countrywide
Joined: 16 Sep 2007
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 1807
 
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| Assistant dogs for the deaf and blind |
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Has anybody ever done puppy training for the guide dogs or hearing dogs organisation. My wife is keen to take one on for 7 months before they begin their proper training. I am happy to do this as well and can even take the puppy to work so it gets used to the work environment, but I am not sure what they expect you to teach the puppy. As only about 50% make the grade I guess the early training is important.
It's quite a big commitment and handing a puppy back is bound to upset the family, but it is very worthwhile.
EDIT: Forgot to say we have to have an interview first, but we meet all the criteria.
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 Sun Oct 05 2008 10:07am |
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JMC
Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Location: Aberdeen-Angus. Where the Bull* comes from!
Posts: 4162
 
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Have had some contact with Guide Dogs for the Blind (HQ was near here). It takes a special type of family to do this successfully. I could not have handed back my dog after seven days - never mind seven months. The role is to socialise the puppy, walk it round the streets and get it used to people etc.
Problem comes once this dog is part of the familly and has to be put back. I can't imagine the wrench but I recon there is a 'sales ploy' there which means you take another one, then another one,.........
I loved my dog as a puppy, but I'm glad he 'grew up' too.....
Good luck if you decide to do it. Without going too far into stories, I would have to say that I was put-off the GDA due to knowledge gleaned form a relative who worked there  A fair percentage of the dogs don't make the grade and their subsequent treatment can be akin to a dog shower/breeder who's pup can't get an entry to Crufts. 
Give it very serious thought before getting into it....... The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom 
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 10:21am |
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Snowy
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Location: At the end of my tether
Posts: 1120
 
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Countrywide, I know quite a few people that do this and they find it very rewarding. As you said, they socialise the puppy, get it used to roads, people, other dogs etc. I run weekly training sessions for these people and the dogs for general obediance which is essential and gives the puppy a good grounding before they go off to the specialist training. I personally would find it very hard to hand the dog back at the end, as I know I would get too attached   .
I also have enough on my plate with the 3 dogs I have.
Hats off to you if you do it  I wanna live 'til I die, no more, no less.
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 12:13pm |
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countrywide
Joined: 16 Sep 2007
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 1807
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I do have a personal reason for it as well, my father unfortunately lost his sight when I was a kid and although my father has never had a guide dog, I have seen the difference they can make.
I think your both right, handing a puppy back will be the hardest, but we do have our own family dog.
I checked with the hearing dogs association and they promise that any dogs not making the grade are rehomed and that there is a waiting list of people wanting them. This will of course be something I would want more assurance on.
We'll see what happens when we get to the interview stage.
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 3:23pm |
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Ken
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Location: Here & There
Posts: 4956
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CW
One of our five is a ex GD and one other is a working one (soon to be retired as hes grown a dislike for cats )
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 3:39pm |
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shellshock
Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Location: Chester/Wrexham
Posts: 199
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Was speaking to a lady who visits work regularly with GD puppies in training - apparantly she has taken in a few for training. It became clear that you not only need to have a love of dogs and dedication but really have to brace yourself for when they go back. It is a great thing to do and it is something I would struggle with. Last year we took on our second dog (rescue). Had her for a weekend then due to issues she had to go back for some training etc. This was for a fortnight but with no guarantee of success (therefore return) all the family were heartbroken the day she left us. Luckily she came back and we have had a happy year since her return ......except for one of SWMBO's shoes and daughter's homework 
If you can cope with returning the puppy - go for it! Over 10000 miles of trouble-free motoring......well almost .....(only two visits to dealer and 3 days without)
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| Sun Oct 05 2008 8:58pm |
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countrywide
Joined: 16 Sep 2007
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 1807
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Well they are coming to interview us on the 3rd November and check out the house etc to make sure we are suitable, so we will find out if we will go ahead with it.
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| Wed Oct 15 2008 2:51pm |
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JMC
Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Location: Aberdeen-Angus. Where the Bull* comes from!
Posts: 4162
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countrywide wrote:check out the house etc to make sure we are suitable
I sincerely hope this has nothing to do with Labour party policy or else you will need to have been unemployed for six months, speak fluent Urdu, paint your kids faces black and be claiming asylum The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
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| Wed Oct 15 2008 3:48pm |
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countrywide
Joined: 16 Sep 2007
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 1807
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Fortunately it is not goverment run or we would be doomed 
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| Wed Oct 15 2008 3:53pm |
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paul
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 201
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I'm a Police dog handler and currently have a retired GSD 8 years old and a working GSD who is 3 1/2 years old. My force run a puppy walking scheme and have around 70 puppy walkers on their books as we usually have nearly 100 puppies at different stages of development.
Our force work very closely with GD for the blind based in Warks.
A couple of weeks ago I collected Errol, an 8 week old English Springer to puppy walk for around 8 months at which point if he is suitable will be trained to be either a drugs or explo dog.
It’s all about environmental training, getting the dog used to every possible situation that they may encounter.
There is no requirement for you to do any specialist training. It would make for a better dog if he walks well on his lead, sits and stays, does not chew stuff or jump up but that’s about it.
They just want a nice normal well behaved dog.
They like to look at the dog at regular intervals, the Police have puppy days every month where loads of pups get together for play and a look see how they are getting on and to discuss any problems you may be having.
Rest assured that there is a list as long as your arm for people who want these dogs if they prove not to be suitable for any reason. I'd be pretty sure that the failure rate is a lot higher than 50%. I would have said more like 80% but I may stand corrected.
I would also imagine that if your dog does fail to make the grade then it will find a lovely home staying with you!
If it does make the grade then you will have the pleasure of finding out how well your dog is helping his new owner and you then get the pleasure of having another puppy and doing it all over again!
Some puppy walkers I know have had 10+ puppies and are still going.
The interview is a home check and general common sense check.
Goodluck, it will be worth it. 2006 TDV6 S Auto, Buckingham Blue, for the wife.
2006 Audi S4 Avant Quattro, Phantom black 4.2 V8 for me and the dogs.
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| Wed Oct 15 2008 5:14pm |
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Pelyma
Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Clymping, Sussex
Posts: 4761
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A few of my friends walk hound puppies, they are usually pleased to hand them back at the end of their stay out at walk!! DS3 TDV6 HSE
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| Wed Oct 15 2008 5:21pm |
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countrywide
Joined: 16 Sep 2007
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 1807
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Funnily enough we know a police dog handler called Paul who is with the Hampshire Police. He lives a near us and has a drugs dog and a general working dog. He is also a Land Rover fan and has a 110 fully kitted out.
Thanks for the advice, I was hoping it would just be the basic training and exposure to different environments.
We have a English Springer Spaniel, they are a lot of fun, I hope he works out for you .
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| Wed Oct 15 2008 9:23pm |
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countrywide
Joined: 16 Sep 2007
Location: Sunny South Coast
Posts: 1807
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Had our interview and it looks like we may get a recruit before Christmas.
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| Mon Nov 10 2008 4:45pm |
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GLYNNE
Joined: 06 Oct 2006
Location: KENT
Posts: 371
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| Mon Nov 10 2008 4:50pm |
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jkp
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Joined: 16 Sep 2005
Location: West Lothian
Posts: 1822
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countrywide wrote:Had our interview and it looks like we may get a recruit before Christmas.
Good news CW Good luck with it. Needing car cleaning or detailing products.
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| Mon Nov 10 2008 4:50pm |
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