Guide Dogs For The Blind - Can You Help?When I'm writing this newsletter I talk about a fairly eclectic bunch of stuff. Often it's directly related to my day to day dealings with dogs. But I'll often comment about topical canine issues I've read about or seen on the news. I keep a folder on my computer containing links to online stories I think you might be interested in, and I'll quite often include one or more of these links in the newsletter. Sometimes, however, by the time I get around to writing about the topic in question the link no longer works. Today's one of those days. The story I was going to write about seems to have vanished into thin air. I've just spent the last half hour searching the net in vain for it. However, whilst doing so I came across a story I'd not seen before which touched a nerve with me. Although superficially this would seem only to affect residents of Huddersfield, England, I suspect in reality it could be relevant to all of us. The Huddersfield Daily Examiner has just run a story about their local Guide Dogs For The Blind training centre which is apparently in need of more puppy walkers. In case you weren't aware of it, guide dogs spend the first year of their life living in a 'normal' home environment where they learn general good manners and get introduced to all the sorts of things they're likely to encounter during their subsequent work such as restaurants, shops, buses and trains. |
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Once they're a year old they go to the guide dog training centre where they're given their 'formal education'. The puppy 'walker' plays no further part in their life from that point onwards. But of course if they're committed to what they do they'll be taking on another 6 week old puppy at that point, and so the process begins again. Puppy walkers have to have plenty of time to devote to their charges and they must be diligent about their role - they have a very specific task to fulfill. Puppy walkers also have to teach the dogs strict discipline. It's pretty obvious really, but a guide dog has to be trained to an extremely high standard and one that's been allowed to run riot and behave as it pleases will not make a suitable candidate for the intense discipline to follow. A blind boy has recently started at my daughter's school. My 5 year old daughter seems to have become quite friendly with him and suddenly she's very aware of what being blind means. When he first joined the school we played a game at home to try and get her to appreciate exactly what it meant. We closed our eyes and tried walking round the house trying to find things without opening our eyes. It's hard enough indoors but outside it's a whole new ballgame. I have to say I find the prospect of having to navigate my way around the shops, for instance, without being able to see, an incredibly daunting prospect. No, that's an understatement. I actually find it a terrifying thought. If it's never occurred to you, sit down and think about it for a moment. Just try and imagine how you would have managed all that you've done so far today if you couldn't see. And how about everything you've done this week? I can't even begin to imagine the enormity of what being blind really entails. Guide dogs are an absolute lifeline for blind people. They are their owners eyes. It's as simple as that. Do you think you could become a puppy walker? Without walkers there are no guide dogs - it's an essential part of the chain. I'm not trying to browbeat you - please don't think that. There will only be a very small percentage of the population who would make suitable puppy walkers. I'm the first to put my hand up and say that I wouldn't be suitable. There's just no way that I have the time to devote to do the job properly. But a small number of people make perfect walkers. And who knows, maybe you're one of those people? If by writing this just one person comes forward as a 'new recruit' I will feel justified in having written about this. As I said, the article I read was relating to Huddersfield. (You can read it here - http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/ page.cfm?objectid=12643277&method=full&siteid=50060 Copy the whole URL and paste it into your browser address bar. But bear in mind that URL may also have vanished by the time you come to try and find it.) But there are guide dog training centres across the country. And if the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association is anything like just about every other charity I've ever come across, they need all the help they can get. I must admit I don't know what the situation is in countries other than the UK. But if there are guide dogs in your country then they have to be trained somewhere. If you think you might possibly be interested in finding out more about what 'walking' a guide dog puppy involves then look up your local guide dogs organisation and let them know of your interest. Although it won't be easy you'll be doing a fantastically worthwhile job. And if you _do_ end up doing it, please please let me know. I would be very interested to hear all about it..... Recommended reading "Dog Training Blueprint To Success".
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