I'm a first yr intervenor student at George Brown,we went to the Dog Guide school in December and got to the little obstacle course with Biscuit! Wonderful dog! Wonderful Exposure for the school! Take Care!
Just an FYI..........the dog in the video doing laundry.....thats my baby girl Halo. That is her in profile pic. She is the love of my life and the best thing that ever happened to me.!!!!
We just got our puppy - his name is Fritz and he's the one in the orange collar. The one thing I picked up on during this broadcast is the fact that we (as Foster parents) dedicate a large portion of our time and money to get these puppies ready for advanced training, but we've been discriminated in various locations and prevented from entering some establishments. I ask all that truly care about this program, if you see this, stand up for us and help us educate these businesses! :)
I used to have a friend who was visually impaired and had a huge black Lab as his dog guide. One day, during lunch, we went to the Eaton Centre (downtown Toronto) and my friend wanted to find the dog-treat store to buy some snacks for his dog. We were stopped by a security guard in the middle of the mall, who told us that dogs were not allowed inside the mall. I firmly told this idiot that Joey was a "seeing eye dog" who accompanied his owner everywhere, and was allowed anywhere his handler was, without exception. The guard refused to believe me and tried to order us out of the mall. I had a few choice words for him, and left him standing there looking like a fool while we made our way to the dog treat store.
They are such beautiful creatures. My dad might get a guide dog sometime in the future, he's only 42, but within a year he might become completely blind.
Being a grad myself with hearing loss your dad should not have to be completely blind to require a dog. My advice to you and your dad is to apply early as the instructions will stop by to meet you and a lengthy waiting list.
This was a great experience for Mercer and educative to the public. I wish they'd included something to the effect of the general public to NOT patting or distracting the dogs. They get plenty of love and attention from the handler ;)
The ending was hilarious. "Usually conscience is my guide, but Biscuit's so much better." That last high-five nearly smacked her in the face, though! Heh. I'm glad it didn't. I think I'll be sending them a small donation sometime soon. :)
Awesome!!! Thanks for helping out. I've had many friends with vision impairments get there guide dogs from Oakville. They form a bond that's unbelievably strong. His first dog is retired and a "family dog" now but his second is working hard for him! FYI, you are entitled to bring him anywhere, have your card out and take the opportunity to educate! IF, for some reason, Fitz doesn't make the 'cut' you would be able to adopt him. Forester parents get first dibs! But Fitz will be top dog, I'm sure!
Bless , all the Service Canines !!! ~~~ Not only do they Open Doors ,,, for so many , to live Independent lives ,.... They also ,, enhance , independent Lives ,, in the Service of their Communities & Give , Trust , Loyalty & Friendship ... And , Never , Ever , In the Least !!! should IT ever be Forgotten !! for , what they AS CANINES ,, have DONE & STILL DO FOR their Countries !!!Also , there has been many other great Animals , not to be forgotten that have been there for Human Kind thru the Ages & have given & shown great Valence !!!Bless them All !!!!
Hi Max, I agree with you - unfortunately we aren't afforded the same "all access pass" as fully registered dogs (under the law), with that being said, we are on our 4th dog now and haven't had any issues with him at this point. :) Thank you to all that have supported Dog Guides throughout the years!
I didn't know that guide dogs were provided by a charity, I thought it would have been government related as well. It's definitely something to look into!
I want Sam's job - working with puppies all day. Yes please!!! :) but seriously, how would one go about getting this type of job? what kind of studies would you need?
+Stephanie L. Dog Guides hires apprentices to work with the puppies and dogs in training. It takes about 3 years. Some people have university degrees in science or college vet assistance degrees
Steph: Great of you to be interested in that. Maybe you have already gotten into that. For other folks reading this who may not know, one thing to be aware of is ..... God gave puppies razor teeth. And they love to chew. So I bet one of the first things Sam and other puppy trainers need to learn is how to gently teach pups that teeth and human flesh are a no no. Plus, when the pooches reach about 6 months, they go through "teething." Which is when they want to chew mass quantities ....
BTW clients don't have to pay, or donate to the school, although many will organize a walk or fundraiser after getting their dog, out of their gratefulness for what they have been given. Talk to the graduates, and you will hear how much they appreciate what LF does, and the training of their partner. They graduate MANY vision dogs per year, with people coming back for their 2nd and 3rd dogs. They work with CNIB, who partner with them, on behalf of many clients. They do GREAT work! !!!!
