September is National Guide Dog month. Guide Dogs, as well as all service dogs, play important roles in the lives of the humans they serve. These people's lives are enriched in many ways by having this canine companion at their side day by day.
Behind the Guide/Service dog, however, are the team of men and women who work as puppy raisers and trainers to prepare the dog for a life of service.
Puppies are given to puppy raisers at 2-3 months of age. These people raise the puppies and care for them during the first year. They take care of their basic needs and teach them basic commands/good behavior (potty training, sit, down, come, stay, walking on a leash, etc). Also important is socialization for these puppies. They will encounter many new sights, smells, sounds, and other obstacles during their career as a service dog. The more they are exposed to as puppies, the better off they'll be as adults.
When the puppies are around a year old, they are returned to the organization to begin more formal training. They learn the gear they will wear (in the case of a guide dog, the harness), and are exposed to many different things such as elevators, escalators, buses, trains, revolving doors. They are taught the commands they will need to aide their future owner. For guide dogs, these are usually directional commands (right, left, forward, etc). For other service dogs, the commands will be based on their expected job.
When the dog is fully trained (this can take 6 months or longer, based on the dog and type of training involved), it is then ready to be paired with a student. People applying for service dogs are often called students. These students will need time learning how these dogs work and how to navigate with them. They also need to learn how to care for the dog themselves. This helps strengthen the bond between human and dog. Dog and student will work with the trainer (usually at the training facility) for a month or so.
There are several organizations around
Pilot Dogs www.pilotdogs.org
Canine Companions for
Buckeye Service Dogs www.buckeyeservicedogs.com
4 Paws for Ability www.4pawsforability.org
If you're interested in puppy raising for one of these organizations, be sure to contact them. And remember, Service Dogs are Working Dogs, and are not to be approached, petted, or offered treats while working without the handler's consent.
Suburban Animal Clinic is located in
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