Meet Gryphon
CGC/TDI Graduate

Whelped on January 23, 2005

Sired by our Walkers Jake Derrin (Jake)

Purchase through us by Dan and Wendi Tibbets from San Jose, CA.

Gryphon comes from a litter of 6 pups. At 4-5 weeks of age he was a very calm, easy going pup, who didn't seem to have a care in the world. Well,
by the time he turned 7 weeks, he had found his true personality. He became a very outgoing pup, to say the least. Despite his changing, his new
mom and dad were still ready to accept him. I discussed it with them extensively and puppy classes, obedience training, etc. were the plan. None of
us at that time had any idea what Gryphon would prove capable of.

Gryphon arrived to Dan and Wendi on March 23, 2005 and the adventure began not long after.
 

Gryphon's "Resume"

Gryphon is a two year old Boxer who is training to become a service dog. His specialty is visiting people who are unable to enjoy their own dogs.
 This includes work with the elderly, handicapped, and with homeless people. Both Gryphon and his handlers enjoy helping to put a smile on
someone's face and doing so is one of Gryphon's special talents!

Born: January 23, 2005
Boxer Bark Kennels, Basile, LA
Breeder: Donna Walker
Breed: Boxer
Color: Flashy Brindle
Joined the Tibbets family in CA, March 2005
Handlers: Wendi and Dan Tibbets

Training/Milestones

Duration

Instructor
AKC Registration    
Puppy Kindergarten 8 weeks Rosalinda Gomez
Puppy Basic I 8 weeks Terry Fields
Puppy Basic II 8 weeks Cecelia Salame
Intermediate Obedience 8 weeks Cecelia Salame
Advanced Obedience 8 weeks Cecelia Salame
Canine Good Citizenship Test (CGC)    
Private Home Sessions 8 weeks Cecelia Salame
Delta Society Training 8 weeks Cecelia Salame
Certified Therapy Dog (Licensed)   Therapy Dog Institute (T.D.I.)

Gryphon is a very loving and caring dog. He loves attention and has to be a part of every activity. He is incredible with kids and loves to play.
Though he weighs 70-ish pounds, Gryphon still sees himself as a puppy. He is very much a typical Boxer in that regard and is also quite the clown
 at times. He gets along with other dogs of all sizes extremely well.

Gryphon travels incredibly well. He has thrived in both tents and four star hotels. He loves to curl up on the back seat of our SUV and go for rides.
 He has spent a lot of time in public for socialization and has done extremely well in places such as Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco;
 Powell's Book Store and the Rose Garden in Portland, OR; downtown Portland, San Jose and San Francisco.

He lives with us in a rural area outside of San Jose and has also learned to sit and stay on command while deer, wild turkeys, coyotes and other
animals are nearby. He still isn't the biggest fan of cats...we'll have to keep working on that.

Tricks
Sit Gimme a Kiss
Stay Bang (plays dead with stiff legs)
Down Peek-A-Boo
Sit up Open (door and latched box)
Shake Come
Speak No
Wave Hold Treats on nose during stay
Bow Jump
High 5 Leave It
Sing Give
Roll Over Drop It
Catch Settle
Back Close It
Look In Your Den
Heel On Your Rug
Bring Out of the kitchen
Weave Bring the leash
Fetch Jumping Hurdles
Open and closes crate by himself

Gryphon is looking forward to volunteering at a local homeless family shelter. This is transitional housing and the residents are not able to bring
 their own pets.

We have very much enjoyed our Boxer experience and working with Donna and Boxer Bark Kennels has been very rewarding. Donna truly cares
about all of her dogs and it shows in her actions and in the dogs themselves.

          

The following are dated emails from Dan, Wendi and Gryphon that give a time line of Gryphon's accomplishments.

May 6, 2005
 
Hi Donna....
 
 Wendi, mom of Gryphon, here.  I just wanted to update you:

 Gryphon is exceptionally intelligent.  HIGHLY intelligent, says the
instructor.  We've enrolled him in puppy classes, and although he's not 
even at the four-month marker, he's at the top of his class.
 
