If It Was Easy, Every Dog Could Do It

Today’s topic is career change. Under the theory of “the more you know, the more you understand”, I hope that giving you a little background information will help ease the pain if your pup is career changed.

The are two main reasons a dog might be career changed: medical and soundness. Let’s take a look at each of these.

Medical: This one is pretty straightforward. If there is a medical reason that would adversely affect the dog’s life as a guide dog, he is career changed. This includes big stuff like dysplasia and seizures, down to seemingly simple stuff like chronic ear or skin infections.

Soundness: You will hear this term a lot in relation to a dog’s potential for guide work. I’ve borrowed a definition from science and modified it slightly; I think it is the perfect definition of soundness:

Soundness is the ability of a dog to maintain equilibrium in a variable environment.

So a “sound” dog will be able to maintain his composure and his
focus and work effectively as a guide dog, no matter what might be going on around him. If he is worried about the traffic or other dogs or all those strange people or that big scary pile of trash on the corner, he can’t be an effective guide dog.

Now you’re probably thinking “But my dog was never bothered by (fill in the blank) while I had him! What happened? What did those trainers do to him?”

Well, here’s what happened. We tried to make him a guide dog. And once the responsibility of what that means kicked in, the dog either developed issues he never had with the raiser or issues that weren’t a big problem came into full blossom.

From the dog’s perspective, there is a huge difference between walking down the sidewalk as a puppy in training and being a working guide dog. A puppy in training has relatively few responsibilities – stay on the left side, slightly ahead; don’t sniff or chase; don’t greet dogs or people. In contrast, a working guide dog must do all that PLUS avoid obstacles, stop at curbs, make decisions and problem solve. The responsibility and focus required to do that increases tremendously. Some dogs love it. They thrive on the responsibility and love that they now have a job. But some dogs can’t or won’t handle the responsibility and stress. And this is what manifests as a soundness issue. Add the responsibility of guide work and the dog can’t maintain his equilibrium in all environments.

The bottom line with any soundness related career change is that most likely it was the stress of having the responsibility of guide work that brought it out. And that is something that you are never going to see in the puppy home because it is impossible to duplicate the stress of guide work, nor would we want to try with our puppies. The best you can do is follow the protocols and socialize your dog as much as possible. Give him the best chance for success. The rest is up to him.

What You Need To Know About Chocolate Toxicity

Here is another tip from Kate, our Medical Services Manager:

I am sure that most of you are already aware that chocolate is toxic to dogs. Well here is some information that maybe you didn’t know. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine which are stimulants, and the toxic components of chocolate. The severity of a chocolate toxicity depends on two main factors; type of chocolate ingested and quantity vs. weight. White chocolate is least dangerous with the least amount of stimulants. Baking chocolates are some of the most dangerous and have the highest amounts. The amount of chocolate it takes to poison your dog depends greatly on the dog’s weight. The bigger the safer! Some signs to look for once toxic levels have been reached are panting, pacing, overall restlessness, muscle tremors, and increased urination. Without treatment seizures and death are likely. As always seek immediate veterinary care.

IFT Photos 5

Here are a few IFT dogs for your viewing pleasure.

Bear starts his route.

Breezy crosses the street.

Deanna works the route.

Jake works a curb.

2009 Walkathon

Yes, that’s right! The 2009 walkathon will be upon us in no time. We hope you will join us this year and make the “Forward Together” walkathon our most successful event ever! Even if you cannot attend the event, please know you can still raise money to support our mission.

This year, Southeastern Guide Dogs is a member of http://www.firstgiving.com/, a website that offers you a terrific way to build your own fundraising web page and gain support.

1. To get started just go to www.firstgiving.com/npo/2635. This is Southeastern Guide Dogs’ start page.

2. Click on the “Get Started” button. On the next page where it asks “Let us know how you’re raising money.” Choose sporting. On the next page select “walk” as the type of event.

3. Follow the next couple of steps to set up a free account and you are on your way to designing your new page. Upload your pictures, personalize your page by adding your bio or story, set your target goal and then email all your family members, relatives, co-workers and friends.

Your supporters will be able to make secure donations online. Firstgiving.com deducts a small service fee from the donations.

You may choose to upload one or more photos with you and your puppy in a Southeastern Guide Dogs coat. If you need further assistance, please contact paula.best@guidedogs.org

Vote for Us!

Here is a message from our Development Department:

Show your support and cast your vote today for Southeastern Guide Dogs in the WEDU Be More Humble ~ People’s Choice Award Poll!

Created by our local PBS station in Tampa, WEDU, the Be More Awards have become a national initiative of PBS and champion nonprofit organizations and celebrate the spirit of goodwill in our community. This year, more than 85 organizations representing various nonprofit organizations from throughout west central Florida are participating. One of the most sought after awards is the Be More Humble award because it showcases the community’s support of our mission through online voting.

You’re able to vote once a day so please cast your vote and encourage your friends and family to vote as well. The WEDU People's Choice Poll winner will be announced at the fourth annual WEDU Be More AwardsTM luncheon and ceremony on Thursday, January 15, 2009.

Vote by clicking this link: www.WEDU.org/BeMore/POLL.htm

Pumpkin: Not Just for Carving

Here is another tip from Kate, our Medical Services Manager. Something to think about as you slice into your pumpkin pie this week:

If your dog is having the occasional case of constipation or diarrhea, one thing that might help is canned pumpkin! Yes canned pumpkin! NOT pumpkin pie filling! Canned pumpkin is full of fiber and is a good natural remedy for constipation. On the opposite end of things it absorbs water and can help clear up diarrhea issues. Just add one too two teaspoons of canned pumpkin into your dogs food, or give directly by mouth, and Voila! Please remember that in some cases severe constipation can be serious and need immediate veterinary care. If your dog has had diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours contact for veterinarian. Canned pumpkin all around!

