August-September Newsletter

 

                

       

 

Guide Dogs Internship

 

     So you’ve been thinking about an internship.  Well…other than living in the beautiful bay area, spending all day with wonderful dogs, and getting to experience the incredible work of Guide Dogs first hand, it’s really not too bad.  I know to some it may seem scary to go and live with a stranger for two weeks and be away from your family, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth.  My internship was some of the most fun I’ve ever had, and I would highly recommend it to anyone with the slightest bit of interest. 

     The staff at Guide Dogs is extremely welcoming and get you involved with activities immediately.  I walked into the clinic on my first day and within ten minutes I was in scrubs helping draw blood from a dog.  They had me doing a wide array of things throughout the day.  Anything was fair game from relieving dogs, watching surgery, running test, giving vaccines, and so on.  They even had me comfort the puppies after their tattoo, which was nice.  I got to see all of the technologies in the clinic, from the x-ray machine to the bronchoscope.  There is hardly a limit of what can be performed at Guide Dogs.     

     So even though getting up early and working a full day without pay was tough, I would do it again today if I had the opportunity.  I had the most fun and saw some of the most incredible things.  The experiences and values I learned while at my internship will follow me throughout life.  I hope that everyone has the chance to intern at Guide Dogs, because it was awesome!

 

Submitted by:  Mark F.

 

The Measure of Success

     The dictionary defines success as "the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted." As puppy raisers we hope these little bundles of fur that nestle in our arms at eight weeks old will one day graduate as breeders or guides. We pour our time and our hearts into nurturing and training our canine companions. We proudly watch as they grow and learn. We cheer when our puppies finally climb stairs without fear or when they finally do that perfect "down" we been striving to teach them. We brag about our puppies' accomplishments to other raisers, to our families, and to our friends. Often, before our puppies are even recalled for training, we are planning their graduation in our heads.   

     But what happens when these plans are not accomplished? Sometimes our puppies are career changed at recall for health reasons, some are dropped later in training, and some puppies don’t even make it to training at all. It is heartbreaking to receive "that call" informing us that our puppy has been career changed. However, we must remember not to judge success by graduation dates. Even though we were disappointed when Solo was dropped, we knew we had done our best. We had done all we could; the rest was up to him.  Perhaps it is best summed up in our Puppy Raising Manual. (Recall for Training Phase Descriptions - Phase 5)

     Please always remember that a dog graduating as a guide or breeder does not gauge a raiser's success, nor does where a dog advances in training. Dogs can be career changed for many reasons not within the raiser's control, such as health issues, inherent temperament, or guidework. A raiser's success is measured only by the amount of love, effort, and time that is spent with a puppy. No matter what happens in training, if you did your best, be proud! Always remember that we are proud of each and every one of you and can never say Thank You! enough 

 

Submitted by:  Karen H.

 

Guide Dog Riddle

"Guide Dog Crossing, watch out for the cars! Can you spell that without any r's"?

 

--Answer below--

 

Submitted by:  Chloe B.

 

Summer Internship

 

I got to experience one of the greatest memories I will cherish with being involved with Guide Dogs.  Over the last two weeks starting from August 2nd through August 13th, I did my internship at the Guide Dog campus in San Rafael.  I was able to see what it is like when our dogs are sent back for their formal guide dog training.  I first arrived on Monday morning eager to see what I would encounter throughout my stay at the campus.  I was assigned to Kennel 2 and became part of the family with all of the Dog Care Assistance (DCA), Instructor Assistance (IA), and of course the Instructors.  A typical day at the kennels consist of letting the dogs out to play with the instructors right at 8am, while we cleaned the inside of kennels for them.  Next we fed dogs, washed dog bowls, had “quiet work” (in which you have dogs be quiet, no barking or whining as instructors load up dogs in the van to go do some training with them). We would also have community run, gave medicine out to dogs who needed some, groomed dogs, cleaned ears, brushed teeth, and of course went over and petted the dogs every once in awhile to tell them how good they are. Basically there was always something to do, I believe I only sat down 2-3 times and that consisted of my breaks and lunch.

It really put into perspective why they have us as puppy raisers do what we do.  Each week they groom the dogs, brush teeth, clean ears, and do body checks on each dog.  This is where our puppy handling we do as raisers come into effect, and it shows it helps out in the long run.  I also kept hearing the staff tell me that we as puppy raisers are doing a great job, and if it weren’t for us they wouldn’t have a job.  You really got to see that they appreciate and know how much time we put into these dogs.

I also had lunch in the dormitory with the class of students who will be graduating later this month.  I went out with the instructors and saw how the training in downtown San Rafael is held, and did some “Juno” work (in which you learn the language of guide work while working with the harness.  I met so many people throughout the two weeks; it was hard to keep track of all the names.  It seemed I remembered the dogs names better than the people.  I did some looking around through the kennels and found some Fresno dogs.  I saw Lenora, Joan, Aislin, Tucker and Bradley.  I went over and petted them and wished them luck.  All in all I had a great time, I would definitely recommend if you get a chance to experience this occasion you should go for it. 

