I was going to the bank this afternoon & outside Booths I met these two ladies training a dog for the Blind dogs association. The lady on the left was training the other lady & together they were teaching the young dog by the means of tit bits how to lead a blind person around. The dog was very young itself but I thought what a wonderful thing to do & how rewarding!
I wouldn't have the patience myself but anyone in the unfortunate position needing one of these wonderful dogs must be so grateful to these two ladies !!!
Absolutely! I wouldn't have the patience either. Teaching children is one thing but .............................! But like you say those who need them are very grateful indeed!
Interesting pic - I think they're marvellou - saw one recently leading its owner down the street - they went past a group of lads who had a dog who of course hunched down, wagged its tail looking for a bit of dog attention as dogs like to do - but the guide dog didn't bat an eyelid and just kept on walking. Such discipline.
@bpaquette would like this as she does the American version of great training like this - not only do you have to have lots of discipline and stamina you have to be able to let go of the dog when it's ready. I would fail on all those counts. The dogs are certainly hard workers - we often meet a retired guide dog whose owners have had to work hard to 'untrain' him so he can have a bit of R & R in retirement. We just recruited a new TA at the Hearing Impaired Unit of the primary school I'm a governor of and she has a 'hearing dog' (called Duncan). They have a bit of an easier time I think because it's easier for the owners to give them play time - I'll try and remember to take his photo!
@judithg That's interesting what you say Judith, I have of course heard all about dogs for the blind but never seen one in training before. I went up to them to ask if I could take their photo & they were so engrossed they never heard me nor noticed me taking their picture! The dog was very sweet too & had eyes only for the hand with the tit bit in so I think he was very new at the job. As you say too how could you give them up at the end !!! I have heard of hearing dogs & I just think it's a marvellous calling to train these dogs !! We haven't ever managed to train our own dogs much in every day behaviour so we would be no good in this house !!!
@happypat Well Monty's good at 'hooping' and begging, bowing, twirling, lying down, jumping over things and other fancy stuff - unfortunately he also does a lot of barking, jumping up, shooting off after cats, eating any old discarded rubbish and escaping through the front door to see Arthur the retriever next door but one... Shame I can't master the 'untraining' part....
it is such an amazing and wonderful gift to keep and train these dogs. It would be so hard, besides having to be so patient, but having to give them up at the end of their training. great shot.
these ladies are very special =]
we have southeastern guide dogs in the next town over. they are incredible. we've gone to hug / socialize with the puppies - it's great fun. and i luv puppy kisses!
Awww, what a gorgeous dog. I've seen a couple of seeing eye dogs being trained here in Australia and they wear a learners vest ( the dogs). We also have adopt a seeing eye dog programme, where families undertake to look after the puppies for 6 months or more until they are ready for training. I think it would be so hard to hand them back!
What a great capture and I think the doggies are really wonderful so very clever. Not all of them pass so it must be a tough training I guess it has to be. There is a blind chap lives near here and his guide dog is a right rogue, it abandons him in search of scraps and has even ended up miles away on the scavenge. I have seen him once totally lost in Southwark Park his doggie had vanished and everyone in the park was searching for it! He was there last week - the doggie was having a good furkle by the bandstand but decided to come back to him eventually. He told me he is very naughty!
September 19th, 2011
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we have southeastern guide dogs in the next town over. they are incredible. we've gone to hug / socialize with the puppies - it's great fun. and i luv puppy kisses!
check out their website: http://www.guidedogs.org