Happy Thanksgiving!

TV Time

The local Fox TV affiliate in Tampa did a story on our Paws for Patriots program last Friday to promote a local fundraiser. Guide dog Van (raised in Georgia) is featured and if you look closely you will see yours truly working with Richie B. (raised in Ocala). Enjoy!

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7920324&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

'Tis the Season

Thanksgiving is almost here, which means that the Christmas season started last week. The holiday season is awash with opportunities for training your guide dog pup, but it is also rife with potential problems. Here are just a few:

Decorations. Your pup has walked through your neighborhood a hundred times without any problems. So why is he freaking out all of a sudden? Consider how the landscape has changed now that everyone has holiday decorations up. Dogs, especially the herding breeds, are really good at noticing what is different about a familiar location. So the addition of lights and decorations could potentially cause a dog to start showing caution or even fear in his own neighborhood. Things that might be most likely to cause concern are those figures that light up and move. You know, the deer that dip their heads or the snowman that waves. If your pup is showing concern, let him approach the object to investigate. It often helps if you go up and touch the object first. Remember not to coddle the dog. Coddling will come across as praising the dog for being fearful. If the dog won't approach all the way, don't force it. Let him get comfortable at his distance and then come back another day. And of course, you need to be very watchful with your indoor decorations. Dog-proof areas that the dog is allowed in and teach your dog that the tree that has suddenly sprouted in the living room is not a magical dog toy tree, nor is it for his busy-busy convenience. Be careful that the dog does not have opportunity to chew on extension cords for all the tree and window lights (the place looks fabulous, by the way).

Holiday plants - please see the previous post on this topic.

Visitors. You may have lots of visitors at your house during the holidays. Be sure to enforce proper guide dog behavior with your guests. No, that's not a typo. Be watchful of those folks who love dogs, but don't quite understand why we don't slip the dogs people food or let them jump on us or snuggle on the couch when no one's watching. These well-meaning folks can ruin months of work. And be extra vigilant with all the comings and goings of people that your pup doesn't bolt out an open door. And yes, I do actually like people who aren't puppy raisers. Mostly. Sometimes.

Even with all these cautions, we certainly don't want to Scrooge-ify the holidays. Put on the jingle bell collar, pose with Santa, slap reindeer antlers on the dog and take a picture. Enjoy!

Poisonous Holiday Plants

Here is another tip from Kate, our medical services manager:


It’s that time of year again and many households will soon be decorating for the holidays. We all know how irresistible holiday décor is to our pups at times. Make their holidays safer by avoiding these commonly used poisonous holiday plants. Many of the following, if ingested, can cause gastrointestinal upset, seizures, coma, even death.

Holly Berries
Poinsettia
Mistletoe
Amaryllis Bulbs
Narcissus Bulbs
Lily Bulbs

If you suspect your pup has ingested any of these plants, induce vomitting and get the dog to a vet.

Walk the Walk, Part 2

So now that we've covered the difference between fun walks and Forward walks, let talk a little bit about how to teach a pup to Forward walk. Good leash management is crucial in a Forward walk. First, start with your left hand hanging down at your side naturally. Now, grab the leash in your left hand so that there is just enough slack so that the leash hangs down slightly from the collar when the dog is standing next to you. Now, no matter what the dog does, do not move your hand position on the leash. Don't let the leash slide through your hand. This gives the dog more length with which to get into trouble and makes it more difficult for you to control him and give effective corrections. When you give a correction, keep your hand below your waist for more leverage.



Give the command to move (dog's name, Forward). Praise immediately upon the dog moving out. The dog should pull out slightly, walking at the 11 o'clock position. There should be some tension in the leash, but not so much that you are straining to hold the dog back.

With the babies (9 weeks to about 4-5 months) the main problems are usually sniffing, scavenging, wandering or lagging. In other words, everything. Since this is the last time you will have any clear strength advantage over them, use that. Just keep walking and reminding them what's wrong and what's right. You will say "no" about a thousand times and will be giving about a thousand small collar corrections on each walk (and giving 1001 praises, right?) but remember, the pup has no clue what is expected of him. He just wants to explore everything, which is understandable. Be patient and consistent and fair. You want to instruct the pup, not grind him down. Remember that we want the dogs to enjoy working with people. Depending on your pup, he might soon stop sniffing and lagging and move on to pulling like a sled dog.

At any age, if the dog is pulling too hard, there are several options:
Option 1) say "No" and give a collar correction (pop the leash backwards, keeping your hand horizontal to the ground). Give the command "Easy." When the dog slows, PRAISE immediately. If you have to do that repeatedly over the course of several walks, then it's time to move on to

Option 2) When the dog pulls excessively or lunges, simply stop moving. Have the dog stand on a loose leash. Praise the dog, stand for a few seconds and then start walking again (using the Forward command). If the dog immediately starts pulling too hard, stop and repeat the process. This technique takes a while and it obviously can turn a 10 minute walk into a 30 minute crawl down the sidewalk, but it is effective. Remember, dogs generally do not repeat behaviors that they do not find productive. It will eventually sink in that pulling hard equals "stop" and not pulling hard equals "keep moving".

The most important thing with Forward walks (besides PRAISE) is to be consistent. If you let the dog scavenge or drag you during one walk and then try to enforce the correct behvior on the next walk it confuses the dog and makes it much more difficult to teach him the correct behavior. It's also not very fair. If you are consistent and expect the same behavior on every walk from Day One, the dog will be less confused and learn more quickly. Also, the time you spend on this when the pup is young (and easier to handle) will pay big rewards when the dog is older and bigger and can pull like a freight train.

Ok, let's put it all together for a demo!

Meet Tiffany & Andre

Hello, Puppy Raisers!

