THE, PERHAPS,
SURPRISINGLY SIMPLE BUT DEDICATED LIFE OF A GUIDE DOG PUPPY
There is perhaps a misconception that everyone who has a Guide Dog is blind. This is not so.
By Ken Syvret, MBE., Chairman of the Jersey Branch of Guide Dogs for the Blind
day access and mobility is restricted. Owning a Guide Dog changes this as with the aid of this reliable and wonderful friend, a life of companionship and freedom begins.
M
The Jersey Branch of Guide Dogs for the Blind is in its 83rd year. It was founded in 1937 following a visit to Jersey by a representative of the National Association, which was only founded in 1934. The local branch has been active, save for the Occupation years, ever since and continues to be so. It is a fund raising branch and whilst the members keep in touch with the local Guide Dog owners they play no part in the training or maintenance of the dog. This is the responsibility of the training centre and its expert trainers and support staff. Jersey, however, does play a part in the early life of a Guide Dog for we have two puppy walkers in the Island. Their responsibility is to take care, within the family home, of a puppy from the age of six weeks until it is fully grown and able to move to full training as a Guide Dog. The process is one of great responsibility for the
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any Guide Dog owners have some vision but are visually disabled to such a degree that normal every
exercise, which every dog needs, it must answer to recall whether in the house, garden or further afield. Once taught recall the puppy will have to learn to answer to a whistle call. This is first used at feeding time so that the puppy associates the call with food. The whistle will be used as a recall prompt throughout the dog’s training and future working life.
puppy has much to learn before it is ready for the next step in nearly two years of preparation.
Like every dog the first basic training is that of cleanliness. Because of the work which it will be undertaking it is essential that proper habits are taught from the outset. A designated area should be used from the outset. Alongside the simple ‘good manners’ comes a simple course of discipline – recall is most important as when the fully trained Guide Dog is enjoying
Obedience, of course, is paramount. When at work the Guide Dog will be responsible for the life of its owner through traffic, busy pavements, on buses, trains and in shops. Obedience is the cornerstone of all training and the dog will learn simple commands. When I give talks to schools about Guide Dogs I have with me small boards with the words “Sit”, “Down”, “Stay” and “Come” which are the first commands a puppy learns. At a later stage a further four are introduced – “Forward”, “Back”, “Left” and “Right”. It all sounds very simple but much patience and dedication is required from both the puppy and the puppy walker.
The way the dog is treated is important – calm, slow patting strokes will calm your charge whereas ruffling fur, fast patting and “wrestling” your puppy will provide
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