Iroh’s September Pupdate: Preparing for Formal Service Dog Training

September was another fun and busy month for Iroh, the English Lab we’re following through our 2026 Pledge-a-Pup campaign supporting NW Battle Buddies here in Southwest Washington.

His foster family shared that Iroh enjoyed more time at the river this month, played with his dog friends, and continued practicing his training in different locations. He’s been working especially on his “down” and “stay” commands, helping him learn to listen and stay focused even when he’s somewhere new.

That kind of practice is an important part of preparing a future PTSD service dog. Service dogs need to be comfortable in all kinds of environments and able to follow commands despite distractions. Every river adventure, play session, training exercise, and new experience gives Iroh another opportunity to learn and grow.

Iroh’s Next Chapter

October will bring a big change for Iroh.

He’ll be heading to the NW Battle Buddies kennel for formal service dog training, where he’ll begin the next stage of his journey toward becoming a PTSD service dog for a Veteran.

Because of this transition, we may not have as many Iroh updates to share in the coming months. His time with his foster family has been such an important part of his development, so we’re especially grateful to have been able to follow along with him throughout these past nine months.

Thank You to Iroh’s Foster Family

Before Iroh heads off to formal training, we want to give a huge thank you to his foster family for everything they’ve done for him over the last nine months.

They’ve given Iroh a safe and loving place to grow, introduced him to new experiences, helped him practice his commands, and given him plenty of opportunities to socialize, explore, play, and simply be a dog.

Fostering a future service dog involves so much more than the occasional training session. It’s the everyday routines, patience, consistency, adventures, and countless little moments that help prepare a dog for the important work ahead.

Iroh has been incredibly lucky to have a foster family who has given him so much care and attention during this stage of his journey.

Following Iroh’s Service Dog Journey

We’re excited to see what comes next for Iroh as he begins formal training with NW Battle Buddies, a Southwest Washington organization dedicated to providing service dogs to Veterans living with PTSD and other service-related challenges.

While we may have fewer monthly updates for a while, Iroh’s journey isn’t over. In fact, this next step is a big one.

Thank you to everyone who has followed Iroh’s journey and supported our Giving Group Realty Pledge-a-Pup fundraiser. Your support helps NW Battle Buddies provide the food, veterinary care, supplies, and training needed to prepare service dogs for their future work with Veterans.

We can’t wait to see where Iroh’s next chapter takes him. 🐾

Want to Follow Along?

If you’re new to Iroh’s story, there are a few ways to learn more and follow his journey:

• Catch up on Iroh’s previous updates: See how he has grown and changed month by month, from a young puppy to the service-dog-in-training he is today.
• Learn about our commitment to the Pledge-a-Pup program: Visit our Joyfully Giving page to learn more about Giving Group Realty’s community giving program and how our Pledge-a-Pup sponsorship helps support Iroh’s journey with NW Battle Buddies.
• Learn more about NW Battle Buddies: Visit the NW Battle Buddies website to learn about their service dog program, the Veterans they serve, and the important work happening right here in Southwest Washington.

We’re so grateful you’ve followed along with Iroh and helped us celebrate this special part of his journey. We’ll be cheering him on as he takes his next big step toward becoming a service dog for a Veteran. 🐾