My Herzhund lab, Herzhund Finding Freedom (Korra), joined our family in May of 2020, after a few months of waiting and anticipation. Korra was bought with the intention to be my assistance dog, and she has done more than fill that role perfectly. In 2019, I was struggling with severe mental illness and agoraphobia, which meant that simply leaving the house was extremely difficult for me. Korra’s arrival into my life in 2020 changed everything. I was able to leave the house without feeling overwhelmed, made friends, and for the first time since 2016, I am now studying again.
Korra is an incredibly stable dog, with a stunning temperament and looks to match. Everywhere I take her, we leave behind a trail of smiles and compliments. Her love and drive to work is visible to everyone we encounter, and I don’t think I have ever seen a dog as committed to their job as Korra. She works through every distraction and difficulty thrown our way with a wagging tail, never losing faith in me as her handler, even when I am feeling unsure.
The entire process of welcoming Korra into my family and training her for what I needed has been such an amazing process, one that has been made extra special by Alison, Steve and the rest of the Herzhund family. I have never felt unsupported or alone on my journey with Korra, and any worry that I have is quickly put to ease. They have been with me every single step of the way, and the kindness, understanding and help I have been given never ceases to blow me away, and there will never be enough words to express my gratitude.
Korra’s temperament, looks and personality are a testament to the extreme effort that Alison and Steve put into raising their puppies, and this is further evidenced by the fact that Korra STILL loses her mind with excitement each time we return to visit her first family, and still responds to her baby nickname of ‘Peachy’.
Buying Korra, I welcomed more than just a puppy into my life. I welcomed friends, an incredible support system of amazing people and my life has been changed immeasurably. Herzhund Finding Freedom truly helped me find my freedom, and to Alison and Steve, I will be forever grateful!
Emma Philips, owner of Peachy.