Here's is an amazing story about a very special guide dog and his wonderful partner Tiffany, who recently graduated from our school. I hope you enjoy it.
Sincerely,

Andrea
Development Coordinator


If you ask Tiffany Jaimeyfield about her new guide dog, Andre, the question can make her smile or bring tears of joy. “I don’t even want to call him a dog because he’s like a human to me,” she says.

Tiffany, a Sarasota, Florida resident, lost her vision in 2002 and began using a wheelchair not long afterward. For a while, she didn’t want to leave her apartment . . . but getting Andre, who was raised by Rita Princivalli, changed that.

Now Tiffany looks forward to returning to school, riding horses, and someday raising horses on her own horse farm – a business she learned from her grandfather.

Southeastern Guide Dogs trainers taught Andre to walk unfazed in front of Tiffany’s electric wheelchair and lead her, himself, and the chair down sidewalks, around obstacles, through doorways and into elevators. “It takes a special dog to do what he does,” says trainer Michael Mancini.

Tiffany agrees. “I did not feel safe in this chair until Andre came along,” she says. “He won’t take me anywhere that’s not safe. I’m very, very grateful to have him guiding me.”

Flea/Tick Preventions: “Water Proof” Not Shampoo Proof!!!

The following is a note from Kate, our Medical Services Manager:

Are you spending a fortune on monthly flea and tick preventions and still having infestation problems?

You might not know that bathing your dog will strip off the prevention application. Most flea and tick products claim that they are “water proof”. Most are, in fact, water proof against rain, swimming, etc. However, they are not foolproof for cleaning products and shampoos. Topical applications are applied to the skin and dispersed through the oils of the skin. Bathing 48-72 hours before application is not recommended for this reason. Bathing anytime after the application is not recommended. If you insist on bathing your dog anytime after the monthly prevention has been applied, I suggest a “soap free” shampoo, which is less likely to strip off the prevention.

Walk the Walk, Redux Part 1

So the gremlins of the blogosphere apparently ate half of my post on walking with your pup. The last part of the post (the part with all the pertinent information) mysteriously disappeared, so I removed the post and learned a valuable lesson: save all blog posts in an independent file. So there.

Anyway, I thought I would just write anew and expand a little on the difference between a forward walk and a fun walk.

When I train dogs I always keep this thought foremost in mind: What am I trying to teach the dog? This piece of Mersereau trivia has a point. Forward walks and fun walks teach the pup specific things.

Fun walks have two purposes. One, they help teach the dog the meaning of "take a break" and two, they are an opportunity for some puppy R&R.

On a fun walk, the pup has no reponsibilities beyond not picking up stuff and not lunging. The pup can stop and sniff, can relieve itself (no vertical marking for the males) and can wander. By telling the pup "take a break" before you start to walk, you emphasize the "little or no responsibilities" aspect of the walk. This helps teach the dog what "take a break" means.

A fun walk with little responsibilities also serves as a stress reliever for the pup, an opportunity to relax a little and be a dog. This can be very useful when the dog has been working hard or has been in a stressful environment. If you think the pup is starting to shut down or is showing concern over an object, releasing the dog from the requirements of a "forward" walk helps reduce his stress level and can make it easier for him to recover and deal his environment.

Forward walks have a very narrow box of acceptable behaviors. The pup should be pulling out slightly ahead of you, at about the 11 o'clock position. That's it. No sniffing, scavenging, lunging, marking or excessive pulling. The pup should not cross in front of you or lag behind. When you enforce this, you are teaching the dog what is expected when the command "Forward" is issued. This will carry over to guide dog work. When the dog hears "Forward" he knows precisely what is expected of him and what is allowed and he can focus on his guide work.

Obviously, you are not going to accomplish a picture-perfect "Forward" walk with a young puppy. They are going to try to sniff, scavenge, and ping pong all over the place. We'll discuss ways to work with a young pup on "Forward" walks in Part 2. Look for it in a few days.

IFT Photos 4

Here are some more of our fantastic dogs at work.

River gets ready for obedience.

Anita on the move.

Ellie works a curb.

Deanna on the move.

Emma at the stairs.

Kelsey has her doubts about early morning routes.

Morgan does a sit-stay.

Richie B. begins a route.

Our dogs love their job!

Show me the love

Quick survey: Over the last 24 hours, how many times have you had to correct your pup? Oh, I see you rolling your eyes and sighing, "about a 1000 times". Having one of those days, are we? It's the teenage years, you say? Hey, I feel your pain - I've been there.


Ok, how many times over the last 24 hours have you praised your pup? If that number is not 1001 or more, then to be blunt, you're missing the point.


Puppies can be mischievious, infuriating, patience-trying bundles of trouble. And when they engage in inappropriate behavior, they need to be corrected. But it doesn't stop there. They also need to be shown the appropriate, expected behavior and then praised when they comply.

Oh, is she on that old soapbox again? Yes, because as I wander around puppy meetings and see raisers out and about, I'm still not seeing the love. I know you love your pup - does your pup know it too?

October Class Matches

Another class of students has arrived and been matched with their new guides. Here is the match list for this class:



Taylor YLxGRF, raised by Patricia Gurley in Jacksonville, FL

Elaine YLF, raised by John & Joan Shimerda in Sarasota, FL

Nieve BLF, raised by Donna Svoboda in Austin, Tx

Troy AUSM, raised by Thresa Shaver in Jacksonville, FL

Hannah YLxGRF, raised by Ray Fong in Charlotte, NC

Seamus YLxGRM, raised by Taunnie Novak, Jacksonville, FL



Dogs being home placed this month:

Andre BLM, raised by Rita Princivalli, Orlando/Daytona, FL (wheelchair placement)

Maggie YLxGRF, raised by Donna & Marv Cohen, Asheville, NC + St. Pete, FL



Congratulations to all!

IFT Photos 3

Enjoy!

Sweetie at work

Parker at the door (just after seeing the cat!)

