Words cannot describe the emotions we felt when the first guide dog we raised, Vernon, graduated from Guiding Eyes for the Blind's training school with his new person Stasia. Off they were heading for new adventures, and with Vernon on the other end of the harness we were confident they would always be safe ones. Vernon looked mature and settled, and Stasia couldn't disguise her excitement and pride at the new handsome dog sitting next to her, thumping his tail with each caress she offered. After their four weeks of training together at the guide dog school, they were indeed eager to face the city streets and celebrate Stasia's new independence. Several years later, we still feel the pride and deep sense of accomplishment when we celebrate the success of each of the four guide dogs we have raised. The love, training, and support we provided to each dog has helped them reach their full potential, and our efforts are rewarded on a daily basis as these dogs in turn offer freedom to visually impaired persons.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (located in Yorktown Heights, NY) as well as numerous other service dog organizations, breeds and trains guide dogs for visually impaired individuals. Selective breeding has allowed Guiding Eyes to develop strong, healthy dogs with superior intelligence, and adaptable, steady, and reliable temperaments. A guide dog can offer a blind person companionship, security, and a safe means of travel. As a result, visually impaired women and men can lead more independent and fulfilling lives.
Guiding Eyes places future guide dog puppies in the homes of volunteer puppy raisers at the age of eight weeks. These pups are evaluated prior to placement on their ability to meet the demands of life as a guide dog. Puppy raisers socialize, love, and train the pup for 12 to 18 months. This nurturing home environment must offer the pup a great deal of exposure to places and people to help build the confidence needed for guide dog work. The pup's progress and health are evaluated periodically by a visiting Guiding Eyes staff member, who can offer guidance and advice to the puppy raisers to help them continue their important job. When the dog is mature and ready to enter into formal training, she or he returns to Guiding Eyes. The dog trains with an instructor anywhere from four months to one year at the school. When the dog is ready to accept the challenges of guide dog work, she or he is matched with a blind person and they become a team in training. This person resides at Guiding Eyes for 26 days, where she or he trains with an instructor to learn to work with, care for, and trust their new canine companion.
Guiding Eyes estimates that it costs $25,000 for one guide dog team to graduate. Since Guiding Eyes provides guide dogs and their services for free, donations and volunteers are crucial to ensure that everyone who needs a guide dog can indeed have one.
I encourage everyone who appreciates the work of service dogs to consider taking on the challenge of raising one of these special pups. I also encourage breeders to show their support for the Golden Retriever as a service dog by donating puppies or stud dog services to any of the organizations that breed assistance and/or guide dogs. In order for each organization's breeding program to reach its respective goals, exceptional breeding stock is always needed. The true teamwork of a beautiful Golden in harness, steadily and gracefully navigating with his human partner, is a sight to behold. Knowing that you helped this dog reach her or his destiny is an accomplishment that can't be surpassed.