Jessie Rudin
The Dogs That Shaped My Life
Since 2019 I’ve trained nine service dogs, and there hasn’t been a stretch longer than a few weeks where I didn’t have one living in my house. These are their photos. Some are formal — a dog in harness, working. Most are not: a black Lab on a hike, a yellow Lab on a dock at the end of the day, the ordinary hours that make up most of the training.
Every one of these dogs went on to a combat-wounded veteran, doing things I helped teach them — turning on lights, bracing for balance, grounding someone through a panic attack. I’m sharing these because the dogs deserve to be seen, and because handing over the leash nine times has been the hardest and best part of my life.
Please check out my other photo galleries.
Jessie Rudin on Icy Bridge with Dog.
Taking a hike in Utah’s Wasatch canyons with a wonderful service dog in training named Jackpot
Jessie Rudin holds a Black Lab service dog.
Here’s Koko, a service dog in training and I during recess during student teaching
Jessie Rudin in Snow with Service Dog
Service dog in training, Danny, at the top of ski report in spring time, hiking around the top and eating lunch at chalet
Jessie Rudin at Baseball Game with Service Dog
Service dog in training Danny and I at Minnesota Twin’s game getting him used to different environments
Jessie Rudin with Service Dog by Lake
Service dog Jessie and I went on a nice walk around reservoir in Hideout Utah
Jessie Rudin with Black Lab service dog
Service dog in training TJ and I at a local coffee shop having lunch with some friends
Yellow lab huddled in car
Service dog Jackpot and I practicing flying and airport travels on our way to Utah
Yellow lab lying down.
Service dog Jackpot enjoying a nice summer day
Jessie Rudin on paddle board with Lab.
Service dog Jackpot enjoying a nice afternoon paddleboarding on a local lake in Des Moines
Jessie Rudin on canoe on lake with dog.
Service dog Jackpot enjoying a relaxing afternoon on a local lake in Des Moines
Jessie Rudin on Canoe with Yellow Lab.
Jessie Rudin on Lake
Yellow Lab sitting in lake water.
Service dog Jackpot and I out on a nice walk around Grays Lake in Des Moines
Yellow Lab on Lake Deck
Blonde lab service dog.
Training during school at Drake practicing sitting close to benches and working on ignoring distractions
Yellow lab service dog beneath tree
Yellow Lab sitting majestically.
Jessie Rudin with Service Dog in Training Puppy Jake Foundation, Iowa
Service dog and I looking cool and enjoying a nice spring day out in Utah
Jessie Rudin Puppy Jake Foundation
Service Dog Koko and I playing a round of golf for the puppy jake golf tournament in 2023
Black Lab Headshot
TJ my service dog in training laying during a climbing trip to Minnesota
Black Lab with Blue Bandana
TJ, my service dog in training laying on a nice summer day
Black lab with red bandana.
Koko my service dog in training at the time at the local apple orchard on top of a hay bail
Black Lab in Grass
Service dog TJ at local park in DSM
Service dog watching a hockey game
Service dog in training Jessie at a Minnesota Frost hockey game
Service dog at hockey rink
Service dog Jessie at professional women's hockey game with the Minnesota Frost
Black Lab standing proudly
TJ sitting inside a cave on a local climbing trip
Black lab in front of lake.
Jessie, my service dog in training sitting in Utah
Black Lab with Toy and Mouth
Tj playing with a rope
Jessie Rudin Service Dog Black Labrador Close-Up
Service dog in training Jax sitting nicely on a cement platform at a park
Jessie Rudin in Pumpkin Patch with Black Lab.
Service dog Hal, at a local pumpkin patch
Jessie Rudin with Collies.
On Lake Minnetonka with my two collies, Izzi and Nikki
Jessie_s Sitting in Grain
Chilling in a corn pit with TJ, my service dog in training