Spirit works a curb.

Singita waits at a crossing.

Seamus practices intelligent disobedience ("Forward? I don't think so!")

Stairs Part 1

The number one issue I hear when it comes to pups on stairs is "how do I stop my dog from rushing and then jumping off the last couple of stairs?" Although every dog is different, a lot of dogs rush on stairs because they are uncomfortable and nervous about the stairs and just want to get off them as soon as possible. I think this sometimes stems from being put under strict control too soon. When a dog is learning stairs and we try to make them walk slowly by collar correcting them, I think it just enhances their feeling of unease. Another reason for rushing is that some dogs are just excited about life in general and the stairs are fun! Let's go up and down as fast as possible! I

In either case, here is a technique that might help. It is a multi-step process. The pup might be able to progress through all three steps in one session or you might have to spread it out over several sessions.

Step 1: Put the dog on a long leash and let him go up and down the steps at his own pace. For rushers, let them race up and down as fast as they want, as long as they aren't pulling you (that's the reason for the long leash). For tentative pups, encourage them to move. Keep the leash loose!

Once the dog has slowed down and is walking (rushers) or is willingly going up or down (laggers) move on to Step 2: Go back to your regular leash. Walk the stairs and try to match the dog's pace. Keep the leash loose!! Your only requirement here is that the dog keeps a somewhat steady pace. Put very little control on the dog. If the dog starts rushing too much and a small correction doesn't slow him down, go back to step 1.

When you feel the dog is relaxed and calm with this, move on to step 3. And due to the limitations on the number of videos in a post, to see step 3 please move on to the next post, entitled Stairs Part 2 (my creativity overwhelms you, doesn't it?)

Stairs Part 2

Step 3: This is where you finally put the dog under control and expect the appropriate stairs behavior. It is still important to keep the leash loose. Give small pops for corrections instead of pulling on the collar. And remember to praise!

If your pup is having issues with either rushing or lagging on stairs, give this technique a try. And, as always, your Area Coordinator and the PRS staff are always available to answer questions or offer assistance.

What's good for the human.....

isn't necessarily good for the dog.
There are many things to watch out for when raising a puppy. We all know they will try and take anything they can manage in their mouths. Although this is not a complete list, the following things can cause illness and even death, in your puppy.

1. Alcoholic Beverages. Ethanol is the component in alcoholic beverages that can be toxic when an excessive amount is ingested. Pets are much smaller than us and can be highly affected by small amounts of alcohol. Exercise caution when drinks and pets are together. Toxicity can cause a wide variety of signs and symptoms, and may result in death.
Signs may include odor of alcohol on the animal's breath, staggering, behavioral changes, excitement, depression, increased urination, slow respiratory rate or cardiac arrest and death.
2. Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, Plums and Grapes (Raisins). Ingestion of large amounts of stems, seeds and leaves of these fruits can be toxic. They contain a cyanide type compound and signs of toxicity include apprehension, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation and shock.
3. Avocados . The leaves, fruit, bark and seeds of avocados have all been reported to be toxic. The toxic component in the avocado is "persin," which is a fatty acid derivative. Symptoms of toxicity include difficulty breathing, abdominal enlargement, abnormal fluid accumulations in the chest, abdomen and sac around the heart. The amount that needs to be ingested to cause signs is unknown. Do not feed your pet any component of the avocado.
4. Baking Powder and Baking Soda . Baking soda and baking powder are both leavening agents. A leavening agent is a common ingredient in baked goods that produces a gas causing batter and dough to rise. Baking soda is simply sodium bicarbonate. Baking powder consists of baking soda and an acid, usually cream of tartar, calcium acid phosphate, sodium aluminum sulfate or a mixture of the three. Ingestion of large amounts of baking soda or baking powder can lead to electrolyte abnormalities (low potassium, low calcium and/or high sodium), congestive heart failure or muscle spasms.
5. Chocolate . Chocolate, in addition to having a high fat content, contains caffeine and theobromine. These two compounds are nervous system stimulants and can be toxic to your dog in high amounts. The levels of caffeine and theobromine vary between different types of chocolate. For example, white chocolate has the lowest concentration of stimulants and baking chocolate or cacao beans have the highest concentration. Depending on the type of chocolate ingested and the amount eaten, various problems can occur.

IFT Photo Gallery #2

For your viewing pleasure:

Jack begins his training.

Marcia and Angel hit the streets of Bradenton.

River in guide dog mode.

William takes a chew break in the training van.

William goes to work in Sam's Club.

Honor leads the way.

Moxie waits at a curb.

Event of the week on ABC 7

Our Open House on Saturday is the event of the week on ABC 7.
The crew was out filming today so check it out here. http://www.wwsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=6924837&nav=menu577_2_13

Puppy Raisers on Gulf Coast Journal

Andrea sent us another link for a television story done on the Puppy Raisers.
Check it out.

Patty Spellman and Ace

Here is a link to a video news story about recent graduate Patty Spellman and her dog Ace.

IFT Photo Gallery #1

I went on a little photo safari today around campus and on the streets of Bradenton, hunting photogenic IFT dogs. Here is what I found:


Breezy and Morgan load up in the training van.

Troy looks forward to a stroll with a dog walker.

Mattee works a curb.

Hannah negotiates open back stairs.


Marcia and Mattee watch the traffic.

DiPaolo in work mode.

Popi waits to cross the street.

Meet Robert & Esther

Hello, Puppy Raisers!

Andrea Early here with another inspiring story from
one of our students.

This one is from Robert Christie, II, (pictured left)
who is in our current training class. I interviewed
Robert on his second day of class, when he
had just been matched with Esther, a black lab raised by Hannah & Dee Wolters of Nashville. At that point Robert was just learning to follow Esther's lead. Today they are a
force to be reckoned with as they prepare to
graduate this Wednesday along with five other
classmates and their dogs.

