We received our second (together with Rylie as point) guide dog puppy in training, Toa. Toa (rhymes with Boa) is a Polynesian name for warrior. She is a black lab and golden retriever cross. She is 8 weeks old and sweet as pie.

Toa.

Such a strange name you might say. Let me share with you some information on why her name is so odd.

Guide Dogs for the Blind has their own breeding program to breed the most successful dogs to become guide dogs. Each breeder is selected as the best of the best with careful consideration of genetics, health, personality, and things that make a guide dog successful.

When a litter is born, a letter is assigned to the litter. That letter will be the start of every puppy’s name. So every puppy in Toa’s litter starts with the letter ‘T’. There are two puppy’s in our club from her litter, Taco & Tampa!

So why are there some “normal” names and some “odd” names?

Guide Dogs for the Blind only uses a name once while the dog is actively in training, breeding or working as a guide dog. With over 2000 working guides, probably just as many current puppy’s in training and a bunch of breeders, you can imagine the creativity needed to make names. They also try not to use the common dog names like Gizmo, Sadie or Fluffy.

My puppies have been Ambrose, Belle, Desmond, Riviera, Jiffy, Silky, Friendly and now Toa.

Toa. I like it. As a Disney fan all I can think of is Moana. The evil crab is named Tamitoa in that movie. She’s not evil though. She is beautiful and sweet.

Welcome Toa to the start of training.