It's truly astounding what these folks do, and I'm so indebted to them. Without Watson (a Canine Vision dog), I don't know where I'd be! The average cost of a dog guide is $20,000, and the dog is free of charge to the client during training. Once home, of course, the dog is the client's responsibility, but my stay, and Watson's training were all covered by Dog Guides. :)
I adored the scene at the 6 minute mark when Rick and Biscuit enter a "butchery." Rick comes out with a meat sandwich, .... but beautiful boy Biscuit comes out with a STRING OF MEATS!!! ROFL
Dogs are so pure-hearted, humans could learn a lot from Dogs. They are so loyal. If you have ever wanted a dog do some research on the breed that is right for you and the environment you can provide for the dog. You are not getting a pet you are getting a best friend, it will change your life.
A fund raiser for this wonderful program takes place June 27th at the Muskoka Dog Guides Golf Tournament at South Muskoka C&G Club in Braccebridge. Play golf or just come for dinner and see some of the dogs in action that were sponsored by this event. Great prizes, fun auction, beautiful course and delicious dinner plus FUN people. Hope to see you there!
It isn't one. The show is filmed in front of a live audience, and they play the clip in front of one too. I got to watch them film onetime - t'was cool.
According tho CGDB website, if the owner is able to keep the dog, that's what often happens, if they can't, the organization finds homes for them. As for using shelter dogs, I think it could work in some cases, but early socialization is extremely important for guide dogs, to get them used to a variety of thing. Not all puppies who start the program become guide dogs. If you watch the movie Quill (japanese), it gives you an idea of the training/selection program.
"It was no problem". That's what a blind person yelled back at me and waved, after I realized I'd left the door open and blocked the sidewalk when carrying in my groceries. "OMG, I'm so sorry', I called to her when I noticed the guide dog about ten feet ahead.
It's totally joking, they had it planned just to be a comedic skit. Also biscuit didn't eat it at all, just held it in his mouth, delicious as it was. That's like asking me to hold a warm chocolate chip cookie in my mouth while i work. I don't even have that self control, so huge props to biscuit!
Rick its good to see you leave the comment section open. I found it funny and odd that the CBC news postings all have the comment section disabled. I mean isn't freedom of speech a staple of a media outlet ? I loved the video they added and was titled " Inside Canada's top secret submarine" Which of course would not really make it Top secret if you started filming inside of it ..I mean if i was a expert and wanted to slow the film down and look at the tech and have books on submarines of the 80's I would be a threat ..Is this the sub that had the 8 foot dent put into it on delivery from the UK from the outdated surplus ship yard? Or the one that caught fire underwater from the same place? Must of been overheated from the solar panels after they found out the power cost from the new American owned hydro one electric bill ..PS i live near the HMCS Haida Back in a time when being Canadian meant something ...Cheers
People in my city are starting to take advantage of the whole guide dog thing. Some people are pissed that they can't bring a dog on the bus so I think they are just pretending that there dog is a guide dog by getting one of those harnesses. I see about one guide dog per day, and before I only saw one once a year - and the people aren't blind.
+123northcoast there are service dogs that are for people who aren't blind. I use one and you could not tell that I have a disability. Yes there are fakes but just because you cant see a disability doesn't mean its not there
I agree with both of you, but a lot of people are faking that in 2020. That, unfortunately, makes a difficult situation even more dificult for people with disabilities. I have, what's known as, an Invisible Disability. I'm epileptic. No, I don't have/need a service dog, but I still have that disability.
Sadly, large portions of "things required by the disabled" to function as part of money-earning society is often self-funded or a charity. Born with a disability I wasn't able to get funding for basic survival medical necessities until I was 18. Until then, I was funded by Easter Seals. My parents had little money when I was born and depended on Ronald MacDonald house to get by during my many surgeries. Forever thankful for them. I work (and make good money) and donate much back.
I worked at Tim Hortons were a gentleman brought his dog in training in when he came for coffee, it was find, how else is the dog to get his training except by doing.
The dogs are bred to do a job & handle being out in public on a daily basis. (I'm not saying no shelter dog could handle SD work but most wouldn't) These dogs would never be sent to a shelter or euthanized just because they are retiring if the handler can't keep them they ask the puppy raiser, if not then they they are offered for adoption to the public, either way I assure you they end up in good homes and are loved. My dog will be staying with me after retirement. I wouldn't give her up.
I am a trained (human) blind guide and it bug the heck out of me that blindwalking is never represented correctly in the media, they usually get the dog stuff right though. African pouched rats, a kind of giant hamster have been trained as mine clearing animals. Has anyone thought of training them as service animals? You could have a dog for the outdoors and a giant rat for indoors.