 

Submitted by:  Cierra V.

 

 

 

Labs Versus Goldens

 

Goldens: NEED attention
Labs: WANT attention

Goldens: MUST be touching you at all times
Labs: WANT to touch you all the time

Goldens: They must be Catholics (They understand the need to confess Their
guilt)
Labs: They must be Protestant (What guilt?)

Goldens: If they had a job they would be a Social Worker
Labs: If they had a job they would be a standup comedian

Goldens: If they could speak, they'd constantly say "I love you" And If You
come home to find that the lamp is broken they'd say "broken lamp? I must
have done it. I know I was outside the whole time, but I must have done it,
oh no. Someone's unhappy"
Labs: If they could speak, they'd say, "love me" And if you come home To Find
that the lamp is broken they'd say "broken lamp? I did it. I was having tons
of fun. Want to see me break the other one?"

Goldens: hang on you
Labs: body slam you

Goldens: Long hair in your food, on your clothes, on your couch.
Labs: Shorter hair in your food, on your clothes, on your couch.

Goldens: Brush daily
Labs: Wash and wear!

 

Submitted by:  Mary H.

 

Co-Raising

 

          Co-raising is when two people team up and raise one dog.  I have been co-raising with Kathy Hawkins for three years.  I love it because it is so much easier than full time raising.  I have my puppy Gretch from Thursday evening until Sunday evening.  Kathy has Gretch during the week while I am at school, except on Fridays when I take her to school.  I also have Gretch on holidays and school breaks.  The best part is I always have a puppy sitter when I am going out of town or just when I need a break.

            Kathy Hawkins is also a veterinary assistant so when Gretch is sick we send her to Kathy’s for a couple of extra days.  For example, when Gretch had some health problems the vet asked us to feed her chicken and rice.  We sent her back to Kathy’s and she switched her back to her own puppy food in one week. 

            I think it would be a great idea for beginning puppy raisers to co-raise because it is a lot easier and if you co-raise with a more experienced raiser they can help you in lots of ways.

 

Submitted by:  Kristina L.

 

The Importance of Good House Manners

 

Regardless of how well behaved your puppy is in public, if he is a nuisance to live with, he will not make a suitable guide.  It is very important that you begin early to teach your puppy good house manners.

When teaching or correcting house behaviors, follow these general rules:

  • Do not let your puppy loose in the house when you are not watching him.

 

  • Keep a dragline on him so that you will have a means of correcting him for inappropriate behaviors.  It is very important to supervise him constantly while he is wearing a dragline to prevent him from becoming entangled and possibly injured or strangled.  Our club has 6 and 10 ft. draglines for sale.  The black nylon leash that you receive from GDB also works well as a dragline.

 

  • Often raisers will say their puppy is always good when he’s on a dragline and makes mistakes when he’s not –that he knows the difference.  This is often true (we have smart puppies!) and the solution is simple: leave the dragline on whenever the puppy is free in a room.  Even if the dragline is always on, as long as the puppy is not making mistakes, progress is being made.

 

  • Make your training area smaller by closing the door or by using a baby gate.

 

  • Confine your puppy in the crate when you cannot watch him.  And after he learns to behave on a tie-down you can use the tie-down when you are in the same room with him.

 

  • Plan and time your corrections with your pup attached to a leash or dragline.  Correct all negative behaviors immediately with a collar correction.  Gauge your correction to the size and temperament of the dog.

 

  • Praise the dog as soon as he stops the negative behavior.

 

Anytime your puppy spontaneously behaves appropriately (comes to you calmly, lies down calmly, or even walks through the house calmly) praise him.  All of our time spent training our puppies help form a dog who can be trusted in the house and live successfully with a visually impaired partner.

 

Submitted by:  Mary H.

Birthdays!!!!

 

    August 6-Mollie N.

                August 13-Chris W.

    August 25-Sheila J.

                August 24-Luana

                                                                                                    September 7-Melanie H.

                                                                                                    September 15-Robbie V.

                                                                                                    September 18-Willis

                                                                                                    September 22-AJ

 

Scheduled New Arrivals!!

                                                                                                      

                                                                                                       September 18- Male Black Lab “E” coming to Lauren W.

 

                                           October 15-Male Golden Retriever “R” coming to Mary H.

 

                                           October 15-Female Golden Retriever “R” coming to Stacy S.

 

 

Scheduled Recalls

Michael-September 18

 

Phase Reports as of August 12, 2004

Bradley---------------------------Phase 0

Joan-------------------------------Phase 0

Yolanda---------------------------Phase 3

Halsey-----------------------------Phase 5

Lenora-----------------------------Phase 5

 

Guide Dog Riddle Answer-

T-H-A-T