Here is Robert's story.

Robert Christie, II – A Bright Future Helping Others

First-time guide dog user Robert Christie, II,
loves his new dog Esther (aka Essie) and
is eager to get on with his life plans with her as his guide.
Robert, 24, lost all his vision four years ago in a car accident,
but he still sees a bright future ahead.

“I want to use my life experiences to help others,” he says.
“If I could tell other blind people one thing it’s don’t
be overly dependent on others. We need our independence.
We’re normal but we just have our eyes shut.”

Robert currently lives in Kissimmee, Florida, where
he is majoring in social work at Valencia Community College.
From there, he’ll go to Flagler College in St. Augustine,
where he plans to pursue a master’s degree and become
a mental health counselor.

Although Robert has fully mastered cane use, with Essie he
anticipates a safer, easier time navigating his future.
“I’m loving working with her,” he says. "I was trusting a stick
and now I’m ready to trust a dog. I’m looking forward to
getting out, to exploring more and moving faster.
I can’t stand going slow!”

Hurricane Ike

To the Southeastern Guide Dogs family:

Hurricane Ike looks to be making a bee line for the Galveston and Houston area. We have puppy raisers in the Houston, Austin, Dallas and Ft. Worth areas of Texas. All of these folks will be affected in some way by the hurricane. Let's keep them in our thoughts this weekend as they ride out the storm.

Switch

We're all familiar with the switch command, yes? You know the one, where you're standing at a door and you tell the dog "switch" so it moves behind you and over to your right side. Piece of cake, right? But are you confident that you know when to switch the dog? Not every door is a "switch" door.

Ok, here's an easy way to remember. When you are facing a door, the dog needs to be on the same side of you as the doorknob. So, if you are standing facing these doors, which one is the "switch" door?

The door on the right is the "switch" door because the doorknob is on the right side of the door. It doesn't matter whether the door open towards you or away from you. The deciding factor is which side the doorknob is on. This puts the dog away from the hinge of the door and puts you between the door and the dog.

In fact, the whole reason we switch when going through doors is for the safety of the dog. If the dog's tail or feet get caught, or if the dog is hit with the door, that might potentially make the dog fearful of doors. Which would make life as a guide dog rather difficult.

A note from Mike and Brittani at Georgetown University

Corporal Michael Jernigan, United States Marine Corps, retired after being blinded by an Improvised Explosive Device in Iraq, is one of our school's Paws for Patriots recipients. Several day ago, Michael began his studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The following is an email from Michael regarding his travels with guide dog Brittani. I believe his testimonial serves as powerful reminder of how important each of you is to Southeastern Guide Dogs.

I just wanted to share with you that I have now been at school for four days. In this four days Brittani and I have been trying to navigate a campus that is integrated into the community. Today Brittani and I got dropped off at our usual spot. It is about three to four blocks from where we need to be. It is not a straight shot either. We need to navigate the community of Georgetown to get into the campus and then find our buildings for class.

Brittani and I got dropped off today in our usual spot. Brittani started to walk without me giving her any commands. She took me right to the crosswalk where we need to cross. I thought that I would give her a little rope and just follow her. I did not need to be anywhere in a hurry.

Brittani and I crossed the street and she took over. She navigated the complicated route and took me right to the steps of the building that I needed to go to. I entered the building and she walked up the stairs and right to the elevator. When we got off at the third floor she then walked down the hall and stopped at the door of our class.

I was amazed. In four days Brittani has already memorized our routine and knows where we need to go and when. This has made my life less stressful. Less stress is exactly what I need as I am starting one of the most difficult challanges this year.

Thank you for Brittani. She has truly made a difference in my life. Not only does she keep me safe but she knows how to save my sanity as well.

Semper Fidelis
Mike and Brittani

Hazards

It's a dangerous world out there and there are many items that pose a hazard to our pups. But here a couple of items that, while they might seem innocuous at first glance, can be a safety hazard.


Pennies. Pennies minted after 1983 are made of a little bit of copper coating and a whole lot of zinc interior. If a dog swallows a penny, the stomach acid will eat away the copper and expose the zinc, which is then absorbed into the dog's system. Zinc toxicity can cause a dangerous and potentially fatal blood disorder where the red blood cells are destroyed. Zinc toxicity can occur after ingesting as few as 1 to 3 pennies. If your dog swallows pennies, induce vomiting and call your vet ASAP.


Cocoa mulch. We all know that chocolate can be toxic to dogs. This is due to a chemical in the cocoa bean. The Hershey company makes a mulch out of cocoa bean shells that is widely available. It has a sweet smell and is very attractive to dogs. If your dog eats this mulch, a toxic reaction can occur. Take the dog to the vet.

Puppies, especially Labs, will eat anything that doesn't eat them first. It's up to us to keep a close eye on our pups and keep them safe.

August Class Matches

Another class is in session here at Southeastern and this past Tuesday was match day. The following dogs were matched:

Ace SCCM, raised by Gainesville IMPACT
Chief BLM, raised by Don & Teresa Pool, Dallas
Esther, BLF, raised by Hannah & Dee Wolters, Nashville
Penny GRF, raised by Randy & Mary Ann Kerr, Brooksville
Magic YLM, raised by Dan & Linda Erwin, Lakeland/Winter Haven
Taz BLM, raised by Fran Shepherd, Nashville

Home placements this month:
Faith SCCF, raised by Marion Luquette, Bradenton
Horace AUSM, raised by Julee Garrett, Cocoa Beach

Congratulations! See you at Puppy Raiser day!

