{"id":183095,"date":"2026-02-18T15:43:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/183095\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T15:43:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:43:21","slug":"future-leader-dog-club-brings-puppy-love-to-oakview-hall-the-oakland-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/183095\/","title":{"rendered":"Future Leader Dog club brings puppy love to Oakview Hall \u2013 The Oakland Post"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Future Leader Dog Club<\/a> hosted its \u201cSmooches and Pooches\u201d event in the Laidlaw Room of Oakview Hall on Feb. 9, inviting students to decorate Valentine-themed cookies and meet puppies raised for Leader Dogs for the Blind.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The event combined community engagement with a stress-relieving activity, offering students a break from classes while learning about the club\u2019s mission. Attendees interacted with the puppies, decorated cookies and took photos with the dogs at a backdrop in the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ella Talbot, president of the Future Leader Dog Club and a senior majoring in industrial systems engineering, said the club\u2019s mission is to raise leader dogs while providing a fun and educational experience for the campus community.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur mission is to raise leader dogs for Leader Dogs for the Blind, in Rochester. We raise the puppies for the first six months to a year of their life before they return or enter another program. This event really is to bring awareness to our community in a fun way,\u201d Talbot said.<\/p>\n

Talbot said events like Smooches and Pooches help the puppies\u2019 development by allowing them to socialize and experience new environments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try and make our events where all of our dogs are not working, so people can pet them and have fun because they work all the time,\u201d Talbot said<\/p>\n

Paige Labadie, a junior majoring in elementary education and puppy raiser of Blu, explained the responsibility of raising a future leader dog, including introducing them to new situations and teaching them calmness.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a puppy raiser, it\u2019s our responsibility to socialize them, so we take them places, anytime I go to the store or come to OU,\u201d Labadie said. \u201cBeing in this club allows us to bring them to our classes. We teach them basic training, introduce them to loud noises, new people and new dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Labadie said the experience is demanding but rewarding, especially as it teaches patience, a skill needed for a career in education.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to think that something I\u2019m doing could help someone in need,\u201d Labadie said<\/p>\n

Students said the event offered a fun break from their daily routines. Vanessa Padilla, a junior majoring in clinical diagnostic sciences, said she came to relax and enjoy time with friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cI decided to come to the event to relieve stress and have fun. It was fun to decorate cookies with friends and be in the company of cute puppies,\u201d Padilla said. \u201cMy favorite part was seeing the puppies and learning more about what the Future Leader Dog Club does,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marisa Siadi, a junior majoring in health sciences, attended after class.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came here right after class and thought it would be fun and relaxing. I love decorating cookies, being around puppies and socializing with other students.\u201d Siadi said. \u201cThese events help with stress because they let me focus on something other than school work,\u201d<\/p>\n

The Future Leader Dog Club has approximately 200 members and supports puppy raisers through a puppy pantry, transportation assistance and campus buddies. With events like this, the club hopes to continue building community while raising awareness about the work involved in training leader dogs.\u00a0<\/p>\n