Orion's Pledge-A-Pup Updates
Jul 20, 2026
Today is the day our trainers have been working toward — Orion is now wearing his official service dog vest in public!
Getting here started with being transported by crate in the NWBB truck. "He has learned to 'wait' when the crate door is opened — this keeps him from busting out into traffic or an area that is not secure," says Shannon Walker, founder and CEO of Northwest Battle Buddies. Orion is a naturally energetic dog, but he's learning that everything is a controlled movement, and as Shannon puts it, "dogs with a calm brain make better choices."
We couldn't be prouder of how far Orion has come. "We have high hopes for Orion serving the American Hero he will meet!" Shannon says.
Jun 25, 2026
"Orion is learning the basic foundation for obedience, and he's doing an excellent job," says Shannon Walker, founder and CEO of Northwest Battle Buddies. He now comes when called off leash, downs on command, and walks beautifully at heel — including inside a busy Tractor Supply store.
May 15, 2026
Orion is moving into an exciting new phase of his training journey — he's left his foster home and is training at Northwest Battle Buddies' headquarters
Mar 15, 2026
This month, Orion's foster has worked with him on his down, recall, and break commands — and Orion has been making great strides with each one.
Orion also had some wonderful real-world socialization experiences this month. He had the opportunity to meet a newborn baby, where he was remarkably gentle and calm. He also joined his foster on a hike with narrow trails and loud waterfalls, handling the challenging environment very well.
Jan 15, 2026
During multiple days of visitors and holiday gatherings, Orion didn't beg for food and stayed calm despite the excitement — impressive for a younger pup. His foster parents also decorated for the holidays and Orion thoroughly enjoyed this, though he needed a couple of reminders that Christmas lights are not toys.
Feb 15, 2026
This month, Orion has been keeping busy with a variety of outings and training opportunities at home. Orion's foster has taken him on car rides with her other pups to Lowe's, where Orion has been practicing patience in a busy public environment.
Nov 20, 2025
This month, Orion's foster worked with him on essential obedience skills and socialization. Orion has made excellent progress with his leash manners, learning to walk closely beside his handler and check in frequently. He has mastered the automatic sit when his handler stops walking and responds well to positive reinforcement.
Oct 20, 2025
Orion is growing quickly, which is helping him keep up with the other dogs in his foster household. Orion's foster mom works with him on his training daily, and he is progressing nicely overall. He is currently focusing on improving his "down" command, though his curiosity and eagerness to explore the world around him sometimes presents a fun challenge.
Sep 20, 2025
Orion's foster family is pleased with his progress this month! They consistently praise his sweet temperament and intelligence, noting significant improvement with the "here" command.
Aug 20, 2025
This month, Orion made a special trip from his foster home to visit the NWBB headquarters, and his adorable presence brought smiles to everyone. The young service dog in training continues to charm the entire team with his natural cuteness and playful personality.
Jul 20, 2025
Orion is settling in to foster life nicely! He loves to play in the pool!
Jul 01, 2025
Introducing Orion, a 10-week-old black lab who's ready to start his journey toward becoming a professionally trained PTSD service dog.