graduate this Saturday as a service dog for a retired Navy veteran living with PTSD.

They raised Dotty—a Labrador/Golden Retriever cross—from 9 months until she was 17½ months old. She then continued on to formal training at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Now she has been matched with her person, and together they will cross the finish line on

Saturday, August 22, at 10:00 a.m.

Please join us in celebrating as
10 remarkable dogs graduate into life-changing roles supporting veterans, children with autism, and facilities in need. Their work will make a meaningful difference for so many people.

We are so grateful to Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines for everything they make possible for recipients, dogs, trainers, staff, volunteers and most importantly puppy raisers. It truly takes a village, and they we incredibly proud to have been a small part of Dotty’s journey.

💛🐾🦮🚀
Zander

Graduation details
Guide Dogs of America
13445 Glenoaks Blvd.
Sylmar, CA 91342
You can also watch live on Facebook or YouTube:
Guide Dogs of America on YouTube

Hey everybody- it’s Zander writing from Guide dog college. No real updates yet but I wanted to give a shout out to my li...
08/15/2026

Hey everybody- it’s Zander writing from Guide dog college. No real updates yet but I wanted to give a shout out to my lil bro Houston pictured below who is a 5 month old puppy in training for GDA/TLC. Follow his journey like you did mine to becoming a working dog for someone in need. FB & IG


Guide Dogs of America - Tender Loving Canines

Exciting news — on my 18-month birthday yesterday, I received the email that I am officially beginning my journey on the...
07/17/2026

Exciting news — on my 18-month birthday yesterday, I received the email that I am officially beginning my journey on the Guide Dog track.

This path means dedicating myself to learning, growing, and training with purpose, so that one day I can guide and support someone who is blind or visually impaired. It is an honor to take on a role that brings greater independence, confidence, and connection to another person’s life.
Every step forward is part of something bigger than me, and I am ready to give my whole heart to this journey.

Follow along as I continue to learn and grow and guide!

My wonderful trainers at Guide Dogs of America will be sharing updates and letters so my hooman raisers can stay connected to each chapter along the way.

🫶🦮
Zander

I turned 18 months old today!Happy 18 months Z- Blings.On Saturday, I went IFT - in for training, and this week I took m...
07/17/2026

I turned 18 months old today!

Happy 18 months Z- Blings.

On Saturday, I went IFT - in for training, and this week I took my BCL test.

I should find out tomorrow which track I’ll be taking—

Guide or Service?

I’m excited and a little nervous, but ready for whatever comes next.

The photos are from Saturday, when my hoomans walked me to the kennels.
It was a big moment. I’m going to miss them just as much as they’re going to miss me.

I’m hoping to share some good news with everyone tomorrow!

🫶🐾🦮
Zander

Hi friends, it’s your favorite GDA pup, Zander.I wanted to give a big shout-out to my hoomans’ new puppy in training, Ho...
07/15/2026

Hi friends, it’s your favorite GDA pup, Zander.

I wanted to give a big shout-out to my hoomans’ new puppy in training, Houston.
He’s a full Labrador, born on February 18, 2026, and he’s officially started his journey to become a future guide or service dog with Guide Dogs of America.
For the next year, Houston will be learning all the ropes and working hard while still living his very best puppy life. I’ll be cheering him on every step of the way.
Be sure to follow along on Instagram and Facebook: Houston the GDA pup.

🫶🐾🦮
Zander

Yesterday was one for the books.I’m writing to you from college—well, at least where my journey officially begins. Yeste...
07/12/2026

Yesterday was one for the books.

I’m writing to you from college—well, at least where my journey officially begins. Yesterday we had lunch at a beautiful dining room at GDA, sponsored by the wonderful Sandy Bennett. Thank you, Sandy, for your generosity and continued support.

I got to spend time with all my
Z-blings —always my favorite part. Especially my “bitty face” twin brother, Zeke. We took what felt like a thousand photos with our litter and all our humans (don’t worry, I won’t bore you with all of them).

