Guide Dog Tales - About Hogan

On a sunny day, Hogan lays on a flat rock with his front paws extending over the rock's edge, facing the camera. Bright green grass is in the foreground while a light blue sky and dark blue ocean frame the background.  

Hogan

Hi friends! I’m Hogan, Pat’s guide dog. I’m a fun-loving five-year-old pup and very active. Sitting around and writing these types of stories isn’t really my jam, but Galahad always told me that I gotta make sure you guys get the full scoop of kibble. See, Pat doesn’t always have the best nose for details. He can’t even smell the difference between his own shoes and socks when I hide them around the house, hee-hee. Anyway, I’d much rather be out with Pat walking around Eastern Market, introducing him to new human friends, or playing fetch, but I’ll share some stories.

First, a bit about me. I was trained at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, up in Yorktown Heights, New York. I was originally in the School’s running program, so I have no problem keeping up with Pat. I can run a 9-minute mile, but Pat’s more into sprints and weightlifting at the gym. He’s a good guy, so I indulge him these workouts. And so you know, I’m not just an athletic meathead – though I do like meat; I have a sensitive side too.

I grew up in the Cleveland suburbs (well, I’m still working on that whole growing up thing) with my fantastic puppy raisers, Jeanne, Vicki, and Larry. I miss them loads but I still get to see them occasionally. They recently came to DC to visit me. Boy was that fun – I got to show off how well they trained me around our own neighborhood! Pat and I even flew out to Ohio a few years ago for a fun big hang. They were so proud of me and welcomed me home like a hero.

During my free time, I like snuggling on the sofa, playing hide and seek around the house, fetching my rubber ball in our upstairs hallway, chilling at the park, and watching Pat work. Thankfully, we’re coming through this pandemic. I’m ready to get back out there and explore the town some more!

Most of all, though, I love hanging out with Pat and being his guide dog. It’s what I was bred and trained to do. Being a guide is fun work but it’s also challenging. Like Galahad always said, “We gotta take care of Pat and make sure he’s safe.”

A big greeting to all the other dogs out there, especially my buds in the service dog field. Sniff ya later!

Click on any of the images to see the full sized versions.

Blog Posts

Hotdog at the Metro – Hogan’s Guide Dog Adventures

A woofing fall greeting to our GuideDogTales readers. Thanks fur dropping by and checking out the latest. We hope you had a fun-filled summer and are ready for some great autumn activities.

Hogan and I are staying busy in the cooler temps. We’ve been heading back into the office and, during our free time, keeping up with some comedy performances. Hogan’s happy to be navigating the streets and the Metro again – he’s got that working-pup bounce back in his step, that extra wag in his tail.

I’ve continued doing stand-up at open mics and have added some new bits on guide dogs to my routine. As I mentioned in my last post... [continued]

Pat and Hogan Return to Comedy

Welcome back to Guide Dog Tales, where we are always pupped-up for good stories about fun times with our furry pals. Thanks for checking in with us during these pleasant spring days. It’s a lovely time of year, and we’re looking forward to shedding our winter coats and adding more stories to the blog.

I wanted our next entry to showcase my interest in comedy and explain how Hogan helps on stage. I’ve gotten a bit rusty over the pandemic, but Hogan and I are starting to get back into the swing of performing. “About time,” says Hogan.

Over the past few months, I’ve enrolled in two classes at the DC Improv Comedy Club. It’s a great way to get back into comedy – the atmosphere is always welcoming... [continued]

More Than Meets the Eye – Kids, Cameras, and Questions about Guide Dogs

Thanks for stopping in to sniff out our second blog post. Hogan and I are getting ready to send a few more tales your way.

In my blog bio, I mentioned that kids often have some of the best questions about guide dogs. Just a few days after posting that, I ran into a group of young students who were super interested in Hogan and wanted to know every single detail about how he helps me.

It was late October, and Hogan was leading me on our daily Capitol Hill walk. Since we’re teleworking these days, Hogan needs frequent walks around the neighborhood to get some exercise and brush up on his guide dog skills... [continued]