Zander the GDA Pup

Home
United States
Beverly Hills, CA
Zander the GDA Pup

Hi my name is Zander with a Z. I’m a puppy in training for Guide dogs of America/ Tender Loving Canines. I’m being raised by Nicole Burke &
Sean Logal.

Thank you to Kathie & Bob Stegemann for Sponsoring me. www.guidedogsofamerica.org

06/08/2026

Sunday I got to meet Hank the horse and hang out with my brother Zeke, and honestly, it was a pretty big day for a guy like me. I kept my cool, sniffed out the situation, soaked up the attention, and made sure everyone knew I was there for the full barn experience 🐶🐴✨
First things first: Hank is huge, very handsome, and definitely has the kind of calm energy I aspire to. I did my best to be polite, curious, and charming, which is basically my specialty.

Zeke, which made the whole adventure even better because every good outing is improved when your favorite sibling is involved.

I’d say this was a successful trip all around: new friend checked off, brother time checked off, and maximum tail-wagging achieved. If you need me, I’ll be reliving my glamorous horse-meeting, brother-hanging day like the social icon I am.

Stay tuned for more fun adventures this week…

🦮🫶🐴🍎
Zander

06/07/2026

I had the best time at the
Guide Dogs of America open house today!

I got to meet so many new friends, see old friends, of course see favorite Brother Zeke l, got to explore, and show off my good manners like the pro I am.

Huge tail wags to everyone who made it such a special day , Melissa and Sheri who watched me for a bit — I left feeling like a total hero in training.

5 weeks until IFT …..

🐾💛 🦮
Zander

06/01/2026

Happy Monday, everyone!

Just 2 more days in the cone, and my neck and face are healing up nicely. Hopefully my fur is fully back in time for IFT on July 11.

My humans were extra nice yesterday and gave me a little cone-free time—
I was such a good boy and didn’t scratch.

Cheers to a beautiful week ahead!
I’m also counting down the days until I’m officially done… and even more excited because my new little brother, Houston, will be joining our family in about 3 weeks.

You can follow his journey on Facebook at “Houston We Have a Problem,” and I’ll be sharing my page with him on Instagram too.
He’ll be 15 weeks old and a full Lab—can’t wait!

🫶🦮
Zander

05/28/2026

Life is gonna be ruff for the next week… cue the cone of shame.
Nothing too exciting going on—just chillin’ on a couch I’m definitely not supposed to be on.
I just spent 5 days at the GDA kennel.

I had a roommate, played a little too hard, Bitey Face. Then add in a bath and splashes in the pool… yeah, it turned into a pretty bad skin infection.

Huge shoutout to the amazing vets and staff at GDA for getting me all cleaned up. Now it’s time to rest and recover.

Wish me luck.

❤️‍🩹
Zander

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day from Zander, your favorite puppy in training with Guide Dogs of America. I’m still learning all my commands, but today I’m learning about something really important—remembering the brave heroes who gave everything for our country.

I may be just 16 months old, but I know their courage helps make the world a place where I can grow, learn, and one day help someone in need. So between my training, tail wags, and snack breaks, I’m taking a moment to honor them.

Wishing you a Memorial Day full of love, gratitude, and maybe a few extra treats and belly rubs.

05/19/2026

From my Hooman’s

Happy Gotcha Day to our one and only Zander 🐾

He’s now 16 months old—a golden retriever/ lab cross puppy currently in training with Guide Dogs of America / Tender Loving Canines.
Zander is incredibly smart, very handsome, full of drive… and yes, stubborn as hell!

We’ve truly loved raising him. In just under two months, he’ll head off to formal training for about a year, where he’ll continue his journey to becoming a guide dog or a service dog for a child with autism, a veteran with PTSD, someone with mobility challenges, or even a facility dog.

If you or someone you know has ever thought about raising a puppy, we highly recommend it—feel free to reach out.
Zander is our second full-time puppy we’ve raised, and it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences we’ve ever been a part of.

05/16/2026

I’m 16 months old today!

I’ve got 8 more weeks with my hooman raisers, then I’m off to IFT — “in for training.” I’m making the most of my last weeks, so if you have suggestions for places I should visit, tell me!
I’m ready to train and help my forever hooman. I’ve mastered all my commands, but I’m still working on loose‑leash walking and my stubborn streak (I’m half Golden, after all).

Thank you for following my puppy‑in‑training journey — please keep following because there will be letters being sent home.

A huge shout‑out to my sponsors,
Bob and Kathie Stegemann, for all their love and support on my journey to be the best puppy-in-training.

🫶🦮
Zander

05/12/2026

Team Lawrence all the way! 🐾

I spent the past weekend hanging out with the Lawrence family, and let me tell you—they have two awesome pups.

Ollie, a retired guide dog, and Ajax, a guide dog puppy who was released.

They showed me the ropes and welcomed me with open paws.

We packed in all my favorite things: swimming, walks, and of course… a solid game of Chewie Face (my specialty). I even got to go out to dinner—clearly living my best life.

They said I was a very good boy with excellent house manners… although there was a rumor about me being “stubborn.” Not sure where that came from. Sounds fake.

Really hoping I get to go back for another visit before IFT. The countdown is on—8½ weeks to go!

🫶🦮
Zander

05/10/2026

Happy Dog Mom Day to the hooman who raises me, feeds me, trains me, walks me, loves me, and somehow still thinks I’m “in training” when I very clearly already have my own opinions. I may be a puppy, but I know I hit the jackpot with you.
Thanks for the treats, the belly rubs, the endless patience, the early walks, the “leave it” lectures I pretend not to hear, and for loving me even when I zoom, flop, beg, snore, and make questionable decisions .You teach me how to be a good boy, even though I’m pretty sure my main job is still being adorable and slightly chaotic.
So today, I celebrate you, my favorite human, my trainer, my snack provider, my walking buddy, and the very best Dog Mom a pup could ask for. I’m one lucky guy, and I’ll try to repay you with extra kisses, tail wags, and only moderate mischief.

🐾💛🦮
Zander

05/06/2026

Oh wow, what a day!

My hooman took me to an aquarium and my best gf Milly came along too.

We had so much fun exploring the whole place, but by far my favorite part was seeing these amazing animals called seals. I’m not even sure who likes who more—me or them!
If you’re a service dog or a puppy in training, I totally recommend an aquarium outing. It’s exciting, fun, and great practice for all the things we’re learning to do!

🫶🦮
Zander

Address

Beverly Hills, CA
90210

Website

http://guidedogsofamerica.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Zander the GDA Pup posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Beverly Hills?