After lunch, we walked down to the kennels, where we each met our roommates. Mine is Frida, a very pretty Golden. I’m not sure why I couldn’t room with Zeke, but at least we can still see each other through the fence.

I know I’m going to miss my hooman’s but I was born to do great things.

Stay tuned—I take my BCL evaluation this week, and I’ll keep you posted on where my journey leads next.

Meanwhile, my hooman’s are raising a new puppy—a nearly five-month-old male red/yellow full Lab. Give him a follow: Houston We Have a Problem.

Talk soon:
Zander

Today’s the day… IFT, here I come! I’m off to college, and guess what? I get to reunite with all my Z-Blings littermates...
07/11/2026

Today’s the day… IFT, here I come! I’m off to college, and guess what? I get to reunite with all my Z-Blings littermates—cue the tail wags!

Wow… these past (almost) 18 months old and 14 months with my hooman’s have been paws-itively amazing.

I’ve learned so much, fallen head over paws for my raisers, and found the best home a pup could ask for.

Next week, I’ll write and let you know what my future holds. I’ve got a big national test coming up that will help decide my path—guide dog or service dog… stay tuned!

Raise a puppy, change a life (and trust me, you changed mine too).

A big shout out to the best sponsors Bob & Kathie for sponsoring my journey as a puppy in training!

Love you all—nose boops and tail wags,

I really hope there’s food and treats are this turn in breakfast!

🫶🦮🐾
Zander

Hey everyone — with just 1 day left until I go IFT, I had the sweetest surprise outing with my twin brother Zeke yesterd...
07/10/2026

Hey everyone — with just 1 day left until I go IFT, I had the sweetest surprise outing with my twin brother Zeke yesterday. We picked something cool to do indoors and spent time at the Reagan Library, which made for such a fun day and some great photos. We also stopped at In-N-Out for lunch, and the kind lady behind the counter gave us some In-N-Out hats — no burgers, but still such a cute surprise, and thank you so much. It was a really special day, and I’m so glad we got to make that memory together.
🫶🦮🐾
Zander

With college just around the corner this Saturday for my formal guide or service dog training, I thought I’d share a few...
07/08/2026

With college just around the corner this Saturday for my formal guide or service dog training, I thought I’d share a few more fun moments from my time in Mammoth—my happy place that I’m really going to miss.

We hiked up to a beautiful lake (seriously, it was perfect), but sadly my humans said no swimming. Apparently I need to stay in tip-top shape for turn-in… whatever that means.

After our hike, we had a really nice lunch up at the mountain, and then they took me grocery shopping—which, if I’m being honest, I could have skipped.

A big shoutout to my amazing sponsors, Bob & Kathie Stegmann, for supporting me on my journey from puppyhood to this exciting next step!

T-minus 3 days until IFT…

Also, I’m starting to think something is up—my humans have been spoiling me more than usual…

🫶🦮🐾
Zander

Last trip to my favorite place, Mammoth Lakes, and it did not disappoint. We filled our days with tons of hikes, explori...
07/07/2026

Last trip to my favorite place, Mammoth Lakes, and it did not disappoint. We filled our days with tons of hikes, exploring all our favorite trails and soaking in those unreal views, plus a little shopping around town in between. Of course, there were plenty of zoomies by the pool, which might have been the highlight depending on who you ask.

We got to celebrate a super fun Fourth of July up there too, which made the whole trip even more special. The only downside? Somehow, with all that BBQ going on, there were zero table scraps… still not over it.

I can’t believe my puppy in training with my hooman’s is coming to an end!
4 more days, I will finally get to see all my siblings in one place.

Don’t worry I be writing home once a month and attaching photos of how I’m doing with my training…
Stay tuned…

🫶🐾🦮
Zander

Address

Beverly Hills, CA
90210

Website

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