Southeastern Guide Dogs in Times Square

Sandy Mann is one of our Group Leaders in West Palm Beach. She raised SCC Paul, who was recently career changed and adopted back by Sandy. We received this message from Sandy earlier this week regarding her daughter Jessie and Paul:

"Jessie and Paul are "famous" and will help promote Buddy Walks and (Southeastern Guide Dogs) nationwide by appearing as one of 200 photos (out of 2500 entries) that will appear on the big panorama screen in Times Square! The photo will be part of a video of photos that will run in Times Square on the larger-than-life Newscorp Astrovision by Panasonic on Sunday, September 28 at 10:30am."

According to its website, "The Buddy Walk was established in 1995 to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Downs Syndrome." For more information on this program check here: http://www.buddywalk.org/

Congratulations to Sandy, Jessie and Paul!

The Value of Evals

Puppy raisers are expected to fill out evaluations on their puppies 5 times over the course of having the pup. You'd think that with over 200 puppies on program, PuppyLand HQ would be awash in evaluations. Sadly, this is not the case. Currently, less than 50% of puppy raisers turn in all of the required evaluations.

I think I may know the reason. I'm often asked "who reads these things?" I have a sneaky feeling that a lot of raisers think the evals are filed away, never to see the light of day again.

Let me emphatically tell you that is not the case. The evaluations you fill out play a very important part in the dog's training, not only while in the puppy program, but once the dog goes IFT as well. Each evaluation is reviewed by both the Area Coordinator and Puppy Raising Services staff to make sure that the puppy is progressing well and there are no serious problems or issues. Once the dog is IFT, trainers read the evaluations for each dog when they start their new string. This gives the trainers an idea of any behavior or exposure issues that may need to be addressed. It also provides a history of behaviors and exposures that are very helpful when assessing the dog.

Another misperception may be that we use these forms to evaluate the puppy raiser. Not true! We use a completely different form for that...... Kidding!! Only kidding.

Please be as honest as possible on these evals. And if you're not sure if you should be concerned about something - include it on the evaluation. We're here to help and we want to provide guidance and suggestions for helping correct inappropriate behavior.

Evaluations are a valuable tool in the process of creating guide dogs. Please do your part to help train the best guide dogs possible.

Meet Walter & Duchess

My name is Andrea Early and I'm the development coordinator at Southeastern Guide Dogs. One of the things I love most about my job is that I get to write stories about how much our dogs and training programs--and you as our puppy raisers--help change people's lives.

Occasionally, I will be sharing these stories with you, like this one about recent graduate Walter Daniel and his guide Duchess (pictured left). Andrea and Mark Heegle raised Duchess in Austin, Texas; she is the third puppy they have raised for Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Here is the story of Walter and Duchess:

A Terrific Teacher and a Great Teacher's Aide

Walter Daniel recently retired after 30 years of teaching 3rd and 5th graders in some of Alabama’s best schools, but he still works daily as a math and reading tutor at Minor Elementary School near his home in Birmingham.

Walter was born with limited vision, but that didn't stop him for pursuing his dream of becoming a teacher. “I went through the Birmingham public schools with assistance from some great teachers,” he says. “That’s why I wanted to be one.”

Walter arrived at our campus on July 6. A day later, he met his first-ever guide dog, Duchess. “The trainers took into account that I work with children,” says Walter. “They matched me with a kind, petite, and gentle dog.”

Walter trained with Duchess at our school until July 26. Now he is preparing to return to Minor Elementary with his new four-pawed assistant.

“Life with Duchess has exceeded my expectations,” he says. “She has boosted my trust in myself - and she’ll make a great teacher’s aide!”

Um, May I Have That Leash Please...

Today's post is from the Training Department. One of the trainers said they wanted to get some info out to the puppy raisers and I said "Blog it!!" So here it is:

Admit it, how cute is it when we see a puppy or an adult dog carrying a leash around in their mouth? And what do we say when we see it..."look how smart he is!" Most of the dogs we raise here at Southeastern Guide Dogs are retrievers that love to have something in their mouth, including the leash if it's accessible. The problem with this is that the pup can develop a bad habit or even an obsessive behavior. This can also lead to the dog being mouthy overall and a behavior that may not be reversible. If you see this behavior in your pup, please discourage it. If it continues, please seek help from the puppy department. After all, we all know our pups are the smartest around, do we really need them to carry the leash to prove it?

Home Again

Well, I'm back in the Sunshine State and the 2008 Great Northern Tour is history. On Sunday I attended the inaugural meeting of the Columbia, SC puppy raiser group. Co-ACs Suzette Williams and Karen Newsome have broken off from the Charlotte, NC group in hopes of growing the Columbia region. They are off to a good start with 3 dogs. Guide dog user Lin Hunnicut, his wife and his dog Major also attended the meeting and plan to help with presentations to recruit raisers.

Yesterday I had lunch in Ridgeland, SC with the most of Hilton Head group: Steve Clarke, his wife Winnie and puppy raiser Susan Souder with Parker. They are small, but going strong. Susan gave me a few of the "trading cards" that she has made about her dogs. They are very cool and I'll make sure to bring them to the AC workshop.

I had a great time and enjoyed meeting everyone. Thanks to all of you for your hospitality. We really do have the best puppy raisers. Thanks for being part of the Southeastern Guide Dogs family.

Carolina On My Mind

So last night I slept more or less on top of the Eastern Continental Divide (elev. 2320), which is not too far from Hendersonville, NC. This is the dividing line down the east coast for the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico watersheds. I was in Western NC visiting Louise Henry and her puppy group. Her raisers' 3 dogs are all going through puppy adolescence together, so you can imagine the fun. We had a lovely dinner in Black Mountain, and all dogs behaved well.

Most interesting town name seen so far: Bat Cave, NC, zip code 28710.

Today I was in Charlotte and met with Lori Hupp and Sue McIntyre's group. We took a short walk in the woods and then met in a nearby library for some dog talk, then off to Sue and Ron Hawkins house for a cookout. The Charlotte group has several small pups in their group and are about to have a pup-ulation explosion when 6 new pups join the group in a few weeks. It was another good day: I got to talk about dogs and eat about 100 chocolate chip cookies (my favorite) - thanks Rebecca!

