Yup, there's a lot of work that goes into every guide dog. ;) *looks at her puppy on the floor* Awwww...



Well, every week you take your puppy to classes where they learn many things. The commands they learn are basic obedience - sit, stay, down, come, heel, etc. They also learn specialized things such as walking alongside their handler, never too much in front nor lagging behind. And we also take them into special situations to get them used to scenarios they might have to face as a guide dog. Guide dog puppies in training can generally go wherever the general public is permitted, just like guide dogs are. They wear special coats that mark them as guide dog puppies. (The coat for our school is green and white, but the colors vary according to the school.) We've taken our pups to restaurants, malls, in the car on long trips, the airport... lots of places where they can experience and get used to crowds, loud noises, staircases, elevators, and such.



Well, first off, there are three things that can happen to a puppy in the guide dog program. One, they can become a guide dog, in which case they are spayed/neutered, and then become a guide. (Wouldn't want your female dog to come into heat while guiding you, would you? o_O) Two, they can be selected for breeding stock. If that happens, then they are placed with a loving, committed home within 50 miles of the main campus, and they become pets. They are brought in for breedings about once every two years for the females, and more often for the males. And three, the dogs can fail, or be 'career changed' as they call it. These dogs are spayed/neutered, and then given to a loving home. There is a very long waiting list for the dogs, since they are wonderful dogs. All the homes are thoroughly checked out and pre-approved by the staff, so they know the dog is going to a good abuse-free, loving home that is capable of caring for a big dog.

Sosiqui