 While the other pups in class (some are a year old) are currently 
Learning to SIT and STAY, Gryphon is already well into agility training for flyball.  
Watch for him to be the flyball champ of California in the near future!
 
His current tricks (at 3.5 months) are:
SIT
STAY
COME
HEAL
OUT OF THE KITCHEN
BRING THE LEASH
JUMP
WEAVE
PEEK-A-BOO
SPEAK
SHAKE
HIGH FIVE
FETCH
JUMPING HURDLES
OPENS AND CLOSES HIS CRATE BY HIMSELF
"GO TO YOUR DEN"
HOUSE-TRAINED (as soon as we got him home.)
SETTLE DOWN
 
He also is able to push a button to open a special box in which I hide
treats...and he's currently learning roll over.  What a good boy!  He's also good with other animals and all kinds of people!
 
All these are advanced tricks, says the instructor, who urges me to 
get this smarty-pants into agility ('cause we're having the "operation" and he wouldn't qualify as a show-dog.)
 
We're as pleased as punch that our doggie is so wonderful.  Alas, he's 
Very spoiled....so we'll have to work on that:o)
 
Thanks for everything, Boxer-Bark.
 
Pleased and Proud Parents,
 
Wendi and Dan Tibbets
 
****************************************************************************************************************************************
June 1, 2006
 
Donna,


Proud mama, here. I wanted to update you on our boxer's latest accomplishments!

We bought Gryphon last year around March and he's been a wonderful addition
to our family ever since.

He's been in training for a year now, and last night we were thrilled to
have passed the CGC/TDI with 100% score. Gryphon will now be initiated into
the rewarding realm of volunteering- we'll be entertaining the elderly on a
regular basis and soon will join a flyball team of boxers.

What a smart doggie you sold us! He's learned enough tricks for us to
never have to repeat one in a half hour's time. The boy's got a SHOW!



Donna, thank you so much for enriching our lives with our little friend. It
means the world to me to have a constant friend around. He's a joy- and you
have every right to be one proud God-mother!


Sincerely,


Wendi and Dan Tibbets from San Jose, California


P.S. Don't be surprised if we
contact you to adopt yet another "fur-baby"!
 
****************************************************************************************************************************************
August 24, 2006
 
Dear Donna,
 
It has been a few months since I emailed you about Gryphon's CGC/TDI graduation.  Since then, 
our family has been actively involved in the service dog industry, namely the TDI therapy program.  
This training has provided an invaluable opportunity to better educate the public as to the nature of our 
canine companions. In one photo I am demonstrating to a young boy from the city how to approach a 
strange dog in the proper manner. City folks don't usually get the opportunity to learn these things, for dogs in
 public are a rare thing, indeed. Donna, I hope your business is well and you folks are taking care to
appreciate one another.  You do your part in providing potential service dog handlers with such fine breeds and 
temperaments, and I am a lifelong fan of yours.  I'll keep you informed of your "Good-Dog" as he makes progress.
Feel free to use our photos on your website or for potential owners.
 
Your friends in San Jose,
 
Wendi and Dan Tibbets
 
****************************************************************************************************************************************
 
 
We will post updates accordingly. At this time, I would like to thank Dan and Wendi for taking Gryphon and 
making the effort to help him become what he is today. I know that with out the two of you, Gryphon may 
have never had the opportunity to be a "working dog." Y'all are the best!
 
Dan and Wendi are willing to help those who may be seriously thinking of joining the world of therapy work
or competitive agility. If you are seriously interested, I can help you get in contact with them. 
Just give me a call at 337-526-4954 and I can provide you with their email address.

If you have questions about Gryphon or any of the information on this page, please send all questions/inquiries to boxerbarkkennels@yahoo.com.

~Donna Walker~
Boxer Bark Kennels
 

Left to Right: Champ, Gryphon, Chloe  Gryphon  Left: Gryphon  Right: Champ