The Tour is heading for the home stretch. Tomorrow: Columbia, South Carolina.

Mile Marker 1251

Greetings from Nashville, mile marker 1251 on the Great Northern Tour. This morning I woke up in Atlanta, having spent the previous evening with Ellen Cox and the wonderful Atlanta puppy group. So far, they win the prize for most interesting exposure outing: Indoor glow-in-the-dark miniature golf. No lie. Only in America, eh? The whole place is only lit by black light, so unless something is white or glows in the dark, it's nearly impossible to see. Which made all the black dogs in their jackets an interesting sight: nothing but Southeastern puppy coat logos bobbing along in the dark. (I chose not to play any golf. My scores are depressing enough when I play in broad daylight.) I had a great time. They fed me pizza and let me talk about dogs. What more could you ask for?

Today I stopped for lunch in Huntsville, Alabama to visit with one of our newest groups. Led by veteran puppy raisers Rick and Joanne Ackerman, this group broke off from the Nashville group when gas prices started making the 90 minute one way trip prohibitive. They hope to grow the Huntsville area and are off to a good start with two wonderful families who are raising for the first time. My sight-to-remember in Huntsville is at the US Space and Rocket Center where they have erected a huge rocket from the pre-Shuttle era. If I had to guess, I'd say it was a Saturn rocket from the Apollo missions. Anyone know for sure?


The Nashville group met at AC Becky Dan's house where the dogs enjoyed the fenced yard for a pre-meeting romp. Several of Becky's raisers moonlight as puppy coat elves and made the latest batch of puppy coats for us, so a big tail wag for them. Becky provided the bar-b-que dinner to round out the evening. Again, I got eat and talk about dogs. And I get paid for this!

Tomorrow I head over the Smokey Mountains and into Carolina. Nothing could be finer.

If it’s Tuesday…

...this must be Pensacola.

Hello from the road. This is the second day of the Great Northern Tour, my road trip through the southeastern US to visit puppy groups. I feel like I'm living a Johnny Cash song: I'm going to Enterprise, Pensacola, Atlanta, Huntsville, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Columbia and Hilton Head. And by no means am I traveling incognito. If you see this rolling down Main Street...


...you know the Head Puppy has hit town.

Actually, we are having all Southeastern Guide Dogs vehicles wrapped like this, thanks to a generous donation of materials and time from Sign Zoo. Needless to say, we are getting lots of attention and not a few double takes.

So anyway, back to the road trip. Yesterday I was in Enterprise, Alabama visiting with AC Helen Harrison, her husband Dan and their small, but dedicated group of raisers. The Harrisons are raising their 14th puppy for Southeastern Guide Dogs. We should start a "Double Digit Club" for folks who have raised 10 or more dogs.

Interesting fact: Enterprise boasts a statue in the middle of town that features one of the more historically detested pests in the South: the boll weevil. Apparently, the introduction of the boll weevil in the cotton fields around Enterprise forced the town to diversify its agricultural base, which helped the town flourish.

And if there's a Navy jet parked at the rest stop, it's a good bet you're in Pensacola.


Home to Pensacola Naval Air Station (and the Blue Angels), Pensacola is located in the far western part of Florida's panhandle (so far west it is actually in the central time zone.) AC Susan Brewster runs a nice group, with all the breeds represented except Collies and Goldens. (Note to Susan: Melinda can provide a Collie or two if you're interested.)

Wednesday I take my road show to Atlanta, where I shall continue to spread the word of The Paycheck (all together now: "praise your dog")

One man's independence...

There are many of you in PuppyLand who I have not yet had the opportunity to meet. My name is Jennifer Boyle and I have the wonderful responsibility of acting as Titus Herman's Executive Assistant here at Southeastern Guide Dogs. I began in March of this year and have been plugging away at an array of different projects.

As I am sure most people do, I use my commuting time in the morning to help me plan my morning and develop new ideas. During a recent early morning brainstorming session, it occured to me how little I understood the process that a student goes through during their 26 days with us here on our beautiful campus. As a result of this realization, I had the wonderful opportunity to shadow Robert Gladstone - a recent graduate of Southeastern Guide Dogs. The article below was written by our Development Coordinator, Andrea Early. In the future, Robert (and his guide "Simba") will be featured in a photo-timeline designed to bring some insight into the process our Southeastern Guide Dog students become apart of during their stay with us.

Enjoy!

-----

A SAVVY NEW YORKER FINDS COMPANIONSHIP AND COMFORT

Though raised as a savvy New Yorker, 58-year-old Robert Gladstone is a softie when it comes to his new guide dog Simba. “I give him more kisses than I give my girlfriend,” says Gladstone, a retired restaurateur and realtor. He has retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive condition that recently limited his vision and mobility. “I need to be able to get around,” he says. “It was either get a cane or a dog, and I love dogs.” So he applied to Southeastern Guide Dogs and arrived in June from his home in Boca Raton for four weeks of rigorous training with Simba.

After learning the rules and systems of guide dog use from our trainers and practicing together with his new guide on the school’s walking paths and in nearby cities like Tampa, Gladstone is eager to greet the world. “I’m looking forward to walking to a restaurant or the mall and feeling comfortable,” he says. “I now have companionship and eyes to guide me. I’ll feel confident with my girlfriend in one hand and Simba in the other.”

Campus Improvements

There have been several exciting updates to the buildings and grounds here on campus. The most noticeable improvement is the addition of a fence around the perimeter of our campus.

This will improve the security of our students, staff and dogs and we think it looks pretty classy too. The new fencing has also been installed around our ponds, where new fountains are in place.

