March 2026 – Future Leader Dog Roo Update
Future Leader Dog Roo has had a very busy month! We spent three weeks traveling to see family in Alabama and Florida, covering about 3,340 miles by car. Roo is a wonderful travel companion — she slept most of the time, played with her toys, and rode beautifully. During the daytime she occasionally got a little antsy, so we made frequent stops for walks to break up the drive.
While in Florida, Roo joined me at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Conference and Tradeshow for work, where she had plenty of opportunities to practice calm greetings, impulse control, and handling distractions. Over three days of seminars, she laid quietly at my feet, and during two days on the tradeshow floor, she waited patiently while I spoke with vendors and engineers. A highlight was when she sat calmly for about 40 minutes watching a geese dog demonstration — a true testament to her impulse control.
We also made time for some fun! The family visited Daytona Beach and Disney Springs, including a stop at LegoLand. Roo loved spending time with my goddaughter’s son, and the two of them had a wonderful time together. She was a little more skeptical of my sister’s pool, however. While leaning in for a sniff, her paw slipped off the pool deck and her nose went straight into the water. She didn’t fall in completely, but she scrambled to her feet and made a very quick retreat — safe to say, the pool did not win her over!
One of Roo’s most impressive moments came while we were relaxing on the hotel pool deck. A gecko, about six inches long, came wandering over while Roo was tethered to my chair. She watched it intently as it moved around within easy reach of her leash — and yet she held herself back completely. I was so proud of her in that moment.
Since returning home, Roo has continued attending Lions Club meetings and events. She is also still working on her relationship with my cat, Ash. Progress is slow — Roo still earns rapid-fire smacks to the nose — but Ash does seem to be growing a little more tolerant, while Roo remains very persistent.
Written by Lion and PDG Jeff, Future Leader Dog Roo’s Raiser
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Presented by Chief Financial Credit Union - June 7, 2026
Kick off your summer with a fun and scenic run through Downtown Rochester, MI. All proceeds from the Bark & Brew 5K directly support Leader Dog’s life‑changing programs and services, provided at no cost to people who are blind or have low vision.
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Presented by AAA The Auto Club Group - March 20, 2026
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The evening includes a family style dinner, an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, an ice cream and cannoli platter, an espresso station, and on-location parking.
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