We had emergency generators installed at the Puppy Kennel and the Administration and Student Services building thanks to Mary Parker and the Bishop Foundation (Training Kennel already has a generator). Since the entire campus is on a well and septic system, when the electricity goes out, we lose our water also. These generators will provide uninterrupted power in case of a hurricane or other emergency and are a welcome improvement.

Along our Freedom Walk, the improvements include trimming the trees to a “hurricane cut”, which will make it less likely the trees will be severely damaged in high winds. In addition, all of our 70 benches and 9 wooden bridges were rebuilt.



At Puppy Kennel the kennel fencing has been replaced and the ventilation fans are scheduled for replacement thanks to a $40,762 capital fund from the Henry and Anne Pape Trust. In addition, we will also be resurfacing the Puppy Kennel floors and repainting the interior walls, thanks to a $25,000 capital grant from the Florida Lions Foundation.

And last but not least, we resurfaced the Administration and Student Services building entryway thanks to a generous in-kind donation from Ed Benus and Ray Hill.

We are very proud of our campus and invite you to visit any time you are in the neighborhood.

More Southeastern Guide Dogs puppy raisers in the news!

Another excellent article regarding some of our Charlotte, NC puppy raisers, as well a Southeastern Guide Dogs graduate!

http://www.todayscharlottewoman.com/july08/guidingheart.htm

Southeastern Guide Dogs Puppy Raiser in the News

A Southeastern Guide dog puppy is “christened” on Siesta Key!

http://www.pelicanpress.org/main.asp?SectionID=136&SubSectionID=437&ArticleID=5344

Guide Dogs and Englishmen...

…go out in the midday sun.

Guide dogs need to work in all kinds of weather. You can help prepare your dog for his future job by not letting him become a “fair weather” dog. Be sure to work him in all kinds of weather. For instance, don’t be afraid to work your dog when it is hot. Southeastern Guide Dogs is known for having dogs that are acclimated to working in hot weather; in addition, the dogs need to be accustomed to working in the heat when they come in for training. Try to not avoid the heat of the day completely. Instead, take shorter trips, or plan a few stops in air conditioning to let the dog (and you!) cool down. Here are a few other considerations when working in hot weather:

- If they keep moving, dogs can tolerate walking on fairly warm asphalt or bricks. However, if the dog has to stand on the pavement for any length of time, it could get uncomfortable. Check the pavement with your hand – if it’s too uncomfortable for your bare skin, it’s too hot for the dog to stand on.
- Be watchful for signs the dog is overheating. Signs include excessive panting, an enlarged tongue, becoming lethargic or gasping for breath. In cases of overheating, get him out of the sun and into air conditioning if possible. Apply cool (not cold) water, especially to his belly where the fur is thinner.
- Make sure they get adequate water during hot weather activity.

July Class Matches

This past Tuesday was match day for new students in the July 2008 class. All week they have been working on campus with their new dogs and taking the first steps towards independence. The following dogs were matched this week:
Miss Joan BLF raised in North Carolina IMPACT
Russell SCCM raised in St. Pete, FL region
Gabriel YLxGRM raised in Cocoa Beach, FL region
Morgan BLF raised in Orlando/Daytona FL region
Duchess Hannah BLF raised in Austin, TX region

Also occuring this month is a home placement with Tez, YLF, raised in Atlanta, GA region.

Congratulations!

A message from Titus Herman

Dear Puppy Raisers:

We know that raising a well-behaved, socialized, confident dog is a big job, and we appreciate everything that each of you does every day to give our dogs the crucial foundations they need to become great guide dogs.

We also understand the role that timely, consistent, two-way communication can play in the success of our Puppy Raising Program – and we hope The Blue Coat Journal will motivate all of us to keep the lines of communication humming.

The mastermind behind The Blue Coat Journal is Karen Mersereau, our new Puppy Raising Services Manager. Since accepting this position in May, Karen has been devising new and creative ways to enhance communications in PuppyLand.

I’m eager to check in regularly to see what great things I can learn from you through The Blue Coat Journal – so please take the time to share your thoughts and comments with your fellow Puppy Raisers and our staff through this blog.

Thank you for your commitment and support of our mission.

Titus Herman
Southeastern Guide Dogs CEO

The Paycheck

I've worked for Southeastern Guide Dogs for over four years. Every day I come to work and do my best and every two weeks they give me a paycheck. This makes me happy and insures that I will keep showing up for work and doing my best.

Our pups need a paycheck, too. Their only reward for working for us is the love we show them. And the way we show them the love is through praise. Every time you give your dog a command and he complies, you need to praise your dog. And I don't mean a barely audible "good dog". Praise should be in a higher tone (not necessarily louder) than your normal speaking voice. Put some enthusiasm in it. Let the dog know that he did a good job and you're happy. With appropriate corrections and abundant praise you will be surprised at how quickly your pup learns and responds to you.

It is so important to teach our pups that working with people is the greatest thing in the world. Praise is the currancy we use to reward our dogs for the fabulous job they do for us. Don't forget to give your dog his paycheck every day!

Welcome!

Greetings to all in PuppyLand and welcome to our experiment in communication. We wanted a way to communicate with everyone in a timely fashion that offered opportunity for quick feedback and thought a blog was the perfect solution. This blog will offer news about Southeastern Guide Dogs, tips and tricks for puppy raisers, and anything else you all might be interested in.


For those of you not familiar with blogs, you can post comments after each posting by clicking on the "comments" link below the post. Please sign your comments. We will be moderating the comments and will not post anonymous comments. Also, the archive section on the right hand side will quickly take you to any previous posts that you may have missed.


It is our hope that this blog will serve in place of a newsletter, so we will be taking all your great suggestions for the newsletter and incorporating it into our blog. We are committed to posting at least once a week, but hopefully more often. We also plan to have "guest posters" from other departments at Southeastern Guide Dogs. Please bookmark us and check in often!